DAY 10 (DAY 5 OF ISRSEL TOUR) – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24: HIPPOS, BETH SHEAN, JERICHO, DEAD SEA FLOAT, ALMOG
Today we left the Sea of Galilee area and drove south to the the areas of Jericho and the Dead Sea. The weather was once again comfortable, with temps in the 70s. We had a mix of hazy sun in the morning and then partly cloudy in the afternoon. We read from portions of Matthew 13 and 14 as we loaded up the bus after breakfast and departed for our first site.
Hippos/Sussita
Driving around the northern end of the lake we passed by Bethsaida, the home of Peter, Andrew, and Phillip (John 1). This road took us to the eastern side where we made a brief stop at the possible cliff area where the demon-possessed boar/pigs ran into there lake (Mark 5). Close by is Hippos/Sussita, one of the Decapolis cities. The site is perched high on a hill overlooking the lake below. We walked through the site that began in the Hellenistic Period and saw a few Byzantine churches (4th-6th century AD). The ruins were impressive. Overlooking the lake (with only a hazy view), we read from the transformational story from Mark 5.
Beth Shean
Driving from here south of the Sea of Galilee and within the Jordan Valley, we came to Beth Shean. This massive Roman Decapolis city was the only one on the western side of the Jordan River. Upon arriving we saw many things from the Roman Period (e.g. the bathhouse, mosaics, colonnaded streets, the public latrenes, and the theater. Some in the group climbed up to the OT site where Saul’s body was hung in the town square (1 Samuel 31, 1 Chronicles 10). We walked to lunch from here.
“Israel is such a unique land. As we traveled south today to Jericho, it looks so much different than the area of the Galilee. Each region is so different. To see all the green vegetation and wild flowers everywhere is also something I did not expect to see.” (tour member)
Jericho
We drove about 75 minutes south along there Jordan Valley to Jericho. Located just north of the Dead Sea, we climbed this small site. Looking east towards the valley, we recalled the crossing of the river by the Israelites (Joshua 3-4), Elijah’s ascension to heaven and Elisha’s succession (2 Kings 2), and Jesus’ baptism (“Bethany Beyond the Jordan” – John 1). Looking westward, we recalled Jesus’ temptation in there Judean desert (Matthew 4), and Jesus’ encounters with Zacheaus (Luke 19) and Bartimaeus (Mark 10) at “New Testament” Jericho about 2 miles south of the OT site of Jericho. We then recalled the story of Joshua 6. We saw some of the mud bricks and the double retaining walls at the southern end. We rejoiced in the historicity and truth of God’s Word!
DAY 11 (DAY 6 OF ISRAEL TOUR) – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25: MASADA, EIN GEDI, QUMRAN, WILDERNESS OF JUDAH, JERUSALEM
