The Elah Brook

DSCN1571 As told in 1 Samuel 17, David went down into the brook in the Valley of Elah to gather stones to battle against the Philistine giant Goliath. In an ironic twist of fate, that same brook winds its way directly past the Philistine city of Gath (Goliath's hometown) about five miles to the west of the battlefield. It is a legitimate possibility that, as a boy, Goliath played in the exact stream where, many years later, his foe would gather ammunition which would eventually be used to kill him. This picture is of the dry river Elah wadi adjacent to the tel at Gath.

Gennesaret

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA In contrast to yesterday's picture of the Judean Wilderness, the northern area of Israel is covered in lush vegetation as evidenced by this picture of the Gennesaret. The Gospels tell us that Jesus and His disciples traveled across the Sea of Galilee and landed in this region. Once Jesus was recognized, all of the people in the villages came to him to bring Him their sick to be healed.

Judean Wilderness

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Although a large portion of the country of Israel is green and covered with vegetation, some of it is not. This view of the southern Judean Wilderness provides a wonderful example of the terrain that the Israelites would have encountered as they made their way to the Promised Land.

Mount Nebo

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA This view of Mount Nebo was taken from the the kibbutz at Qumran looking east across the Dead Sea. The hotels in the distance are in the modern kingdom of Jordan. From Mount Nebo, Moses was provided with a view of the promised land of Canaan.

Ashkelon

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The city of Asheklon was one of the most important cities of the Philistine pentapolis. Although it was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, its elevated position provided the inhabitants a strategic advantage over any incoming invaders.

Podcast #5 - Little Town of Bethany

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/195891660" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] During the ministry of Jesus, He would often be surrounded by people. Consequently, at the end of a day, He would often look for the opportunity to step away from the crowds and spend some time in meditation and prayer. When He visited Jerusalem, He still tried to get away from the city and usually found Himself in Bethany. And that is what we will be discussing in today's program.

NOTE: If you are reading this blog post from an email, you will probably need to go to the Podcast Page on my website to listen to the audio.


Beit She'an

bethshan Sitting at the intersection of the Harod and Jordan valleys, the nation that controlled Beit She'an controlled all travel through those areas. Consequently, the city changed hands many times throughout history. During the first century, the city was named Scythopolis and was the only city of the Decapolis located west of the Jordan River.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Seaside Village of Capernaum

capernaum_from_sea Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen before they became apostles of Jesus. Much of their fishing activity that is recorded for us took place around the town of Capernaum. The picture is taken from the Sea of Galilee looking north toward the ruins of that city.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Kidron Valley

kidron_valley Between the city of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley flows from north to south eventually emptying into the Dead Sea. This view from the ancient City of David looks south where the Hinnom Valley merges into the Kidron Valley. The homes on the side of the hill are in the Arab village of Silwan.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Hippos

hippos On the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the city of Hippos was one of the cities of the Decapolis. The city was heavily populated for nearly ten centuries. It was abandoned in the 8th century after an earthquake destroyed the city in 749AD.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Jacob's Well

jacobs_well In the modern city of Nablus, within the complex of an Eastern Orthodox monastery, sits a well. What makes this well interesting is that (very) long time tradition holds that it is the same well that Jacob dug in Genesis 33. And of course, it is the same well that Jesus sat beside as he spoke to the Samaritan woman. The visible portion of the well has changed many times over the centuries. And of course, for most of its existence, it was outside.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Steps Leading Down To The Pool of Siloam

herodian_road After putting mud in his eyes, John 9 tells us that the blind man to go down the Pool of Siloam and wash his eyes. That man would have walked down this Roman road leading down to the area of the Pool of Siloam. In the centuries since then, this road has been buried and buildings have been built on top of it. Only within the past few years have visitors been able to walk upon this road.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Pool of Siloam

pool_of_siloam In John 9, we read a wonderful story in the life of Jesus. While walking through Jerusalem, He comes across a blind man. Feeling compassion on the man, Jesus wipes mud on the man's eyes and asks him to go and wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam. These steps, on the northern edge of the pool, lead down to the water's edge. (Tomorrow, we will post another picture relating to this story.)


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Snake Trail Ascending Masada

snake_trail In the first century, King Herod built numerous palaces throughout Judea and Samaria. One of his most famous palaces was built on the top of a standalone plateau on the edge of the Dead Sea. It is commonly called Masada. Today, most visitors ascend to the top in three minutes via cable car. More adventurous visitors can ascend via the ancient Snake Trail.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Syrian Plain

syrian_plain Acts 9 relates the account of Jesus appearing to Saul on the road to Damascus. While traveling around noon, a bright light shined down upon Saul and those that were with him. Jesus spoke to Saul and instructed him to go to Damascus where he would be told what he needed to do. From this overlook on the Israel/Syria border, the city of Damascus lies about 25 miles to our northeast. Depending on the route Saul took, it is possible that he walked very close to here.


Are you interested in traveling to Israel? Join me this October for a 12-day Bible Study tour of this beautiful land. See the Israel Tour Page for an itinerary and pricing details.


Podcast #4 - Peter's Confession at Caesarea Philippi

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193785730" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] In Matthew 18, the apostle records the conversation that Jesus had with his disciples. In this conversation, Peter makes his great confession. But Matthew includes an extra piece of information concerning where this event took place. And that is what we will be discussing in this program.

Tristram's Starling at Masada

Tristram's Starling The Tristram’s starling is a common feature in the Judaean Hill Country. It was first discovered by Reverend Henry Tristram during an ornithological study in Israel in 1863. This lovely male, with his distinctive rust-color stripe overlooks the Dead Sea from the walls of Masada. Here, their piping calls remind over-hot visitors that if other creatures can survive the heat, they can, too.

Tel Qasile & the Philistine Temples

Tel Qasile The site of Tel Qasile was Philistine city built at the mouth of the Yarkon River in modern Tel Aviv. A series of Philistine temples were found here, built on top of each other over the years. Most notable in the design are the columns and the large stone threshold. The temple and much of the city was finally destroyed by fire sometime around the 10th century.

Tyrian Sheqel -- The Temple Tax

Tyrian Sheqel The Tyrian Shekel (or Tyrian tetradrachma) was the coin used in the first century to pay the Jewish temple tax. These coins were actually minted in Israel after Rome shut down the mint in Tyre, though the imagery was required to stay the same—the representation of a Tyrian god and an eagle. Money changers in and around the temple would likely have been exchanging common currency for these coins.

Chorazin, Overlooking Galilee

Chorazim The first-century remains of ancient Chorazin (modern Kerazeh) overlook the Sea of Galilee. This is a particularly striking city, built of black basalt, which creates an ominous mood as one walks through the crumbling ruins. Chorazin was mentioned as one of the three cities upon which Christ pronounced the woes of Matthew 11:20-21.