Ma’ayan Harod (the Spring of Harod) is where Gideon selected his 300 (Judges 7) warriors. According to the Book of Judges, God told Gideon his army of 32,000 was too large and instructed him to take the men to the spring. Those who knelt to drink were sent home. Those who lapped water from their hands, staying alert and watchful, were chosen. Three hundred men passed the test, and with them Gideon defeated the Midianite army camped across the valley.
The Spring
The spring emerges at the foot of Mount Gilboa and feeds a large natural pool surrounded by ancient trees. The park around the spring, Gan HaShlosha’s quieter neighbor, is a national park with walking trails, picnic areas, and the pool itself, which is swimmable and refreshing. The combination of biblical story and natural beauty makes it one of the most evocative sites in the valley.
Kibbutz Ein Harod
Adjacent to the spring is Kibbutz Ein Harod, founded in 1921 and one of the most historically important kibbutzim in Israel. The kibbutz was a center of the Labor Zionist movement and home to significant cultural institutions, including the Mishkan Museum of Art, one of the oldest art museums in Israel, with a collection that includes works by Israeli and international artists.
The kibbutz also houses the Museum of Pioneering and Agriculture, Beit Sturman, documenting the natural history and settlement of the Jezreel Valley.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Ma’ayan Harod and Ein Harod combine biblical history, pioneering heritage, and a refreshing swim. Hoshen Tours includes them in Jezreel Valley itineraries.