Tel Azekah is an ancient hill city from the times of David and Solomon, located on an elevated hill about 400 meters above sea level at a key crossroads from the valley to Jerusalem. The name Azekah in Aramaic means a fence or hedge that surrounds the area like a ring.
In the Bible, a derivative of the verb ע.ז.ק appears in Isaiah 5:2, "And he fenced it." According to Rashi, this means "he fenced and hedged it around, encircling it like a ring."
Tel Azekah was likely a border fortified city at the junction of Philistine and Judean kingdom.
This short walk through the Ela Valley and the slopes of the central highlands will reveal the history of the place, from biblical prophets to Roman emperors. Important trade routes from the valley to Jerusalem have always passed through here, and this was the border of Judea. We will encounter intriguing sites like the battlefield of David and Goliath, the possible tomb of Goliath, and many other stories of this fascinating area.