Day 3 – Wednesday, June 15: Gezer, Beth Shemesh, Socoh, Gath, Libnah, Lachish, Beersheba
Today was our first full day here in Israel. We spent the day in the Shephelah (Lowlands) of Judah. The weather was pleasant, with highs in the mid 80s, with very clear visibilities. We read from Psalm 100 as we left the hotel at 7:35.
Gezer
Our first site was Tel Gezer, a Canaanite and Israelite city located along the Aijalon Valley. Here we saw impressive Canaanite fortifications (tower, city gate, walls), the water system (we climbed down a new stairway), and the Solomonic Gate (1 Kings 9).
Beth Shemesh
Located along the Sorek Valley, Beth Shemesh was our next stop. We climbed the tel (ancient mound) to see Zorah (on the northern side of the valley, the home of Samson), and Timnah (about 4 miles west, the home of Samson’s first wife). We referenced the stories of Samson (Judges 13-16), and read from 1 Samuel 6 about the return of the Ark of the Covenant from nearby Ekron. We could see these stories come alive before our very eyes!
Socoh
Continuing driving southward to the Elah Valley, we climbed the site of Socoh. From this high unexcavated Judean city, we could see the story of David and Goliath come to life (1 Samuel 17). David came to the battlefield from the Bethlehem in the Hill Country of Judah to the east. After David killed Goliath, the Israelites chased the Philistines to Gath and Ekron.
Gath
The hometown of Goliath was Gath (Tel es-Safi). Located along the western side of the Elah Valley only about six miles west of Azekah, we saw some of the recent excavations. Some in the group also climbed to the top of the site of this 125 acre site. The view was very good.
“Today was our first full day. We saw a lot of sites, many of which were off-the-beaten-path. Didn’t see a single tourist at any of these sites. We walked up and down these sites too, but what an incredible first day.”
Tel Burna/Libnah
Following a brief lunch stop at a gas station at Beit Guvrin, we hiked to the top of Tel Burna identified as Libnah. While the site was overgrown with weeds and thistles, we managed to see portions of the wall and gate in “Area G” of the site. Libnah is mentioned in Joshua 10 (defeated by Joshua), 2 Kings 19 (it revolted against Judah), and Isaiah 37 (a city later taken by the Assyrians in 701 BC).
Lachish
Our last site of the day was Lachish. This was a Canaanite city taken by Joshua in two days (Joshua 10). At the end of the 8th century BC, the city was destroyed by Sennecherib, the Assyrian King. We saw the siege ramp that was built to aid in the conquering of this well-fortified Judean city. We climbed the site to the outer gate where the famous Lachish Letters (ostraca) were found. We read “Letter #4” corresponding to Jeremiah 34:7. In the inner gate of the city a two-horned altar was found. Also a stone toilet was discovered in the same chamber, perhaps for the purpose of desecrating this cultic practice. We also climbed to the top of the palace (probably built by Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:9).
Beersheba
Leaving Lachish we drove about 50 minutes to Beersheba. We checked into our hotel, enjoyed dinner together, and then gathered for a brief time of worship and preparing for the next two days.
Day 4 – Thursday, June 16: Be’er Sheva, Sde Boker, Zin Desert, Machtesh Ramon, Arad, Judean Desert/Hanokdim
