Page 112 - Advanced Bible Geography ebook

While Israel is already a very narrow strip of land, measuring about 50 miles across at its widest point,
there are places where a selection of good roads becomes extremely narrow. The most obvious example
of this is in the Lower Galilee, where the Carmel and Gilboa mountain ranges form a horizontal barrier
for all overland traders.

The best pass through these mountains is called the Megiddo Pass. If a leader like Solomon had an army
powerful enough to control all who sought to use the pass, he could become very wealthy through tolls
or taxes. Indeed, Solomon did control the city (1 Kings 4:12). From a military standpoint, controlling
traffic at Megiddo meant a king could also create and enforce treaties with other nations for their use of
the narrow road. Control Megiddo, it could be said, and a man could control the world.

Not surprisingly, more battles have been fought on the land around Megiddo than any other place in the
world. Author Eric Cline has documented some 34 battles that have been fought for control of the pass,
including several in modern times. In biblical times, Egyptian pharaohs, Israelite kings, Philistine rulers,
Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman emperors all demanded control of the pass.

In many battles, the city of Megiddo was overwhelmed by an invading army and destroyed. In each
incident, the city was rebuilt on top of the old ruins. The hill that served as the base of Megiddo became
taller and taller until it was called “Mount Megiddo,” or “Har-Megiddo” in Hebrew. Therefore, the valley
immediately below Har-Megiddo was known as the Valley of Armageddon. With all the blood that had
already been shed there, John must not have been surprised to hear that in end times, the Valley of
Armageddon would play a central role in the last and greatest battle of them all (Revelation 16:16)

One of the most famous examples of Megiddo’s lure is told of King Josiah attempting to stop Egypt’s
Pharaoh Necho from moving his army to Assyria. The two armies met at Megiddo and Josiah was
mortally wounded there (2 Kings 23:29-30). Likewise, Ahaziah was also wounded by Jehu at nearby
Ibleam. He escaped to Megiddo, protected walls, but died there of his wounds (2 Kings 9:27). In every
case of military conflict, the lay of the land dictated choices made by commanders as they attempted to
take the most fought-over city of the ancient world.

Megiddo and the Future Battle of Armageddon

The Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) taken from Mount Carmel…looking toward Nazareth

110