Bible Dictionary
Sephela
Sephela is the Greek form of Shephelah, the fertile lowland between the central highlands of Judah and the Mediterranean coast. It was an important agricultural region and a frequent area of conflict.
Definition
Sephela is the Greek form of Shephelah, the low-lying region between Judah’s central highlands and the Mediterranean coast. It was a fertile and highly productive district, distinct from the northern coastal plain of Sharon.
Biblical Usage
The Shephelah occurs throughout the territorial records and historical writings as a recognized region of the land.
Historical Background
The region was anciently a major grain-producing area and was repeatedly contested by Philistines and Israelites. It also served as a refuge when drought damaged the harvests of the central country.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
the Greek form of the ancient word has-Shefelah, the native name for the southern division of the low-lying flat district which intervenes between the central highlands of the holy land and the Mediterranean, the other and northern portion of which was known as Sharon. The name occurs throughout the topographical records of Joshua. The historical works, and the topographical passages in the prophets always with the article prefixed, and always denoting the same region. In each of these passages, however, the word is treated in the Authorized Version not as a proper name, analogous to the Campagna, the Wolds, the Carse, but as a mere appellative, and rendered “the vale,” “the valley,” “the plain,” “the low plains,” and “the low country.” The Shefelah was and is one of the most productive regions of the holy land. It was in ancient times the cornfield of Syria, and as such the constant subject of warfare between Philistines and Israelites, and the refuge of the latter when the harvests in the central country were ruined by drought. (2 Kings 8:1-3)