The Central Highlands

The core area of the Jewish kingdoms lay in the 'hill country' along the watershed - with the land sloping away to the coast on one side, and away to the Jordan Valley on the other. This upland rises to just over 3,280 ft. at its highest points, near Hebron. The western slope is gentile and it has become a region of bare limestone slabs and poor soils. Cultivation is on terraces and in very small fields; much of the area is used for raising stock. The fortified towns of thei hill-country made good defense points. The capitals of the southern and northern kingdoms (Judah and Israel) were both in this area. The northern kings of Israel used several different strong-points before building the capital at Samaria.

At the northern end of this region a number of isolated hills look down on the neighboring region, the Plain of Esdraelon. But the hill country continues north westwards to the coast in the jutting promontory of Mt. Carmel. The 1,970 ft ridge cuts the coastal plain in two, breaking the general north-south pattern of the regions. On the northern edge of Carmel lies the modern port-city of Hafia.

Even today the the 'hill country' has few roads apart from the main Hebron-Jerusalem-Nablus (ancient Shechem) highway. The main highways of both the ancient and modern worlds pass north of the hills or run parallel with them along the coast. So, although this region contains Jerusalem, It has always stood a little apart from the everyday comings and goings through the land.

Central highlands
The Plain of Esdraelon
Galilee
The coastal plain
The 'Shephelah' or Piedmont
The Jordan Valley
The land east of the Jordan (Transjordan)

Structures of the Land Climate of the Land Vegetation of the Land Resources of the Land Regions of the Land