The Israel Tour Itinerary:

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 30: Caesarea, Megiddo, Mt. Gilboa, Precipice of Nazareth, Tiberias

Today was our first full day here in Israel. We are all excited to engage with the Bible and the primary land where biblical events took place. The day’s weather was warm and partly sunny in the morning. In the afternoon it was overcast. After a wonderful full breakfast, we loaded the bus and left about 7:30. We read Psalm 100 as we drove north to our first site. We also learned the song, “Oh, the Sun’s Coming Up.” ????

Caesarea Maritima

We drove north in the Sharon Plain to get to our first site, Caesarea Maritima. It was a city built between 22-10 BC by Herod the Great.We started the the theater where we read portions of Acts 8, 9, 10, 12, 21, and 26. Peter, Phillip, and Paul were all here sharing their faith in Christ. Among the ruins the praetorium (palace, where we saw a replica of the Pilate Inscription found in 1961 in secondary use), hippodrome, and the area of the harbor. We then entered the Crusader part of the city. We ascended to the top for a great view of the harbor below. Before leaving the site, we also saw the aqueduct that brought fresh water into Caesarea from the Carmel Range.

Carmel Range

Leaving Caesarea, we drove to the top of the Carmel Range (or Mt. Carmel). This range separates the Sharon Plain with the Jezreel Valley. On the way, we once again (for Memorial Day) stopped the bus and stood in silence as the sirens sounded at 11 a.m. throughout the country in honor of the fallen. At Muhraqa (“burnt offering), we had a great view of the valley below. We read from Isaiah 35, Amos 1 and 9, and Song of Songs 7. The primary story connected with Elijah the the Carmel Range comes from 1 Kings 18. In the open courtyard of this place they have a wonderful display of flowers as well! Following our time here, we enjoyed lunch at a nearby restaurant owned by a wonderful Druze family!

Megiddo

After lunch, we descended to the edge of the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, an archaeological site that has about 25 levels of occupation that span 2,500 years! After seeing a model of the tel (ancient mound), we walked to the top of this Canaanite/Israelite site. We saw two Canaanite gate complexes, the gate, stables and palace area of Solomon (1 Kings 9:15), a sacrificial altar (Canaanite), and a grain silo. The also enjoyed a great view of the surrounding hills from here and the valley itself (Revelation 16:16). We left the site through the impressive water system that was designed and engineered to safely bring water into the city. It was remarkable to descend down and up through this amazing engineering project.

Tel Jezreel & Mt. Gilboa

We left Megiddo and drove east.As we passed Tel Jezreel, we read from 1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 8-9. These stories reference Naboth (who had a vineyard), Joram, Jehu, and Jezebel. High up on the slopes of the Gilboa Range nearby we walked to a wonderful though hazy view of the Harod Valley. Looking east we could see Beth Shean. We read from 1 Samuel 31 about Saul and his three sons dying on Gilboa.

Precipice of Nazareth

To end the day we drove north across this broad part of the Jezreel Valley to get to the Precipice of Nazareth. The view from here of Mt. Tabor (Judges 4-5), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6-7, 2 Kings 4), Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), and even Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18) to the west was impressive! Unfortunately because of the haze we could not see the Hills of Gilead across the Jordan Valley to the east (in Jordan today). We considered the life of Jesus as we read from Luke 4 and John 1.

Tiberias/Sea of Galilee

It took about 50 minutes (past the modern Arab town of Cana, John 2 and 4) to arrive at our hotel in northern Tiberias (the Ron Beach Hotel). It is located along the western coastline of the Sea of Galilee. We enjoyed dinner here followed by free evening. Tonight begins “Independence Day” (Yom Haatzmaut) here in Israel. There was a celebration and fire works in Tiberias! The State of Israel is now 77 years old!

Day 4 – Thursday, May 1: Ancient Boat, Katzrin, Ben Tal (Syrian Border), Caesarea Philippi, Dan, Misgav Am (Lebanon Border)

Today was our second full day here in Israel. We spent the entire day in the Golan Heights in the northern area of the country. The weather was a bit cooler today, with highs in the 70s. Some of the haze of yesterday dissipated, allowing us to enjoy partly sunny skies. We read from Matthew 4 as we left the hotel at 7:30 following breakfast.

Ancient Boat

We started our day by driving north along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee to the Nof Ginnosar Kibbutz. Here, an ancient boat (called the “Jesus Boat”) is displayed. This was a 1st century wooden vessel discovered in 1986 by two brothers of the kibbutz here.

Katzrin

Next, we drove around the northern part of the Sea of Galilee, passing by a number of traditional sites connected with Jesus. At the northern end of there lake is Bethsaida, the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1). We finally arrived at Katzrin, the largest city in the Golan Heights. We visited the  Talmudic Village that is here (from about the 3rd-8th centuries AD). We saw good examples of olive presses, the 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! Before leaving Katzrin, we enjoyed visiting an olive oil factory.

Ben Tal/Syrian Border

From here we drove further north (and a bit east) to Ben Tal, an old Israeli military establishment overlooking the Syrian border, From the lower slopes below Ben Tal we could see over the border to a city inside Syria called Kuneitra. Shlomo shared some details about the 1967 and 1973 wars against the Syrians. Today, Israel has expanded their control of some areas in Syria for the purpose of security.

Mt. Hermon

Driving through a few Druze towns we passed by Mt. Hermon. It is the highest peak in the region, with an elevation 9,200 feet (Lebanon controls the lower western slopes). In the winter months, the mountain has snow. Mt. Hermon is mentioned a few places in the Bible (Psalm 42, 84, 133; Song of Songs 4).

Caesarea Philippi/Banias

Descending down of the Golan Heights, we stopped at 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 at the Grotto once stood 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. Six days later, Jesus was transfigured (perhaps somewhere on the lower slopes of Mt. Hermon, Matthew 17).

Dan Nature Preserve & Archaeological Site

Nearby a short distance to the west is the Nature Preserve and and archaeological site of Tel Dan. The Dan Spring served this ancient city originally called Laish. We walked along the river to a quite place where we recalled Psalm 42 (“as the deer pants for water…”) 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. Looking north, Mickey shared briefly about the border with Lebanon. Leaving the site of Dan we saw the a mud-brick Middle Bronze gate (seen by Abraham?) and the Iron Age/Israelite gate and where the famous Dan Inscription was found in July, 1993.

Misgav Am/Lebanon Border

Our last stop of the day was to Misgav Am, a community overlooking the Lebanon border. The view into Lebanon was outstanding. Again, Shlomo shared some modern history about Lebanon and the challenge that Hezbollah has posed over the years. To see the total destruction by the IDF of Lebanese towns where Hezbollah were entrenched (and from where they shot 1000s of rockets into Israel) was incredible to see!

We returned back to our hotel for another incredible dinner (and the amazing gooey chocolate dessert HA) and a free evening.

Day 5 – Friday, May 2: Arbel, Yardenit (Jordan River Baptism), Kinneret Cemetery, Magdala, Khirbet Cana, “Hill 713”

Today was another day here in northern Israel. We spent the entire day around the Sea of Galilee, with the exception of this afternoon. The weather was a beautiful, with mostly sunny skies and highs around 80. We read from Matthew 13 (the kingdom parables) as we left the hotel at 7:30 once again following breakfast.

Mt. Arbel

We drove north about 10 minutes and arrived at the trailhead that leads to the top of Mt. Arbel, a mountain on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Five in the group choose to hike the challenging trail that ascended to the top, while the others drove around the back side and walked to the top from the visitor center. Even though it was a bit hazy, the view of the lake from the top was spectacular. As we all gathered on top, we read from Matthew 5 (the “Beatitudes”). While there is a traditional Catholic location for the Mt. of Beatitudes, perhaps the lower slopes of Arbel may have been the place where Jesus about. The kingdom proclamation of Jesus was His “go-to” message throughout His ministry! Additionally, while we can’t know for sure, it could have been the top of this cliff where Jesus met His disciples after His resurrection and shared the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28). After walking down to the visitor center, we were treated to ice cream (thanks Amiel Tour) before getting back on the bus.

Yardenit/Jordan River Baptism

Next, we drove to the southern end of the lake where the Lower Jordan begins. Here, 12 in the group reaffirmed their faith in baptism in the Jordan River at a place called Yardenit. Jesus Himself was baptized at Bethany Beyond the Jordan located further south across from Jericho (John 1). The experience was special for all of us!

Kinneret Cemetery

From the southern end of the lake we now drove north along the southwestern shoreline of the lake. We included an extra stop at the Kinneret Cemetery. This is where an early Jewish pioneer woman named “Rachel” is buried. Shlomo shared about her life. She was an Ukrainian Jew who wrote poems, some of which were put to songs. She died in 1931.

Magdala

From here we drove north of Tiberias to the Plain of Genesseret. Before our tasty fish lunch, we visited the ancient city of Magdala. This was a large Jewish city in the days of Jesus. We saw a modest 1st century synagogue here. Although the city is only mentioned once (the end of Matthew 15), Jesus must have taught here. We  saw a few more ritual baths as well.

Khirbet Cana (Biblical Cana)

Following lunch, we drove back to Tiberias for those who wanted to enjoy the afternoon back at the hotel. The rest of us (22) drove west towards the Lower Galilee. We then made our way through the narrow streets of the Arab city of Arrabe to get us to the northern side of the Beit Netofa Valley. We then took a dirt road to get to Khirbet Cana. When we arrived, we climbed up to the top of this very “off the beaten path” archaeological site. The visibility was excellent!While standing in what was possibly a 1st century synagogue, we remembered the story from John 2 about Jesus turning water into wine here and the story from John 4. We were only the sixth “DeLancey group” to ever to come here. No doubt no other groups come here let alone they know where this true site of Cana is located!  🙂  It was quite an adventure! 

“Hill 713” (Mitzpe Ha-Yammim)

After coming down from Cana, we drove to “Hill 713” (Mitzpe Ha-Yammim, the “view of two seas”) in the Upper Galilee (part of the Merom Range) for late afternoon hike (.8 miles one way), overlooking the entire Sea of Galilee and Lower Galilee areas. The visibility was excellent, allowing us to see the entire width of the land of Israel!

We drove back to the hotel for a late dinner and another free evening.

Day 6 – Saturday, May 3: Hippos, Gamla, Capernaum, Boat Ride

Today was our third full day here in the north. Once again, our focus was upon Jesus and His ministry here in this region. The weather was again beautiful, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 80s. We read portions from Matthew 5-7 (“Sermon on the Mount”) as we left the hotel at 7:30 once again following breakfast.

Hippos/Sussita

We traveled around the south end of the lake, passing by the southern Jordan River. Located on the southeast corner of the lake is Hippos/Sussita. Here at Hippos (a Decapolis city), we saw many Roman ruins. During the Byzantine Period (4th-6th centuries AD), there were no less than a half a dozen churches were built here. With a great view of the lake, we read the transformational story of the demoniac from Mark 5 (which most likely happened down near the lakeshore a bit further north).

Gamla

Next, we drove north on this eastern side of the lake. We made a brief stop at the only cliff area on this side before ascended into the Golan Heights. We made a second brief stop at a wonderful overlook of the area of Bethsaida (the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip, see John 1). We read from Mark 8 (blind man from Bethsaida) and Luke 9 (Feeding of the 5,000, which took place in a “remote place” near Bethsaida). On the plateau of the Heights we arrived at Gamla. We saw a number of gazelles on the way! Gamla was a Jewish city that played a significant role in the First Revolt (66 AD). The Romans came here and defeated the city run 67 AD. Seven in the group walked down (and then back up) the difficult trail to the excavations far below. We entered the 1st century synagogue where we remembered Jesus teaching in synagogues like this (Matthew 9). Even though Gamla is not mentioned in the Gospels, there is a high probability that Jesus taught from this rectangular synagogue!

Capernaum

Our last archaeological site of the day,  Capernaum, is located on the NW corner of the lake. This Jewish town served as Jesus’ “home base” for His Galilean ministry. In the late 4th/early 5th century synagogue we read from Mark 1, 2; Luke 7; and John 6. We also saw the Byzantine church, octagonal in shape, that dates to about the same time period. This ancient church surrounds a 1st century house structure suggested, by tradition and archaeology, to be Peter’s house. Down on the lakeshore, we read from Luke 8 and Mark 9. Serving in Christ’s kingdom requires a heart of humility and servanthood. We enjoyed some reflective time here before leaving.

Boat Ride

Our last stop of the day was to Nof Ginnosar we we embarked on our hour-long boat ride. Being out on the water was inspirational! Pastor John (from Georgia) shared the stories of Matthew 14 and Mark 4 with us. Jesus cares for us, especially when we encounter the “storms” of life.

Sailing back to the dock, we returned to the shoreline, boarded our bus, and drove back to our hotel in Tiberias. It was a great day of focusing upon Jesus!

Day 7 – Sunday, May 4: Beth Shean, Shiloh, Jericho, Al Mog

We checked out of our hotel in Tiberias today. It’s been a great three full days and four nights here in the north end of the country. Following breakfast, we loaded the bus at 7:20 and departed at about 7:30. We read from Luke 15 as we departed. Our final destination for the day would be the southern end of the Dead Sea. The weather was about the same as the last few days, with partly sun skies and highs around 80 again (a little cooler at Shiloh). In the afternoon, however, we actually had a few sprinkles of rain. It would actually rain hard in other parts of Israel, including the Negev and Dead Sea areas. More about this below! 🙂

Beth Shean

We drove south through Tiberias and then through the upper Jordan Valley to Beth Shean, the only city of the Decapolis on the west side of the Jordan. Beth Shean is a massive archaeological site, primarily Roman. Here we saw the Roman bathhouse, the colonnaded street, and public latrines, and the impressive theater. Some in the group climbed about 190 steps to the Old Testament site where Saul’s body was hung on the walls of the town square (1 Samuel 31, 1 Chronicles 10). The view from on top of the Roman city below was amazing! This site was overwhelmingly impressive!

Shiloh

Next, we drove into the Hill Country of Ephraim to Shiloh. On the way, we drove throw the Hill Country of Samaria. When we arrived, we made our way up this ancient site where the Tabernacle once stood here for over 300 years. It was destroyed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). We watched a short movie about the events that took place here. We also read from 1 Samuel 3 (the call of Samuel) and Jeremiah 7. Among the ruins we saw a massive Middle Bronze wall that was incorporated into the Israelite site. Other structures, including perhaps the Holy of Holies area (as proposed by archaeologist Dr. Scott Stripling) could also be seen. It was young Samuel who said, “Hineni” (“Here I am!”) when God called Him into service.

Jericho

The next part of the drive from Shiloh was again unique. We drove past Ai (Joshua 7-8) and Mishmash (1 Samuel 13-14) on our way through the Parat Desert (Jeremiah 13). This is in the heart of the Judean Desert. We finally arrived at Jericho at the southern end of the Jordan Valley and enjoyed maqluba, an Arab dish of chicken and rice cooked upside-down. The salads were also wonderful! We then climbed the site of ancient Jericho (called Tel es-Sultan). We first looked east across the Jordan to recall a few biblical connections (e.g. Moses, Mt. Nebo, Dt. 31; Joshua crossing the river (Joshua 3), Elijah & Elisha (2 Kings 2), and Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3). We then saw an old stone tower that predates even Abraham and a small portion of the city wall on the southern end. Mud-bricks and a burn level could also be seen in a few places. We recalled the Joshua 6 story how the city was defeated (and burned) by the Israelites. Praise God for the historicity of the Bible as it happened just as recorded and confirmed by archaeology!

Al Mog

Unique things can happen here in Israel. Even though we are in the month of May, heave rains hit the Negev (southern Israel), causing a flash-flood warning along Route 90. This closed the entire road along the western coastline of the Dead Sea. So our wonderful Amiel agent (Reut) helped arrange another hotel (Al Mog) for us just outside of Jericho. Before arriving at this “kibbutz-hotel,” we first stopped at a gas station to pick up snacks for the evening (no dinner was being served here tonight). We were all full from a huge late lunch at Jericho anyway! So thankful for everyone’s flexible spirits in dealing with this sudden change.  We of course hope Rt. 90 is open tomorrow so we can visit Masada, Ein Gedi, and Qumran.

Day 8 – Monday, May 5: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Bethlehem, Shepherd’s Fields, Herodium

We woke today to find out the the road along the Dead Sea to Masada was still closed because of flash floods. So we decided to switch around our days. As a result, we headed west “up” to Jerusalem. The weather this morning was a mix of clouds and with a few rain showers actually, but the sun was full this afternoon. Highs were about 70. We read from Psalm 122 and 125 as we left Al Mog for Jerusalem and the Mt. of Olives.

Jerusalem / Mt. of Olives

We approached the Mt. of Olives from the east, seeing Bethany and Bethpage along the way. Once we crested this mountain range, we enjoyed a spectacular panoramic of Jerusalem! We looked across the Kidron Valley to the Old City and Temple Mount. From here we walked down the slope to Dominus Flavet. Here, we read recalled the Palm Sunday story (Luke 19), the passion of Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22), Christ’s ascension (Acts 1), and the return of Christ (Zechariah 14). Today’s Eastern Gate was also in full view (Ezekiel 44). Jesus probably walked in the original gate following the Palm Sunday event. With showers in the area, we even saw a rainbow over the Old City! Continuing down the steep slope we entered just the garden area of the Church of All Nations (the traditional Garden of Gethsemane) where we saw very old olive trees.

Israel Museum

David picked us up at the bottom of the Mt. of Olives. We drove to the western part of Jerusalem to the Israel Museum. First, we saw the Shrine of the Book where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. Next, we viewed the 1:50 scale model of 2nd Temple Jerusalem. This was very helpful to understand what Jerusalem looked like at the time of Jesus. Finally, we went through the archaeological wing of the museum where we saw some of the “highlight artifacts” that relate to the Bible.

Day 9 – Tuesday, May 6: Yad Vashem, Shephelah: Gezer, Beth Shemesh, Lachish, Socoh, Jerusalem

Today began with a very solemn visit to Israel’s Holocaust Museum & Memorial and ended with a fun and inspiring visit of the Elah Valley where David defeated Goliath and the Philistines. The weather was perfect, with sunny skies and high temps in the 70s. Our morning jackets were quickly shed as it warmed up. We read from Psalm 137 as we left the hotel at 7:30. Shlomo also sang the psalm in Hebrew for us.

Yad Vashem

Our first stop in the morning required us to drive to West Jerusalem. Here we visited the Israel’s Holocaust Museum & Memorial. It is called Yad Vashem, named after a verse in Isaiah 56:5 that mentions the “memorial and a name.” Among a section called The Avenue of the Righteous, we first heard the personal story from Shlomo about his family during this tragic event. He lost 12 family members in Vilna, Poland (pictured). This included four first cousins. We then walked through the Children’s Memorial and the museum itself. It was a somber experience recalling the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of six million Jews.

Gezer

In the late morning, we descended west to the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah. Our first stop was Tel Gezer. Located on the Aijalon Valley, this was both a Canaanite and Israelite city, full of walls, towers, and gates. We saw the replica of the “Gezer Calendar.” We also recalled Ecclesiastes 3 about the “seasons of life.” From the observation mound we saw the Aijalon Valley mentioned in Joshua 10 (i.e. the sun standing still over the Valley of Aijalon….) Among the Middle Bronze ruins many of us used the new steel stairway down to the bottom of the water system (175 steps down). This water system was originally used by Canaanites. We then left these Canaanite ruins and continued to the Israelite (Iron Age) area to see ancient house structures and a chambered gate dating to Solomon (1 Kings 9). Walking back to the bus we saw the Canaanite high place and standing stones.

Beth Shemesh

From here we continued south to visit the site of Beth Shemesh. Located along the Sorek Valley, Beth Shemesh was a prominent Israelite town known for their many water cisterns. Across the valley is Zorah, the hometown of Samson (Judges 13-16). Further west down the valley was the Philistine city of Timnah where Samson’s first wife was from (only 3.5 miles away). We also read the narrative of 1 Samuel 6 about the Ark of the Covenant being returned to Israel by the Philistines living in Ekron. We could see the story unfold right before our very eyes! The battle between Amaziah and Joash also took place here (2 Chronicles 25).

Lachish

In the southern Shephelah is Lachish. This was our next stop. Lachish was a Canaanite city taken by Joshua in two days (Joshua 10). Later, it became an important well-fortified city under the leadership of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11). The Judean city saw two destructions, one at the hands of the Assyrians in 701 BC (2 Kings 20, Isaiah 36), and later by the Babylonians in 587 BC. Before climbing the tel, we first saw the newly-completed Visitor Center. We saw a replica of the war relief of the battle (the real one is in the British Museum in London) and we watched a wonderful video about the site, including the famous Assyrian siege of the city. Climbing the site, we saw a replica of the Lachish Letter #4, one of about 18-20 ostraca (pottery with inscriptions). It mentions Azekah and Lachish as two Judean cities holding out. Jeremiah 34:7 says the same thing. Also among the ruins we saw the double walls and gates, the Assyrian siege ramp, and the palace.

Socoh

In the late afternoon on our way back to Jerusalem, we climbed some of the site of Tel Socoh. This ancient city located along the heart of the Elah Valley has been not excavated, yet it is mentioned in the story of 1 Samuel 17 (the Philistines camped on the ride between Azekah and Socoh). It was in the narrow part (in Hebrew, gai) of the valley where David battled Goliath. David faced the battle with this giant in the confidence of the Lord! We can face our battles with the same confidence!

We returned back to the Hill Country of Judah by taking a unique two-land road back to Jerusalem and our hotel. Following dinner, we enjoyed a free evening on our own.

Day 10 – Wednesday, May 7: Old City Jerusalem, Qumran, Dead Sea, Judean Desert/Wadi Qelt, Old City Jerusalem

Today we began and ended the day in Jerusalem. In between, we would return to the Judean Desert since the road (Route 90) finally opened, but only to Qumran. The rains now have past (probably for the next 5 months or so). However at Ein Gedi the road was heavily damaged and the repair is not yet finished, thus not allowing us further south. But at least we could reach Qumran and the Dead Sea. It was a sunny day with warmer temps, around 90 at the Dead Sea. We read from Psalm 18 as we departed the hotel this morning at 7:30 a.m.

Old City – Eastern Gate, Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Church

We drove to the NE corner of the Old City and walked to the Eastern Gate. This gate has been closed since 810 AD, with it open only a short time during the Crusader Period. It is also referred to as the Golden Gate. Its’ other name was the Shushan Gate (out of which the Escape Goat was taken to the Judean Desert). In 1969 an arch was found below the gate on the south side. This was probably a supporting arch for a staircase leading into the gate.

We then entered the Old City of Jerusalem through the St. Stephen’s Gate (also called the Lion’s and Jericho Gate) and went to the St. Anne’s Church. This is a Crusader Church that is known for it’s 7-8 second echo. We had the entire church to ourselves where we enjoyed singing a number of songs together. How incredible our worship was! On the same grounds is the Pool of Bethesda. We read John 5 while overlooking the steps of this double-pool. Following this visit, we walked back out of the Old City where David picked us up.

Qumran

We boarded the bus and drove east towards Jericho. Since both Ein Gedi and Masada were not accessible (Ein Gedi actually being damaged), we could only drive as far as Qumran. This is where the most significant discovery in all of Israel were found in 1947. When we arrived we hiked back to the edge of the cliff where we could see Cave 6 (one of 12 caves in which fragment of scrolls were found). To date, over 900 scrolls and fragments of texts scrolls have been discovered in 12 caves. The scrolls/texts date primarily from the 3rd century BC – 1st century AD. We returned to the site itself where we saw many miqvot (plural for mikve, or ritual baths), cisterns, and the scriptorium. In front of Cave 4 (and 5 & 10), we read from Psalm 19 and “151,” an extra psalm found here. We also remembered 2 Timothy 3:16 about God’s inspired Word. Thanks be to God for the preservation of His Word and the joy, instruction, direction, and hope it provides us!

Dead Sea

Close by here on the northwest corner of the Dead Sea we visited a public beach owned by our Jericho friends. Most in the group “floated” effortlessly in this unique body of water (33% salt and minerals). It was a very unique and wild experience. We all looked great covered with Dead Sea mud too!

Wadi Qelt

On our way to Jerusalem we made a brief stop to overlook the area of the Wadi Qelt/Judean Desert. We heard “the prophet Isaiah” (whoever he was :)) share the opening words of Isaiah 40 with us. Shlomo also sang Psalm 23 in Hebrew. The Judean Desert served as a backdrop for many of the Psalms of David.

Jerusalem: Rampart Walk, Holy Sepulcher Church

Continuing our drive west “again entered the Old City, this time through the Jaffa Gate. The Jaffa Gate is where we accessed the entrance to the Rampart Walls for our walk around part of the Old City. These walls date to the Turkish/Ottoman Period, being built by Suleiman the Great (1520-1566) between 1537-1544 AD. The view from high on these walls was quite interesting! We walked from the area of the Jaffa Gate to beyond the Zion’s Gate on the south side of the Old City. We exited the ramparts within the Jewish Quarter.

Holy Sepulcher Church

From here we walked to the Holy Sepulcher Church. Built in 325 AD, this is the traditional location for the death and burial place of Jesus. The archaeological and historical records favor this site. We saw the Edicule that has enclosed the suggested tomb of Christ for now nearly 1600 years. A service was taking place in the tomb itself, not allowing us to enter. Other parts of the church were being renovated and excavated.

We walked back out the Jaffa Gate where David picked us up to take us back to the hotel. At the hotel, some walked 300 yards to see the Ketef Hinnom tomb. In one of these tombs, the silver amulet was found, bearing the name of God! It dates to the 7th-6th century BC. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a marvelous dinner (again) and an optional walk to the Promenade, a quiet traffic-free path to get us a unique view of the Old City from the south. It was a great second last day here in Israel!

Day 11 – Thursday, May 8: Garden Tomb, City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam, Southern Wall Excavations, Western Wall, Moshe/Shoreshim, Free time

Today was our last full day of the Israel portion of the trip. It was another beautiful sunny day, with highs in the low 80s. We enjoyed a time of worship & Communion to begin the day (at the Garden Tomb), followed by a visit to the City of David. We left the hotel at 8:30, reading Psalm 48 as we departed the hotel.

Garden Tomb

The drive to the Garden Tomb was a short one. Located on the north side of the Old City, this is an alternative (“Protestant”) location found in the late 1800s for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. We saw the suggested rocky scarp (Golgotha) where Jesus was crucified, followed by the proposed tomb. A special time of worship and Communion followed. We worship the Person, not the place. What a great place to consider the redemptive purpose of Jesus’ coming!

City of David

Next, we drove down around the Old City to the City of David. Because of a re-scheduled flight, we sadly said goodbye to five Georgians in our group (they had a flight today at 4 p.m. to Dubai and then home).

The City of David is located south of (and outside) the Old City today. We first got a great view of the area from the observation tower before we walked down through the excavations of Area G (where Dr. John dug for a month in 1982) and Warren’s Shaft. At the Gihon Spring is where some in the group accessed the entrance to Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a 1,710-foot tunnel chiseled in 701 BC. We walked in water through this amazing discovery mentioned in 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 8:6. Others walked through the “dry” Canaanite tunnel. Both groups converged at the Pool of Siloam where we read John 9 in dramatic fashion!

Southern Excavations

Following our reading, some in the group walked up the Drainage Channel (under a pavement dating to 30 AD), with the rest of the group bussing up to the Davidson Center to see the Southern Excavations of the Temple. Within the center, we saw the SW corner of the Temple (with massive Herodian stones), the Herodian pavement, and the southern steps that would have led into the Temple in Jesus’ day. We recalled the many times Jesus and the disciples (and Paul) used these steps. Whereas the Temple was a magnificent building (Mark 13:1-2), we are to be the Temple (1 Corinthians 3)!

Western Wall

Close by is the Western Wall, the most holy place for Jewish people today! This western wall served as a retaining wall for the expanded platform of the Temple Mount above. Some walked down to the Wall for a time of prayer. We then walked from the Western Wall (the Kotel) to Hurva Square, the heart of the Jewish Quarter.

Moshe / Shorashim, Jewish Quarter

In the Jewish Quarter we met Moshe and his brother Dov at their shop called Shorashim. They are two Orthodox brothers. Briefly, Moshe shared about his Jewish faith and practice. Everything in the shop has a biblical connection.

To end the day, we enjoyed some free time, exploring the Old City on our own. We then walked to the Zion’s Gate where David picked us up. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a farewell dinner together! God blessed us with a wonderful Israel trip!

Day 12 – Friday May 9:  Start of Jordan Extension or Extended Time in Jerusalem (Until Rescheduled Flights Take Place)

Because of the cancellation of flights from the Tel Aviv Airport back through Europe and back home, those not doing the Jordan extension have a few extra days here in Jerusalem. We pray for them ad their flight schedules.

Twelve in the group, however, departed early in the morning for the southern border with Jordan. We departed at 7:00 a.m. The weather was sunny and hot today (around 100 at the Red Sea, but cooler when we arrived at Petra at 7:00 p.m.). We read from 2 Chronicles 20 as we departed.

Masada

Since we were driving past the site of Masada (metzada, in Hebrew), we decided to stop not only to use their bathrooms, but also to cable car up and down quickly. Although we had limited time, on the top we enjoyed a panoramic view of the site before Shlomo told us the story of Masada. This palace-fortress was built  in the early 30s BC by Herod the Great. Later in 70 AD, this was the location where 967 Jews found refuge from the Romans following the destruction of the Temple. The holdout lasted about three years until all by five of these Jews (a few women and children) took their own lives. It is a story of bravery and courage! After about only 30 minutes on the top, we cabled down.

Yovata & Timnah

Continuing to drive south from here we stopped for ice cream at Yovata and to see the Tabernacle Model at Timnah. The ice cream was wonderful! A few miles further south, we visited Timnah. This site was once an Egyptian copper mine in the 13-12th centuries BC. However, displayed here is a full-scale replica of the Tabernacle. The size of this Mishkan was 150 feet by 75 feet. We saw the Altar and Laver in the court yard. In the Holy Chamber we saw the Menorah, Table of Presence, and Incense Altar. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. We read from Hebrew 9 about how Jesus fulfilled everything the Tabernacle represented!

Elat/Coral Beach/Red Sea

About 20 miles south is Elat, Israel’s southern-most city. Here we enjoyed a visit to Coral Beach and the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds). Some in the group enjoyed swimming among the bright fish and coral reefs.

Rabin Border Crossing/Petra

Finally, we arrived at the Rabin Border Crossing. We first proceeded through the Israeli side before walking about 150 yards to the Jordan side. Here we we met by our Jordanian guide (Sammy) and our driver. We loaded up brand new bus (luxurious, really!) and drove about 2.5 hours to Petra.

We checked into our hotel and enjoyed a wonderful dinner together on the open top floor. We are glad that the site of Petra is now open after the historically severe flooding that happened earlier in the week!

Day 13 – Saturday, May 10: Petra, Madaba

Today was an amazing day! Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World did not disappoint. While it was incredible to see all the devastating effects of the floods earlier this week, the site is still so amazing in every way. Following an early breakfast, we walked to the entrance to Petra around 7 a.m. In the morning it felt like we had the site all to ourselves!

Petra

This ancient Nabatean city was built within the Seir Mountains, the land of the Edomites (Deuteronomy 2, 33; Ezekiel 35). We all thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular scenery and tombs/ruins of this red-rose ancient city. Once we entered the site, we all walked through the Siq (canyon) which brought us to the first monument, “The Treasury” (“Al-Khazneh”). This well-preserved monumental tomb appeared in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” It was the tomb of the Nabatean King named Aretas III (Paul mentions his son, Aretas IV in 2 Cor. 11:32). His daughter (or granddaughter – depending on dating) was the former wife of Herod Antipas, see Matthew 14).

From the Treasury we now began our walk into the city. Besides passing by many of the Nabatean tombs, we walked by a 3,000-seat theater carved into the sandstone, one of the largest theaters in Jordan. From here, a few in the group walked to the Monastery Tomb at the far west side of Petra, while others explored on their own (e.g. the Royal Tombs). The Aravah and Negev of Israel could be seen in the haze to the west from the area of the Monastery.

We all returned back to the hotel at our own pace. John and John made it also up to the High Place. The trail took them around the backside before cresting the top.

Madaba

Once we all arrived back to the hotel, we began our drive north to Madaba. Our drive took on a portion of the King’s Highway before we countered with the Desert Highway. The re-paving of this north-south route was recently financed by Saudi Arabia.

Day 14 – Sunday, May 11: Mt. Nebo, Wadi Mujib (Arnon), Machaerus, Madaba

Today was our last full day of the trip. We made the most of it. The weather was perfect, with full sun and temps in the 80s. We read from Deuteronomy 31 (about Moses) as well Numbers 23-24 (about Balaam and the talking donkey) as we left the hotel at 7:45.

Mt. Nebo

Our first stop of the day was up to Mt. Nebo, part of the Pisgah Range. It was only a 20 minute drive from Madaba. The visibility was really good, allowing us to see the west side of the Jordan River and the area of Jericho, as well as the northern tip of the Dead Sea. We read from Deuteronomy 34 and Joshua 1 about the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. A Bronze Snake monument is erected here (Numbers 21, John 3). We also saw the newly renovated church here built upon the Byzantine Church from the 4-5th centuries AD. As we considered the Israelites crossing into unknown territory, we know that God is in control of our unknown journeys of life, and He never leaves us too!

Wadi Mujib (Arnon)

It took us only about 45 minutes to drive west, descending down to the Dead Sea and then south to what the Bible called the Arnon River (Numbers 21:13, 14, 24; 22:36, Judges 11:13, etc…). The Arnon served as a natural boundary between ancient Moabites and the Ammonites. Today is is called the Wadi Mujib. This was an amazingly beautiful place and an incredible experience! Equipped with good water shoes and life jackets, we literally walked up through the water of the wadi (river). The current was swift, with the water over our heads at times. We used ropes and even ladders to ascend further up the wadi. Several in the group made it all the way back to to the highest waterfalls. Wadi Wujib is one of the most beautiful places in all of Jordan!

Machaerus

Our drive to our next site, Machaerus, was scenic to say the least. We crossed a huge wadi (river bed/gorge) as we ascended back up to the ridge. Originally built by the Hasmoneans and then taken by Pompey in 63 BC, Herod the Great eventually reestablished Machaerus as another “palace-fortress.” It is located on the east side of the Dead Sea. This was where John the Baptist was be-headed (Josephus and Matthew 14). About half of us climbed to the top to see where the head of John the Baptist was offered to Herod Antipas (the “throne room”). On top were a few ritual baths too. Although it was a bit more hazy this afternoon looking westward, we could clearly see the Dead Sea and the vicinity of Ein Gedi on the other side.

Madaba Map

From here we drove back to Madaba. We saw the famous 6th century Madaba Map of the region. This is the oldest map in antiquities. It was discovered in the late 1800s. The map displays not only the region of Israel, Jordan, and the Sinai, but Jerusalem is highly detailed as well. Madaba is Sam’s home town, so we also enjoyed meeting his wife and his store.

We got back to the hotel about 4 p.m., for time to rest before dinner, followed by an early retirement for a few hours sleep before we get up around 11:30. We all fly to Frankfurt on a 3:30 a.m. flight early tomorrow morning, and then back to the States from there. We all had a great time on the Jordan extension!

Day 15 – Monday, May 12: Arrive Home

It was an early morning (3:30 a.m.) flight to Frankfurt and then a second flight back to the U.S. Also, the final “Israel-only” folks also made it back home on flights the same day. We are thankful to be home following a wonderful trip together! We made new friends too!