Men dressed in white and wearing ancient tarbooka drums around their necks stand on the edges of the ancient hills of the Shomron. Then the sound of the shofar breaks the silence, and with its blast, a pack of runners begin their journey through the lavish orchards, aromatic vineyards and layers of voluptuous greenery that was once—and is still today—the heart of Israel.
The event is the Bible Marathon. This year, it will take place on Friday, Sept. 28, with the same Israeli flags, balloons and loads of energy that has marked the modern version of this ancient running challenge for the past four years.
The full marathon route runs from Rosh Ha'ayin (Eben Ezer in the Bible) to Shiloh, as described in the book of Samuel.
Shortly after the Jews entered the land of Israel, they fought a battle against the Philistines.
Click here to read the rest of this article.