Endnote 2 – Bible Lands

In the Hebrew Bible it appears 20 times (arguably 21 times if one includes Isaiah 32:19, where the vowels are slightly different). In all cases except two, this term refers to the region discussed in this article. But in Joshua 11:2, and in one of two times in Joshua 11:16, it appears to refer to shephelah-like hills, possibly near Mt. Carmel. Some geographers, therefore, are careful to distinguish between the shephelah of Israel (or Carmel, or Galilee) and the Judean Shephelah. Translators may render this regional name in a descriptive sense as “lowland,” “plain,” “valley,” “foothills” or “piedmont” The Hebrew does convey a meaning of lowness, but this may simply represent an ancient bias on the part of Judahites on the plateau looking down on their brethren. “Foothills” is a more precise physiographic description. Recent translations, however, often retain the regional name Shephelah as is.