DAY 10 – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26: MT. CARMEL, CAESAREA, SHILOH, JUDEAN DESERT, JERUSALEM
Today was a rainy day off and on. We were blessed to have it rain while we were traveling and not at the sites we visited. The temps were in the 40s most of the day.
Mt. Carmel
We left our hotel and the Sea of Galilee area about 7:35. We read John 4 on the way. Our first destination was to Mt. Carmel, a mountain range overlooking the Jezreel Valley on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. Having special permission to get in to this chapel called Muhraha, we went to the roof top to see the Jezreel Valley. We also enjoyed reading Isaiah 35, Amos 9, Songs of Songs 7, and 1 Kings 18 here. This is where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal!
Caesarea
Next we descended down to the Sharon Plain to Caesarea. In the theater of this city built by Herod the Great in 22-10 BC, we read from Acts 10 (Peter), Acts 12 (Agrippa 1), Acts 21 (Philip), and Acts 26 (Paul). From here we walked across the city to see the palace, hippodrome, the location of the grand harbor, and the Crusader gate, wall, and mote. We also saw an impressive periphery (purple) statue. Before leaving the site we saw the aqueduct.
Shiloh
The rain started again as we drove into the Hill Country of Ephraim to Shiloh. When we arrived, it stopped, allowing us to climb this site. It was cold but dry! The Tabernacle once stood here for over 300 years. It was destroyed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). We watched a short movie about the events that took place here. We also read from 1 Samuel 3 (the call of Samuel) and Jeremiah 7.
“While it was sort of sad to leave the Sea of Galilee area, I’m am excited to arrive in Jerusalem! We have learned so very much so far on this trip, with so many biblical connections. It will be unique to see snow here in Jerusalem as predicted tonight.”
Desert of Parath & Wadi Qelt
Driving south and east, we descended into the Judean Desert. What a view of this arid region, with a few rainbows as well! We read 1 Samuel 13-14 and Jeremiah 13 on the way down to the bottom of the Parath canyon. We saw a bunch of gazelles too! Overlooking the Wadi Qelt, we heard “Isaiah” proclaim “Prepare the way for the Lord” from Isaiah 40.
Jerusalem
Ascending now to Jerusalem, we entered this magnificent city and saw our first glimpse of the Temple Mount and the Old City. We checked into our hotel and enjoyed an early dinner. Following dinner, some braved the cold rain (predicted to change to all snow through the night) and walked to the Western Wall.
DAY 11 – THURSDAY, JANUARY 27: HERODIUM, BETHLEHEM, MT. OF OLIVES, OLD CITY
