Runners from around the world will revive the first marathon in history this April during the world’s first-ever Bible Marathon in Israel.

Taking place April 9, the 27.2-mile run traces the route of one of the first runs recorded in human history, from Rosh Ha’ayin to the ancient city of Shiloh in the hill country north of Jerusalem.

Long before the Greek reference to “marathon” was recorded in the 5th century B.C., the Bible’s Book of Samuel details “a man of Benjamin” who ran from the battlefield in Eben Ezer, located in modern day Rosh Ha’ayin, to Shiloh in order to inform a priest about Israel’s defeat in the war, the falling of his sons and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant.

Many centuries later, the founder of the Maccabiah games, Yosef Yekutieli, measured the length of the course from Rosh Ha’ayin to Shiloh, finding the length of the historic path precisely measured that of the modern marathon — 27.2 miles, the official length of the Olympic running contest, determined in 1908 at the London Olympics.

Runners and spectators will renew the spirit of the historic Biblical run with a huge athletic event culminating in an exciting EXPO event among the ruins and mosaics of ancient Shiloh.

Runners from throughout Israel and the world can register for the event online.