God placed his nation Israel at the central strip of land that connected three continents. The deserts and mountains in that area make the lower plains along the Mediterranean coast the best trade and travel route. It was in this strategic place that God placed His people to represent His name before the nations. Since Tel Megiddo was the central fortress along the trade routes that cyphened through the coastline, whoever controlled that fortress controlled the wealth of all international trade and had an enormous opportunity to influence people from all over the known world of the time. Solomon understood the importance of this fortress, and he fortified the city and stationed men and horses there. Israel, however, never seemed to have understood nor faithfully stewarded the opportunity God gave them to influence the world with their worship of the one true God.
Tel Megiddo overlooks the wide, long valley of Megiddo - Armigeddon - the place where sin and rebellion will suffer their final defeat. Darren said that this valley has reverberated with the sound of more battles than any other place on earth. Across the valley, we could see Mt Gilboa upon whose slopes Saul and Jonathan died. Unfortunately, the air was too humid to clearly see a lot of the surrounding hills.
to be con't...