The Waters of Merom (Bar-el-Huleh), The Scene of Joshua`s Victory Over the Kings of the Canaanites

Description

The engraving depicts the area of ​​the Huleh Valley (formerly the Waters of Merom) in northern Palestine. The Waters of Merom, known today as Lake Hule, was a freshwater lake located approximately 25 kilometers north of the Sea of ​​Galilee in northern Israel. In ancient times, the Waters of Merom referred to a wetland that fed the upper reaches of the Jordan River. The engraving depicts this location as the site of Joshua's victory over the Canaanite kings. In the foreground, a group of traveling figures are shown on horseback and on foot. In the distance, vast plains and mountain ranges extending to the horizon create the pastoral atmosphere typical of the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. This scene alludes to the Battle of Merom, mentioned in the Biblical Book of Joshua 11:5–7. In this battle, Joshua's Israelite army defeated the combined forces of the northern Canaanite kings near the Waters of Merom. The engraving does not interpret this event directly, but through a natural and symbolic atmosphere of silence that accompanies the sacred narrative.