Day 4 – Tuesday, September 13: Hippos/Susita, Qatzrin, Syrian Border, Caesarea Philippi, Dan, Upper Galilee View from Hill 713
Today was another typical September sunny day, with comfortable temps in the 80s, and even a bit cooler up in the Golan Heights. We enjoyed a great breakfast once again. Leaving the hotel at 7:20, we read Matthew 4 as we drove to our first site.
Hippos
Our first 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. As we walked up to the site, we notice a team of Israelis looking for mines laid in previous years. As we were told, they found several of them and after we left the site they were going to detonate them. On top of the site are the ruins of about five Byzantine churches. Coming down off the site, and 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!
Katzrin
From here we drove north 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 Mark 2 (the paralytic). These were events in Jesus’ ministry that we could picture happening!
Syrian Border
Driving to the NE corner of Israel, we ascended to the the border with Syria. We could clearly look across the border and see the UN headquarters as well as Kuentra, an abandoned Syrian town. The civil war in Syria ended a few years ago.
Caesarea Philippi
From this northeastern border we now turn west. We past by Mt. Hermon, a high mountain owned by three countries (Syria, Israel, and Lebanon) We read from Psalm 42, 89, 133 and Song of Songs 4. On the slopes of the Golan Heights is Caesarea Philippi. This was our next stop. During the Roman Period, this pagan city had a temples and shrines dedicated to Augustus, Pan, Zeus, and Nemesis. We read Matthew 16 by the waters that flowed from the Banias Spring here. The question, “Who do you say I am?” served as a “final exam” for Jesus’ disciples.
“Today was our second full day here in Israel. We traveled to the most northern parts of Israel. There were many biblical connections once again made with what we saw today. I especially loved the view of the Galilee at the end of the day.”
Dan
Close by on the north end of the Huleh Valley is the 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. Above the high place provided us the opportunity to look across the border into Lebanon. Next, we saw the area where Dr. John excavated this past summer. They found primarily ruins from the 9th and 8th centuries BC. 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. The famous and most-important Dan Inscription was found just outside this Iron Age / Israelite gate in July, 1993.
Upper Galilee – “Hill 713”
Our last stop of the day was an extra one put into the day’s schedule. It included a 25 minute hike in the Upper Galilee (near Mt. Merom) to a wonderful lookout called “Hill 713” by Dr. John’s old Jerusalem professor (Jim Monson). The view was spectacular! We could see the entire width of northern Israel. This included the Golan Heights, the entire Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, Arbel, Horns of Hattin, the top of Mt. Tabor (in the Jezreel Valley), Mt Gilboa, and the Carmel Range.
We returned to the hotel for a late dinner and a free evening.
Day 5 – Wednesday, September 14: Arbel, Yardinet, Kinneret Cemetery, Magdala, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride
