Tel Meggido- Israel

The City Gate- Megiddo- 

possibly to the time of Solomon.

It is made of massive field stones.

Megiddo- a Biblical city founded 

about 1,000 years before Abraham

 passed through the Jezreel Valley.

(the geographical name for this valley)

Excavations began here about 1925

 and they have uncovered 

over 22 different layers of occupation.

This southern edge of the Jezreel Valley

 was a strategic spot to occupy and control.

Possibly the walls here are the ones 

described in I Kings 9: 15--

part of the strategic holdings of Solomon

 to guard the main pass through 

the Carmel mountain range.

Iron Age Stables

The Sacred Area
Canaanite Cultic Stage

an area of worship for over 2000 years

Megiddo continued to serve as the seat of the royal governor 

during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. 

This is attested to by a seal,

 found in excavations at the beginning of the 20th century, 

bearing the inscription "to Shema, servant of Jeroboam." 

During the rebellion of Jehu, Ahaziah, king of Judah, 

fled to Megiddo and died there of his wounds. - II Kings 9:27

Megiddo was apparently conquered 

and destroyed in 732 BCE, 

during the campaign of Tiglath Pilesser III, 

king of Assyria, against the Kingdom of Israel. 

--II Kings 15:29

The Last Days of Megiddo

The Assyrians made Megiddo the royal city 

of their province in the north 

of the conquered kingdom of Israel

 and rebuilt it in their finest architectural tradition. 

In his days Pharaoh Necho, King of Egypt, 

went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: 

and King Josiah went against him; 

and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 

(II Kings 23: 29) From then on, Megiddo fell into decline; 

it was finally abandoned during the Persian rule

 in the 5th century BCE.

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Looking across the Valley of Jezreel 
around the perimeter of Megiddo 
From the northern edge of the city you can see:
Mt Tabor where Deborah and Barak
 defeats the the armies of Sisera (Judges 3-4)
The Hill of Moreh- 
where Gideon defeated the Midianites (Judges 6-7)
To the West is Mt Carmel-
 where Elijah defeated the prophets
 of Baal and Asherah (1 Kings 18)

Megiddo and the Valley of Armegeddon
 certainly reminds us of the years and years of battles here.

"Life up your heads. O you gates;
 be lifted up, you ancient doors, 
that the King of Glory may come in.
 Who is this King of Glory? 
The Lord strong and mighty, 
the Lord mighty in battle."
Psalm 24:7-8

Our victorious King of glory 
will reign in final victory in the last days.