 View of one of the Ways of the Bible |
Ways of the Bible:
Way of the Arabah; Way of the Plain
(Deuteronomy. 2:8)
Ancient route along the length of the Arabah from south of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Elath. Mentioned in the Bible in the account of the journeys of the Children of Israel.
“And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab” (Deuteronomy. 2:8). The present Aravah road follows the same course.
Way of the Atharim; Way of the Spies
(Numbers 21:1)
Ancient route between the Negeb and Sinai passing through Beer Sheba the Ramon Crater and central Sinai. When the Israelites left Egypt they took this route to enter Canaan but were repelled by the king of Arad. It is possible that this was the route used by the spies sent out by Moses.
“And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.” (Numbers 21:1)
Way of the Mountain
(Deuteronomy 1:19)
Ancient internal route between northern Sinai and the Jezreel Valley through Kadesh-barnea, Beer-Sheba, Hebron, Jerusalem and Shechem.
“And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.” (Deuteronomy 1:19)
Way of the Land of the Philistines
(Exodus. 13:17)
Ancient route which passed through the length of Philistine territory (southern Coastal Plain) and became part of the Via Maris which joined Egypt with the kingdoms of the Fertile Crescent passing through the Land of Israel. Mentioned in the Bible in the account of the journeys of the Children of Israel.
“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17).
