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James' Articles  Monday, November 26 2018
This is Dan Day 6 of adventure will lead us through another packed series of sites that begins with the ancient city of Dan. Tel Dan (Tell el Qadi) is first mentioned in Scripture during the time of Abraham in (Genesis 14:4). At that time, the city was known as “Laish” (also “Leshem”) to the people. Laish appears in Egyptian Execration Texts that date back to the 18thC BC. Thutmose III also lists Laish as one of the cities he conquered. A scarab of Ramses II (1279-1213 BC) testifies to prevailing Egyptian influence in the region. The city’s name was changed to Dan after the tribe of Dan conquered it in the taking of Canaan (Joshua 19:47). Dan is located on the northernmost edge of Israel at the foot of Mount Herman and near the headwaters of the Jordan River. The Tel is situated at a main intersecting of roads leading to Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea. It covers approximately 50 acres and is just over 65 feet above the surrounding plain, at a 40° angle on the rampart. This tells us that the city had a substantial means of fortification and defense built into it for the location it was in. Archaeologists have estimated that artifacts date the first settlement of Dan (Laish) to 5000 BC. There is a large gap of physical evidence until the 27thC BC. Several periods are representative of the settlement’s inhabitants over the centuries before the conquest by the Israelites. It will be after the death of Solomon that Jeroboam, son of Nebat challenges Rehoboam (Solomon’s son and successor to the throne of Israel) to be king. The kingdom responds by dividing itself in a civil war. Jeroboam knows that Rehoboam has the upper hand of influence over most of the people though, because within his territory of Judah, Rehoboam has Jerusalem, and thus, the temple of God. To compete with this, Jeroboam builds his places of worship to attract not only Israelites but foreigners as well. He incorporates shrines on the “high places” in Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12) with the comingling of altars to YHWH and idols represented by golden calves (possibly the Apis Bull of Egypt, which is often considered the idol built by Aaron in the wilderness after the exodus). The sanctuary built by Jeroboam has been discovered at Tel Dan. As mentioned previously, Dan was abundantly fortified, possibly for two main reasons. First, the city was on a main artery between major trade routes in the north. Being somewhat removed, it would be susceptible to foreign invasions, especially bordering enemy nations. Secondly, as an established religious location, even more attention would be drawn to the assumed treasuries of the idols. Dan continued to be a place of idolatrous worship, even during the Hellenistic periods. Several coins from Antiochus IV, Demetrius V, Constantine I, and Constantine II have been discovered. Inscriptions written in Greek and Aramaic giving homage to “the god who is in Dan,” remain.
Monday, November 26 2018
This is Capernaum After leaving Caesarea Philippi, we are to pass by the proposed site in Bethsaida where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the multitude. We will also go by the Mount of Beatitudes on our way to Tiberias for a St. Peter’s fish lunch. Afterwards, we will take a cruise on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, and from there we will journey on to the north towards Capernaum. After departing from the wilderness (40 days and nights), Jesus receives word that John the Baptist has been taken into custody. Jesus leaves Nazareth to set His home in Capernaum. It will later be referred to as “His own city” (Matthew 9:1). At least 3 of His disciples were from this city. Though Peter and Andrew were originally from Bethsaida, Scripture tells us that they moved to Capernaum (Mark 1:29). Here, Christ cleanses the leper, cures a centurion’s servant, calls Matthew from his tax collection table, heals a royal officer’s son, heals a man let down through a roof by his friends and cures Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. The people that we read of being present in Capernaum give us some indication as to the importance of the city. A Roman centurion with a detachment of soldiers, a taxing station, and a royal official are ample evidence of the governing attention given. Nevertheless, Jesus chastises them in Matthew 11:23 for the way they willingly ignored the signs and wonders given to them. Yet faithful people lived there during the time of Christ. The Roman centurion with a sick servant had previously built the synagogue there (Luke 7:5). From the middle of the 2ndC AD, Capernaum became a central point for rabbinical Judaism. Christians were roundly rejected, and little was done to change their perception. Debate still exists about whether archaeologists have discovered the actual ruins of Simon Peter’s house there. Regardless, by the 4thC AD, a church was built at the site and a new one (the Octagonal Church) replaced it in the 5thC AD. By the 11thC AD, the city is abandoned due to the Islamic invasion of the land. There is some dispute amongst modern scholarship as to whether the name “Capernaum” means “Nahum’s Village.” During the time of Christ, it had a population of approximately 1,500 people. In the scope of local antiquity, the city is relatively “young,” considering it is dated as being established in the 2ndC BC during the Hasmonean (Judean) dynasty. During that time, several new villages were planted in and about good water sources and fertile grounds. The ruins of two central synagogues are evident in the ancient city. However, the greatest traditional attraction remains to be the proposed residence of Simon Peter. The general construction of the homes confirms that when the paralytic man was let down through the roof by his friends to Jesus, it would have been entirely possible by simply removing a section large enough to fit the bed through.
Monday, November 26 2018
This is Caesarea Maritima Day 5 of our journey will be busy as before, with 4 sites visited (technically 5, including the night’s stay in Tiberias). The first location will be the historically rich city of Caesarea. Our route will be along the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea to arrive at the seaport also known as Caesarea Maritima. Centuries prior, this location had been used by Egypt as their shipping portal to the eastern Mediterranean, extending from Greece to Cyrenaica (also known as “the Levant”). Records of the Sidonian king named “Strabo” retaining settlement in the area extend back to the 4thc BC. It was known as “Strabo’s Tower.” Because of the location of the port to the fertile land of the Plain of Sharon, agricultural transportation was a prime marketing trade. Having been under Ptolemaic control in the late 2ndc BC, a ruler by the name of Zoilus captured Strabo’s Tower and local lands. He then changed the port to a fully fortified city by constructing an artificially protected anchorage point. To accomplish this, Zoilus literally changed the coastline and flooded the area to create a shipping harbor. During the Hellenistic age, the harbor was closed into the city walls for additional fortification. Zoilus maintained control of the area until being overcome by Alexander Jannaeus in 103 BC. By the time Herod the Great comes into power (40-4 BC), the city will practically be in ruins. Herod will eventually be placed in the position of Rome’s client king of Judea. Caesar thus granted him additional territory, which included the ruins of Strabo’s Tower. After the acquisition, Herod turned the region into a major international port he named “Sebastos” to bolster his economic position, both locally and with Rome. Eventually, Herod will rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. As a counterpart to appeal to his Gentile allies, Herod developed the area into a definitive Greco-Roman attraction that included pagan temples, a hippodrome, an amphitheater, and a theater. In an astonishing archaeological feat, the entire complex was completed in just over 10 years (22-10/9 BC). These events have been recorded by Flavius Josephus in historical detail. Upon Herod’s death, his son Archelaus took over as king of Judea. However, Caesar Augustus deemed him as incompetent and removed him from the seat in 6 AD. The kingdom under him, including Caesarea, was annexed into the immediate Roman Empire. Now being considered a part of Judea, the seaport was appointed as the capital of the region. Thus, a census was called for by Augustus and directed hence from Caesarea to determine the amount to be taxed upon its residents. This is the very census that Jesus’ parents, Joseph and Mary respond to and subsequently travel to Bethlehem for. (Luke 2:2). In additional terms of biblical historicity, few cities rival Caesarea for events; Pontius Pilate governed Judea as prefect from this capitol city; Philip (deacon in the Jerusalem church) brings Christianity to Caesarea in Acts 8:4-40; Peter confirms the converting of the first Gentile, Cornelius (and household) in Acts 10:3-48; The apostle Paul had been taken from Caesarea to Tarsus in Acts 9:23-26, but is later imprisoned there for two years before (57-59 AD) being transferred to Rome (Acts 23-26). The interesting aspect of this situation regarding the profound wisdom of God is that even though imprisoned, Paul’s evangelistic outreach extends through the shipping portal of Caesarea. The beginning of the First Jewish War (66-70 AD – Destruction of the Temple) is largely attributed to circumstances occurring in Caesarea. Through disruptions with the people, some 20,000 Jews were killed there in one hour. Vespasian and his son Titus issued orders to the Roman legions from this location. At one juncture, over 10,000 soldiers resided in the city. However, when the war was over, “social boredom” set in with people. Therefore, Titus hosted “victory games” in the amphitheater for the people’s entertainment. As appointed “gladiators,” 2500 Jewish prisoners were required to fight to their deaths for the amusement of the populace. In honor of their commitment and loyalty to Caesar, Vespasian renamed the city as a Roman colony - Colonia Prima Flavia Augustus Caesarea. Additional construction, honors, and titles were placed upon the city due to subsequent favors of Caesars to follow. By the end of the 3rdC AD, the Jewish population had largely recovered from the wars. Prominent rabbis began issuing legal decisions from Caesarea and were recorded in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds. When Origen arrived in 231 AD, he turned the city into a center of learning for Christianity. He constructed a library there (which housed the Hexapala) that was utilized for decades by scholars of the Scriptures. The peak of Christian persecution occurred in Caesarea from 303-313 AD. Multiple believers were martyred there for their faith and testimony. Eusebius of Caesarea recorded many of the events in “On The Martyrs of Palestine,” in 311 AD. He is the same Eusebius who wrote the first historical chronicle of the church, “Ecclesiastical History.” During the Byzantine period and the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, a political dispute between bishops emerged over the importance placed on Caesarea as opposed to Jerusalem. Regardless, the library continued to enrich many who came to study there. Into the 6th and 7thc AD, the city began to decline due to drought and religious conflict with Islam. After the port was rebuilt in the early 6thC, the city surrendered approximately 100 years later (614 AD) to the Persians. Emperor Heraclius overthrew the Persians in 627-28 AD. But only 6 years later, the Muslims invaded and attacked Caesarea. The city withstood the attacks until 640-641 AD. Caesarea could have ultimately survived their onslaught, but a Jew by the name of Joseph betrayed the people and led the invaders into the city through an aqueduct. By the time of the Crusades, Christians reclaimed the city. In the process of regaining control, a green cut-glass chalice was discovered in the Great Mosque and was determined to be Holy Grail. The Genoese fleet took the chalice back to their home city of Genoa, where it remains in the treasury of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence). Throughout the centuries, the general ruins of Caesarea have remained intact, despite skirmishes in the territories. It was not until 1952 that a Jewish community established the modern settlement of Caesarea next to the ancient city. Today, the general population is just over 5,000. Caesarea Maritima has been declared a national park and preserved for antiquity. Monday, November 26 2018
This is Beth Shean In what is considered to be one of the oldest settlements in the world, this city has offered possibly more archaeological discoveries than any other in the region. Also known as Beth-Shan, Beit Shean, Baithsan, Bethsa, Tell el-Huşn and later named by the Greeks as Scythopolis (capitol of the Decapolis), site inhabitants date as far back as 4500 BC. This date rivals the oldest city in archaeological history, ancient Jericho. The Semitic name of the city can be interpreted to mean, “house of rest.” However, many believe it was more likely identified with the meaning “temple of Shan,” due to the Sumerian worship of the serpent god Ŝahan. The city is situated at a junction between the Jezreel and Jordan Valleys. The Tel rises approximately 213 ft and is .5 mile in circumference. Located in Issachar (Joshua 17:11-12, 16; Judges 1:27, 28), Beth-Shean was given to Manasseh. However, Manasseh was unable to completely drive the Canaanites out of the land because of their “chariots of iron,” and thus, they remained in the land. To complicate matters, the Israelites then put the Canaanites to slave labor, which ironically is what they had been delivered from. Later, Israel demanded her first king, much to the chagrin of the Prophet Samuel. Saul was anointed but soon came to be a disappointment as a man and leader from God. David is subsequently anointed by Samuel as king but has to run for his life because of Saul’s insane jealousy. Towards the end of Saul’s reign, Israel had been struggling to break the Philistine hold on the land of Jezreel. After Samuel dies, Saul gathers his forces and prepares to confront the enemy (1 Samuel 28:4). However, when he sees the Philistine army, he is terrified and turns to inquire of God. He receives no answer from the Lord, so in his desperation, he seeks out a medium (spiritist) for consultation. While he does not ask her to specifically tell him what to do, he does ask her to bring Samuel up from the dead. Much to the surprise of the medium, it works, and Samuel appears. Samuel chastises him for disobeying God and tells him he will lose the battle. Meanwhile, as the Philistines are gearing up for battle against Saul’s army, David and his men approach them from the rear. The surprised Philistines recognize him and want to know why he is there. For years David had been hiding in the land of the Philistines from the hand of Saul, who sought to kill him. Even though he had to act as if he were insane, he survived for 1 year and 4 months (1 Samuel 27:7) in the hotbed of Israel’s worst enemy and ended up collecting his elite fighting group of “mighty men.” David leaves from the immediate land of the Philistines and goes to Gath. He tells the king there (Achish) that he has come in peace and sets up camp. But then he raids the sounding lands of all those who were set against Israel. When David returns, Achish inquires where he has been raiding. David lies and tells him he has been in the south country, which belonged to the Israelites. Achish believes that David is purely anti-Israel now and trusts him. Achish is aligned with the Philistines and thus, musters for battle against Saul. David is unaware of whom specifically the Philistines were fighting against. But he must keep up the façade with Achish in order to keep his cover. However, when he rides up with Achish to the battle camp, the Philistines recognize him and begin to inquire why he is there. The Philistines do not trust David to stay true in the fight and believe it is too risky to have him along. Achish then appeals to David to hang back because of the friction. David departs the battlefront and comes back to his camp in Ziklag, only to find that it has been raided by the Amalekites while he was gone. They took everyone captive (which included David’s wives and children) and all their possessions and then burned the rest to the ground. The people started to turn against David, but he pulled himself together and consulted the Lord for direction. He receives word from the Lord to pursue the marauders and rescue his people. After finding an abandoned Egyptian that had been fighting for the Amalekites, he finds the location of the enemy and lays them waste. All of David’s people and possessions are rescued, including his wives and children. Meanwhile, back at Mount Gilboa, the Philistines are roundly defeating the Israelites (1 Samuel 31:1). The sons of Saul are killed, and the Philistines are now in pursuit of him. Archers manage to mortally wound him, and Saul begs his armor bearer to finish him off. The armor bearer refuses, so Saul falls on his sword and commits suicide. The armor bearer sees this, panics, and does likewise to himself. Later the Philistines find the bodies of Saul and his sons. They stripped Saul’s body of his weapons and decapitated him. His weapons were stored in the temple of Ashtaroth and they fastened his body, along with the bodies of his sons, to the walls of the city of the site we visit here, Beth-Shan (Shean). By the time of King Solomon’s reign, the city will be administered under Megiddo/Ta’anach (1 Kings 4:12). It will be listed multiple times throughout Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine history when it will be known as Scythopolis. When the Maccabean revolt occurs, this particular city will be spared because of its lack of resistance and support of the Jews. Later, it became the capital city of the Decapolis, even though the vast majority of the district was to the east of the Jordan and Scythopolis was to the west. Remnants of synagogues from the 6th and 7thc AD have been discovered with Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic inscriptions. The city fell to Islamic conquest in 636 AD and was utterly destroyed. A mosque was built on site and the city was renamed as “Besian” by the Muslims. As a footnote, going back into the 15th-16thc BC periods, it is important to note the presence of ancient figures identified in the archaeological stratigraphy of Beth-Shean. Pharaoh Thutmose III and Ramses III are evidenced in artifacts, as well as hieroglyphics declaring the presence of the “Sea Peoples,” who are later identified as “Philistines.”
Monday, November 26 2018
This is Caesarea Philippi After Dan, we will travel about 4 miles to the city of Caesarea Philippi. It is located at the southwest base of Mount Hermon at approximately 1150 ft above sea level, at the headwaters for the Jordan River. Being almost 25 miles to the north of the Sea of Galilee, the location was strategic in defending the fertile plains to the west. Before the Hellenistic Period, the name of the area is relatively unknown. However, a shrine built there to the idols Baal-gad or Baal-hermon (Joshua 11:17ff; Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 5:23) may have been the actual cave site discussed next. A cave of individual note is located there where a spring emerges and particularly floods during the spring rains. Greeks who came to stay there dedicated the existing shrine to their idol “Pan,” and “the Nymphs.” During the reign of Antiochus the Great (ca. 200 BC), the name of the city was refined to Panion (or Paneion). The title remained for the region and would etymologically change to “Paneas.” As a side note of particular value for cultural understanding, Pan (meaning “all” in Greek) was the idolatrous god of the wild, untamed mountains, shepherds and flocks, simple music, sexuality, and an association with the Nymphs. He was half goat and half man, whose appearance frightened more than attracted others. However, his music on a set of handmade pipes constructed of reeds cut down while pursuing a nymph named Syrinx was seductive. The sexual focus on Pan’s fiction developed into sordid stories of rape, homosexuality, and bestiality. Even the word “nymph (+mania)” is used in psychological terms today in reference to those with sexual addictions. The story continues that Pan loved naps even more than his nymphs and disturbing him was at one’s peril. Once angered, Pan could let out a shrieking voice so terrifying, that all who heard it would “panic,” hence, the origin of the word. Legend stated that the overwhelming feeling of fright one had when lost in the mountain wilderness was the presence of Pan. He is the only “god” in Greek mythology to have died. However, the cave carried an even extended myth to the locals there. They believed that the opening of the cave (where the shrine was built) served as a gateway to “Hades.” In this underworld, the fertility gods (such as Pan) would sleep throughout the winter. Every year when the spring would come flooding out of the cave, they believed the fertility gods were awakening and coming forth. Horrible acts of worship occurred around this cave and city. Prostitution and bestiality were openly practiced as well as ritual human sacrifice. The cave was literally seen as the entrance and exit to “hell.” Understanding this gives a more comprehensive context to the understanding of Matthew 16:13ff. Of all the places for a Jewish Rabbi to bring His students, Caesarea Philippi had to be of some question in the minds of the disciples. Not only would it be the equivalent of holding a midnight Bible study in Patpong, Bangkok (red light district), regardless of one’s belief in idols or not, it would be next to the notorious opening to the underworld. Here Christ stands in Caesarea Philippi with His disciples and asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” Amid a hub of hedonistic idolatry, the question is answered by Peter in almost a purely Jewish fashion (“John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah”). It would be akin to the typical “church answer” to open questions. But undoubtedly, the eerie location had to be on their minds. Then Jesus asks Peter the same question, except regarding him personally. “Who do you say that I am?” Then Peter gives his great confession of faith. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But what Jesus speaks next is phenomenally connected to the geographical context. Jesus calls him “Peter (masculine - Petros),” which essentially means “rocky.” Then Christ says it is upon this “rock (feminine – petras),” that He will build His church, and the gates of “Hades” will not overpower it. Thus, while standing in front of stone shrines to idols, Jesus proclaims His church to be built on the “rock” of the confession of true faith. Moreover, before this legendary doorway for the underworld and the gods, He states that even the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. Not only would this crush imaginary fears, but true fears of evil as well. Then adding to the wonderful news, Jesus tells them that He will hand them the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.” So, the false gate of hell is vanquished with no power and the entrance to the kingdom of heaven is at their hand. Going back in time before the coming of Christ, Herod the Great (20 BC) was given the district of Paneas by Augustus. In response, Herod built a temple constructed of white marble to honor the Emperor. Herod dies shortly thereafter (4 BC), and Philip inherits the area as a part of his tetrarchy. He reconstructs the city and renames it “Caesarea,” in honor of Augustus. Philip used his name in conjunction with Caesarea, to distinguish it separately from the existing city of Caesarea. Agrippa II (ca. 53 AD) increased the size of the city and changed the name to Neronias, to honor Nero. The name did not stick, however. Josephus records that during the First Jewish War, Vespasian and his legions rested in the city. After the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem, Emperor Titus sends some of the captives to Caesarea Philippi to have them thrown to wild beasts. The name of the city fell back to Paneas in later Roman and Byzantine periods. After the invasion of the Muslims, they adopted the name into the Arabic form, “Banias.”
Friday, November 02 2018
This is Tiberias During our Day 5 tour of Caesarea, Megiddo, and Nazareth, we will be staying two nights in the area of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. In comparison to the antiquities of most places in the region, Tiberias is fairly young, being established in and around 20 AD. When Herod Antipas (see genealogical flow chart below) came into power, he built the city to rule (as a capital) his tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea. It was strategically located on the west coast of the Sea of Galilee (also referred to later as “Lake Tiberias) between the Sea to the east and the hill country to the west. Hot springs were nearby (which had been described as hot enough to cause injury) and the region was noted for its excellent produce of figs, wine, wheat, and barley, which were sold in the Tiberian market. As the construction of the city ensued, tombs were accidentally discovered which caused alarm for the Jews involved. Declaring the site as “unclean,” most of the Jews refused to participate in the construction. Therefore, Antipas used a blend of Gentiles, some Jews who were willing to stay, and slaves who had been freed. Some of these people were landless, so the attraction to work and live in a new city was obvious. Josephus wrote of the odd mix of the poor and foreigners that were used to populate the city. Antipas named the city in honor of Emperor Tiberius and minted coins at the city with one side stating, “Of Herod The Tetrarch,” and on the other, “Tiberias.” The earliest date on the coins is 24 AD, which correlates to the completion of the construction. Within the city, Antipas built markets, a stadium, baths, and an elaborate royal palace perched overlooking the city. He decorated the palace with statues of animals that Jews took particular abhorrence. During the First Jewish Revolt, it was the first building to be destroyed. It also housed what would be referred to as the “finest synagogue in Galilee.” Herod Antipas would eventually be exiled by Emperor Caligula in 39 AD and replaced with Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great and Mariamne (see below). Agrippa suddenly died and the region and title went under the Roman authority from Caesarea. By 61 AD, Nero gives control to Herod Agrippa II, son of Agrippa I. Though he technically ruled Tiberias and neighboring lands to the end of the century, he was ousted by the Jews heading into the First Jewish Revolt (66-70 AD), because he sided with Rome. When Vespasian took the throne in 69 AD as Emperor, he led a charge against Tiberias to which they easily surrendered. He spared the city and returned the control to Agrippa. But in the process, the Vespasian ordered 12,000 refugees from Taricheae to be executed in the stadium. An additional 6,000 were sent to build Nero’s canal at Corinth, and 30,400 were sold as slaves. Agrippa subsequently dishonored the city by moving the capitol to Sepphoris. In the Second Jewish Revolt, Emperor Hadrian abolished the Jewish municipal government altogether in Judea. Despite the wars, Tiberias retained its position for marketing to the Roman Empire. Agriculture and fishing, along with many other goods and services flowed through the city. Tiberias was also known for exceptionally clear glass production. By the 2ndC AD, Jews began returning and the city became a Jewish center for education and study. In an ironic twist, the city once declared “unclean” became one of the 4 pillars of the sacred community. In 150 AD, the Sanhedrin is moved from Sepphoris to Tiberias. Institutions of rabbinical learning were established and eventually, the Mishnah was compiled there (220 Ad). The Tiberian form of vowel pointing was invented, and the Palestinian Talmud was written in the 4thC AD. The Talmud spoke of 13 synagogues existing in Tiberias. Within the synagogues was a form of Jewish denominationalism, with Babylonian Jews meeting separately from the “Jews of Tarsus” who met separately from the special synagogue of the city council. Though Constantine built the first church recorded there and established a bishopric over the city, Christianity never really took hold, even after Emperor Justinian (527 AD) passed a law that banned all Jewish government in Tiberias and handed it over to Christian authorities. The Persian Invasion of 614 AD, followed by the Muslim Arabs in 636 AD changed the religious landscape to what it largely reflects today. However, one interesting fact remained throughout this time of occupation; Tiberias became the center for a group called “The Masoretes.” These are the scholars who are largely responsible for what is referred to as the “vocalization” of the Hebrew Bible. What this means, is that they inserted vowels between the consonants of the Hebrew words (which are otherwise assumed in pronunciation). In doing so, otherwise, single scrolls were doubled in length, turning them into 2 scrolls. This is why we have 1st and 2nd scrolls of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. Throughout Tiberias history, it has largely been subject to severe earthquakes. It was almost completely destroyed on January 1, 1837.
Friday, November 02 2018
This is Tel Aviv The modern city of Tel Aviv was originally founded on the outskirts of the ancient city of Joppa (contemporary “Jaffa”) in 1909. In the scope of Israel and the Middle East, this would classify Tel Aviv as being a relatively ‘new’ city. Tel Aviv’s growth eventually took over a large portion of the area and now encompasses the historical city (Joppa). They were merged in 1950. Its name means “Ancient Hill of Spring.” All of what would be considered contemporary or secular (“this worldly”) in Israel is found in Tel Aviv. It is second in population (over 440,000) to Jerusalem and is ranked 34th on an economic scale to the global community. It has a large technology sector industry that is known as “Silicon Wadi” in parallel comparison to “Silicon Valley” in California, USA. It has earned the reputation of the “party capital of the Middle East” and boasts a round-the-clock entertainment business culture. Since its founding, the city was purposed to be modeled after cities in Europe. In contrast to the contemporary nature of Tel Aviv, the ancient city of Joppa is mentioned in historical antiquities dating as far back as Thutmose III in the 15thC BC. The Papyrus Anastasi I describes the Syro-Palestinian geography of the 13thC BC, which included Joppa. Located in the tribal territory of Dan (Joshua 19:46), the cedar timbers from Lebanon used by Solomon to build the temple were shipped through Joppa and transported by land to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 2:15). It is also mentioned as the port at which Jonah hired a vessel to flee from the presence of God to go to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). When reading history concerning Tel Aviv, much of what is written is based on anti-Israel revisionism. Inhabitants from Israel are often referred to as “immigrants” to the region. This gives the notion that land had never been conveyed to them by God and was originally belonging to the Arabs. Moreover, revisionist history is being taught in most major universities that Israel essentially did not exist until May 14, 1948. Tel Aviv had been the temporary location for the State of Israel’s governmental affairs, until moving to Jerusalem as a capitol in 1949. However, in 1980, continued Muslim objections became a point of contention, and the UN assembly directed over 13 embassies to be relocated from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. While many US presidents, including the last 6, have promised to move the American Embassy back to Jerusalem (thus, recognizing it as the capital of Israel), it was not until President Trump that the event actually occurred. Tel Aviv is currently estimated at 93% Jewish, 1% Christian, and 1% Muslim. The remaining 5% are non-affiliated. There are a reported 544 synagogues. However, the overwhelming percentage of “Jews” should not be misconstrued as all being directly related to religiously practicing Judaism. In Tel Aviv, there are 2 major factions of Jews – one religious and one secular. As of 2008, a center for secular Jewish studies has been established in the city. This may pose as an oxymoron to some, but the title ‘Jew’ is no longer singularly defined in religious terms in Tel Aviv. Instead, it is taken more in reference to the historical and cultural concerns therein. Additionally, the secular influence has also become a segue to the pro-homosexual movement in Tel Aviv. The city hosts the largest annual homosexual parade in the Middle East and Asia. As labeled by American Airlines as the “best gay city in the world,” Tel Aviv is one of the most popular homosexual vacation destinations in tourist travel. Friday, November 02 2018
This is Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) The Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) are one of the greatest biblically related finds in the history of archaeology and the study of antiquities. 981 fragments were discovered in 11 caves and constituted the oldest copies of Scripture we have to date. Thousands of scroll fragments have been found in the Dead Sea area. The DSS are famous for some being largely intact, as opposed to fragmented pieces of Scripture and other articles. The stories of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls are somewhat different. All of them tell of a 15-year-old boy named Muhammad adh-Dhib of the Bedouin tribe Taamirah, who found them around February or March of 1947. All differ on what the boy was actually doing when he stumbled across them. One story says he was looking for a lost sheep in the caves. Another story states that he was moving smuggled supplies from Jordan to Bethlehem. Yet another says he was seeking shelter from an approaching storm. Possibly the most popular one tells of the boy and his friend throwing rocks into the nearby caves. They noticed a peculiar sound when one of the stones hit something that sounded like pottery being shattered, similar to how one might know what breaking glass sounds like. When the first cave was entered, the boys discovered several jars (most of which were broken) with scrolls of leather wrapped in linen cloth. The scrolls were extremely brittle and decomposed but had writing that the boys did not recognize. Adh-Dhib and his friends took the scrolls to a Muslim sheik in the Bethlehem market area. Seeing they were not in Arabic, he passed them over to another merchant. Somewhere along the line, the largest and oldest of the scrolls from the writings of the prophet Isaiah was offered for £20 in Bethlehem, which was rejected because it was not believed to be very old. Ultimately, through a chain of events, many of the scrolls ended up in the hands of Archbishop Athanasius Yeshue-Samuel (Syrian). Professor Sukenik of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem acquired others from the Muslim sheik at Bethlehem. More scrolls were purchased from the Bedouins. Finally, George Isaiah (a merchant in Jerusalem) convinced one of the Bedouins to take him to the cave where the scrolls were found. Among other artifacts, one large jar remained that had been considered too large for removal. The first expert who was consulted for the scrolls was Stephan Hannah Stephan, a member of the Syrian Orthodox Church. He was a well-known Orientalist who worked with the Department of Antiquities of Palestine. Upon his inspection, he confidently pronounced the scrolls to be worthless. However, his field of expertise was in Arabic history as opposed to Hebrew paleography. Thus, his skepticism betrayed his observation. The discovery happened at what most would view as an important time in Israel’s history. It would be on November 25, 1947, that the United Nations passed a resolution to partition the Palestinian area. The relationship between Israel and the Arabic people became more hostile than before and cooperation with the scrolls diminished. Through a series of events, the scrolls were largely acquired by the Israeli Antiquities Authority, as well as others that were subsequently discovered in additional caves. It would not be until 1991 that the scrolls would be released and published on digital medium for global observation. However, it was not without a great deal of stress and trial to open them to the public. While there are some disputes over the authorship of the scrolls, the majority opinion is that they were written and stored by the Qumran sect of the Essenes. The Essenes were composed of an ascetic group of Jews who felt the necessity to separate themselves from the “unholy” in Jerusalem. Pliny the Elder (post 70 AD) recorded and described a group of Essenes that were living in a desert community on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, near Ein-Gedi. The reason for the scrolls being in the caves is believed to have been to hide them from the Romans during the First Jewish War (66-68 AD). The community at Qumran was ultimately sacked and thus, the hidden scrolls remained. Qumran is an archaeological site consisting of 270 caves located in the West Bank. The area is composed of a plateau with sheer cliffs and extremely difficult navigation. Structures dating back to the 7th and 8thc BC have been excavated, extending into the Second Jewish War (132-35 AD). There is a major cemetery 50 miles east of the community with over 1,100 tombs. Interestingly, one major section of the graveyard contains only male bodies. In another section, both male and female are present, as well as infant bodies. It is observed that very few of those buried there had exceeded the age of 40. Thursday, November 01 2018
This is Petra On the first place of visit in our journey, we are scheduled to tour the ancient city of Petra (Greek - meaning “the Rock”). As much is asserted about the origin of the city, much is left unproven at this historical juncture. We know more about its existence from the 4thC BC to our time than prior. The line of the Edomites is intrinsically connected to Petra. But more specifically, the Nabateans have a deep-rooted history with the city. The Nabateans are descendants from the Arab kingdom of Nabatea and had a significant role in conjunction with the Israelites in the 2ndC BC, by supporting the Maccabeans, Judas and Jonathan. For centuries they were considered nomadic. Later they will be more specific settlers. There is equal evidence for dispute as to the origin of the Nabatean people being from either southern or northern Arabia. Regardless, we can definitively pick up in 312 BC, when the Nabateans were centered in their capital city of Petra. This is an impressive period for them because they successfully defend themselves from an attack by a commander by the name of, “Antigonous the One-Eyed.” While you may have never heard of him, you undoubtedly are familiar with his commander – Alexander the Great. Petra was important as a part of the trade route (particularly aromatics/spice) from South Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea. They became the principal carriers of frankincense and myrrh. They established several settlements in the caravan routes from the Hijaz (also called, “Hejaz”) and Damascus, and between Petra and Gaza. With Petra not only being located in juxtaposition to the King’s Highway, the Nabateans had also gained control over many of the oases (pl. oasis) along trade routes, giving them a more economical advantage in transportation marketing. This set Petra as the capital of the greatest commercial kingdom in its region. The Nabatean’s involvement with Israel becomes even more entrenched with Herod the Great’s son, Herod Antipas (also known as “The Tetrarch”), who marries the Nabatean princess, Phasaelis, daughter of King Aretas IV. The reason this may be of interest in your journey is because Antipas divorces her to marry his brother’s wife, Herodias (Matthew 14:1ff). John the Baptist had an issue with this, and subsequently, Herodias managed to finagle a plan to have John the Baptist beheaded. As we leave Petra, northward along the King’s Highway to the west there will be hills that border the Dead Sea. This is where the hilltop fortress of Machaerus is located. It is the place where John the Baptist was eventually beheaded. As is with most ancient cities, Petra has been changed structurally and architecturally through the centuries. When the Romans took the Nabatean stronghold in 106 AD (under Trajan), many architectural changes were made. By the 3rdC AD, they carved out the magnificent Roman temple structure, ed-Deir. It towers 175ft high with beautiful colonnades of typical Greco-Roman features. After Emperor Trajan’s conquest of Petra, the capital of Provincia Arabia was moved to another location. During the Byzantine Empire (395-1453 AD), Petra reflects some Christian influence in monastical occupation. The “monks of St. Aaron” remained in the area as late as the dates of the Crusades. Yet Petra declined. For a period of time, even its name was lost, and it became referred to as “Kerak.” During the period of the Crusades, Petra regained relevance for its geographical location as a trade route. During this period, a fortress called “Wâdî Mûsā” (“Valley of Moses”) was built outside of the Sîq (see last paragraph for description). Needing financial support, the Latin Kingdom used the center as a taxing port for caravans. However, after the defeat at the Horns of Hattin in 1187 AD, the Muslims regained control of the entire region and the practice stopped. J. L. Burckhardt is often credited with discovering Petra in 1812. This is a contemporary “discovery” at best, as Petra is obviously far more ancient. Much more attention to restoration and preservation has been given over the last couple of centuries to the city and its surrounding features. It has been popularized in recent times by the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” The location where the incredible scenes of people riding through a giant fissure in the red sandstone, is called the Sîq, which we will get to experience firsthand.
Thursday, November 01 2018
This is Nazareth Continuing our journey on Day 5, we will travel north of the Valley of Jezreel to the town of Jesus’ youth, Nazareth. The town is situated between the Sea of Galilee (15 miles east) and the Mediterranean (20 miles west). This city is where the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear Jesus. After His birth in Bethlehem, they returned to Nazareth as their home. Scripture refers to Nazareth as the village where Joseph and Mary resided and raised Jesus. When Jesus first set foot to begin in His ministry in the flesh on earth, He left Nazareth to visit the towns of Galilee. When He returned there and spoke in the synagogue, He was met with a harsh reaction. Many people identified Christ as coming from Nazareth, to which some gave a less than favorable reaction (“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”). Matthew 4:15 quotes Isaiah 9:1 as a prophecy fulfilled, referring to “Galilee of the Gentiles.” It is important to note here that Jesus spent His childhood in a city within a region that did not have a closed-minded Judaizing command that held foreigners with contempt. This will be a decisive factor for Christianity to reach the world as opposed to being isolated from those outside of Judaism. Scripture states that prophecy was being fulfilled in Jesus being a “Nazarene.” Most proposals are agreeably problematic though. Some have related this to a wordplay being used by Matthew in relation to Isaiah 11:1. This would mean that Matthew is using “Nazarene” as the Hebrew word “nēşer,” which would mean “branch” or “root.” Another take is that the word is connected with an earlier Hebrew name of “Nazara,” which would refer to the entire district of the land. In this case, it would mean “Galilean.” Nevertheless, in Acts 24:5, an attorney by the name of Tertullus levies charges against Paul by saying he is a “ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes.” While it carries a slightly different spelling, it is clearly a derogatory name used by Jews towards Christians. During the Herodian and pre-Herodian periods, Nazareth was approximately the size of a 60-acre plot of land with an estimated population of 480 persons (1stC AD). The village has been understood to be purely Jewish as late as the 4thC AD. When the failure of the First Jewish Revolt occurred in Jerusalem, 24 divisions of priests fled northward from the temple. One of the priest’s families named Hapizez settled in Nazareth. This priestly “character” in Nazareth carried deep into the 3rdc AD according to the Midrash Qoholeth. Nazareth classically is referred to as a “tiny village” with no mention of a church from the records of Eusebius and Jerome. However, during the Constantinian period, at least two main churches were built: The Church of Gabriel and the Church of Annunciation. Some caves in the area were set apart as shrines to Mary and Jesus. During 679-704 AD, Muslim conquest held the Church of Annunciation hostage and demanded a very large ransom from the Christians, which they paid. When excavations ensued in the late 19th and early 20thC, several interesting artifacts were recovered from the general region and caves discovered beneath the Church of Annunciation. A Neanderthal skull was also unearthed near Nazareth in 1934. Caves were discovered that were adorned with painted plaster, a cross, and inscribed prayers to Jesus in Greek language. These caves are adjoined to a building that has been identified as a Jewish-Christian synagogue. Excavations also revealed that under the beautiful mosaic floors therein, from an earlier period, was a Jewish ritual bath (mikveh) with seven steps leading down into the water. Today, Nazareth is the largest Arabic city in Israel with a 69% Muslim and 30.9% Christian population of 210,000 people. Nazareth has a thriving high-tech industry, thus earning the title, “Silicon Valley of the Arab Community.”
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