The way to Jerusalem passes through the road near Tell Yizreel. Yizreel was a major Biblical city, and at the 9th C BC it was the northern capital of the Israel Kingdom. The Bible tells about many events associated with the city: the King's palace in the city; the battle of the Gilboa when King Saul was killed; the Naboth vineyard and the plot of Jezebel to posses it; the fate of Jezebel and her son.

 

 On the right side of the photo above is Mount Gilboa - the place of the fatal battlefield of the King Saul against the Philistines. The ancient road to Jerusalem passes at this point - from left to right - and so the ancient city was the gate keeper from the Galilee to the south and central Israel.

 

For more info on Yizreel click here.