Day 8 – Saturday, January 11: Gamla, Bental, Caesarea Philippi, Dan
Today we spent the day in the Golan Heights. This region extends 38 miles east from the southern end of the Sea of Galilee up to the slopes of Mt. Hermon and the Syrian border. Sunny skies were enjoyed all day long again, with temps in the 60s, although a little cooler near Mt. Bental. We left the hotel after another hearty breakfast at 7:35, reading Mark 8.
Gamla
We drove around the northern part of the lake and began our ascent to the Golan Heights. As we climbed we stopped briefly to look down to the Plain of Bethsaida where the Feeding of the 5,000 took place (Luke 9). Once we arrived at Gamla, we walked to the overlook of this camel-hump shaped city. This was a city that was destroyed in 67 AD in the 1st Revolt against the Romans in 67 AD. Among the ruins discovered was a 1st century synagogue here where Jesus may have taught (Matthew 4). Many in the group made the hike down the steep pathway to see the synagogue. There is a high probability that Jesus taught here (Matthew 4 & 9).
Bental/Syrian Border
Continuing northward, we stopped for a brief stop to look over into Syria. We aimed to climb with the bus to the top of Mt. Mental, an old military outpost used in the 1967 war. However, it was closed. However, we had a nice view into Syria (including the city of Kuneitra) from down on the slopes of Bental. As of the last month or so, Israel now controls more of the buffer area, including the outskirts of Quneitra. They also control the highest peak of Mt. Hermon (9,200 feet). Leaving this viewpoint, we also visited the Valley of the Tears nearby. This was where a famous tank battle took place against the Syrians in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Caesarea Philippi
Driving past the snow-capped Mt. Hermon, we drove down off the Golan Heights to the Saar Falls. Although there was no water flowing, we enjoyed saklav, a unique warm drink of the Druze. We then continued to Caesarea Philippi.
This was a pagan city in the days of Jesus that included temples to Augustus, Zeus (Jupiter), and Nemesis. The Pan deity was especially honored here. It was good to see that recent excavations of the Augustus Temple revealed amazing mosaics and other structures. The Banias Spring begins here, one of the three tributaries of the Upper Jordan River. It was in the region of this city that Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16). We also recalled the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17) that took place perhaps on the slopes of Mt. Hermon, or further south (on Nimrod? Arbel?).
“We spent all day in the Golan today! We enjoyed incredible views, saw archaeological sites, and looked across both the Syrian and Lebanon borders! We were told by the folks at Gamla that we were the very first group to visit since the north sites were re-opened! All was perfectly calm and quiet here in the north!”
Tel Dan
Our last site of the day was Tel Dan. We walked through the beautiful nature preserve along the Dan Spring. We stopped by the water to read from Psalm 42. Shlomo also played a ballad on his recorder for us. We continued our walk to the culture center. Here, Jeroboam built an altar and set a golden calf on the high place. Sitting on the steps of the high place, we read from Judges 18 and 1 Kings 12. A pattern of disobedience here led to the end of Dan in 734 BC. We also overlooked the border with Lebanon. Before leaving, we saw the Canaanite mud brick gate (that was most likely a ceremonial gate built after the time of Abraham) and the Israelite gate complex (9th century BC).
We drove south along the Huleh Valley back to our hotel, passing the Canaanite city of Hazor on the way. Once again, we enjoyed a huge dinner and a free evening.
Day 9 – Sunday, January 12: Optional Sunrise Hike in Upper Galilee (“Hill 713”) Hippos, Capernaum, Chorazin
