In and around Jerusalem

This is a very pleasant hike with wonderful views over the Elah Valley and ending at the ruins of Quiyafa. You can walk inside the walls of the fortress.

THE RUINS OF QEIYAFA 

There has been a long-running debate among Israeli archeologists, particularly from the Biblical minimalists. as to whether the biblical account of King David is exaggerated and David was no more than a tribal chief or warlord, or whether the picture described in the Bible of a powerful and influential monarch is correct. The findings at Queyafa have swung this debate in favor of the BIble, since only a centralized government of an organized state would have had the resources to create a regional center and military outpost such as Qeiyafa. 

Carbon dating of olive pits found in its ruins date this city to approximately 1000 BCE, which is the time of King David. This is important information, as there is a paucity of archeological findings from this historic period. 

Many of the archeological findings indicate that Qeiyafa was a Jewish city. These include the finding of 5 lines of ancient Hebrew writing on an ostracon, and a jar with a Jewish name written on it (see pictures in the pages "A walk to the ruins of Quiyafa).

This walled city stood for about 50 years and was then probably abandoned. By then, it may have outlived its usefulness as a "border" fortress.  

Distance: Just under 8 Km

 Time: Approximately 3 hours

Type of walk: Circular

Difficulty: Easy walk with some inclines

Starting point: Parking lot for Givat Haturmusim. 

Directions and parking:  Enter "תל שוכה - גבעת התורמוסים" into Waze. The turn off road is 2.3 Km along route 375 from the roundabout on route 38, and on the right side of the road.  The turn off road is not signed and is not very conspicuous - so be careful you don't drive past it.  

Public transport: Buses 475 or 417 go from from Binyanei Ha’umah to Bet Shemesh. From Bet Shemesh, take bus 26 to Tzomet Ha’Elah and it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Tel Socho/Givat HaTourmusim parking lot along route 375. However, there is no footpath along this road, so that a safer alternative is to go into the Paz Gas Station at Tzomet Ha’Elah and close to its main entrance on route 38 is the beginning of the green-marked bicycle trail Schvill Adulum. Continue on this trail until you see an unmarked trail on your left with an exit sign pointing to where you have just come from and this will lead you to the parking lot of Givat HaTourmusim. It's quite a long walk though.

The trail

•   Adjacent to the entrance/exit to the parking area by a brown sign for Tel Socho is a tunnel under route 375. Adults will have to bend slightly.

•  After exiting from the tunnel turn to the left. In front of you is part of a large orchard of almond trees.

•  After a slight curve to the right, take the dirt path on the left. Follow this path along the edge of the orchard. Keep to the edge of the orchard when it bends right again, and also when it makes another sharp right.

• When you come to field, continue on the path around its periphery. The path will turn right about 2/3 along the periphery of the field to cross the stream (Nahal Elah). At the end of the summer the stream will probably be dry. 

• Now continue ahead on a broad path through the middle of the orchard (and not to the left as the schvil yisrael sign indicates).

• At the end of this path and by some white waterpipes, turn right following the schvil Yisrael markings. 

• Take the next turning on the left between sections of the orchard. Ahead of you is a narrow gate close to some black water tanks and black piping and before the vineyard. Go through the gate and turn right onto a jeep trail with metal guards on the left side of the road.

•  Shortly, there is a path on the left going up the side of the valley. Go around the gate and continue up the steep hill.

•  At the fork close to the top of the hill turn left. (To the right is Ramat Beit Shemesh). This trail along the top of the cliff is also a schvil yisrael trail and is now more or less flat.

• Continue along this trail for about another 20 minutes. You will start to see the walls of Quiyafa fortress ahead of you.  At this time you will see a broad jeep trail on your left going down a wadi. You cannot miss it. It has a schvill Yisrael marking on a rock in the middle of the trail. Make a note of it, as you will be returning on this path. After a distance of only 10 to 20 meters there is an unmarked path on your right going up to the fortress.This will lead you to the southern gate entrance of Quiyafa. It is only a short distance from the main path, so that if it takes you more than a few minutes you are on the wrong path.

• Take a tour of the fortress. Walk straight ahead to the circumferential path. You will need to cross a low wire to get onto this path. Now turn left to go to the western gate. Continue on this path around the fortress. When you come to the area of the western gate, cross the wire. Go through the open gate and the path on which you came. 

• Turn left when you come to the main path. In 10-20 meters you will see the broad path with schvill yisrael markings that was previously pointed out going down the hill. This path down is not unduly steep.

• You will eventually come to a path. You will need to climb over a short metal barrier to reach it. Turn to the right.

• Shortly, you will see a gap in the fencing by a black sign " השטח מרוסס." Go through this gap by a fixed grey gate. Continue straight ahead between the two sections of the vineyard and by a wire meshed fence. Follow the path as it curvess to the left on the periphery of the orchard.

• Continue along the periphery of the orchard following the schvill Yisrael markings. This will lead you back over the stream.

• Be careful near the end of the trail to continue to keep to the periphery of the almond orchard. If you find yourself within the orchard, you can miss the tunnel under route 375. It has a schvil Yisrael marking on it. 

Overlooking the Elah Valley from the southern gate of Quiyafa.

A casement wall was typical of Judean fortresses at this time. It consists of two parallel walls with a divided space in between. In this instances, the people's dwellings are adjacent to the inner casement wall which they are using as the outer wall of their homes