Day 5 – Saturday, November 5: Hippos, Qatzrin, Syrian Border, Caesarea Philippi, Dan, Misgav Am
Today we headed north to the Golan Heights. Thankfully, the bike race around the lake that was supposed to take place today was postponed until next Saturday. So we left the hotel following breakfast at 7:30 a.m. this morning. We read from Matthew 13 & 14 as we departed.
Hippos/Sussita
We first drove around the northern end of the lake before turning south on the eastern side. We made a brief stop at the lone cliff area on the eastern side where perhaps the story of Mark 5 took place. From here we ascended to the top of the site of Hippos/Sussita, one of the Decapolis cites. This is an impressive archaeological sites with ruins that date from the 2nd century BC to the 8th century AD. The ruins we saw were primarily from the Late Roman period. A number of Byzantine churches were discovered here. With a stunning view of the entire lake below us, we read from Mark 5 as we concluded our visit.
Katzrin
We drove north on the eastern side of the lake before turning east to Katzrin. A Talmudic Village was here (from about the 3rd-8th centuries AD). We saw a synagogue and other house structures. We then gathered in a completely-restored stone house where we read from Mark 2. We could see the story unfolding before our eyes!
Syrian Border
As we drover further north to the Syrian border, From here we could see over the border to a city inside Syria called Kuneitra. Shlomo still shared a brief word on the 1967 and 1973 wars that took place here, as well as the current situation in Syria. We enjoyed some apples here as well from a Druze farmer.
Caesarea Philippi/Banias
Driving through a few Druze towns, we could see Mt. Hermon at a distance. It is the highest peak in the region (Syria has a peak of 9,200, Israel 7,300, and Lebanon the lower northern slopes). We also passed by the Saar Waterfalls as we descended off the Golan Heights to the archaeological site of Caesarea Philippi. This was a very pagan city in the days of Jesus and through the Roman Period. The city enjoyed the waters of the Banias Spring, one of the three tributaries of the Jordan. We read from Matthew 16 where Jesus asked His disciples the “final exam” question, “Who do you say I am?” Among the ruins we saw what is left of the Temples of Augustus, Zeus/Jupiter, Nemesis, the Shrine of the Dancing Goats, and the niches dedicated to Pan, the promiscuous shepherding god of the Greeks and Romans.
“We traveled north today to the Golan Heights. The weather was perfect again as we visited both Old and New Testament sites. Looking across the borders of Syria and Lebanon was very interesting.”
Dan Nature Preserve & Archaeological Site
Our next site to visit was the nature preserve and Tel Dan. The Dan Spring served this ancient city originally called Laish. We walked along the river to a quite place where we heard Shlomo play a song on his recorder. We also enjoyed reading and singing Psalm 42 before we walked to the archaeological ruins of the high place. We read from Judges 18 and 1 Kings 12 about the patterns of disobedience displayed here. Leaving the site of Dan we saw the Israelite gate and where the famous Dan Inscription was found in July, 1993.
Misgav Am
We added an extra stop on our way back to the hotel. We drove up the hills of Naphtali to Misgav Am, a kibbutz on the border with Lebanon. We could see directly across the border here into the country of this northern neighbor of Israel. Shlomo shared some of the history and current situation with us.
We drove back to the hotel along the Sea of Galilee from here. We past by Hazor on the way (Joshua 11). At the hotel we enjoyed dinner together followed by a free evening.
Day 6 – Sunday, November 6: Beth Shean, Shiloh, Jericho, Dead Sea
