We leave the Mediterranean coast today and head inland to a couple extremely important sites in the Shephelah (the low rolling hill country). Our first stop is the site of Azekah, from which we gain commanding views over Philistine Gath (hometown of Goliath) and the fabled Elah Valley where David met this giant. From here we head to Lachish, a key site of conflict between the kingdom of Judah and the Assyrian Empire. Continuing south, we move into the region of the arid Negev and visit Beersheba, where the Patriarchs roamed. From Beersheba we traverse the Negev and arrive at our hotel in the city of Arad for dinner and overnight.

We start this day with a visit to ancient Arad, which was a fortress for the kingdom of Judah and which connects to Edomite incursions mentioned in the prophetic book of Obadiah, among others. Next, we head south into the great wilderness to get a sense of the landscape through which the Israelites wandered and through which the lucrative spice trade of Jesus’ day flowed.

An early morning sees us arriving at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the traditional location of Jesus’ birth. This stop is followed by a visit to the Herodium, a fortress built by Herod the Great, and his burial place. Following this, we head to the Israel Museum where we will visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed, and the archaeological wing, to see the greatest discoveries from Israel from every period of history. A late lunch precedes a free afternoon to explore the Old City of Jerusalem. And a voluntary trip to the Western (Wailing) Wall in the evening provides an amazing Sabbath experience.

We explore the famous Temple Mount before visiting the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a lame man (John 5). Then we walk to the Garden of Gethsemane before taking in a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. The afternoon is free to explore the Old City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel in Jerusalem.

Today we explore Jerusalem’s oldest part, the City of David, where the kings of Judah resided. From David’s possible palace we will climb through Hezekiah’s Tunnel before entering the Pool of Siloam from the days of Jesus. From here we climb the monumental staircase built in the Tyropoean Valley before entering the ancient sewers where Jews sought to escape Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. We arrive at the archaeological park at the southwest corner of the Herodian Temple Platform and enjoy the monumental nature not only of this structure, but of numerous other structures from the days of Solomon to the 8th c. AD. A stop at the Wohl Museum to see a mansion from the 1st c. AD is followedby exploration of the Jewish Quarter and ultimately a tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional location of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel in Jerusalem.

We head north to the coastal site of Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s elaborate port city and location of Paul’s incarceration while awaiting shipment to Rome. Next,
we head to Elijah’s monastery to recount his famous battle with the prophets of Baal and to look out over the Jezreel Valley and Lower Galilee. Then we explore Megiddo, Armageddon of the New Testament, before crossing the Jezreel Valley to end up at Mt. Precipice just east of Nazareth. This is the traditional location where Jesus was accosted and almost thrown down by an angry mob. Time permitting, we will also climb the Horns of Hattin, overlooking the battlefield between Muslims and Crusaders on July 4, 1187. We check-in to our hotel near the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.