Author Archives: Ferrell Jenkins

Back at home base

Posted on February 4, 2011 | 1 comment

We made it safely from Israel to our home in Florida overnight. Soon I will try to give you a little info on the newly reopened Israel Museum which we visited yesterday.

Thanks for the concern of many over the past three weeks.

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Posted in Israel, Travel

Here and there in the Holy City

Posted on February 3, 2011 | 2 comments

About a year ago we were reporting on the work being done by Dr. Eilat Mazar, of Hebrew University, in the area next to the street that runs along the south side of the Temple Mount. The area is part of what is called the Ophel. Eilat Mazar worked here with her grandfather, Benjamin Mazar, in the 1980s.

It seems uncertain whether this gate belongs to the 8th century B.C., 9th century, or 10th century. Eilat Mazar says it belongs to the 10th century B.C. based on pottery and a comparison of the architecture with that in other excavated cities.

Take a look at our earlier report here.

Jerusalem Ophel Excavations. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We spent several hours walking the City of David tour. I was disappointed that the new steps leading from the pool of Siloam to the Visitor’s Center and the sewer were closed today due to flooding. I wrote about the sewer, with photos, here.

We actually enjoyed a few minutes in the shop. Take our poll.

Ferrell with Qumran Replica Jar. Photo by Elizabeth Jenkins.

In the afternoon we went to the Herodium. Another disappointment. The new excavations of Herod’s Tomb are still under cover and fenced off.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Going up to Jerusalem

Posted on February 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

The photo of Mount Gilboa was made from Highway 669 west of Beth Shean. Mount Gilboa is remembered as the place where King Saul was defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31). Notice David’s lament:

“You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. (2 Samuel 1:21 ESV)

A view of Mount Gilboa from the east. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

You may recall that the Spring of Harod, where Gideon chose the warriors the LORD wanted (Judges 7) is located at the base of Mount Gilboa in the Jezreel Valley. From that point east down to the Jordan River, there are numerous sources of water. One interesting place is known as Gan Hashlosha (Park of the Three), or by its Arabic name Sakhne (hot springs). There are other sources of water in the vicinity.

I suggest that it may have been in this general area that John the Baptist did some of his baptizing.

John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (John 3:23 ESV)

I know there are other suggestions, but I am writing on the run and not intending to explore all possibilities.

Gan Hashlosha. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins

We encountered rain a few miles north of Jericho. I turned east on the road going to the traditional Baptism Site (in Israel), but came to the same closed military gate that I had seen before. I called a travel friend in Jerusalem who told me that the site was open for a couple of days in January. He said it will be open for two or three days a week to groups with special permission.

On the way up to Jerusalem we turned aside to view Wadi Qilt (Kelt) and the St. George Monastery. The view below was taken in the rain. The monastery was begun in the fourth century, but the structure you see was built in the late 5th century. For a brief summary and good photos see BiblePlaces.com.

St. George Monastery in the Wadi Qilt. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We are in Jerusalem.

Sunshine, rain, and wind in Galilee

Posted on February 1, 2011 | 1 comment

When I first looked from the hotel balcony in Tiberias this morning the sun was shining and the Sea of Galilee was calm.

The Sea of Galilee from my hotel balcony in Tiberias. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Later in the day, by early afternoon we were on the eastern side of the lake. The weather was cool and the wind from the west was rather strong. We stopped a few places along the shore to make photos. In the photo below you can see the small waves on the sea. In the distance, to the northwest, you will note that the sun is shining on the hills. While this may not qualify as a violent storm it demonstrates the sudden change that can take place when the wind comes down on the sea.

One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat started filling up with water, and they were in danger. They came and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm.
(Luke 8:22-24 NET)

A stormy Sea of Galilee looking West. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A little earlier we visited the suggested site of New Testament Bethsaida and Old Testament Geshur. While in the vicinity we went to the Jordan River in the Jordan River Park. This park is probably less than 2 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The water was muddy and running swift because of the rains over the past few days in the north.

Jordan River at Jordan River Park, N of Sea of Galilee. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We circled the Sea of Galilee, went to En Gev, drove up into the Golan Heights past Susita (Greek Hippos), visited the Peace Vista for a view of the entire lake, and then down along the Yarmuk Valley, and back to Tiberias. Later in the day we went to Mount Arbel.

A profitable day, I think.

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Posted in Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, Photography, Travel

Looting of Museums in Egypt

Posted on January 31, 2011 | 1 comment

Dr. Zawi Hawass, the head man over antiquities in Egypt, has posted a statement on his web site. He had to fax it to someone in Italy so they could post it on his web site in London. The Internet is down in Egypt.

If you are interested, read here.

HT: Bible Places Blog.

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Posted in Bible Study

A rainy Sunday in Galilee

Posted on January 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sunday was a rainy day with periods of sunshine in Galilee. Sunday morning we went to Nazareth to meet with the Church of Christ there. Even though Nazareth is only a short distance from Tiberias, it was considerably cooler there. During the service we could hear rain falling on the roof.

On the outskirts of Nazareth I stopped to make a photo of the city. The dome of the Church of the Annunciation is visible in the left of the photo. The older part of the city, from the time of Jesus, is located there. The ridge slightly visible in the far distance is the eastern end of Mount Carmel.

View of Nazareth. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In the afternoon we drove north toward the border with Lebanon in hopes that the sky might clear there to give us a good view of Mount Hermon. We were not successful, but we did enjoy the drive as far as Dan and Caesarea Philippi. During the day we saw many beautiful rainbows. At one point over the fertile Hula Valley there was a complete rainbow visible at times. Here is a photo I made looking east toward the Golan Heights.

Rainbow over Hula Valley. View to Golan Heights. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

On the return to Tiberias we turned east to drive past Chorazin and get a view of the northeast corner of the Sea of Galilee. Those who have seen this view before will be impressed with how low the water level is.

Northeast corner of the Sea of Galilee. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We enjoyed the day, and thankful to visit the areas where Jesus did so much of His work, even when it rained.

Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:23 NET)

Almond trees in blossom

Posted on January 30, 2011 | 1 comment

Friday evening we stayed in Beersheba. Friday night and Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath) is a time when many Jewish families stay in a hotel. I think we were the only Goyim (non-Jews) in the hotel. Beersheba does not attract many tour groups for overnight stays.

We made a side trip into the Shephelah with brief stops here and there. Near the Valley of Elah, on the east side of Azekah we saw a few almond trees in full blossom.

Almond tree in bloom near Azekah. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Jacob ordered his sons to take some of the best products of the land of Canaan, including almonds, to the man in Egypt (Joseph).

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. (Genesis 43:11 NAU)

The blooms of the almond are beautiful.

Almond blossoms near Azekah. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The lampstand for the tabernacle was to have cups shaped like almond flowers.

On the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms, (Exodus 37:20 NET)

The LORD demonstrated his choice of Aaron as high priest in this way:

On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony– and the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds! (Numbers 17:8 NET)

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Pyramids closed to tourists

Posted on January 29, 2011 | 1 comment

The only TV news source I have at my hotel in Tiberias is the British SkyNews. One of the reports on Egypt mentioned that the Great Pyramids of Giza were closed to tourists. Not surprising. Various governments, like Britain and the USA, are encouraging their citizens not to travel to Egypt. This will be a tremendous blow to many Egyptian companies.

: The Pyramid of Chephren. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In Beersheba we enjoyed Fox News. At Eilat we had CNN international which is much different from the CNN in the USA.

SkyNews showed a few photos of damage to cases and artifacts in the Egyptian Museum. Todd Bolen has more info on this at the Bible Places Blog.

1 Comment

Posted in Culture, Egypt, Photography, Travel

Life in the wilderness of Zin

Posted on January 29, 2011 | 2 comments

Yesterday we drove north from Eilat to Beersheba (Be’er Sheva). Beersheba, the ancient home of the patriarch Abraham, is the heart of the Negev (the Southland in some English versions).

In the wilderness of Zin, where the ancient Israelites wandered (Numbers 33:36), we saw two female shepherds bringing their large flock of sheep and goats across the main highway 40. This photo shows them after they had crossed the highway on their way to their community of Bedouin. We saw the tents in the distance a little further south.

If you can not see the photo click here.

Sheep in the Wilderness of Zin. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The wilderness of Zin included Kadesh Barnea and was the southern boundary for the tribe of Judah.

The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south. (Joshus 15:1 NET)

We enjoyed a Big Mac at the McDonald’s at Avdat, an important town along the Nabatean spice route between Petra and Gaza.

We continued along the way north to Makhtesh Ramon Crater. This crater, about fifty miles south of Beersheba, is said to be the largest crater in the world. We went to the observation point to take a look at the crater. Several people were preparing to rappel the cliff. The most interesting one was a little girl who was not quite six years old. After watching her be instructed in how to handle the rope, we saw her begin down the cliff. We went down to a lower point to see her. By the time we got there she was almost at the bottom and was being helped by (possibly) her mother who had come down before her.

(I am having a little problem uploading photos. If the photo below does not show, click here link to see it.)

Young girl gets ready to rappel at Makhtesh Ramon Crater. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Young girl gets ready to rappel at Makhktesh Ramon Crater. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Posted in Bible Places, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Personal note about unrest in Egypt

Posted on January 28, 2011 | 3 comments

A few friends have asked about the safety of our group in relation to the unrest in Egypt. Most of our group returned to the USA from Egypt Monday evening. They are safely at home. Three other tour members went with us to Sinai. Two of them went home Wednesday evening. They were diverted from JFK due to the bad weather, but arrived home safely. One tour member went to Abu Simbel Thursday. He is in Heliopolis at the hotel across from the airport now.

I just spoke to my guide/friend in Egypt who told me that last evening his kids were out and having a good time. They went to McDonald’s and a movie. He said the demonstrations were limited to downtown Cairo and in Suez city (the town at the southern end of the Suez Canal).

Elizabeth and I leave Eilat shortly to drive through the Wilderness of Zin. We plan to be at Beersheba in the evening.

3 Comments

Posted in Egypt, Israel, Travel

Author Archives: Ferrell Jenkins

Back at home base

Here and there in the Holy City

Going up to Jerusalem

Sunshine, rain, and wind in Galilee

Looting of Museums in Egypt

A rainy Sunday in Galilee

Almond trees in blossom

Pyramids closed to tourists

Life in the wilderness of Zin

Personal note about unrest in Egypt

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