Day 4 – Tuesday, May 10: Boat Ride/Ancient Boat, Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Syrian Border, Katzrin, Hippos/Sussita
Today was another ideal sunny day, with temps in the 70s. Many more biblical connections were made from both the Old and New Testaments.
Boat Ride/Ancient Boat
Following breakfast, we walked to the dock where our boat was waiting for us. The morning was quiet on the lake (the Sea of Galilee). We enjoyed a brief time of worship and reflection. We read from Mark 4 and Matthew 14 about the two storm narratives.
Tel Dan
We drove north along the Huleh Valley to get to our first site of the day, Tel Dan. We walked through the nature preserve and the largest tributary of the Jordan River. We enjoyed Shlomo playing his recorder along the waters of the Dan Spring. We also read and sang Psalm 42. Walking to the archaeological site, on the steps of the High Place we read from Judges 18 and 1 Kings 12. Leaving the site we saw the Middle Bronze mud-brick gate and the ruins of the walls and gates of the 9th century BC city.
Caesarea Philippi
On the slopes of the Golan Heights is Caesarea Philippi. During the Roman Period, this pagan city had a temples dedicated to Augustus, Pan, Zeus, and Nemesis. We read Matthew 16 by the impressive waters that flowed from the Banias Spring here. The question, “Who do you say I am?” served as a “final exam” for Jesus’ disciples.
Bental
Driving to the NE corner of Israel, we ascended to the top of Bental, an old military outpost. The very clear visibility allowed us to see the entire Sea of Galilee to the south. We also were able to see far across the border into Syria. Mt. Hermon towered to the north (Psalm 133).
“It was another great day here in Israel. We headed north to the Lebanon and Syrian borders. The weather was perfect. We saw far across the borders. We also enjoyed a few longer walks today.”
Katzrin
From here we drove south on the plateau of the Golan Heights to Katzrin, a Talmudic Village (3rd-7th centuries AD). Among the ruins we saw the synagogue and other house structures. Sitting together in a completely restored stone house, we read from Luke 11 and Mark 2 (the paralytic). These were events in Jesus’ ministry that we could picture happening!
Hippos/Sussita
Our last stop of the day was to one of the Decapolis cities, Hippos (Sussita). On our way to this site we made a brief stop to the one and only cliff area on the eastern side where the Mark 5 story took place. As we arrived at Hippos, we walked through this impressive Roman city. About five Byzantine churches have been excavated here. With a great view of the Sea of Galilee, we read from Mark 5. The demonic man was delivered by Jesus and transformed to be a proclaimer of the kingdom!
We returned to Nof Ginnosar for dinner and a free evening. It was a great second day!
Day 5 – Wednesday, May 11: Arbel, Yardenit, Magdala, Chorazim, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes
