Sefela (Heb. Shefêlâh, “lowland” or “valley”). Lowlands lying between the central Palestine mountain range and the coastal plain. In the RVR version this word always appears transliterated, but not in the DHH, which systematically translates it as plain. The Sefela has hills between 150 and 250 m high, with some slightly higher. It is separated from the mountainous interior region by a series of valleys that run north to south from Ajalon to near Beersheba. Wide and fertile valleys rise in the mountains of Judah and run towards the coast. The region is rich in olive groves and wheat fields, and was home to many important biblical cities: Beth-shemesh, Gezer, Eglon, Lachish, Libna, Gath, and Azekah. The region was assigned to Judah (Jos 15:12), but parts of it went to the tribes of Simeon (19:9) and Dan (vs 40,41; cf 15:33). The modern State of Israel has rescued the ancient Hebrew name to assign it to this area. Map I, C-1.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
hebrew lowland Fertile region between the plain of the Mediterranean coast and the mountains of Juda, conquered by Joshua, Dt 1, 7; Josh 9, 1; 11, 16; 12, 8; in this land fourteen cities corresponded to the tribe of Judah, Jos 15, 33.
King David, within the administrative organization of his kingdom, put in charge of the olive groves and sycamore trees, in the Lower Land, Baal Hanan, from Guéder, 1 Chronicles 27, 28. Ozías, king of Judah, had cattle in the Lowland and in the plain, 2 Chronicles 26, 10. In the time of Ahaz, king of Judah, the Philistines invaded the cities of the Lowland, 2 Chronicles 28, 18.
The Maccabean and Seleucid armies encamped near Emmaus in the Lower Land, 1 M 3, 40 and 57; 4, 3; 12, 40. She is mentioned by the prophets, Jr 17, 26; 32, 44; 33, 13; My 1, 8; Ze 7, 7.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Heb. hashephelah, lowland). The region or rolling land between the mountains of Judah and the sea plain south of the plain of Sharon.
It was one of the six geographic sections of the Promised Land west of the Jordan (Jos 12:8; 1Ki 10:27). Samson’s exploits occurred there, and David hid there from Saul.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
Derived from a Hebrew word meaning ‘low’, the S. is the territory that descends from the Judean mountains towards the coastal plain. The tribe of Judah conquered it (Judges 1:9). But in the time of King Ahaz †œthe Philistines had spread through the cities of the S. and the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Ajalon, Gederot, Soco… Timna… and Gimzo…† (2Ch 28: 18). Although it is prophesied that “the S. to the Philistines” (Obd 1:19). Caprifigs or wild fig trees (sycamores) abounded in the S., which is why it is said that in Solomon’s time the cedars became “like caprifigs of the S. in abundance” (1Ki 10:27; 2Ch 1:15; 2Ch 9:27). An official was appointed to tend those trees (1Ch 27:28). Uzziah came to have many cattle in the S. (2Ch 26:10). An oracle of Jeremiah promises the return of the Jews to “the cities of the S.” (Jer 32:44; Jer 33:13).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
type, REGI
view, PLAIN, PALESTINE
sit, a3, 193, 192
vet, = “low country”. Palestine geography name. It designates the low and undulating country between the maritime plain and the Judean mountains, between Jafa and Gaza. (See PLAIN, PALESTINE, d.)
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(Lowland).
A designation generally applied to the region of low hills between the central mountain range of Palestine and the coastal plains of Philistia. (De 1:7; Jos 9:1; 10:40; 11:2; 12:8; Jg 1:9; 2Ch 28:18; Ob 19; Zec 7:7) The Shephelah was one of the regions of the territory assigned to Judah. (Jos 15:33-44) Although it reaches an altitude of about 1,500 feet, it is a “lowland” (compare Jer 17:26; 32:44; 33:13, where schefe·lah appears in the Hebrew text ) when compared to the central mountain range, which is much higher. Shephelah was bordered to the S by the Negeb (Jg 1:9), and to the N by “the hill country of Israel” (beyond the low plain of Ajalon). (Jos 11:16.)
The valleys that divide the rolling foothills of this region served as natural routes for travel from E. to W. The Shephelah is fertile, and has a temperate climate. In ancient times, the region was noted for its abundance of sycamores and olive orchards, as well as providing pasture for herds and herds. (1Ki 10:27; 1Ch 27:28; 2Ch 1:15; 9:27; 26:10)
The Shephelah associated with the “mountainous region of Israel” (Jos 11:16) may be the mountainous region between the mountains of Samaria and the plain of Sharon. This area is narrower and less defined than the Shephelah of Judah. There is no basis for considering the distinction between Judah and Israel made in Joshua chapter 11 an anachronism (see vs. 21). A footnote in the commentary by CF Keil and F. Delitzsch observes: “The distinction can be easily explained even from the circumstances of Joshua’s own time. Judah and the double tribe of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) received their inheritance by lot before all others. But while the tribe of Judah occupied their allotted territory in the south, all the other tribes remained in Gilgal; and even at a later period, when Ephraim and Manasseh were in their territory, all Israel, with the exception of Judah, was still encamped at Shiloh. Furthermore, the two parts of the nation were then separated by territory later assigned to the tribe of Benjamin, but which at that time had no owner; and in addition to this, the altar, the tabernacle, and the ark of the covenant were in the midst of Joseph and the other tribes that were still gathered at Shiloh† . (Commentary on the Old Testament, 1973, vol. 2, “Joshua”, pp. 124, 125.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
(heb. šefēlâ), geographical term for the low mountainous region between the coastal plains of *Palestine and the central high mountains. This region is frequently mentioned in the OT, but in some versions (°vrv1, p. eg) translates as “valley” or “plain(ss)” (low), “fields”, etc. The translation “lowland” of °bj, p. For example, it would give a more accurate picture if used in the plural, to indicate the undulating relief formed by mountains and valleys. But the meaning of the root (“to humble” or “to make low”) more accurately suggests a region of relatively low relief at the foot of the central mountains. In °vrv2 “Shephelah” appears in 1 Ki. 10.27; 1 Chron. 27.28; 2 Chron. 1.15; 9.27; 26.10; 28.18; Jer. 17.26; 32.44; 33.13; Abd. 1.19; Zac. 7.7. Passages such as 2 Chr. 26:10 and 28:18 clearly distinguish it from the coastal plain. The location of the “Shephelah” of Josh. 11.2, 16 (°vm) is clear. There it refers to the mountains around the city of Carmel (v. 2). The “Israelite Shephelah” in vv. 16 could mean, according to GA Smith, the land between Carmel and Samaria, a structural continuation of the true Shephelah further S.
Bibliography. G. Adam Smith, °GHTS, pp. 111–129; A. González Lamadrid, The force of the earth, 1981, pp. 34–36.
D. Baly, The Geography of the Bible, 1957, p. 142–147; LOB.
JMH
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary