Topical Bible: Valleys: Often the Scenes of Great Contests

◄ Valleys: Often the Scenes of Great Contests ►

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In the biblical narrative, valleys frequently serve as the backdrop for significant events and contests, both physical and spiritual. These low-lying areas, often surrounded by hills or mountains, are not only geographical features but also hold symbolic meaning in Scripture. They are places where God's people have faced challenges, experienced deliverance, and witnessed the power of God.

The Valley of Elah

One of the most famous contests in a valley is the battle between David and Goliath in the Valley of Elah. This event is recorded in 1 Samuel 17. The Philistines gathered their forces for war and encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim, while Saul and the Israelites camped in the Valley of Elah. It was here that the young shepherd David confronted the giant Goliath, declaring, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Samuel 17:45). David's victory over Goliath in this valley demonstrated God's power to deliver His people through faith and courage.

The Valley of Jezreel

The Valley of Jezreel is another significant location for biblical contests. It was here that Gideon, with only 300 men, defeated the Midianites as recorded in Judges 7. The LORD instructed Gideon to reduce his army to ensure that Israel would recognize that their victory was by God's hand and not by their own strength. The victory in the Valley of Jezreel was a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to save His people against overwhelming odds.

The Valley of Achor

The Valley of Achor, meaning "trouble," is mentioned in Joshua 7 as the site where Achan was judged for his sin of taking forbidden items during the conquest of Jericho. This valley became a place of judgment and a reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. However, in Hosea 2:15, the Valley of Achor is also mentioned as a "door of hope," symbolizing God's redemptive power to transform places of trouble into opportunities for renewal and restoration.

The Valley of Jehoshaphat

The Valley of Jehoshaphat, often associated with the Kidron Valley, is mentioned in Joel 3 as the site of God's final judgment on the nations. The prophet Joel describes a future time when God will gather all nations in this valley to judge them for their treatment of His people. This eschatological vision underscores the valley as a place of divine justice and the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

Valleys in the Bible often symbolize times of testing, decision, and divine intervention. They are places where human weakness is contrasted with God's strength, where faith is tested, and where God's deliverance is made manifest. The physical contests that occur in these valleys serve as metaphors for spiritual battles, reminding believers of the need for reliance on God and the assurance of His presence in times of trial.

Throughout Scripture, valleys are not merely geographical locations but are imbued with spiritual significance. They are places where God's people have encountered both adversity and victory, serving as enduring reminders of God's faithfulness and power.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 5:15
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 7:8,22
So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 17:19
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
... and flatterer of Tiberius,[2] and too often misled by ... Jesus lived and grew amidst
these enchanting scenes. ... in the spring across the hills and valleys, each one ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter iv the order of.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1832 to the Beginning ...
... which his situation called him to manage, he exhibited at once great clearness of ...
that he belonged to human beings, of whom it must be often said, "The spirit ...
/.../chapter 12 from the close.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... This district had not been often subjected to incursions of ... the watercourses of Reuben
there were great resolves at ... of Ephraim, in the hills and valleys of the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm