J - Part III

Jesus Boat Site A two-thousand year old boat, similar to the ones Jesus must have used was found perfectly preserved in the mud not far from Magdala at Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee. Found in 1986 after a severe drought exposed shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. About eight yards long and two yards wide, this boat would have held over a dozen men. A modern museum was opened to house the antiquity and protect it from further deterioration in 2003. The wood of the boat has been carbon dated to 40 B.C. Boats of this type were common on the lake, and played a significant role in the lives of the men an woman of the Galilee during the time of Jesus. Capernaum, home town of Jesus, was within sight of the location of this boat. (Matt. 4:18-22). Called the “Jesus Boat” because it was from the time of Jesus and was large enough to have held Jesus and his disciples. Although there is no stories in Scripture of women in boats on the Sea of Galilee, they must have heard the stories from the disciples. Some of the disciples must have wives, and Peter did have a mother-in-law living in Capernaum who must have heard of the stilling of the storm, and the episode when Peter walked on water.

Jezreel Hilltop city of Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel. Who “wore the pants” in that family? Here Jezebel murdered Naboth to enable her husband to take his vineyard. Ongoing archaeological excavations at this site have unearthed a stone tower from which Queen Jezebel may have been thrown to her death - and where the dogs ate her body as prophesized by Elijah (1 Kin. 21:23; 2 Kin.9:30-32).

Jezreel Valley (See Photo) Israel’s largest valley and important east-west route. Part of the Via Maris. Also called Valley of Arrmageddon and Plain of Esdraelon (1 Kin. 21:23; 2 Kin.9:30-32). Important sites in Jezreel Valley include: Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, the city of Jezreel and Herod Springs. Deborah and Barak’s battle of Mt. Tabor was in the Jezreel valley.

Joppa Peter raised Dorcas(Tabitha) from the dead. Her friends praised her to Peter Because of her good works and skill as seamstress or weaver(Acts 9:36ff). The is the modern day area of Ben Gurion Airport.

Jordan The country of present day Jordan was the land of Moab. Ruth, Naomi and Orpha lived in this area. Orpha returned to her family in Moab. Naomi wept as she left Moab (Ruth1:9). Land of Seir and Edom (Gen. 36:8). Esau, wives and children populated this area. Esau’s wife Adah bore him firstborn son, Eliphaz; wife Aholibamah bore him three children; wife, Anah bore him one child in Moab. (Gen. 32:2-16). See Madaba – possible hometown of Ruth.

Jordan River Major water supply for Israel. The Jordan River is formed by three streams in the foothills of Mt. Hermon. It descends into the Sea of Galilee and flows 65 miles south to the Dead Sea. Where there is water there are men, women and children. The Hebrew slave girl of Naaman, the Syrian, sent him to the prophet to be healed of leprosy. He was healed in the Jordan River. The waters of the Jordan were parted by Joshua, Elijah and Elisha. Today the mighty Jordan River is, at spots, no more than a steam. See Bathabara.