Day 3 – Thursday, September 5: Crossing into Israel, Caesarea, Carmel, Megiddo, Mt. Gilboa, Tiberias (Theme of the Day: Discovering connections with the past) 

The morning began early today for us in Amman, Jordan. Following an early wake-up call and breakfast, we departed at 6:45 a.m. and drove to the Allenby Bridge border crossing. Crossing the border required patience (as always), but we made it across by 9:30. We read from portions of Joshua 3-4 as we left the hotel. The high afternoon temperature reached a comfortable high in the high 80s. On our way to our first site, we picked up Rick and Yany in Netanya (they flew directly into Tel Aviv).

Caesarea

Our first stop here in the Sharon Plain was Caesarea. Located in the Sharon Plain just north of Netanya, this ancient site was an impressive coastal city built by Herod the Great over a 12 year period (22-10 BC). In the theater we read from Acts 8 (Phillip), 9 (Paul), 10 (Peter), Acts 12 (Agrippa 1), Acts 21 (Philip), and Acts 26 (Paul). From here we walked across the city to see the palace and the hippodrome. Before we left the site, we saw the aqueduct that brought water into the city.

Mt. Carmel

Our second destination of the day was to Mt. Carmel, a mountain range overlooking the Jezreel Valley on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. Following a quick lunch at a Druze restaurant on the Carmel Range, we visited a Carmelite chapel called Muhraha. We enjoyed a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley below. Here we could see Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6-7, 2 Kings 4), Mt. Tabor (Judges 4-5), and Nazareth (Luke 1,4). We read passages such as Isaiah 35, Amos 1 & 9, 2 Kings 4, Songs of Songs 7, and 1 Kings 18 that reference Mt. Carmel. This last narrative captures the confrontation that took place between Elijah and the prophets of Baal! We also sang a few songs in the chapel. We sounded like a great choir!

Megiddo

Located along the edge of the Jezreel Valley is Megiddo. This archaeological site was about 25 layers of occupation spanning a period of about 2,500 years! It was a Canaanite and Israelite city. Pharaohs like Thutmose III conquered it in 1468 BC. Climbing the site, we saw 3 series of city gates, Solomon’s stables and palace, a sacrificial altar from the Early Bronze Period, and a grain silo.  We also had a great view of the Jezreel Valley referred to as the Valley of Armageddon in Revelation 16. In the end, God wins when Jesus returns! Lastly, we walked to the top of the water system that was engineered to bring water safely inside the walls of the city. Unfortunately it was closed because of safety concerns for rock slides.

Tel Jezreel & Mt. Gilboa

Further east is Tel Jezreel. Since there is really not much to see archaeologically here, we simply passed by the site as we referenced 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 view of the Harod Valley. Looking east we could see Beth Shean. We read from 1 Chronicles 10 about Saul and his three sons dying on Gilboa. Their bodies were hung on the walls of the town square at Beth Shean. We enjoyed a time of reflection and prayer before we walked back to the bus.

From here we drove to Tiberias via the Jordan Valley. Our hotel is located right on the Sea of Galilee. We enjoyed a late dinner (7:15) and a free evening. It was a great first full day!

Day 4 – Friday, September 6: Arbel, Yardenit, Magdala, Ancient Boat, Capernaum, Bethsaida (Theme of the Day: Walking as “Talmidim” of Jesus)

We spent the entire day around the Sea of Galilee, with a focus on the life and ministry of Jesus. It was a sunny and hot day, with highs in the mid 90s. It included a hike, some reflection time, a visit to a cemetery, and visits to ancient sites connected with Jesus. We read from Mathew 4 as we left the hotel at 7:35.

Mt. Arbel

We drove slightly to the north from Tiberias in order to get to the trailhead of our Mt. Arbel hike. Seven in the group made the hike, while the others bused with Shlomo and David through Tiberias to the visitor center. They ascended to the top from there. Despite the summer haze, the view from on top was still amazing. While we cannot be sure (since Arbel is not mentioned in the Gospels, although Josephus mentions Arbela in Antiquities 14.415), maybe this was where the Jesus’ Transfiguration took place (Mt. 17), or where he taught (perhaps on the lower northern slopes) the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). It is also very possible that on top of Arbel was where Jesus met His disciples following His resurrection and shared the Great Commission (Mt. 28). Before we ended our gathering on top, Shlomo read the first portion of Matthew 5 (the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount) in Hebrew for us. Back at the visitor center, we refreshed ourselves with a cool drink before boarding our bus.

Yardenit/Jordan River

From here, we drove directly to the southern end of the lake to Yardenit. One in the group (Scott) reaffirmed his faith in the Jordan River. The water was warm (unlike the cold water in the winter months). It was a special time for everyone, setting ourselves apart for service in God’s kingdom. We also read from John 1 about Jesus’ baptism further south at “Bethany Beyond the Jordan.”

Kinneret Cemetery

From the southern end of the lake we now drove back 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. Rachel was born in 1890 and died in 1931.

Magdala

From here we drove through Tiberias to the Plain of Genesseret and to 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 (Matthew 15 when Jesus sails into “Magadan”), Jesus must have taught here! We saw a few more ritual baths as well. Archaeologists suggest that a second 1st century synagogue was discovered a few years ago on the other side of the road.

Ancient Boat

Next, we drove along the western side of the lake to Nof Ginnosar. In the museum here we saw an ancient 1st century wooden boat that was discovered in 1986. It was a boat similar to this that was used by fishermen in the days of Jesus. Can you picture all the disciples and Jesus crowded into a boat like this during a storm? (Mark 4)

Capernaum

Next, we drove to Capernaum, 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, 8; 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 Mark 9. Serving in Christ’s kingdom requires a heart of humility and servanthood.

Bethsaida / Et Tel

We added an additional site to end the day. We tried to get to Tel el-Araj, a new archaeological site for the site of Bethsaida, but the new closed gate on the dirt road prevented us from reaching the site. So we drove to the other site suggested to be Bethsaida. It is called Et Tel. Here we walked around the Old Testament site identified by most as the capital of the kingdom of Geshur. We saw a four-chambered gate city walls, and a few stele here. There is only very limited ruins from the time of Jesus here. Bethsaida, located on the northern end of the lake, was the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1). We also read the story of the blind man being healed by Jesus (Mark 8), and the story of the Feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9).

We drove back to our hotel in Tiberias for a free late afternoon and dinner. It was another great day here in Israel with no issues of safety or concern whatsoever! 

Day 5 – Saturday, September 7: Gamla, Hippos/Susita, Boat Ride, Khirbet Cana (Theme of the Day: Guarding our borders!)

Today was another hot day, with temps in the high 90s. It was Shabbat today, with many Israelis out enjoying the water of the Sea of Galilee. Our day included two sites on the Golan Heights, a boat ride, and a unique visit to Khirbet (ruins) Cana. We read portions of the “kingdom parables” from Matthew 13 as we left the hotel at 7:35.

Gamla

We started the day by driving north along the western side of the lake before turning south on the eastern side. We ascended into the Golan Heights and stopped for an overlook of the northern end of the lake and the area of Bethsaida. We then continuedt o Gamla, our first site of the day. Gamla was a Jewish city that played a significant role in the First Revolt (66-67 AD). The Romans came here and defeated the city run 67 AD. Many in the group walked down (and then back up) the difficult trail to the excavations. We entered the 1st century synagogue where we read from Matthew 9. Even though Gamla is not mentioned in the Gospels, there is a high probability that Jesus taught from this rectangular synagogue!

Hippos/Sussita

We then turned south on the east side towards Hippos/Sussita. On the way we made a brief stop to see the cliffs mentioned in Mark 5. It is a transformational story of the demoniac. The demon-possessed boar (pigs) ran down this cliff. At the site of 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.

Sea of Galilee Boat Ride

We returned to the western side of the lake to board our own boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The water was calm but filled with boating activity from the locals. We enjoyed a time of songs and worship before reading from Mark 4 and Matthew 14. These two storm narratives came to life as we looked all around us. Jesus calmed the water in both stories, providing His care and compassion for His disciples.

Khirbet Cana (Biblical Cana)

To end the day, eight in the group drove west towards the Lower Galilee. While others were dropped off back at the hotel. We then made our way through 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. 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 fourth “DeLancey group” to ever to come here. No doubt no other groups come here let alone know where this true site of Cana is located. It was quite an adventure!

We returned back to the hotel for a dinner and our last evening here in Tiberias before we check out tomorrow morning in order to drive south.

Day 6 – Sunday, September 8: Beth Shean, Sahne/Gan HaShlosha, Shiloh, Jericho, Judean Desert (Theme of the Day: Obediently hearing God speak)

Today we checked out of our hotel here in Tiberias and began out journey southward. It’s been a great stay here in the north, connecting with Jesus at many sites. Following breakfast we loaded the bus and left at 7:30 once again. We read portions of Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount) as we drove to Beth Shean, our first site.

Beth Shean

We traveled south of the Sea of Galilee nearly 20 miles through the Jordan Valley to Beth Shean. This ancient site is an incredibly large site, with many ruins from the Roman Period. We saw colonnaded streets, the bathhouse, agora, public latrenes, and the theater. Some in the group climbed to the top of the OT site. According to 1 Samuel 31 (and 1 Chronicles 10), the body of Saul was hung on the walls of the town square after he died on near by Mt. Gilboa. The men from Jabesh Gilead (located on the east side of the Jordan Valley), came at night to rescue the body of Saul.

Sahne

Nearby to Beth Shean, we added an extra site to cool off and have fun in the water! This national park is called Sahne (Gan HaShlosha). This natural pool is fed by the Harod Spring at the base of Mt. Gilboa (the same spring mentioned in the Gideon story (Judges 6-7). We had a great time swimming and getting under the water falls. We spent about an hour here.

Shiloh

Next, we drove into the Hill Country of Ephraim/Samaria to Shiloh. When we arrived, we saw a hologram about the Tabernacle. Then 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. Others like Moses (Exodus 3), Abraham (Genesis 22), and Isaiah (Is. 6) used this word. The author of Hebrews (in Hebrews 10) even quotes from Psalm 40 where the word appears there also.

Judean Desert

Driving past Bethel (Gen. 12, 28) and Mishmash (1 Samuel 13-14), we then continued through the Desert of Parat (a small section of the Judean Desert), we enjoyed some incredible vistas as we drove a windy road down to the bottom of the desert. We saw one gazelle on the way. We read from Jeremiah 13 (hiding the linen belt). We drove into a Jewish community (Maale Adummim) for a wonderful view of the Wadi Qelt. Here we met “Isaiah, the Prophet” and heard words of encouragement and Isaiah 40. Shlomo also sang Psalm 23 for us in Hebrew.

We descended down towards Jericho and to our hotel for the night (Kibbutz Almog). Since the city of Jericho was closed off today, we could not see the ancient site where the “walls came tumblin’ down.” We hope to include it in tomorrow’s schedule. At the hotel, we enjoyed dinner and an overnight here at this modest place.

Day 7 – Monday, September 9: Qumran, Jericho, Ein Gedi, Masada, Dead Sea (Theme of the Day: Finding God in the desert)

Today was a hot day, with temps around 100. This is to be expected here in the Judean Desert. We had a wonderful day, with “water” scheduled in the program to cool us off. Once again, we had every site today to ourselves. We read from Psalm 18 as we left the hotel at Almog following breakfast and checkout.

Qumran

About 15 minutes south of Almog is Qumran, the most significant archaeological site in all of Israel. Found here in 1947 were the Dead Sea Scrolls. We first hiked up to see Cave 6 (one of 12 caves in which fragment of scrolls were found) and the unique aqueduct tunnel. Then we walked back down and visited 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! We even saw some ibex here among the ruins (Psalm 104).

Jericho

Next, we backtrack a bit to visit Tel es-Sultan, or Old Testament Jericho. We were glad that the site was open for us today (it wasn’t yesterday). We first looked east and could see the Jordan Valley, with Mt. Nebo on the ridge on the horizon (Dt. 34). Elijah was taken to heaven in the area across the river (2 Kings 2). Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River at “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (John 1). Looking south we could see the area of NT Jericho (where Zacchaeus and Bartimeaus lived, and where Herod the Great died in 4 BC). We then turned our attention to the ancient OT site of Jericho. The archaeology of this ancient site of Jericho supports and confirms the Bible’s historicity. Besides seeing the oldest structure (a round tower) in Israel, on the southern end we saw the double retaining walls of this Canaanite city taken my Joshua (Joshua 6). A mud brick wall once stood on top of these stone walls. They came “tumblin’ down.”

Ein Gedi

From here we returned driving further south along the western shoreline of the Dead Sea to Ein Gedi. Together we walked into the canyon (Wadi David) where we stopped to read from Song of Songs 1 (mentioning the henna blossoms), 2 Chronicles 20 (mentioning the Ascent of Ziz), and 1 Samuel 24 (the David and Saul “cave encounter”). Everyone in the group walked back to the series of water falls. We also enjoyed getting wet under a few sets of waterfalls. It was an amazingly refreshing experience! No wonder David and Saul were hanging out here, right? HA

Masada

We drove south about 15 minutes to get to the eastern side of Masada, a palace-fortress built by King Herod in the 30s BC. This was our last site of the day. We all took the cable car to the top. Among the ruins we saw the casemate wall, huge cisterns, the synagogue, the northern palace, storehouses, and the bathhouse. The courageous story of Masada (with 967 using the site as a place of refuge) is both incredible and inspiring! We all took the cable car down (since the Snake Path was closed due to the heat) and loaded in our bus.

Ein Bokek/Dead Sea

We ended the day at our hotel in Ein Bokek. After checking in (with amazingly cold welcome drinks and wonderful moroccan date cookies), many in the group enjoyed floating in the Dead Sea. This unique body of water is about 33% salt and minerals. It was a unique experience. The temperature of the water was about 90 (at least), while the air temp was 100. It was a dry heat and with the breeze was tolerable!

After showering up back in our hotel rooms, we enjoyed dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Tuesday, September 10: Arad, Sde Boker/Zin Desert, Beersheba, Lachish, Beit Guvrin, Socoh, Jerusalem (Theme of the Day: Learning to trust God in our battles!)

Today was our last day before arriving in Jerusalem tonight. We continued through the southern Judean Desert into the Negev, another very arid region of the land. We read from 2 Chronicles 34 as we left the hotel along the Dead Sea at 7:35. We also read from Psalm 126:4 about the “watercourses” of the Negev.

Tel Arad

Our first site of the morning was Tel Arad, an early Canaanite and Israelite/Judean site. It’s located on the northeast side of the region of the Negev. Arad was a city whose king opposed the Israelites at the time of Moses (Number 21). The city would later be conquered by Joshua (Joshua 12). We started our visit on top of there citadel. Here we saw the false worship center here, complete with a courtyard, sacrificial altar, and a “Holy of Holies” inner chamber. King Hezekiah (and later Josiah) brought an end to these high places (2 Chronicles 31 & 34). We also saw an impressive cistern. We also walked down to the Canaanite city to see the reservoir, house structures, and the walls and towers of the city.

Sde Boker: Gravesite of David and Paula Ben Gurion / Zin Desert

Next, we drove about 50 minutes south to the Zin Desert. The small town of Sde Boker overlooks the beautiful canyon of the Zin. We walked the pathway that was full with dozens of ibex, a wild goat that is referred to in Psalm 104. This led us to the graves of David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister). His wife Paula is also buried here. Unfortunately, our plans to drive down into the canyon for a hike to the water falls and back didn’t happen because of a rock avalanche that occurred yesterday. So they closed the hiking path for safety reasons. Bummer! However, we did drive around to the far rim of the canyon for a wonderful view below. We read from Numbers 13 (about the spies coming up through here) and Numbers 20 (about Moses striking the rock for water).

Tel Beersheba

Since the canyon hike could not happen, we drove from here directly to an extra site we were able to see, Tel Beersheba. Located on the northwest side of the Negevn, this is an archaeological site that dates back only to Solomon’s time. However, the Patriarchs are connected with this site (Abraham – Genesis 21, Isaac – Genesis 26, Jacob – Genesis 47). Elijah (1 Kings 19) was also here. Among the ruins we saw the city well and “cup,” the gate, “four-room Israelite houses,” and the deep and quite impressive cistern system.

Lachish

Driving north from Beersheba into the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah,  Lachish was our next site. 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 (2 Kings 20, Isaiah 36), and late by the Babylonians. 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. Among the ruins we saw the double walls and gates, the Assyrian siege ramp, and the palace.

Beit Guvrin

Time allowed us to visit an additional site here in the Shephelah (lowlands). So we stopped to see the unique columbarium and the Bell Cave of Beit Guvrin. This area is known for all the underground soft limestone caves. Also in this area is the site of Mareshah, the home of Micah, the prophet. We read from Micah 1 and 5, reflecting upon the prophet’s words of mourning and hope.

Socoh

Finally, on our way to Jerusalem we climbed the site of Socoh. This ancient city, not excavated yet, is located along the Elah Valley. Socoh is mentioned in the story of 1 Samuel 17 where the Philistine camp was located. It was in the narrow part of the valley below Socoh where David battled Goliath. THere are two possible locations for this battlefield.

Jerusalem

After our visit here, we continued east as we ascended into the Hill Country of Judah and Jerusalem. After we first dropped off Shlomo in his beautiful community just south of Jerusalem, we drove the rest of the way to our hotel. Following dinner, most in the group walked into the Old City and to the Western Wall, about a 2-hour back and forth walk. We are excited to be in Jerusalem for the next three days!

Day 9 – Wednesday, September 11: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Garden Tomb, Herodium, Bethlehem (Theme of the Day: Re-discovering God’s redemptive plan)

Today was our first full day in Jerusalem. The weather was a bit cooler (because of Jerusalem’s higher elevation), which was a welcome bonus (highs were in the mid 80s), with full sun. We started the day on the Mt. of Olives. We read from Psalm 122 and 125 as we left the hotel at 7:35.

Mt. of Olives

Our first stop of the day was the Mt. of Olives. We drove around the north side of the Old City, passing the Damascus and Herod Gates on the way. Cresting the Mt. of Olives we drove to a spectacular view across the Kidron Valley of the Old City and Temple Mount below. Further down the slope at the chapel called Domius Flavet, we remembered the events of Jesus’ and and ministry: Luke 19 (Palm Sunday), Acts 1 (Christ’s ascension), and Zechariah 14 (about the return of Christ). From the top we walked down the steep slope where we enjoyed a quiet time. We considered the passion of Jesus as we read from Luke 22. The Garden of Gethsemane was somewhere here on the western slope.

Garden Tomb

From the base of the Mt. of Olives we boarded our bus and drove a short distance to the Garden Tomb. Located north of the Damascus Gate, the Garden Tomb was discovered in the last 1800s and served an alternative “Protestant” location for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus (vs. the Holy Sepulcher Church) . We saw the rocky scarp (Golgotha) and the proposed tomb. A special time of worship and Communion followed. We worship the Person, not the place.

Bethlehem

From here, we drove south about 5 miles into Bethlehem. We first enjoyed a stop at an olive wood factory and story (Nissan Brothers). These olive wood products were impressive and so well crafted. We also had lunch here (special thanks to imagine Tours & Travel).

Herodium

The next stop of the day was Herodium. This was a palace-fortress built by Herod the Great. He was also buried in 4 BC. The site was incredible, with many new renovations and displays. Inside the well-preserved official’s chamber where we saw a wonderful presentation. We then walked up through the royal arches to the top where we saw the bathhouse, synagogue, impressive frescoes, and a great view of Jerusalem. We left the site by carefully walking down through the cistern system.

Ramat Rachel & Southern Promenade

On the way back to our hotel, we made two extra quick stops for the view. The first stop was at Ramat Rachel (named after the poet). The view of Bethlehem and Herodium as very good. We recalled the story of Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus (also Micah 4 & 5). It was “just at the right time God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4). The second “extra” stop was at the southern end of the Promenade. The view looking north to the Old City, Temple Mount, Kidron Valley, and the Mt. of Olives was especially good!

We then drove back another five minutes to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and another optional walk (this time to the beginning of the Promenade).

Day 10 – Thursday, September 12: Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Rampart Walk in the Old City, Pools of Bethesda, Holy Sepulcher Church, Rampart Walk (Theme: God is our rampart and strength)

This morning and early afternoon was a museum day. It was a nice change of pace. Yad Vashem certainly induced our emotions. We found ourselves in the Old City in the afternoon! It was once again perfectly sunny, with highs in the mid 80s. We read from Psalm 137 as we left the hotel at 7:35.

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.” John took Benjamin and Joseph to the Biblical Zoo during this time. We first heard the personal story from Shlomo about his family during this tragic event. He lost 12 family members in Vilna, Poland (pictured). 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.

Israel Museum

Just a short distance away (still in Western Jerusalem) is the Israel Museum. Here, we saw a 1:50 scale model of 2nd Temple Jerusalem. We retraced the ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem and in the Temple. Next, we visited the Shrine of the Book to see some of the Dead Sea texts. Lastly, we visited the archaeological museum and saw the highlights with biblical connections. The many artifacts again connected us with sites and with the Bible.

St. Anne’s Church / Pools of Bethesda

We drove back to the Old City of Jerusalem this afternoon following our museum visit. We got dropped off at the Northeast corner of the Old City and walked into St. Stephen’s (Lion’s) Gate to St. Anne’s Church and the Pools of Bethesda. First, we sounded like an angelic choir inside the Crusader church (7-8 second echo). Next, we visited the pools where Jesus healed the paralytic. We read from John 5.

Holy Sepulcher Church

Next, we all walked into the Christian Quarter of the Old City. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, we enjoyed a visit 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 over the Garden Tomb. We not only saw the Edicule that has enclosed the suggested tomb of Christ for now nearly 1600 years, but we even went inside this suggested tomb of Christ.

Rampart Wall Walk

Twelve in the group then walked to the Jaffa Gate where we got our tickets for the Rampart Wall Walk. We hopped on and walked on the high Ottoman/Turkish walls from the area of the Jaffa Gate (the location of Herod’s Palace) all the way to Zion’s Gate overlooking the Jewish Quarter. The walk provided a unique perceptive of the Old City below.

We met up with David outside the Zion’s Gate and he drove us back to the hotel for dinner and a free evening. Some enjoyed visiting the nearby old Train Station now used for cafe’s and shops and a visit to the King David Hotel.

Day 11 – Friday, September 13: City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Southern Wall Excavations, Western Wall, Old City, Free Afternoon (Theme of the Day: Standing strong in God!)

Today was our last full day in Jerusalem. About mid morning we said goodbye to our six dear friends who were only doing the Israel portion of the trip. They had to return to Amman, Jordan and thus cross the border in a timely manner. We had a great morning all together though. The sunny skies continued (predictably for Sept), with highs in the mid 80s. We read from Psalm 48 as we left the hotel at 7:35 again!

City of David

This afternoon we got back on the bus and drove to the southern side of the Old City where we entered the City of David. After gathering on the observation tower, we walked down through the excavations (“Area G”). We saw David’s palace, city walls, and 7th-6th BC house structures (one of them was excavated/uncovered by Dr. John in June-July, 1982). We all continued through Warren’s Shaft (2 Samuel 5). The upper part of this discovery was probably used by David but not the vertical 52 foot shaft.

Finally, we descended down to the Canaanite/Jebusite pool to the Gihon Spring. Following seeing a new movie about the tunnel, everyone in the group braved the waters of the 1,710 foot-long Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32). At the Pool of Siloam is where we recalled the story of John 9 (the blind man healed by Jesus). The excavation of the Pool of Siloam continues to expose more and more of the original steps.

Southern Wall Excavations

From here, we all walked through the stone “Drainage Tunnel” underneath the pavement that dates to 30 AD. We surfaced briefly to see the Givati excavations of what used to be a parking lot! At the SW corner of the Temple we surfaced one more time where we literally walked on the Herodian pavement underneath what is left of an archway discovered by Edward Robinson in 1838. Jesus and His disciples walked on this pavement! This SW corner of the Temple may have been the pinnacle of the Temple where Jesus was tempted (Mt. 4). We walked up the southern steps used by commoners in Jesus’ day. Jesus Himself would have used these steps to enter the Temple. We recalled the many mentioned in the NT who used these steps (Luke 2, 18; John 2; Mark 13; and Acts 2, etc…). Before leaving the steps, we considered how God wants us to be His spiritual temple (2 Corinthians 3).

Amman, Jordan / Old City

At the bus outside of the Dung Gate, we said goodbye to our six friends. David and Shlomo took them to the Allenby Bridge Crossing while the rest of us visited various places within the Old City: Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Christian Quarter. We enjoyed a time of exploring, some shopping, and unique views.

We returned to the hotel by mid-afternoon. At 6:30 we enjoyed a wonderful Shabbat dinner and a free evening. We leave at 7:15 tomorrow morning for the southern border to begin our Jordan extension!

Day 12 – Saturday, September 14: Departing Amman / Jordan Crossing, Wadi Rum

Six in the group began their flight home from Amman while the rest of us began our day in Jerusalem with breakfast. After checking out, we loaded the bus and drove to Elat in southern Israel. The temps in the south were once again a bit warmer than Jerusalem, with highs around 95. We read from Luke 10 as we left the hotel.

Timnah/Tabernacle Model

We left the 7:20 today from Jerusalem and drove south along Rt. 90. We passed by Jericho, Qumran, Ein Gedi, and Masada and the Dead Sea. Continuingsouth through the Aravah (Rift Valley), we made a brief stop at Kibbutz Yotvata (for ice cream!) to Timnah. In ancient days (13th-12th century BC), this was a copper mine of the Egyptians. Here we walked through a full-size replica of the Old Testament Tabernacle. As we left the site, we read from Hebrews 9. We also hiked up and over Solomon’s Pillars where we saw a Temple of Hathor (the Egyptian goddess of fertility who took the shape of a golden calf).

Red Sea / Rabin Southern Border Crossing

Next, we drove to the Coral Beach in Elat and enjoyed about an hour on the shoreline of the Red Sea. Some in the group got wet in the beautiful aqua-blue water. There is lots of coral here and colorful fish.

We then drove to the border crossing with Jordan. The border on the Israeli side is named after the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The border crossing (we walked across to Israel) was very easy and we we crossed in record time with no issues at all!

Wadi Rum

Once we made the crossing, we met Sammy our Jordanian guide. We began driving north on Jordan’s Dessert Highway. We turned east to take us to Wadi Rum in this part of southern Jordan. This area was made famous by Sir Lawrence of Arabia during WWI (this British officer helped the Bedouin fight against the Turks), two jeeps (really, 4-wheel pickup trucks) were awaiting us to take us through the desert. It was a lot of fun driving through the sand. The views were amazing as well. We stopped by a Bedouin tent for tea and coffee. We made it to a rocky hill where we enjoyed a wonderful sunset. The jeeps then took us to Captain’s, our “Bedouin-style camp” for the night. Following a unique dinner (prepared underground), we enjoyed a bonfire before retiring for the evening.

Day 13 – Sunday, September 15: Wadi Rum, Petra

Today was an incredible day! We had Petra all by ourselves almost! Sleeping here at Wadi Rum was unique for sure. Following a light breakfast, we loaded up the mini-bus and left at 7:55. We read from Obadiah 1 and Psalm 2 as we drove west first and then north.

Petra

The drive to Petra took about two hours. We also stopped on the way twice for a great view of the Seir Moutains. Once we entered Wadi Musa, we checked in early into our hotel and then walked at to the entrance of Petra. We arrived at the entrance of the site at 11 a.m. 

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 that is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. 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, some 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 to the west from the area of the Monastery. It was quite clear today! As an extra adventure, John and John hiked all the way up to Mt. Hor, the location where Aaron died (Numbers 20). We all made it back to the hotel on our own time for a wonderful dinner on the rooftop of the hotel.

Day 14 – Monday, September 16: Machareus, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Amman

Today was our last full day in Jordan. After a great breakfast at our hotel in Wadi Musa (Petra), we loaded the bus and drove north. Partly sunny skies greeted us, with high temps around 85 today. We read from Numbers 22-24 as we left at 7:30.

Machaerus

Our first site was Machaerus. It took about 3.5 hours to get there, with one stop on the way. When we arrived at Machaerus, we read from Matthew 14 (also recorded in Mark 6) about how John the Baptizer was beheaded here (Josephus tells us the location). Most in the group climbed to the top of this palace-fortress built by Herod the Great. We saw the suggested throne area of the palace (where Herod Antipas received the head of the Baptizer) as well as a few ritual baths and columns. The view across the Dead Sea was really good, allowing us to see the high-rises of Jerusalem! Later, Machaerus fell to the Romans in 71 AD.

Mt. Nebo

From here we continued to Mt. Nebo, part of the Pisgah Range. We read from Deuteronomy 31-34 and Joshua 1 about the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. The visibility looking westward to the Dead Sea and Jericho was fairly good. This was Moses’ view before he died at 120 years of age. 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. The mosaics were amazing to see!

Madaba

After saying goodbye to Rick and Yany (who had to re-cross back into Israel to get their flight from Tel Aviv), we made two brief stops. The first was at a mosaic store. The handicapped (part of a Jordanian program) make the mosaics here. Next, we drove into Madaba to see the 6th century AD mosaic Madaba Map. It is located in the renovated St. George Church. Jerusalem is specifically featured on this ancient map. We also met Sam’s wife and oldest child here too.

We then drove into Amman to our hotel for dinner and a brief overnight before we wake up at midnight tonight for our 3:45 a.m. flight tomorrow.

Day 15 – Tuesday, September 17: Early Morning Flight from Amman, Arrive Home