T- Part II

Ps. 137: 1-6 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, {saying,} "Sing us one of the songs of Zion." How can we sing the LORD'S song In a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget {her skill.} May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Tel Er-Rumeileh Ancient Beth-Shemesh. Fifteen miles south west of Jerusalem. Ark of
Covenant was brought here by Philistines from Ashdod and Ekron (1 Sam. 4:6). The men of looked into the ark of the covenant, which was forbidden. God struck down fifty thousand husbands, sons and brothers. This resulted in many widow/destitute women. And the people mourned (1 Sam. 6:9ff).The ark remained here for twenty years until it was taken to Kiriath Jeriam. This is an mportant archaeological excavation site that shows both Canaanite and Israeli families occupied this area.

Tel es-Safi Ancient city of Gath of the Philistines. Halfway between Jerusalem and
Askelon. One of the cities of the Philistine Pentapolis. The ark of the covenant rested here after being moved from Ashdod (1 Sam. 5:8). David fled here when he escaped from Saul. Goliath may have been born and raised here. In November 2005 it was reported that an inscription was found at the ruins of Gath that mention the name Goliath. What was his mother like? His wife? Ho was their lives changed by his life? His death? Today all that remains of Gath is an active archaeology site, noted as one of the largest pre-Hellenistic sites in Israel.

Tel Halif A Judahite town controlled by King Hezekiah. City destroyed by Sennacherib so quickly that the inhabitants had no time to flee. Remaining women were made widows and slaves. The tel is a present day mound south of Jerusalem and ten miles north of Beer-Sheva. Archaeologists think this is the ancient city mentioned in Joshua 15:32 and Zechariah 14:10. Archaeological excavations have unearthed building walls, pottery, grinding stones, bread ovens, cooking ovens, spindle whorls used to spin wool and hair into thread, women’s cosmetic palettes and ivory combs, beads, rings and pins from ten levels of civilization.

Tel Hazor Biblical Hazor. The head of the Canaanite kingdom (Josh. 11:10). Twenty miles north of Sea of Galilee. Hazor was the only city burned to the ground by Joshua when he defeated the northern kingdom (Josh. 11: 1-13).

The largest of the ongoing archaeological sites (200 acres) in Israel. Many families lived in this area over the years. Deborah guided Barak in his battle here against Sisera (Judg. 4:2-3, 24). Hazor figures prominently in the ancient history of Israel. (1 Kin. 9:15; 2 Kin. 15:9). Hazor, along with Megiddo, has recently been named a World Heritage site by UNESCO, as an honor that recognizes its cultural and historical importance.

Tel Mahata Ancient Arad, Canaanite city eleven miles southwest of Beersheba. People of Arad attacked the Israelites as they moved into the ‘land of milk and honey’ and took some men and women as prisoners. Israel was later victorious over Arad (Num.21:1-2; 33:40; Josh. 12:14; Judg. 1;16).

Tel Mirsim See Debir.

Tel Miqne Remains of Ekron, one of the five most important of the Philistine cities. The most northern of the five, midway between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea. Twenty two miles southwest of Jerusalem. Ekron grew from a small unwalled city that the Philistines conquered, to eventually became a fifty acre community with monumental buildings, temples, fortifications and industrial sites. Archaeological discoveries include a large number of iron tools. Ark of the covenant was brought here from Gath. The men of the city suffered; many died leaving widows (1 Sam.5:8-12). From Ekron, the ark was returned to Israel at Beth Shemesh.

Tel Rehov Located in northern Jordan Valley. Heavily settled area. One of Israel’s largest and mot important archaeological site. Not mentioned in the Bible. Excavation began in 1997. One of the least known and least studied sites. This Canaanite city transitioned to Israelite rule at time of King David and Solomon.

Tel Rumeida Part of Hebron. Traditional burial site of Jesse, father of King David, and the gravesite of Ruth.

Tel Sheva Ruins of Beersheba.

DAILY JOURNAL - #2

Day 3
Up early – the time change gets most of us up and wide awake at 3 a.m. We saw sunrise and thousands of black birds flying in circles overhead. Literally thousands. Two fisherman close to where we were standing, were pulling in their nets by hand which had trapped several small fish. (Probably the “Peters fish” that we will eat later.)

Boat ride to center of Sea of Galilee after breakfast. Here we are where Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm. (Mark 4:35 ff; Mt. 14:22 ff; John 6:16ff). The captain of the boat took us to the center of the lake and turned off the engines. All that could be heard was the small waves lapping against the side of the boat, and the screech of the seagulls that had followed us from shore. Everyone in good spirits. We sang “I Worship You Almighty God.” We all had tears in our eyes.

Bible teaching by Pastor Crisp. When the disciples saw that Jesus had stilled the storm they said, “What manner of man is this that even the waves obey Him?” The word manner is the same word used by the writer John when he said in 1 John 3:1ff, “What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…” The word manner in both verses is translated, “not of this world,” i.e. out of this world, supernatural. The Man walking on the water was “out of this world, or not of this world.” The love that God has for us is not of this world. It is supernatural.

The fisherman and disciples of Galilee had wives, sisters, mothers that must have heard the stories of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee stilling the storm, and letting Peter step out of the boat to walk to him.

Women lived in all the villages around the Sea of Galilee. Many thousands of people. That is difficult for me to fathom. So few cities now around the lake. Three cities did hear the “Woe to you” from Jesus and never were rebuilt. Many thousands of people (including women) knew of Jesus, and even saw and heard Him. Many women were personally touched by Him in spiritual and physical healing. Mary Magdalene came from the small village of Magdala that can be seen from the boat.

Mount of Beatitudes. Interesting fact about the church built on Mount. Funds were supplied by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The church is built in the shape of an eight-sided heptagon. One side for each of the “Blessed is…” (See photo)

Driving through upper Galilee. Because of the schedule we cannot drive up on the Golan Heights this trip. But we did drive through Hula Valley. It still amazes me that this green, lush area was once a swamp. It was drained in 1956 to provide fertile agricultural land. Israel grows all if its own vegetables. Only beef and lamb are imported (South America.)

Saw Tel Hazor through the bus windows. It is the northen most point of Joshua’s conquest. Hazor is a major archaeologic site, but seldom visited by Christian groups. Few major events in Scripture took place at Hazor.

Beautiful Mt. Hermon seen from the distance. Main source of water for Israel. Many think it was the site of the Transfiguration. 9,223 feet above sea level.

Stopped at Banias/Caesarea Philippi. Caves with altar areas to pagan god, Pan. (See photo). Pastor Crisp taught about the “gates of Hell” in relation to Jesus teaching and choice of Peter as the “small, movable rock.” The Gates of Hell was a crack/crevice at the pagan altar of Pan where sacrifices were made. When Jesus our Lord said, “… on this rock the Gates of Hell shall not prevail,” He was using visual imagery that the people could understand

Visited Tabgha (Church of Heptagon, Church of Seven Springs) traditional site of the feeding of the 5,000. World famous mosaic dating from 5th century.

Drove by Gaderenes area where Jesus healed the demoniac and sent the demons into the herd of swine. Matt. 8:28 ff. Also named “Kursi.”

Ate lunch as Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A sudden storm came and went over the Sea as we ate lunch, much like it must have suddenly come upon Jesus and the disciples. Pizza and “St. Peter’s fish” for lunch. Todd Houston’s birthday – we humiliated him by singing “Happy Birthday.” God bless and keep sweet Todd and his wife Alisha.

Drove by ruins of Chorizon. The ‘woe’ of Chorizon, Bethesdia and Capernaum were correct/true prophecy. Other cities of the Galilee have been rebuilt – why not these? Because God said so.
On to Capernaum. Mt. 4:12ff. More healings of Jesus than at any other city. The synagogue was built by the gentile centurion – his son was later healed by Jesus. Peter’s house was here. Jesus healed many women here. The woman with the issue of blood, Peter’s mother-in-law (“she immediately got up and served them.”)

The women of Capernaum must have seen and heard of Jesus – Capernaum was the center of His ministry. They handed Him their children to bless. The women were healed by Jesus, and saw Jesus heal their men. Wives of the religious leaders must have heard Jesus rebuke their pious husbands. The women were the unnoticed faces-in-the-crowd; the unmentioned by name. Where the Scripture says, “multitude, crowd, people” there were the silent women.

Saw the “Galilee Boat/ Jesus Boat/Genosar Boat.” What a miracle from God that this boat was discovered in a terrible time of drought for Israel. God bring good from bad. The water level was low and men found this old boat in the mud. It may not be the actual boat of Jesus, but it gives such a strong, visual image for us of the type of boat that Jesus must have used around the Sea of Galilee.

Drove by Migdal. (See photo of Mt. Arbel and the village of Migdal, from a boat on the Sea of Galilee) Mary Magdalene loved Jesus with a never ending devotion after He healed her from the seven demons. Was she young or old? Rich or poor? She was not a prostitute as the Catholics teach. She was one who must have wondered, and personally known, “What manner of man is this?” She knew first hand. Did Mary have sisters, family, even a mother?

So much to see and to reflect upon. What a great God we have to love us all so. To come and die to take us out of our darkness in to a new life here on earth of light, joy, and freedom. To assure us of a life in eternity….just for believing in what is offered to us. Pastor quoted a Scripture today that says it all, and I get to paraphrase it, “ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on Jeanne that she should be called a child of God….now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1ff. Thank You Lord! Praise You Lord!

DAILY JOURNAL #1

Lets take a break from our A-Z travel log and go on to something new.

For the next few days I will post my journal from a trip that I took to Israel in 2005. As part of course work for my MRS (Masters in Religious Science) at the Harvest Institute for Biblical Studies in Knoxville TN, we had to not only go to Israel, but submit a journal of our day to day experiences during the trip.

(I have taken all photos.)

Most of my trips to Israel have been taken through TLC Holy Land Tours. Dr. Crisp has led numerous groups to the Holy Land. TLC Holy Land tours offers excellent pricing, experienced guides and scholarly teachings at each site. (www.tlcholylandtours.com)

Day 1-2
Left Knoxville at 2:10 p.m. This is my seventh (blessed) trip to the Holy Land. It is hard to imagine that I am going to Israel again! Some people only go once in a life time; some never get to go.

Sitting for several hours in the airport is good for me- I begin to think about the trip and what it means in my life. With each trip I spend much time reflecting on the past and the future. How blessed I am to be saved and to be walking the Lord. And He has blessed me with a deep love for the land and the people of Israel.

Because I “have to” write this journal for a class project, I have decided to have a focus, a ‘theme’, for me to see the sites from a different mindset. Each trip is different. I do see many of the same sites, but I also always do see a new site. Dr. Crisp and the tour guide are sensitive to the fact that several people have made this trip more than once, and always arrange for something new.

My term paper for my class will be “Jesus and the Women.” As I set out on this trip my focus will be on the women of Israel in Biblical times, in the Old Testament and New Testament.
At Newark NJ the four members of our group from California joined with us. That brings the total to 28. This is an ideal number to have in a group.

As I read Scripture in the airport, my readings took me to the books of Malachi and Zechariah. God brought these verses to my sight to prepare me for this trip:

Zechariah 2:8, 12, 13
…for he who touches you Israel)touches the apple of His (God’s) eye….and the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land and will again choose Jerusalem…..Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation.
And from Malachi 3:12:

…And all nation will call you blessed (Israel), for you will be a delightful land, says the LORD of hosts. Thank you LORD for these verses today as I begin our trip.
10:50 pm left Newark for Tel Aviv. Plane very crowded. Ninety eight young Jewish people from all over US and Mexico going over to Israel for a four month study trip. God bless these young people. May they meet Jesus in the Holy Land.

Arrived Tel Aviv 4:22 p.m. on Tuesday. No Biblical reference to Tel Aviv. The Biblical city of Joffa is south. (The photo above is of modern-day Tel Aviv.)

Drove 1 ½ hours to Tiberias/Sea of Galilee..
Thoughts on Tiberius. A Roman colony in the time of Jesus. We have no record of his visiting Tiberius. He must have. Perhaps his family traveled there from Nazareth in his early years for shopping or business. In the years of His adult ministry He probably did pass through this busy commercial/governmental city, but did not make His presence known.

All the cities that surrounded the Sea of Tiberius must have heard of Jesus and his ministry. Perhaps some of the women of Tiberius went out to see this man. Perhaps some of the women of Tiberius were among the crowds at the feeding of the 4,000 and 5,000, or there when Jesus spoke the “Sermon on the Mount.” It does not seem a stretch of the imagination to visualize women of Tiberius in the crowd of faces that so often encircled Jesus.

We saw too many things to write down. I hope I will remember them.

The Land

As you travel the land of Israel reflect on the promise made by God to return the people to the land: "I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their own fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them." Amos 9: 14-15


Note - if you have an interest in the women of the Holy Land be sure to see my other blogs: www.biblestudy4women.blogspot.com; www.biblestudy2women.blogspot.com.

Women in Scripture - Introduction Part II

Women were godly, like Hannah and Mary.

Women were evil, like Athaliah and Jezebel. Women led men astray. Solomon’s wives led to his downfall (study 1 Kings. 11:3-4). How the king lived and worshipped influenced the life of the people. The nation followed the example of the king – walking with God, or following idols. Wives had a great influence on the kings.

God often used behind-the-scenes women in the Scripture for important events. For example, Jehosheba saved the bloodline of David by hiding young King Joash after Athaliah had killed all of the males in the family and taken over the throne of Israel (study 2 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 22).

Unnamed or ‘hidden’ women often had important, if seemingly minor roles, such as the woman of 1 Kings 14:1-18 who gave the message of doom from the prophet back to her husband, King Jereboam. This prophecy foretold that the northern kingdom of Israel would fall and be no more. (Study this passage)

Most of the events of Scripture center around the male character because men were the leaders. We tend to focus on the lessons learned by the men, yet women were a big part of God’s plan. By studying Scripture we can learn that God loves women and does use them in His great works.

My prayer is that we will learn to appreciate the role that women have played in the plan of God through the ages. As we study the women of Scripture we can learn much of what God grants to us, and what God expects of us.