Day 1 – Masada, Qumran, Jericho, Jordan River, Dead Sea

Bethlehem: +3,000’ aboveDead Sea: -1,300’ below

Model of Masada. Herod’s fortress getaway in case the Jews try to overthrow him.

3-year holdout against the Romans.Romans build 400’ ramp. 960 suicides.

John the Baptist was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. - Mark 1:4-5

Dead Sea: 5x saltier than the Ocean … everything floats

Day 2 – Herodian, Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, Shepherd's Field

The Herodian: Herod the Great’s tomb (a man-made mountain)

Sheppard's cave

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared … “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! - Luke 2:8-11

Bethlehem, Church of the NativityOldest church (Queen Helena – mother of Constantine)3 Christmas’ per year: Dec 25, Jan 9, Jan 16

Day 3 – Jacob's Well, Mt. Ebal, Mt. Gerizim, Samaria, Tel Dothan, Tiberias

Bethlehem at dawn

But you, O Bethlehem, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. - Micah 5:2

Israeli building restriction: must use limestoneNew Jerusalem: $2-3 mm house; $750k apartment

Olive trees and hills everywhere

Jacob’s WellHe had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. - John 4:4-6

140’ deep

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” - John 4:13-14

Sebastia (another Herod palace, built on top of Ahab’s temple)

Day 4 – Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Peter's Primacy, Nazareth

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” - Matthew 4:18-19

Sea of Galilee, looking at TiberiusFresh water lake; 600’ below sea level

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. - Matthew 14:24-25

Mt. of Beatitudes One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. - Matthew 5:1-2

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share … A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves! - Mark 6:41-45

Egeria’s site of the Sermon on the Mount

Natural spring just below the cave

Synagogue Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. - Mark 1:21-22

The Ark?

Church of Annunciation Nazareth

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” - Luke 1:26-28

Synagogue in Nazareth

Full moon over the Sea of Galilee

Day 5 – Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea

MegiddoMan-made hill30 civilizations;6000 years

Gilgamesh and story of a great flood found here

1st century manger

Tunnel access to water source

Statue of ElijahMt. Carmel

Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel. - 1 Kings 18:19

Samuel’s tomb

Strategic views of Palestine

Samuel’s tomb

Valley of Elah where David slays Goliath

David replied to the Philistine [Goliath], “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” - 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Aqueduct built by Pontius Pilate leading to Caesarea

Herod’s private fresh-water pool

Stadium toilets