Biblical Geography

Mountains & Valleys

The high places and the valleys between them: Sinai, Zion, Carmel, Hermon, Elah, Jezreel.

  • Mount SinaiMountainidentification debated

    The mountain of the law: the burning bush country, the thunder and the cloud, the covenant, and the golden calf.

    Mountains & ValleysExodus 19:18-20

  • Mount ZionMountainidentification debated

    The hill of David's fortress and of the temple's God; the name that grows to mean Jerusalem, the people, and finally the city above.

    Mountains & ValleysPsalm 2:6

  • Mount CarmelMountain

    The green headland above the sea where Elijah faced the prophets of Baal and the fire fell.

    Mountains & ValleysMount Carmel, Haifa1 Kings 18:19-21

  • The ridge east of Jerusalem across the Kidron: David's flight, Jesus' prayers and tears, the ascension, and the promised return.

    Mountains & ValleysThe Mount of OlivesLuke 22:39-44

  • Mount MoriahMountain

    The mountain of Abraham's offering and, by the chronicler's record, the hill of Solomon's temple.

    Mountains & ValleysGenesis 22:2

  • Mount AraratMountainidentification debated

    The mountains of Ararat where the ark came to rest as the flood receded.

    Mountains & ValleysMount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı)Genesis 8:4

  • Mount HermonMountainidentification debated

    The snow-capped giant at the land's northern edge, source of the Jordan, whose dew the psalm sings and whose heights many link to the transfiguration.

    Mountains & ValleysJebel al-ShaykhPsalm 133:3

  • The broad valley with the dry brook bed where David met Goliath with five smooth stones.

    Mountains & ValleysWadi es-Sunt1 Samuel 17:40

  • The deep valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives that David crossed in flight and Jesus crossed on the last night.

    Mountains & ValleysWadi al-Joz / the Kidron valleyJohn 18:1

  • The great triangular plain across the north: Gideon's victory, Ahab's palace road, Jehu's fury, and the armies' highway of every age.

    Mountains & ValleysThe Jezreel valleyJudges 6:33

Every entry begins with the biblical text. Where a site is debated, the entry says so. Browse the whole geography library or see these places on the atlas.