The Coastal Plain

When Israel occupied the Promised Land, they captured the central highlands and then made sporadic attempts to spread their control down the Meditteranean coast. But this region was occupied by the powerful nation of the Philistines. And although under David, Israel was able to gain control for a while, more often in Israel's history the Philistines were exerting pressure from their five cities on the coastlands up into the hills.

The coastlands were not, at this time, a paticularly attractive area. They consisted of a belt of coastal sand dunes backed by forest, lagoons and swamp. There were no large natural harbors south of Carmel. The Philistines were not seafarers, and the first major port on this coast was the artificial harbor at Caesarea. built by King Herod the Great, not long before Jesus was born.

South of Mt. Carmel, the plain was known as the plain of Phillistia and the plain of Sharon. Norton of Carmel, it became the Plain of Asher. Going north, it narrows, but is much better provided with natural harbors. It was from here that the sea-going Phoenicians traded.

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