There’s something incredible about how the Haftarah portion always reveals hidden gems or unexpected discoveries.
In one of the portions studying Jeremiah 46, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah the punishment that God would bring upon Egypt, through Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon.
Nestled in the heart of this chapter is a fascinating verse that highlights two prominent landmarks, leading to an insightful study.
‘“As I live,”, says the King, Whose name is the Lord of hosts, “Surely as Tabor is among the mountains. And as Carmel by the sea, so he shall come.”’ Jeremiah 46:18 (NKJV)
The verse begins with the solemn declaration, ‘“As I live,” says the King, Whose name is the Lord of hosts.’. This statement underscores God’s eternal existence, His supreme authority as King, and His dominion over all creation.
It affirms the certainty of His words and the faithfulness of His actions in keeping His covenant. With this certainty, God warns Pharaoh of Egypt to prepare, for one is coming (Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon), just as steadfast and unmovable as the two prominent landmarks: “Tabor is among the mountains” and “Carmel by the sea.”A strategic location
Ancient Israel occupied a remarkably strategic location, serving as the intercontinental land bridge connecting the great superpowers of the ancient world. The international highway, known as the ‘Via Maris’ (Latin for ‘The Way of the Sea’), was roughly 2849km long and connected Egypt to Assyria/Babylon (Mesopotamia).
Mount Tabor is a tall hill sitting on the eastern side of the Jezreel Valley, near Galilee. In contrast, Mount Carmel is placed west, towards the Mediterranean Sea. These mountains sit on either side of the Jezreel Valley, serving as natural bookends. Viewing this on a map will bring this to life as you read further.
An ancient town called Megiddo, placed south of these two mountains, served as a strategic and critical choke point for anyone traveling north or south on this ancient commercial trade route. At Megiddo, Israel would stand to protect against invaders.
‘The Way of the Sea’ took travellers from Egypt along the Mediterranean Coastline through Israel via Megiddo, before cutting through the ridge at Mount Carmel, across the Jezreel Valley past Mount Tabor and up into Mesopotamia.
Landmark battles
This region, framed by Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel and Megiddo, is known as the Jezreel Valley. It is a fertile stretch of land that has witnessed countless pivotal battles throughout history vying for control over the Promised Land.
- One of the most notable battles in this region was King Saul’s confrontation with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, which lies within the valley.
- It was also the site where Deborah and Barak triumphed over Israel’s enemies, as described in Judges 4-5.
- Gideon’s remarkable victory over the Midianites, with just 300 men, also took place here in Judges 6-8.
- The valley witnessed Jehu’s bloody campaign against the Northern Kingdom, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy by destroying Ahab and Jezebel’s descendants in 2 Kings 9-10.
- More recently, the valley was the site of military victories, including Napoleon’s defeat of the Turks in 1799 and General Allenby’s victory in 1918 during World War I.
But there was another significant battle that happened in the Jezreel Valley, one that ties into Jeremiah 46. This battle occurred some 25 to 50 years prior and involved King Josiah of Judah, who was known for being a righteous ruler.
At the time, Pharaoh Neco of Egypt led an army toward Babylon, to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates. As Neco and his forces tried to push through, King Josiah and the Judean army attempted to turn them back by defending the Megiddo choke point.
This led to a fierce clash between the two armies, with the Egyptian forces ultimately proving stronger. The Judean army was defeated between Mount Carmel and Mount Tabor. Tragically, King Josiah was killed in the battle at Megiddo, marking a significant moment in the history of the region and in the Valley of Jezreel.
A complete reverse
Interestingly, Jeremiah 46 presents a striking reversal of events, with the prophet specifically mentioning Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel in that order. Instead of the Egyptian army marching north to confront Babylon, as in the account of Josiah, we now see the Babylonian forces advancing south. They follow the same route but in reverse, passing from Mount Tabor to Mount Carmel, through the Megiddo pass, and heading toward Egypt.
This shift underscores the strategic importance of the Jezreel Valley, also known as the Megiddo Valley, connecting the region to the broader nations. The valley’s significance lies not only in its pivotal location along key trade routes, but also in the many historic battles that have unfolded on its plains. It has long been a crossroads of power and conflict, shaping the course of events in the ancient world.
A future battle
Fast forward to the New Testament and we see John prophesy in Revelation in a similar way. This time, the mountains aren’t mentioned, but he uses another key landmark in the region to indicate where the final war of nations will take place, just before or at the coming of the Messiah.
‘For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.’ Revelation 16:14-16 (NKJV)
The word Armageddon, is a transliteration of the Hebrew Har Megiddo, meaning ‘Hill of Megiddo’. Simply put, Armageddon is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Har Megiddo, the Hill of Megiddo. This refers to the same Megiddo, located at the southern end of the Jezreel Valley.
There are two differing views about the location of the final judgment. Some believe it will happen in the Valley of Jezreel. Others believe it will take place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, located between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives, a distinct location altogether. This interpretation is based on Joel 4:11-12.
“Assemble and come, all you nations, And gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord. Let the nations be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.” Joel 3:11-12 (NKJV)
Could it be that the nations will gather and prepare for war against Israel in the Jezreel Valley, between Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel, and Megiddo? After all, its vast, open plain is ideal for accommodating massive military forces.
Might these armies then pass through Megiddo, as ancient armies once did, making their way to Jerusalem to fight against Israel, only to be judged by the Messiah outside the city, as Revelation 14:19-20 describes?
‘So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.’ Revelation 14:19-20 (NKJV)
The end of Jeremiah 46 encourages Israel not to fear, promising their return to the land and God’s judgment on the nations. The Jezreel Valley, a battleground and place of divine judgment, will also soon be a place of restoration and abundance.
If you would like to study the Haftarah, join Kelly Clancy every second Friday from 12.30pm to 1.30pm AEST (Brisbane) at https://thetorahportion.org
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