Bethlehem
Bethlehem Hmm. What to say about Bethlehem? I’m glad to have been there. I don’t care to ever go again. Obviously the story of the birth of Christ is a … Continue Reading Bethlehem
Herodian
We set out to explore the fortress built by Herod the Great for his own funeral memorial. It was quite a sight! On one hand, all of these fortresses start … Continue Reading Herodian
The Israel Museum
There is a 50:1 scaled hand-made model of Jerusalem at the museum. It is really amazing. It is meant to help you understand ancient Jerusalem instead of what it looks … Continue Reading The Israel Museum
The Temple Mount
First thing this morning we went to the location of Solomon’s Temple in the center of old Jerusalem. It is a location that has changed hands many times. Currently it … Continue Reading The Temple Mount
Ben Yahuda Street
After dinner there were several of us from the group who walked a little over a mile to the Jewish center of town. There is a busy street that we … Continue Reading Ben Yahuda Street
Qumran
In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd was tending his flocks and lost one. While looking for this lost sheep, he came across a cave. It was customary to check the cave … Continue Reading Qumran
The Dead Sea
Yet another completely unique experience. We had lunch on the Dead Sea and went in to see what it was like. Others in our group went all the way in … Continue Reading The Dead Sea
Masada
Such a unique experience! On the eastern fringe of the Judean wilderness next to the Dead Sea is a fortress on the top of a mountain named Masada. Herod the … Continue Reading Masada
En Gedi
En Gedi would be the land where David was hiding from Saul. Saul was trying to kill David. At one point Saul had stopped in a cave to relieve himself … Continue Reading En Gedi
Then Again… Maybe Not
I may have been a little too excited and assumed we were going to be in Jerusalem today. I don’t think we will be after all. It looks like we … Continue Reading Then Again… Maybe Not
Coming in to Jerusalem
The climate has changed again… We traveled further south, up to Jerusalem. I say up because it is quite an ascent up the hill to the holy city. We stopped … Continue Reading Coming in to Jerusalem
The Judean Wilderness
This is the Israel that I have always had in my mind. Dry, dusty, rocky, hills, and plenty of sun. The wilderness is all of that, and more. It is … Continue Reading The Judean Wilderness
Jericho
The sun is killing me! We went south from the beautiful land surrounding the Sea of Galilee and suddenly we entered a dry and barren land. I can’t believe the … Continue Reading Jericho
If you hold on to your life, you will lose it…
The city of Bet She’an was destroyed by an earthquake in 749. The enormous pillars came crashing down and the city was left in ruins. This is how the archeologists … Continue Reading If you hold on to your life, you will lose it…
Bet She’an
Bet She’an was a huge city in the days of Jesus and has been a part of many passages of scripture. It is here that Saul’s body was hung after … Continue Reading Bet She’an
The Jordan River
There is a site (possibly more than one, I don’t know) that claims to be the place on the Jordan where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. We visited … Continue Reading The Jordan River