Moreh
Moreh is a mountain mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Givat HaMoreh. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
The Hill of Moreh is a prominent elevation in the eastern Jezreel Valley, mentioned in Judges 7:1 in connection with Gideon's famous campaign against the Midianites. When the Midianite and Amalekite forces encamped in the valley, they were positioned "north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley" (Judges 7:1). Gideon and his drastically reduced force of three hundred men camped by the spring of Harod to the south, looking across at the vast Midianite encampment spread along the base of the Hill of Moreh. From this position, Gideon launched his legendary nighttime attack with torches, jars, and trumpets, routing the enormous enemy force through divine intervention rather than military strength. The Hill of Moreh's location created a natural amphitheater in the valley where the dramatic confrontation unfolded. The name Moreh, meaning "teacher," connects this hill to the broader biblical theme of places where God instructs His people, and Gideon's victory at this site taught Israel that salvation comes not by military might but by the Lord's power, a lesson reinforced by the deliberate reduction of Gideon's army.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The Hill of Moreh is securely identified with Givat HaMoreh (also known as Nebi Dahi or Little Hermon), a 515-meter hill rising prominently from the northeastern end of the Jezreel Valley in modern Israel, near the town of Afula. The hill is distinct from the larger Mount Tabor to the northeast and Mount Gilboa to the southeast, creating the geographical configuration described in Judges 7. The spring of Harod (Ein Harod), where Gideon's men were tested, flows at the base of Mount Gilboa opposite the Hill of Moreh. Archaeological surveys have identified ancient settlement remains on and around the hill, including Bronze and Iron Age pottery. The modern community of Moshav Moreh sits on its slopes. The hill provides commanding views across the Jezreel Valley, confirming its strategic military significance in the biblical narrative.
Verse Appearances (1)
Judg
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Lawrence, D. et al. (2025) Villages to Empires: a settlement dataset for the Southern Levant. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15111732. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]