With respect to the general features of the Holy Land, see CANAAN; and for descriptions of some of its numerous valleys, see JERUSALEM, JEZREEL, JORDAN, REPHAIM, SHECHIEM, and SODOM. "The valley of the shadow of death," is an expression denoting an extremely perilous and cheerless condition of the soul, Psalms 23:4, and may have been suggested by the psalmist’s experience with his flock in some of the deep, narrow, and dark ravines of Syria.

Thus the entrance to Petra is by long winding defile, between rugged precipices in some spots not more than twelve or fourteen feet apart and two or three hundred feet high, and almost excluding the light of day. See view in SELA. A similar pass south of mount Carmel is now known as the "Valley of Death-shade."

Heb. bik'ah, a "cleft" of the mountains (Deuteronomy 8:7; 11:11; Psalms 104:8; Isaiah 41:18); also a low plain bounded by mountains, as the plain of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon around the sources of the Jordan (Joshua 11:17; 12:7), and the valley of Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:22).

'Emek, "deep;" "a long, low plain" (Job 39:10,21; Psalms 65:13; Cant 2:1), such as the plain of Esdraelon; the "valley of giants" (Joshua 15:8), usually translated "valley of Rephaim" (2 Samuel 5:18); of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2), of Berachah (2 Chronicles 20:26); the king's "dale" (Genesis 14:17); of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2,12), of Achor (Joshua 7:24; Isaiah 65:10), Succoth (Psalms 60:6), Ajalon (Joshua 10:12), Jezreel (Hosea 1:5).

Ge, "a bursting," a "flowing together," a narrow glen or ravine, such as the valley of the children of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10); of Eshcol (Deuteronomy 1:24); of Sorek (Judges 16:4), etc.

The "valley of vision" (Isaiah 22:1) is usually regarded as denoting Jerusalem, which "may be so called," says Barnes (Com. on Isa.), "either (1) because there were several valleys within the city and adjacent to it, as the vale between Mount Zion and Moriah, the vale between Mount Moriah and Mount Ophel, between these and Mount Bezetha, and the valley of Jehoshaphat, the valley of the brook Kidron, etc., without the walls of the city; or (2) more probably it was called the valley in reference to its being compassed with hills rising to a considerable elevation above the city" (Psalms 125:2; Compare also Jeremiah 21:13, where Jerusalem is called a "valley").

Heb. nahal, a wady or water-course (Genesis 26:19; Cant. 6:11).

VAL'LEY, n. plu. valleys. L. vallis. See Vale.

1. A hollow or low tract of land between hills or mountains.

2. A low extended plain, usually alluvial, penetrated or washed by a river. The valley of the Connecticut is remarkable for its fertility and beauty.

Ye mountains, sink; ye valleys, rise; prepare the Lord his way.

3. In building, a gutter over the sleepers in the roof of a building.