Hill-slopes in the biblical context often refer to the sides or inclines of hills and mountains, which are significant in the geography and narrative of the Bible. These slopes are frequently mentioned in relation to agriculture, military strategy, and spiritual symbolism.

Agricultural Significance:

The hill-slopes of ancient Israel were vital for agriculture, particularly for vineyards and olive groves. The terraced hillsides provided a suitable environment for growing grapes and olives, which were essential to the economy and daily life. In Isaiah 5:1, the prophet speaks of a "fertile hill" where a vineyard is planted, illustrating the importance of hill-slopes for cultivation: "I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill."

Military Strategy:

Hill-slopes also played a crucial role in military strategies and battles. The elevated positions provided strategic advantages for defense and observation. In 1 Samuel 17:3, the Philistines and Israelites are described as standing on opposite hill-slopes with a valley between them, setting the stage for the battle between David and Goliath: "The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them."

Spiritual Symbolism:

Spiritually, hill-slopes are often associated with places of worship and divine encounters. The high places, or "bamot," were frequently located on hill-slopes and were sites of both legitimate and illegitimate worship. In 1 Kings 14:23, the Israelites are criticized for building high places on every high hill and under every green tree, indicating the widespread practice of idolatry: "For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree."

Prophetic Imagery:

Prophets often used the imagery of hill-slopes to convey messages of judgment or restoration. In Isaiah 40:4, the leveling of hills and valleys symbolizes the preparation for the coming of the Lord: "Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain."

Covenantal Promises:

The hill-slopes are also tied to the covenantal promises of God to Israel. In Deuteronomy 11:11, the Promised Land is described as "a land of hills and valleys," emphasizing its richness and the divine blessing upon it: "But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven."

In summary, hill-slopes in the Bible are multifaceted, serving as sites of agriculture, military engagements, spiritual activities, and prophetic symbolism. They reflect the physical and spiritual landscape of the biblical narrative, illustrating the interaction between God's people and the land He provided for them.

Yet Speaking.
... Those hill-slopes had been covered with booths and tents, in which the mighty
congregations tabernacled, whilst they waited on his words. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xvi yet speaking.htm

"Is not this the Carpenter's Son?"
... hills were filled with the horses and chariots of the king of Syria, and the great
host of his armed men, Elisha beheld the nearer hill slopes covered with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 24 is not this.htm

The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus
... [183] Mary's dwelling was on a hill to the left of the road from Jerusalem some
three and a half hours from Ephesus. [184] This hill slopes steeply towards ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xviii the death of the.htm

Hill-slopes (2 Occurrences)
Hill-slopes. Hillsides, Hill-slopes. Hilltop . Multi-Version
Concordance Hill-slopes (2 Occurrences). Joshua 10:40 And ...
/h/hill-slopes.htm - 7k

Gilead (130 Occurrences)
... toward the Jordan valley, and the water from the surface of the plateau, sinking
down to the surface of their formation, bursts out of the hillslopes on the ...
/g/gilead.htm - 56k

Botany
... the torrential winter's rain, until the bare rock-never on the hillslopes very far ...
Vegetation in all parts is more abundant on t he hillslopes with a northern ...
/b/botany.htm - 38k

Gethsemane (2 Occurrences)
... site may be somewhere near the correct one, though one would think too near the
public road for retirement, but the contours of the hillslopes must have so ...
/g/gethsemane.htm - 11k

Wine-press (11 Occurrences)
... Between Hebron and Beersheba they are found on all the hillslopes; they abound
in southern Judea; they are no less common in the many valleys of Carmel; and ...
/w/wine-press.htm - 11k

Winepress (19 Occurrences)
... Between Hebron and Beersheba they are found on all the hillslopes; they abound
in southern Judea; they are no less common in the many valleys of Carmel; and ...
/w/winepress.htm - 14k

Siloam (4 Occurrences)
... the older and better built section, belongs to Moslem fellahin who cultivate the
well-watered gardens in the valley and on the hillslopes opposite, but a ...
/s/siloam.htm - 21k

Shiloah (1 Occurrence)
... the older and better built section, belongs to Moslem fellahin who cultivate the
well-watered gardens in the valley and on the hillslopes opposite, but a ...
/s/shiloah.htm - 17k

Shelah (18 Occurrences)
... the older and better built section, belongs to Moslem fellahin who cultivate the
well-watered gardens in the valley and on the hillslopes opposite, but a ...
/s/shelah.htm - 24k

Siloah (1 Occurrence)
... the older and better built section, belongs to Moslem fellahin who cultivate the
well-watered gardens in the valley and on the hillslopes opposite, but a ...
/s/siloah.htm - 17k

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