Vale, Valley

It is hardly necessary to state that these words signify a hollow sweep of ground between two more or less parallel ridges of high land. The structure of the greater part of the holy land does not lend itself to the formation of valleys in our sense of the word. The abrupt transitions of its crowded rocky hills preclude the existence of any extended sweep of valley. Valley is employed in the Authorized Version to render five distinct Hebrew words.

VALE, VAL'LEY. Five Hebrew words are translated "vale" or "valley." Emek, signifying a "deep" valley, and implying a long, broad sweep between parallel ranges of hills, as the valley of Achor, Aijalon, Elah, Jezreel, Succoth, etc. Gai or ge, signifying a "bursting" or a "flowing together." and used to designate narrow ravines or glens, as of Hinnom or Salt. This name is given to the secluded spot where Moses was buried. Deut 34:6. Nachal, meaning a "wady-bed," filled with water in winter, but dry in summer; and hence it is sometimes rendered "brook," "stream," "river," etc. Such beds or valleys were Chereth, Eshcol, Sorek, Zered, etc. Bik'ah, properly a "cleft," but applied to a broader space than a cleft or valley, and meaning sometimes a "plain," as that between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon and Megiddo. Josh 11:17; Josh 13:17; Zech 12:11. Ha-shephelah, wrongly rendered "valley," meant a broad tract of low hills between the mountains of Judah and the coast-plain. Deut 1:7; Josh 10:40.