"Socoh makes it’s first appearance in the Bible in a list of towns allocated to the tribe of Judah after the Children of Israel entered the land. It became an important border city guarding Judah from Phillistine intrusion. Socoh was the assembling ground for the Philistines as they prepared for war with the Israelites in the Valley of Elah. The outcome of this great battle was the death of their hero Goliath at the hands of the shepherd David. The Israelites routed the Philistines pushing them back across their borders. (1 Sam 17) (2 Chr 11) After the Kingdom of Israel split into northern and southern Kingdoms, King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) fortified Socho making it one of his defensive cities full of provisions, commanders and supplies in the event of war. (2 Chr 28) During the time of King Ahaz, the Philistines would overrun the region taking many of the border towns including Socho. The reformer King Hezekiah would regain the region and conquer into Philistine lands even as he rebelled against the Assyrians who had essentially made Judah a vassal state. ( 2 Kings 18) The Assyrians would retaliate. Only Jerusalem was spared and Socho remains in ruins until this day. Although clearly identified by archeologists, Socho has only undergone preliminary excavations. The walls that once stood sentry along the border between Israel and Philistia have lain untouched for millennia allowing a visitor to wonder at the lives and stories that played out here during Biblical times."

"About a mile inland from the northwest corner of the lowest place on earth—the Dead Sea is a desert plateau that would become famous in 1940’s and what was found there reverberates until today. Qumran is the place where Bedouin shepherds accidentally discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. This area was once inhabited by a separatist sect in Judaism—probably the Essenes who were thought to have had a large impact on John the Baptist. Over 900 scrolls were found as they were left for millennia in the caves at Qumran. Among them are the oldest known surviving manuscripts of Biblical texts as well as deuterocanonical and extra biblical texts that reveal the diversity of theological thought among the Jewish people before and during the time of Christ. Previous to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls the oldest existing manuscripts of these Scriptures dated to the 9th century. In some cases the Dead Sea Scrolls pushed this back over 1000 years. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the oldest known manuscripts of much of the Hebrew Scriptures ever found in the world."

During the time of Jesus, Caesarea was one of the jewels of the Roman Empire, near its far eastern boundary.

"Hebron is one of the holiest and most influential places on earth although this fact is lost on most visitors to the land of the Bible. Hebron was a city of the Canaanite people in the time of Abraham. As Abraham moved south from Shechem where he had received God’s promise to give the land to his offspring he lived in Hebron (Gen 13) It was here that his wife Sarah would die and here that Abraham would purchase a field with a cave as a burial place for his family. (Gen 23) She was the first to be buried in the cave of Macpelah but she wouldn’t be the last. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all spent time living in Hebron (Gen 35) and each of them, at the end of their lives would be buried in the Cave of Macpelah along with their wives. The tomb of the Patriarchs is one of the holiest sites in the world bearing significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike--all who trace a part of their spiritual heritage to Abraham. Which makes this a tensely shared and well guarded place. The Jewish people have access to a portion of the interior where they have a synagogue. They can pray and observe memorial’s representing their ancestors. Moving into the Muslim side reveals a mosque where Muslims come to pray and pay homage to the same people. The entrance into the actual cave of Macpeleh where the bodies of the patriarchs were buried lies within the mosque although it is not accessible to visitors. The structure that sits atop the Cave of Macpeleh was built by Herod the Great who was the client King for the Roman empire just before Jesus’ birth. The mark Herod left on the development of the land at the time is unparalleled as can be seen here. This structure is still standing twenty centuries later and is still in use. It became a great point of pilgrimage after this. It’s been converted to whatever religious persuasion the conquering armies have held since then making it at first a Jewish holy place until the Byzantines who made it a church. The Arabs made it …

"It’s nearly impossible to be in Jerusalem and not feel the imposing presence of the Temple Mount. There’s good reason for this. Thousands of years before the time of Jesus it was made to be this way. It’s not only the central icon that represents Jerusalem today it was the central icon that represented the Israelites when they came into the Promised Land. (Gen 22) It is believed that upon these hills Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac to God in a powerful display of the covenant relationship He had with God. God tested Abraham but halted the death of Isaac providing an alternate sacrifice instead. (1 Chronicles 11) Later in the time of King David the Jebusites lived here. David conquered the city of Jebus and made it the capital of his kingdom—The city of David or Jerusalem. (1 Kings 6, 2 Chr 3) During the reign of Davids son King Solomon a permanent temple was erected here on the temple mount almost 1000 years before Jesus came. It was the icon of the people and the place where the God of Israel met with them. The temple mount and the temple itself were not only the most holy place among the people but the center of their identity. This lasted for about 350 years until the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem completely destroying the temple and carrying the people into exile. (Ezra 6) About 40 years later the people were given permission to return from Exile and they erected a new temple on the temple mount under the leadership of Zerubabel. Just prior to the time of Jesus, Herod the Great began a massive rebuilding project on the temple mount bringing in 10,000 laborers and expanding the mount itself in ways that were (and still are) technological marvels. He rebuilt the temple for the Jewish people and made it a more extravagant symbol than it had ever been. This was the temple Jesus knew. (Matt 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) Unfortunately the beautiful temple that sat on the temple mount was to have a short life. Jesus predicted this and in the year 70 …

"Shiloh is mentioned in the Scriptures 31 times but it’s significance in the lives of the Children of Israel is often lost in Biblical history. Shiloh was the capital of the newly emerging Promised Land when these same Children of Israel entered it. But it wasn’t a temporary holding zone until other places to could be conquered. Shiloh was the permanent place of the tabernacle of God and the spiritual heart of the land for 369 years! Nestled in the hill country of Ephraim, the Tent of Meeting held the Ark of the Covenant when Joshua divided up the land for the tribes of Israel to inhabit. Shiloh remained the home of the Ark and the center of religious worship until shortly before King David conquered Jerusalem and created the City of David. (1 Sam 1-2) Here in Shiloh, Hannah begged God for a child. She promised to give the child back to God if He would hear her. In response, God gave her a son. He was named Samuel and true to her word she brought the child back to be mentored by and to serve the high priest Eli. (1 Sam 3) It was here in Shiloh that God called to Samuel as a child and it was here that he became the prophet Samuel of the Bible. (1 Sam 4) Later the Israelites went into battle with their constant nemesis the Philistines. The batter took place between Ebenezer and Aphek. Because the battle wasn’t going well for Israel they decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh into battle. Although the presence of the Ark brought terror into the hearts of the Philistines it did not bring about victory for Israel. God hadn’t instructed any of this and the battle was lost and the Ark was captured. When news of the loss reached Shiloh the effect was instantaneous. The High Priest Eli received news that his two sons had been killed in battle and that the Ark was lost. He fell over, broke his neck and died here in Shiloh. Eli’s pregnant daughter in law, upon learning of her husbands death and the loss of the Ark went into immediate …

"Ashdod was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines in Biblical history. In fact its ancient history by the Mediterranean Sea goes back to at least Canaanite times. (1 Sam 4-5) The Philistines and Israelites were continually battling with one another during the time of Joshua, the Judges and the early Kingdom. During the Battle of Ebenezer the Philistines defeated Israel and in the process captured the Ark of the Covenant that had been ill advisedly brought from the capital of Shiloh. The triumphant Philistines brought the Ark to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god Dagon. The next day when they came into the Temple Dagon had fallen before the Ark of the Covenant. They put him back in place but the following day they found the idol fallen before the Ark. This time his head and hands had been broken off. A plague of tumors broke out among the philistines who began to fear the God of Israels judgment on them. They moved the Ark from Ashdod to Gath and then to Ekron where plague broke out on the people until the Ark was returned to the Children of Israel. Later during the 1st century Roman era the city was called Azotus. As the early Church was being formed, the Apostle Phillip (Acts 8) was instructed by an angel to follow the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Upon this road he met an Ethiopian eunuch and explained the Gospel to him baptizing him. Phillip was spirited away after this encounter and was next seen in Ashdod/Azotus where he preached the gospel and made his way north along the coast toward Caesarea. Historical Ashdod is now a largely unexcavated archaeological site that contains the remains of Canaanite, Philistine, Israelite, Roman, Byzantine, Crusader and Arab signatures. Modern Ashdod sits 12 miles north of Ashkelon and 33 miles west of Jerusalem. It is Israels fifth largets city and is it’s largest port. "

"The Decapolis was a league of ten large, powerful, properous and influential cities during the time of Jesus. Most of these cities are located in what is now modern day Jordan. Jesus fame spread throughout these cities and people from across the Jordan took the long journey to the Galilee to hear him. (Matt 4) But a couple of the major cities were much closer to where Jesus did most of his ministry in the Galilee region—Beit Shean and Hippos Susita. Hippos sits on a high rise as the land lifts up from below sea level at the Sea of Galilee onto the Golan Heights very dramatically. This once bustling city of culture and influence would have been a place where Jesus ministered as it was by far the closest city of the Decapolis to his home of Capernaum along the shores below. (Mark 7) One particularly dramatic scene in Jesus ministry touches Hippos. When Jesus set a man free from a legion of demons throwing them into swine who ran into the lake and drowned this would have happened very near Hippos not only because of the geography but because being a non-semitic city pigs would have been eaten here. (Mark 5) As news spread people from Hippos and the surrounding villagers came to see what the fuss was about only to find this man in his right mind once again. He was then instructed by Jesus to go and tell all that God had done for him. According to the Scriptures he went into the Decapolis to share the testimony and likely started by sharing the news in Hippos. Hippos has a long history. In the Byzantine period it became a central hub for the Christian faith serving eight churches and pilgrims from all over the empire coming to visit the Galilee. The city finally came to a catastrophic end in 749 when a devastating earthquake destroyed it completely. Beit Shean was also destroyed and the entire region was affected. Today Hippos sits largely unknown to pilgrims to the region. High above the Sea of Galilee the ruins carry within them the stories and …

"In the Valley of Elah lies a creek bed. A creek that would become infamous for the battle that was fought here. (1 Sam 17) Near ancient Azekah and Socho the armies the Philistines once encamped for battle opposing the armies of Israel who were arrayed along the Valley of Elah. A great Philistine warrior named Goliath would come between the forces into the valley and taunt Israel’s armies. Because this warrior was nearly ten feet tall and awe inspiring in his battle armor he terrified the armies of Israel. No one dared to face him. No one but a shepherd boy named David who wasn’t even in the military. When David heard the taunts of Goliath he volunteered to fight the giant but no one took him seriously until he spoke to King Saul. “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this uncircumcised Philistine.” He told the King who eventually gave him permission to fight provided he wore the Kings armor. Down to the brook he went collecting five stones. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Sam 17:45-47) And that’s exactly what happened. David charged with his sling spinning over his head and a stone flew at lethal speed and accuracy penetrating the skull of the giant who fell to the ground. David seized the giants sword and took his head with it. Today the Valley of Elah stands as a living testimony to the often counterintuitive but always powerful …

"On the day of Jesus’ resurrection two dejected disciples left Jerusalem on their way to the village of Emmaus. Finding Biblical Emmaus has proven difficult over the centuries. Several sites have been proposed and are regularly visited. Here we look at Emmaus Nicapolis. "

"Between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in the Judean hills sits the remains of ancient Gezer. For thousands of years Gezer was a strategic city sitting along the Via Maris trade route between Egypt and the northern kingdoms. It sat at the junction of the road that also went to Jerusalem and out toward the Dead Sea. Gezer was a fortified and walled city with strong towers in it’s Canaanite past. The city had an allegiance to Egypt. Remains of a Canaanite cultic site that probably represented the alliance of Canaanite cities of the region still stands today. According to the Book of Joshua (Josh 10) Gezer was defeated when the Israelites entered the land. The Canaanites must have regained control of Gezer by the time of the Judges (Judges 1) for according to this account the Canaanites and Israelites cohabited the area. The Pharoah of Egypt conquered Gezer and it was gifted to King Solomon as a wedding dowry. Solomon had married the Pharoah’s daughter. (1 Kings 9) Solomon reinforced Gezer and made it a more powerful and strategic city of his Kingdom. It became one of his administrative centers. The gates from Solomon’s reign are clear and visible today. Gates built following the same plan from Solomon’s reign have also been found in his administrative capitals of Megiddo and Hazor. During the divided Kingdom, After the death of Solomon, archaeology indicates that Gezer was destroyed by the invading Egyptians (1 Kings 14) It was also later conquered by the Assyrians. After the Babylonian exile and the end of the Kingdom of Judah, the Persians defeated the Babylonians and allowed the exiles to return. Gezer then became part of a newly formed Persian province and during the time between the old and new testaments Gezer was conquered by the Hasmoneans. By the time of King Herod and during Jesus ministry the city was no longer relevant to any borders and fell into disuse and eventually was lost to nature and time. Today Gezer is a remarkable archaeological …

In all of the world there isn’t a body of water that captures the imagination for a believer more than the Sea of Galilee. Along its shores the majority of Jesus ministry occurred.

The wilderness surrounding Beer Sheva has been populated for thousands of years, as it has available water, which flows from the Hebron hills in the winter and is stored underground in vast quantities. Water is what made this an important place in the Bible. Beersheba or Be’er Sheva means “Well of Oath,” or “Well of Seven,” and gets its name in Genesis 21:25-34 where the Philistine King Abimelech and the patriarch Abraham swore an oath regarding the well that had been contested there.

"Before David was king in Israel he was a shepherd who became unexpectedly famous for slaying the Phillistine giant Goliath in the Elah Valley. The feat of bravery made him a legendary hero but also made King Saul obsessively paranoid about him. So much so that Saul eventually decided to assassinate him. David lived on the run a long time from Saul learning not only how to be stealthy but also to put his trust wholly in God for his deliverance. Eventually David realized that if he did not get out of Saul’s path he would probably be killed eventually which prompted him to defect to the Phillistines. Ironically he sought asylum from the Phillistine king Achish in the city of Gath which had been Goliath’s home town. David was accepted in Gath and was eventually given a city of his own to steward and live in….Ziklag. From Ziklag David raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites (1 Sam 27) but avoided raiding his own people even though he made it appear that he was also raiding the land of Judah. Far to the north a battle was brewing. The Phillistines camed at Aphek while the Israelites drew their lines near Jezreel (1 sam 28) . David and his men were expected to fight against their countrymen but were eventually sent away fearing that they would turn and fight for Israel during the battle. David was sent the several days journey back to Ziklag (1 sam 29.) Upon arrival (1 sam 30) they realized their town had been sacked by the Amalekites and their families and livestock were taken away. David pursued and destroyed the Amalekites in battle recovering what had been lost as well as much plunder. Back to the north the battle did not go well for Israel and in the process King Saul and his three sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua lost their lives. (1 Sam 31) Two days later the word of Saul’s death and the death of his best friend Jonathan reached Ziklag where David mourned. (2 Sam 1) A short time later David would leave Ziklag for Hebron where …

The wilderness has a prominent place in the Bible. It’s the place where the most foundational pieces of Scripture were written. When God led His people out of Egyptian slavery He didn’t bring them immediately into the land flowing with milk and honey. There was work to be done—a people to be formed—a culture to be created—an identity to be bestowed. And for this work God chose the wilderness.

"According to the Gospel of John, Jesus first miraculous sign in his ministry took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus was there probably with his family. His mother, Mary was certainly there for it was she, who prompted the miracle to take place. At the festivities they had unfortunately run out of wine. Mary approached Jesus about this but he told her the time wasn’t right. (John 2) She, in turn instructed the servants to do whatever he told them to do. Jesus instructed them to fill six large jars with water. The water was turned into wine. 120-180 gallons of wine to be precise. The memorial to this miracle is preserved at the wedding church of Cana. Many renew their vows of marriage at this spot. One can wander the small courtyards to contemplate the beginning of Jesus’ miraculous ministry and the way his mother played a role in revealing him. The beautiful interior of the chapel points toward the miraculous activity that happened there two millennia ago and one can descend below the church to view the remains of earlier chapels and on down to the first century remains of Cana of Galilee. (John 4) Jesus was in Cana another time when a royal official from Capernaum begged Jesus for healing for his son. Jesus pronounced him healed from Cana and when the man took him at his word and departed the boy was healed. The Scriptures also tell us that the disciple Nathanael was from Cana. Today, Cana is a Palestinian village just miles from Nazareth in the heart of the Galilee where Jesus lived, ministered and changed the course of history."

"Bethel is a name that elicits imagery in the Bible of mythic proportions. The city shows up first in Scripture when the patriarch Abraham passes nearby and erects and altar to the God who had promised this good land to his offspring. (Gen 12) The children of Abrams son, Isaac were Jacob and Esau. Esau was the firstborn but Jacob proved to be the more cunning of the two. Before Isaacs’s death Jacob had managed to get the right of the firstborn from his brother and the blessing of the firstborn from his father. This enraged Esau to the point that Jacob moved away to stay at a safe distance from his brother. He moved north out of the Negev at Beersheba and found his way back to Bethel. Here Jacob would have a dream in which he saw a stairway to heaven with angelic beings ascending and descending (Gen 28). From the geography it is easy to see how this imagery could have become apparent. The hills indeed look as if they are a “stairway resting on the earth” as the Scriptures say. God spoke in this dream reaffirming the promises made to Jacob’s grandfather Abraham. Jacob set up a stone and poured oil over it making a vow to serve this God who had spoken so dramatically. Much later in Jacob’s life God would tell him to come back through Bethel. (Gen 31) He would obey erecting and altar here to God (Gen 35) Jacob would be renamed by God (Gen 32) His name would be known as Israel. Jacobs children would become the tribes of Israel. Several hundred years later when these Children of Jacob, or rather, Children of Israel came out of Egyptian slavery and entered the land under the leadership of Joshua they would conquer Bethel and fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Josh 12) Bethel would be a holy place for Israel. They would inquire of the Lord here through the time of the Judges (Judges 20) (1 Kings 12) Generations later after the Kingdom had split into northern and southern kingdoms, Bethel would become the southernmost city …

"On the shores of the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee we find the ruins of an ancient fishing village with a claim that no other city in the world has. Capernaum was the adult home town and central hub for the ministry of Jesus (Matthew 4:13). This wasn’t just a place Jesus visited. This was his earthly home. He ate here, laughed here and slept here. Capernaum is located in Galilee about ninety miles north of Jerusalem but in terms of its geography and atmosphere it’s a world away. The Apostles Peter, James, Andrew and John were from here as well as the notable tax collector Matthew. Jesus often taught in the Synagogue at Capernaum. The ruins of the 4th century synagogue standing today are built on the foundation of the synagogue Jesus would have taught in. The ruins of St. Peters home were honored and turned into one of the earliest Christian gathering places since shortly after Jesus death and resurrection. The home was expanded and turned into a more formalized Byzantine church in the centuries that followed. Capernaum is known for many of Jesus acts. (Mark 1, Luke 4) While Jesus was teaching in this synagogue a man possessed with a demon interrupted him. Jesus cast it out here in the synagogue of Capernaum. (Mark 2) In Capernaum the crowds around Jesus were so thick that a man who was paralyzed was carried by his friends to the roof of the house Jesus was teaching in. This was thought to be the home of Peter. They pealed back the thatched roof and lowered the man before Jesus where he was healed and walked again. It was one of the first run-in’s Jesus had with the religious leaders for Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven. (Matthew 8, Luke 7) A Roman centurian who had helped build the synagogue in Capernaum sent for Jesus to heal his servant. In an ironic twist he didn’t want Jesus to come to his home but rather to just heal from afar. He said, “For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, …

Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world. Pilgrims from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths converge here and the city has always been a place where tension and intrigue abound. Over 3000 years ago King David conquered the Canaanite city of Jebus making it the capital of Israel. It would be known as the City of David or Jerusalem. Since then it has been a heavily sought after piece of land. Perhaps the most contested piece of land the world has ever known, for here God chose to make a permanent dwelling among His people.

"At the intersection between the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel valley about 128 km or 80 miles north of Jerusalem sits an ancient city with a long and winding past. Beit Shean has always been a valuable tactical location because it sits at the junction of these valleys allowing east-west access to the Mediterranean coast and north-south passage between Jerusalem and the Galilee. Although archaeological findings run much further into antiquity this was once a Canaanite city. The Egyptians held it for a time and established Beit Shean as an administrative hub during the reign of Pharoah Thutmose III. Eventually the Philistines conquered the city. (1 Sam 31) The Phillistines were a coastal people and controlling Beit Shean gave them strategic access to the interior and a military staging ground to fight the Israelites. They were regularly the mortal enemy of the Israelites throughout their centuries in the Promised Land and Beit Shean hosts a weighty part of the conflict. Israel’s first King who was named Saul went into battle against the Philistines on nearby Mount Gilboa. Unfortunately he lost his life in the battle. The Philistines carried the body of King Saul back to Beit Shean and hung it from the walls. The ancient Canaanite and Philistine walls are still visible today. Israels second King—David would later capture Beit Shean and oust the Philistines forcing them back to their coastal territories. Beith Shean would remain a part of the territory of Israel throughout King David and King Solomon’s reigns (1 Kings 4) During the Assyrian conquest of the land Beit Shean was destroyed. During the Hellenistic period the city was rebuilt and refounded. It would later become a part of the Roman Empire. During the life of Jesus Beith Shean was a bustling metropolis bringing heavy Roman influence and culture into the Galilee. It was the administrative center of the region and part of a ten major city league known as the Decapolis. During the …

"The Dead Sea is mentioned 16 times in the Bible. In Biblical times, as it is today, the Dead Sea is an impressive landmark. It sits along a 4,000 mile fault line in the Earth’s crust known as the Syrio-African rift and is literally the lowest land point on earth—at around 1400 feet below Sea level. "

"Shaaraim is mentioned just three times in the Bible. And yet it played a major role in the history of the Biblical Children of Israel. Shaaraim is first mentioned in the book of Joshua (Josh 15) as a city allocated to the Tribe of Judah. (1 Chr 4) It is also listed as a city that the people of the Tribe of Simeon shared with Judah before the reign of King David. But Shaaraim is far more than a name on a list. Shaaraim was a very strong fortress city that appears most significantly in the story of the battle between the Philistines and Israelites in which David killed the giant Goliath. Israel had a series of fortress cities along their border with Philistia. They are all in a long line protecting the strategic Valley of Elah. To the west was the strong city of Azekah, next is the double walled city of Shaaraim, across the valley was Socho and at the other end of the valley was Adullam. Each city was within site of it’s neighbor and were ready to defend the border or one another if attacked. It was into this geography that the Philistines lined up along their border between Socho and Azekah to fight with Israel. It was within sight of two or three of these four cities that Goliath would have taunted Israel. They could have probably heard Goliaths taunts in Shaaraim. They would have certainly been able to see him. When David unexpectedly defeated the giant the Philistines were thrown into a panic for the Israelite army charged off the hills and probably out of the fortresses of Shaaraim on the north side of the Valley and Socho on the south side. These were the two strongholds nearest the battlefield. (1 Sam 17) According to the Scriptures the Israelites swarmed into the valley completely routing the Philistines and chasing them back to their own strongholds of Gath and Ekron. They defeated them all along the Shaaraim road. Today Shaaraim is a pristine archaeological site that requires a hike or an off road vehicle to access but the effort is …

During the time of the patriarchs, Bet-Lahmi was the name of an ancient Canaanite city that worshiped the god Lachama. Much later, in the hill country of Judah, this city would become known as Bethlehem which in Hebrew means “House of Bread."

"Akko is an ancient Canaanite port city that touches the Bible briefly and continues on until today. It is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the region and has been designated a World Heritage Site. Akko lies just north of modern day Haifa in Israel and was a northern Mediterranean port city back into antiquity. According to the Bible (Judges 1) the land was designated to the Tribe of Asher but they never drove the Canaanites out of Akko, rather they moved in and lived among them as was the case with many of the tribes in many of the regions. After the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah had both been destroyed and the people taken into exile many empires subsequently ruled the land. The Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks and so on. The return from exile of the Israelites would never fully bring them back to their own land under their own rule. Eventually the Romans would conquer the land and during the times in which the New Testament take place it was a part of the Roman Empire. Akko was certainly still a major port city during the time of Herod the Great. He greeted Augustus Caesar here although by Roman times the city had been renamed Ptolemais. After the death and resurrection of Jesus as the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul were taking place (Acts 21) he came by ship to Ptolemais and spent a day with the brothers and sisters here while on his way to Jerusalem where he would be arrested and never be a free man again. A millennia later the Crusaders would come to reclaim the Holy Land. It would become one of the major port cities and strongholds of this era. The city had been named Akko (it’s former name) again by the Arabs. Akko preserves the most extensive ruins of the Crusader period in all of Israel. Today Akko remains alive incorporating it’s history and archaeology into modern life along the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel. "

"On the eastern side of the Kidron valley is a ridge known as the Mt. of Olives. It parallels Jerusalem’s old city as well as the Temple Mount and it’s history as it relates to the life of Jesus and, in fact of all Israel is more than noteworthy. Because it is thought to be the first place of resurrection portions of the Mt of Olives have been used as a Jewish burial place for 3000 years. It is estimated that more than 150,000 graves are here featuring not only prophets from the Bible but also ancient Kings of Israel. (2 Sam 15) David fled from his son Absolom across the Mt of Olives when Absolom attempted a coup against him. (1 Kings 11) Solomon built high places for the false gods Chemosh and Molech on the Mt. of Olives. Jesus is often found on the Mt. of Olives and wept over Jerusalem here. (Luke 19) (Matt 21, Mark 11, Luke 19) Jesus began his triumphal entry into Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives (Matt, 24 Mark 13) Jesus fortold the destruction of the Temple from the Mt. of Olives (Matt 26, Mark 14, Luke 22 ) After the last supper Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane (which is on the Mt. of Olives to pray. He would be arrested here and in short order would be crucified. (Zech 14) The prophet Zecheriah tells us that one day God’s feet will touch down on the Mt of Olives and it will be split in two creating a great valley between. The Mount of Olives serves as a backdrop for all of Jerusalem’s Biblical history and is a constant landmark for those visiting the holy city. Its gorgeous views allow a visitor to step back and imagine the past and the future of Jerusalem."

"Nazareth has a long and distant past. And it was, at one point, probably a larger city. Being situated in what would have been the Northern Kingdom of Israel it was likely destroyed by the Assyrians and it’s inhabitants carried into exile. In later eras Nazareth was but a small village. But Nazareth’s distant past isn’t what makes it a prominent location in the Bible. (Luke 1) Nazareth is where a young woman who was engaged to be married got unexpected and startling news. The Church of the Annunciation preserves the memorial of the place Gabriel came to Mary telling her that she would be overshadowed by the Spirit of God and would bear a son who was to be named Jesus. Remains of a 1st century dwelling are protected within the church itself. Mary and Joseph were from Nazareth and although Jesus was born in Bethlehem his early developmental years were spent in Nazareth (Matt 2, Luke 2) working with his father as a tekton or an artisan skilled in wood and stone work. (Matt 13, Mark 6) It is likely they lived in Nazareth but plied their trade several miles away in the bustling development of Sepphoris. Jesus would always be known in the region as Jesus of Nazareth (Matt 21, Mark 1, Luke 4, 18, John1, 18, Acts 3, 4) and although Nazareth was a small village at the time of Jesus it became a prominent place of pilgrimage in the centuries that followed his ministry both because an angel announced his arrival to an unsuspecting maiden and because this was the place of his early life before moving to Capernaum to conduct his adult ministry. Today Nazareth is one of the largest Arab populated cities in Israel with a 2:1 ratio being Muslim versus Christian. Jesus hometown was probably large in Canaanite and early Israeli times but became a small village that has now become a large city again and is considered holy to many who journey here to walk in the footsteps of Jesus."

Mt. Carmel, or in Hebrew Har HaKarmel, means “God’s Vineyard” and one visit reveals why. It is a lush coastal mountain overlooking the Jezreel Valley or the Valley of Armageddon. Although a Biblical landmark with plenty of history, the prophet Elijah is most notably associated with this place.

"Walking down the Mount of Olives it is easy to see the thousands and thousands of burials that have happened here. This is because the Jewish people and Christians believe this is the place where resurrection from the dead will begin. To be buried on the Mount of Olives, it is believed, is to be one of the first to rise at the coming of the Lord. Among the many thousands of gravesites sits a small garden that has been a traditional site since the Byzantine era known as Dominus Flevit—or “The Lord Wept.” In this small oasis sits a chapel that was built upon a much older one as is the case in many sites in Israel commemorating the place where Jesus openly wept over Jerusalem (Luke 13, 19) saying, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills your prophets, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” Dominus Flevit offers perfect views of the Temple Mount to this day and is a place where one can clearly imagine how majestic the Temple would have been. It also offers a place of quiet contemplation. Among the gardens in Dominus Flevit are the ossuaries of some of the earliest Christians. These would have been some of the earliest believers in the Jerusalem church and offer the opportunity to pay reverence to the spiritual ancestry of those who have gone before. Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives is a quiet oasis to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and long for the return of Jesus when the dead in Christ will rise."

"Just prior to Jesus birth, Herod the Great ruled the land on behalf of the Romans. For all of his paranoia and acts of cruelty Herod was perhaps one of the most brilliant developers the world has ever seen. He literally changed the landscape of Israel from a backwater at the edge of the empire to a relevant and beautiful gem. He is responsible for the construction on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem that gave the Temple of God a glory it had never posessed and was most certainly the Temple of Jesus time. Herod built many palace fortresses throughout the kingdom. These were places for he and his government to retreat if threatened but were also opulent places of luxury as well. The Herodium is one such place. It sits on the highest mountain in the Judean desert just outside of Bethlehem and south of Jerusalem. The evidence of Herod’s feats of engineering are still clear throughout the land of modern Israel. The Herodium was built on a smaller hill with a coned structure and then earthworks were piled around it to increase it’s height creating a massive underground structure much of which is accessible today. The top structure would have risen several stories on the top of the mound although these have been destroyed over the last 2000 years. The Herodium was so magnificent that Herod later retooled it so that he could be buried here. Like the Pharoahs of Egypt, Herod turned the Herodium into a monument to himself as it stands to this day. In later years, especially during the revolt against Rome that would destroy the Temple and in fact all of Jerusalem, the rebels used many of Herod’s fortresses because of their strength and ingenuity. After a four year siege of the Herodium the rebels surrendered. During the Byzantine period, the Herodium was used, in part, as a monastery but after the Arab conquest the site fell into ruins. Today it is a magnificent archaeological site recalling the New Testament times of Jesus as well as being the tomb of Herod …

"In the Scriptures, the Children of Israel reach a pinnacle of peace and prosperity under the reign of King Solomon. Unfortunately this season is short lived. Upon Solomon’s death and his son Rehoboam’s ascension to the throne the Kingdom largely revolts under Rehoboam’s threat of much harsher reign than that of his father. The Kingdom split in two with ten of the tribes to the North becoming the Kingdom of Israel and crowning Jeroboam their new king while the tribes of Benjamin and Judah remained loyal to the house of David and King Rehoboam creating the Kingdom of Judah or Judea from whence the term “Jew” would come. In an attempt to destroy the centrality of worship in Jerusalem King Jereboam would begin a long lasting spiritual mixture among the northern Kingdom of Israel establishing temples in Dan at the north of his Kingdom and in Bethel in the south. This would lead the Northern Kingdom into idolatry for it’s nearly two-century existence. During the first 50 years, the Northern Kingdom of Israel would have six kings and in about 885 BC King Omri would ascend to the throne. After purchasing the land from (1 Kings 16) a man named Shemer He would move the capital city from Tirzah to Samaria where he built a new capital that would grow to rival that of the size of Jerusalem. After Omri’s death his son Ahab became King and reigned from Samaria (1 Kings 16). The northern Kingdom would war regularly with it’s neighbor Syria and Samaria was assaulted by King Benhadad in two attempts (1 Kings 20) but the city held and Ahab prevailed. Ahab would marry Phoenecian princess named Jezebel and the two would become infamous for their baal worship (1 Kings 16) provoking God to send the prophet Elijah with the curse of famine in the land (1 Kings 17) Jezebel was intent on killing all the prophets of God (1 Kings 18) prompting a showdown between the prophets of Baal and Elijah the prophet of God on nearby Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) Later, during the time of King …

Archaeological evidence suggests that Jericho is the longest continuous city that exists in the world. More than 20 different settlements have been unearthed in the strata of this desert town located just north of the Dead Sea and 27 km, or 17 miles, from Jerusalem. In the Bible, Jericho is known as the “City of Palms.”

"Along the shores of the Sea of Galilee sits an archaeological site that, until recently, sat undetected for millennia. The ancient fishing village of Magdala touches our lives in significant ways for it touches the life of Jesus. Magdala was the next town over from Capernaum at the time of Jesus ministry and from this city came one of the most mentioned women in the New Testament—Mary Magdalene. A woman who had been set free of demonic activity by Jesus (Mark 16, Luke 8) and who became a devout and loyal companion. So much so that she was there along with Jesus mother and a few other women from the Galilee near the cross as Jesus died. (Matt 27, Mark 15, John 19) She was there sitting vigil with those who loved him at his tomb and she was on her way to anoint His body when an empty tomb was found. Mary Magdalene was among the first to share the news that would change the world…He is risen. (Matt 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20) Magdala is a recent and ongoing archaeological site. A rare gem in all of Israel. Where most places have many levels of civilization Magdala has been sitting just beneath the surface of the ground since the time of Jesus. A synagogue has been discovered in Magdala that was never built upon. No other memorial churches were constructed over it in the years after Jesus was in the region. It is one of the rare places a pilgrim can come and see the actual, untouched ruins of a place where Jesus would have stood to bring the message of the Kingdom. And one of the only untouched synagogues that would have been in use during the time that the temple stood in Jerusalem. It gives us a rare glimpse into the life and times that the Savior ministered in the land of the Galilee."

During the time of Jesus, Caesarea was one of the jewels of the Roman Empire, near its far eastern boundary.

During the time of the patriarchs, Bet-Lahmi was the name of an ancient Canaanite city that worshiped the god Lachama. Much later, in the hill country of Judah, this city would become known as Bethlehem which in Hebrew means “House of Bread."

"About a mile and a half from Jerusalem on the southeastern side of the Mt. of Olives sits the ancient location of the village of Bethany. A 2000 year old dwelling place and tomb are located here that since the early 300’s were identified as the home of Jesus’ friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. (John 11) Bethany was the place in which Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The tomb from which he was called forth exists today and one can descend into it’s cave and view the place where the dead came back to life. (Matthew 26, mark 14, John 12) Bethany is also the location where Jesus—who was in the home of Simon the Leper—was approached by a women named Mary. She anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and wept before him drying his feet with her hair. (Mark 11, Luke 19) Bethany is also the place from which Jesus’ departed to enter Jerusalem. This act is known as His triumphal entry and is commemorated with the church tradition of Palm Sunday. Short days later Jesus would die on a cross for the sins of mankind. (Luke 24) It was also near Bethany that Jesus would ascend into heaven after His resurrection. Today Bethany is part of the Arab city al-Eizariya but its roots heavily touch the life of Jesus. One of His greatest miracles happened here. And even though the resurrection of Lazarus shows Jesus Godly nature the same miracle also shows the beautiful humanity of Jesus. The shortest verse in the Bible happens in Bethany—Jesus wept. (John 11:35)"

"Before there was a city in Caesarea Philippi there was a spring. It flowed from a cave in the limestone bedrock and became a place of worship to the infamous Baal gods. After Alexander the Great’s conquest of the region 1000 years of Hellenization transformed the culture. The spring and emerging city became the place of worship to the pagan god Pan. Pan was the goat-footed god of victory who created panic in its enemies and the lord of desolate places. The spring was named Panias or Banias and was part of the headwaters for the Jordan River flowing south. A few years before Jesus was born, Phillip the Tetrarch established the city as an administrative capital for his governance. It sits 117 KM or about 73 miles north of Jerusalem. The ruins from Phillips time remain intact to this day and reveal the deep influence of the Roman Empire during the time of Christ. While Jesus was a teenager the city was formally named Caesarea. It would later be referred to as Caesarea Philippi to distinguish it from the Coastal city of Caesarea Maritima. (Matt 16, Mark 8, Luke 9) The synoptic gospels tell of Jesus coming to this area. It was here that Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him. He concludes this dialog with the poignant question that all believers must answer, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon son of Jonah declared that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. Jesus responded by changing his name to Peter and announcing, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18) This declaration is deeply rooted in the geography of this place. The pagan worship and the cave from which the spring bubbled were known as “The Gates of Hell.” Later extra-biblical traditions tell of a woman named Veronica being from here. She being the “bleeding woman” who was healed by touching Jesus’ garment. After the Muslim conquest in the 600’s the city rapidly declined and is today an archaeological site. …

"On the eastern slope of Mt. Zion just outside the old city of Jerusalem sits a church called St. Peter in Galicantu. The ruins here both beneath the church and in the courtyard are unspeakably significant—for this is thought to be the quarters of the High Priest. In Jesus time this would have been a man named Caiaphas who was instrumental in the strategy to remove Jesus from public life. A byzantine chapel was first erected here in the 400’s. It was destroyed in the Arab conquest of 1010, rebuilt in the Crusades in 1102 and once again fell into ruin when Jerusalem again changed hands. The church of St. Peter in Galicantu that now occupies this space was built in the 1930’s. Galicantu in latin mean’s “the roosters crow” making it obvious why this place holds significance in the story of Jesus’ final days. (Mark 14, Luke 22) When Jesus was led away from the Garden of Gethsemene in chains he would have been taken from the Mt. of Olives, down through the Kidron Valley and back toward the city to the High Priests complex. These ancient stairs are part of the path that led up from the Kidron Valley and are quite likely stairs that Jesus, bound and scuffled would have climbed to face the accusations that were being constructed against him. Here, Jesus would listen to all manner of testimony against him. He would be smacked around, spit upon and ultimately called a blasphemer. The lower crypts from the time of Jesus still exist below ground. It is likely that Jesus was held a prisoner in the darkness here knowing that His suffering was upon Him. Meanwhile, just outside the walls, close enough perhaps for Jesus to hear the commotion in the courtyard was a very frightened Peter who three times denied that he even knew Jesus. The church of St. Peter in Galicantu is a stark and sobering place as one walks in the footsteps of Jesus. It forces us to come face to face with the very human suffering that the Savior endured while confronting us with the ways in we …

"1700 years before Jesus came Hazor was a monumental, prosperous and powerful city of the Canaanite people. The city had an allegiance to the Pharaoh of Egypt and was a stronghold having trade relations with the superpowers of Babylon and Syria. Hazor was one of the most fortified and influential cities of the time. It was a capital of capitals or as the Book of Joshua puts it, it was “the head of all those kingdoms” (Josh 11) When the Children of Israel conquered the Kings of the southern lands of Canaan word got back to the North Country. King Jabin, the influential leader of Hazor, created a coalition of all the leaders and their armies of the region--a force vast and ominous. In spite of this, God delivered them into the hand of Joshua and although all the region was conquered Joshua completely destroyed the city Hazor because it was the most powerful of the region and the leader of the coalition (Josh 11) (Judges 4) Apparently Hazor rebuilt and under King Jabin were oppressing the people of Israel in the times of the Judges. When Deborah was Judge in Israel she sent for the military commander Barak and instructed him to assemble a 10,000 person army and head north to Mt. Tabor. Hazor’s King Jabin sent his army commander, Sisera along with 900 iron chariots to wage war. Sisera was defeated and fled on foot to the tent of a woman named Jael who subsequently killed him with a tent peg while he slept. This loss destroyed the power of King Jabin and Hazor. (1 Kings 9) During Solomon’s reign the city would become a highly fortified city again along with Megiddo and Gezer. Solomon would draw conscripted labor for Hazor for the building of the first Temple and for his own palace in Jerusalem. During the divided Kingdom Hazor became part of the northern Kingdom of Israel. While King Pekah was reigning in Samaria, the Assyrians invaded under the leadership of King Tiglath Pileser. The Kingdom of Israel was conquered and Hazor fell. The people were …

Kursi is the location of an ancient Byzantine church and monastery that dates back to the 400’s. This site is the possible location where Jesus healed the Gerasene demoniac.

"Before Jacob was born, and before his name was changed to Israel and he bore any children of Israel, there was his grandfather Abram who followed God into a land in which he had never been. His path brought him to a land that God promised to his offspring. While traveling in this land, Abram’s nephew Lot was captured and Abram gave chase to liberate him to a place the Scriptures call “Dan” (Gen 14)."

"Galilee generally describes the northern part of ancient and modern Israel. Broadly speaking, Galilee moves from the base of Mt. Hermon in the north and the ancient tribal land of Dan south into the Jordan Rift Valley. Then westward through the Jezreel Valley and to the Mediterranean Sea. North to the crests of Mt. Carmel and back east to Dan. In the approximate center would be Nazareth and to it’s east the most prominent landmark of the region, the Sea of Galilee. Because of it’s variety of elevations and weather the Galilee covers the gamut. Coastal, rocky and mountainous, arid and desert like as well as lush and fertile. In the Bible’s Old and New Testaments we follow many people and events in the Galilee region. (1 Kings 18) On Mt. Carmel the prophet Elijah had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. Fire came from heaven and Baal worship came to a sudden end (Ps 133:3) The psalmist writes of Mt. Hermon “It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (Judges 18) The tribe of Dan conquered the city of Laish and renamed it Dan taking the fertile and temperate lands in Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights as part of their territory. (Matthew 2, Mark 1, Luke 1, John 18) Jesus grew up in the Galilean village of Nazareth and performed his first miracle—turning water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee.(John 2) (Rev 16) In the Jezreel Valley sits ancient Megiddo, better known by it’s greek name Armageddon. The Sea of Galilee was the backdrop for most of Jesus ministry. He miraculously calmed a storm and walked upon it’s waters. His base of ministry was in the fishing village of Capernaum (matt 4) where he performed miracles and taught in the synagogue, On the hill and plain overlooking the northwest shores of the Sea of Galilee Jesus would teach his central message and weave together the tapestry that is our faith known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) …

"Chorazin, along with Bethsaida and Capernaum make up what many think of as Jesus “ministry triangle.” These were the cities that Jesus did much of his ministry and teaching in. Chorazin sits just a couple of miles north of the Sea of Galilee and directly north of the Mount of Beatitudes. In Jesus time the villages of Bethsaida and Capernaum could be seen. The village of Chorazin was known for it’s exceptional grain and also depended on olive products for it’s commerce in the region. It was also the home of fishermen who worked on the Sea of Galilee. Chorazin doesn’t have a deep and ancient past. It appears that the village was established during the 1st century when Jesus was here. The dark stone that the structures are fashioned with is volcanic black basalt from the region. What is most notable about Chorazin (as well as Bethsaida and Capernaum) is that although Jesus did most of his miracles and teaching in the area the people did not fully embrace Him. (Matt 11, Luke 10) Jesus specifically curses Chorazin when he says, ““Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” As we can see, Chorazin (as well as Bethsaida and Capernaum) are ruins today. Chorazin appears to have been destroyed by an earthquake in the mid 300’s. Today Chorazin is an archaeological site. One that allows a visitor to walk where Jesus walked and take in the beauty of the Galilee while contemplating the ways in which the locals missed His message—as well as the way His life ultimately changed the whole world."

"Lachish was a prosperous, unfortified Canaanite city under Egyptian rule during the late Bronze Age. It was, in fact, one of the most prosperous cities in all the land of Canaan. But the city was completely and utterly destroyed and left abandoned for two centuries before being rebuilt. This sudden destruction is likely attributable to the conquest of the land by Joshua. Once the Israelites had come into the land and defeated Jericho and Ai, five Amorite kings banded together to halt their progress and push them out of the land by making war on the Gibeonites who had surrendered to this new people. (Josh 10) This coalition was made up of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Eglon and Lachish. Israel roundly defeated the Amorites and proceeded to completely destroy the cities of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir subjugating the entire region. Centuries later, after the Kingdom of Israel split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, Solomon’s son King Rehoboam fortified 15 cities with strong defenses and commanders as well as supplies of food, olive oil and wine. He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong according to the Scriptures. (2 Chr 11) Lachish would become the second most fortified and strategic city in the Kingdom of Judah second only to Jerusalem. It defended the Kingdom from Philistine incursion on it’s western front and guarded the trade route between Egypt and Jerusalem. Several generations after this, King Amaziah would be assassinated in Lachish. (2 Kings 14, 2 Chr 25) Lachish features heavily during the great Assyrian invasion in which the Northern Kingdom was destroyed. The Southern Kingdom of Judah had sworn subservience to Assyria and avoided destruction but the reformer King Hezekiah, who had called the land to repentance in the face of what they had seen happen to the Northern Kingdom rebelled against Assyria and prepared for the repercussions by strengthening the …

As the children of Israel left the life of slavery they had known for four centuries, God led them into the wilderness under the leadership of Moses. The focal point for their physical camp as well as the center of their worship would be known as the Tabernacle, or tent of meeting.

"For a Christian there isn’t any more significant event in history than the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore the place where the crucified Savior drew in a breath of oxygen as life returned and sat to leave the tomb is an obviously revered place. The Church of the Holy Sepulchure in Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites for pilgrims visiting the land of the Bible and has been for thousands of years. The church that now stands here was established in 333 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Having this much ancient history beneath it’s floors one can imagine the intrigue and controversies it has seen and yet it remains the traditional site of the death and burial of Jesus. Most scholars would argue that the exact location of Jesus crucifixion isn’t known and that this whole area was an abandoned quarry also known as Golgotha. But strong scholarly and early accountings dating to the 100’s also indicates that the place of the tomb is quite accurate. When visiting such a holy site the struggle to visualize the context of the geography and move into the traditions and ornamentation of the last 2000 years presents itself. And yet, the power of the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus overpowers it all to the open hearted as Jesus always does. Climbing the steep stairs of Calvary one comes to the 11th station of the cross. The place where Jesus was nailed to an executioners beam. The 12 th station is next to it. The place where Jesus hung and died. Millions and millions of pilgrims have knelt in reverence to connect personally to the sacrifice of Jesus. The bedrock of the hill can be seen through the glass that protects it from being chipped away at or vandalized. Below the hill is the traditional spot where Jesus body was laid after it was taken from the cross. People kneel here to feel the weight of Jesus death. Proceeding further into the church one arrives in the rotunda where the tomb of Jesus is enclosed. Most …

"Ai was at one point a strong Canaanite city. According to the Scriptures Abraham (having recently come into the land) pitched his tent and stayed between the cities of Bethel and Ai where he built an altar to God. (Gen 12) Nearly a millennia later as the Children of Israel were finally crossing the Jordan River and coming into the Promised Land Ai would show itself again. The Israelites had just defeated Jericho in miraculous fashion when they turned their sites on Ai. Unfortunately (Josh 7) Ai would hand the Israelites their first defeat in battle. Because of the rebellion of a man named Achan (who had taken plunder from Jericho against God’s instructions) God did not go with Israel into battle against Ai. Once the rebellion was discovered and dealt with the Children of Israel once again went to battle against Ai. This time with a fascinating military strategy. They split into two camps—one to lure the people out into battle and the other to besiege the city in ambush. The plan worked and Ai was defeated becoming the second city to fall to the Children of Israel in the Promised Land. (Josh 8) Today Ai sits mostly unknown in the region that has come to be called the West Bank. Ongoing archaeological excavations are in process as the Biblical stories of the past slowly come out of the earth of the Promised Land. "

"In one of the most beautiful stories following Jesus resurrection we find Him back in His homeland along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. (John 21) Seven of Jesus disciples had gone out to fish when Jesus begins a charcoal fire on the shores to cook them breakfast although they have no idea this is happening. Ironically this marshy and lush part of the lake is immediately adjacent to the traditional spot where Jesus is thought to have fed the multitudes with five loaves of bread and two fish. The site commemorating this miracle is known as Tabgha. A church enclosing the bedrock thought to be the place where Jesus prayed and multiplied the food stands for visitors to contemplate Jesus miraculous ministry in Galilee. But back to the story. Jesus calls to his friends asking if they’ve caught anything and in due course He invites them again to cast their nets on the other side. He’s done this before and when they haul in another huge catch Peter knows it’s Jesus on the shoreline. He can’t even wait to sail the boat ashore. He dives in to get to Jesus and in a beautiful picture of the love of Christ they have breakfast together. The Galillean site known as the Church of Peter’s Primacy exists today on the ruins of a chapel that was first erected in the 300’s to commemorate this spot. The ancient stones along the shore have for nearly two thousand years been thought to be the place where the friends and resurrected Savior shared this breakfast before Jesus departed the earth. Here Jesus asked Peter three times if He loved Him and instructed Him to “feed my sheep.” He further gave Peter a prophetic glimpse of His own death. The Church of Peter's Primacy and Tabgha and the Church of the Multiplication stand as testaments of two of Jesus miracles. One before and one after His death and resurrection. On the shore of the Sea of Galilee a visitor can deeply contemplate the words of Christ spoken to Peter that day, “You follow Me.”"

"The region of Aphek holds within it old and new testament history. Although identified by archaeologists and set aside as a national park the ancient city of Aphek is largely unexcavated. (1 Sam 4) In the battle in which the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, the Philistines assembled their armies at Aphek. (1 Kings 20) Aphek was also the staging ground where the Syrian army under Ben Hadads leadership assembled to fight with Israel. In this 2nd of two battles Israel was vastly outnumbered but were victorious. The remnant of the Syrian army including it’s king fled back into Aphek. The walls fell but their lives were spared much to the chagrin of the prophets of the area Ben Hadad was allowed to live. (2 Kings 13) Just prior to Elisha’s death he prophesied to King Joash that he would destroy the armies of Syria at Aphek. Much later when the Kingdoms of Israel and the Philistines and Canaanites were all gone the land was ruled by the Romans. The land of Aphek had been rebuilt into the Roman city of Antipatris. This was the 1st century not many years after Jesus death and resurrection. During the time of the Apostle Paul, he had gone to Jerusalem as instructed by the Holy Spirit even though he knew captivity was in his future. An assassination plot was hatched against Paul but it was uncovered before it could be carried out. Paul had been arrested by the Romans because of a riot that had broken out over him. Being a Roman citizen he had rights as a citizen and when the assassination plot was uncovered he was spirited away from Jerusalem under heavy guard and the cover of night on his way to Caesarea Maritima. The distance was great between the two cities and a stop was necessary. Paul was brought here to the fortress of Antipatris (Acts 23) along this very road while on his way to Caesarea where he would remain a prisoner for a couple of years before appealing his case to Caesar and sailing for Rome. "

Arad was an ancient and prosperous Canaanite city of the desert located due west of the southern portion of the Dead Sea. It fell along the ancient trade routes through the area and finds it’s place in Biblical history after a particularly trying time for the Children of Israel while in their wanderings in the wilderness. (Num 20) Moses’ sister Miriam and his brother Aaron had recently died. Moses was excluded from crossing into the Promised Land and Edom had refused passage through their land and there weren’t many routes to choose from. When the Cannanite King of Arad heard the Israelites were attempting to pass his way he went out to face them with a show of force. In the battle many Israelites were taken captive. The Children of Israel made a vow to God and went back into battle. They destroyed the city. Although they were victorious Moses turned the people around having no passage without conflict in front of him and no passage through Edom and was forced to head back into the brutal wilderness toward the Red Sea. The people were perplexed at this prospect and once again grumbled bringing about serpents in the camp. It was then that the bronze serpent that brought healing came about. A generation later Joshua led the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. In their many battles with the Canaanites the King of Arad was once again defeated. (Josh 12) The city became a fortress of the Kingdom of Judah probably during Solomon or Rehoboam’s reign and was fought over and destroyed several times over the next several hundred years. Today Arad is a massive archaeological site that allows a visitor to see the scope and scale of these ancient cities as well as their fortifications including impressive city walls. Of particular note is a temple that follows the outline of the temple of God in Jerusalem. It appears that two deities were worshipped here, the first being Yahweh and the second perhaps being the goddess Asherah inside what would have been …

In the book of Genesis, Abram came into the area of Shechem where the Canaanites were living to the plain of Moreh (Gen 12). God appeared to Abram here and promised the land to his offspring. Abram built and altar to the Lord to commemorate meeting with God and the promise He gave. This place would grow to have tremendous significance in the Scriptures.

"On the edge of the Jezreel Valley sits the ruins of ancient Jokneam. It was once a Canaanite fortress city that guarded the valley and the trade route through it along with strategic cities like Megiddo. (Josh 12) The city was conquered by Joshua when the Children of Israel came into the land and it was awarded to the tribe of Zebulun (Josh 19). (Josh 21) Jokneam would be given as a Levitical city within the tribe of Zebulun since the Levites were not given a specific inheritance of land but were to live among the tribes caring for their spiritual needs. As with other cities in strategic regions and especially along trade routes Jokneam was a watchtower city as a way point and for military purposes. It carries the same past and was conquered and refortified by the same empires that came behind the Kingdom of Israel in history. Today Jokneam is a largely unexcavated archaeological mound. Some of the structures have been recovered in surveys but the site has yet to undergo significant recovery. But it’s strategic positioning overlooking the Jezreel Valley clearly identifies whey it once stood here to protect it."

"Sitting relatively undisturbed and off the normal traveling route about a mile from the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee is a gem called Bethsaida—a city Jesus frequented and the place where Phillip, Andrew and Peter were likely born (John 1, 12) It’s not just a 1st century Roman fishing village though. The origins of this city wind their way back into ancient Old Testament antiquity. This is likely the heavily fortified capital city of Geshur. The land of Geshur bordered Joshua’s territory but the Geshurites were never expelled from the Promised Land. (Josh 13) King David’s third wife and mother of his son Absalom was from Geshur (2 Sam 3) Absolom fled to his mother’s homeland after executing his elder brother Amnon (2 Sam 13) This city is a likely candidate for where Absalom spent three years in exile before returning to Jerusalem and subsequently attempting a coup against his father in which he lost his life. (2 Sam 18) (2 Kings 15) Later when the Assyrians and invaded they destroyed this city and carried it’s inhabitants into exile. During the time of the Roman Empire the city was rebuilt by Herod the Great’s son Phillip. It is believed that Phillip was buried in Bethsaida when he died in the year 34. It was during 1st century Roman times that Jesus came to the Galilee region teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven and healing the sick. Bethsaida was a place he often frequented. Jesus walked on the water to his disciples who were in a boat sailing for Bethsaida. (Mark 6) Jesus healed a blind man by spitting on his eyes (Mark 8) here in the city of Bethsaida. (Luke 9) Bethsaida is also associated with Jesus’ first miraculous feeding of the multitudes. (Matt 11, Luke 10) Jesus ultimately cursed the three cities he spent the most time in—Capernaum, Bethsaida and Chorazin telling them that if the miracles seen among them had been performed in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom they would have repented and in the case of Sodom it would not have been destroyed. Today …

In Jerusalem sits an ancient water reservoir that served the city and the Temple during the time of Solomon’s Temple; it was known as the upper pool. Later during the expansion of the Second Temple, a second pool was constructed to increase water capacity. As Herod the Great continues his expansion in Jerusalem these pools became a popular place for washing and were thought to be healing waters. They would come to be known as Bethesda, which means “house of mercy,” or “house of grace.”

"In ancient times Beth Shemesh was a Canaanite city named after the sun goddess Shemesh. It was common in this time to worship the celestial bodies. So much so that the Bible warns against it (Deut 17) When the Children of Israel moved into the land Beth Shemesh would become a part of the territory of Dan although it would be a city specifically allocated to the Levites. Beth Shemesh would end up being a city located near the borderlands with the Phillistines. The Israelite Judge, Samson, was born near here. His name means “Sun Child” which shows how deep the traditions of Beth Shemesh and it’s sun worship go. Samson would become famous for his battles with the Phillistines. His downfall would be a Phillistine woman named Delilah. (1 Sam 6) Most notably Beth Shemesh has a history with the Ark of the Covenant which was lost in battle to the Phillistines. For seven months the Ark moved among the Phillistine strongholds and each time it arrived plague broke out. The Phillistines finally relented knowing that the God of Israel was against them in their possession of the Ark. They loaded it onto an oxcart along with their own form of sacrifice (golden mice and reliefs of the boils that had plagued them.) The cows carrying the oxcart followed the border road back into Israelite territory and the border city of Beth Shemesh returning the Ark to the Israelite people. Later during King Solomon’s reign Beth Shemesh would become one of his 12 governing cities fortifying and supplying it to defend the region and to provide one months worth of provisions for the King and the royal household. (1 Kings 4) About a century after Solomon during the divided Kingdom period the two nations that had once been the twelve tribes of Israel would make war on one another. (2 Kings 14, 2 Chr 25) The northern Kingdom of Israel would defeat the southern Kingdom of Judah in this battle. The armies of the north then went to Jerusalem and broke down a large portion of it’s wall …

"During the time of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Jezreel was a beautiful but strategic fortress city with a royal palace inside it’s walls and sprawling agriculture spilling down into the fertile valley below. Because of it’s ample water supply and commanding views, the city guarded the trade route between Egypt and the lands beyond Syria which ran through the Jezreel valley. Jezreel was the hometown of King David’s wife Ahinoam (1 Sam 25) but for all of it’s beauty Jezreel would find it’s place in Biblical history for much more sinister reasons. (1 Sam 29) In the Battle between the Phillistines and Israel that took Saul’s life and sent David back to Ziklag, the Israelites camp was at the Spring of Jezreel. Gorgeous views of Mt. Gilboa can be seen from Jezreel and upon this mountain Saul and his 3 son’s lost their lives in battle. (1 Kings 18) When the prophet Elijah destroyed Baal worship on nearby Mt. Carmel and announced the end of a long draught King Ahab went off to Jezreel. Elijah after seeing the cloud that would grow to bring torrential but desperately needed rainfall he tucked his cloak into his belt and outran Ahab to Jezreel. (1 Kings 21) A man named Nabaioth had a vineyard near Ahabs palace in Jezreel. Ahab wanted it but Nabaioth wouldn’t sell his families inheritance. Ahab sulked and went back to his palace in at the capital in Samaria. His wife Jezebel arranged for Nabaioth to be killed and Ahab subsequently took possession of the vineyard. As a result Elijah prophesied that Ahabs blood would be spilled in Jezreel and that Jezebel’s body would be eaten by dogs by the wall of Jezreel. Ahab humbled himself before God after this prophecy and God spared him although the curse was visited upon his dynasty. Later during the reign of Jehu (2 Kings 9-10) Jezebel was thrown from a window falling to her death in Jezreel. As prophesied, Her body was eaten by dogs. Nothing was left but her hands, feet and skull. Jehu then sent word to …

"The desert fortress of Massada is not mentioned in the Bible and yet it is most definitely a prominent figure in the Biblical landscape that touches both Old and New Testament times and serves as an icon to the Israeli people in their struggles to be in the land of the Bible. Because Massada is a plateau completely isolated and it’s cliffs are so steep it is not unlikely that is was a desert fortress back into deep antiquity. It may have even been a hiding place for David while on the run from Saul since he most certainly hid in the caves of nearby Ein Gedi. (1 Sam 24) But it was Herod the Great that made Massada the nearly impenetrable desert fortress palace that it became. Once again showing his unparalleled ability to construct magnificent building projects Massada became one of his great monuments to the Roman Empire and a desert playground for his enjoyment. Massada overlooks the Dead Sea and its dramatic geography is unmatched. The ruins of the Palace and governing structures Herod built have been well preserved in the arid climate for over 2000 years. His palace, his bathhouse, the storage facilities, the barracks…. an entire complex for governance in an emergency full of opulence and luxury are preserved for visitors to wonder at today. Massada would become the last stronghold in the revolt against Rome that destroyed the temple of Jesus time and all of Jerusalem with it. After Jerusalem was destroyed the last 1000 of the Jewish resistance fled to Massada. Three years later the fortress would fall after the Roman’s surrounded the mountain and built a siege ramp that is still visible today to reach the summit. Once the Roman’s had breached the wall they found no fight. In fact, they found no resistance at all. The remaining Jewish fighters had all chosen to die rather than to be executed while watching their wives be raped and children enslaved. They all chose to die together as free people and committed suicide. The story of Massada has …