Shalom! We started heading north toward Galilee today but made some stops along the way in the Coastal Plain and Jezreel Valley before arriving to our hotel in Nazareth. It was a temperate and breezy day—a nice change of pace from hot and barren desert! Here are a few highlights: Caesarea We started in the…
Shalom! Today we finished our foray into Israel’s southern regions by visiting several sites in the Judean Wilderness close to the Dead Sea. It was another sunny, hot day with temperatures in the 90s. Here are a few highlights: Masada We started the day with a rigorous 5:00am hike up the Snake Path of Masada,…
Shalom! Today we traveled north back out of the southern wilderness and through the Negev to spend the night at a hostel near Masada (you can guess what we’re doing tomorrow morning). Our day was bracketed by two very different water experiences. Here are a few highlights: Red Sea Snorkeling As the morning temperature in…
Shalom! Today we drove south into the Negev proper and watched the landscape change dramatically. We soon passed through to true wilderness (like the Israelites experienced) before reaching Israel’s southernmost city, Eilat (biblical Eloth, 1 Ki 9:26; 2 Chr 26:2), on the coast of the Red Sea. Here are a few highlights from our stops…
Shalom! Today began a four day tour of southern Israel or the Negev. On our drive down to Be’er Sheva (modern Beersheba), we stopped to look at a few sites along the way in the “Shephelah” or lowlands of ancient Judah. Here are a few highlights: David vs. Goliath We stopped at ancient Azekah, one…
Shalom! Today was a breezy and much cooler day—perfect for finally getting to visit the Mount of Olives! Here are a few highlights from today: Mount of Olives Just east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives (see cover photo) is taller than either hill of Old Jerusalem and essentially divides the…
Shalom! Today was all about exploring the circle of ancient cities just north of Jerusalem (on what is called “the Central Benjamin Plateau”). Since these cities formed an important economic and strategic crossroads, many OT events took place on this plateau. Here are a few highlights from our investigation today: Gibeah We started our day…
Shalom! While today was supposed to be focused on the Mount of Olives, an unexpected bike-marathon in the area meant we could not access the site. Therefore, instead, our trip leader took us to some other notable places south of Old Jerusalem. Here are a few highlights: Herodium Herod the Great (72-4 BC), who ruled…
Shalom! Today’s itinerary focused on Jerusalem’s eastern hill, the oldest and most important part of Jerusalem throughout Bible times. We started in the north and moved our way south as the sun grew hot and challenged our endurance. Temple Mount We started our morning by finally visiting the Temple Mount. There is too much to…
Shalom! Our study commenced in earnest on our second day in Jerusalem. After a preliminary time of teaching at our hotel in the morning, we visited several sites in the city to help us get a firmer understanding of Jerusalem’s geography and development during different periods of Bible history. David’s Citadel We started the day…