Category Archives: Israel

My grandparents went to Israel …

… and all I got was this little Dead Sea Scroll jar. (Of course, anyone acquainted with his grandmother knows differently!) After Grandmother read him the Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he promptly hid his jar in a secret place [behind the easy chair].

What a wonderful thing to learn about at his age. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947, are of great value to biblical studies.

Below is a photograph of Cave 4 at Qumran, on the shores of the Dead Sea. Numerous fragments of the first five books of the Old Testament (Torah) were found in this cave. Qumran was in Jordan at the time of the initial discovery of the scrolls. Some of the scrolls are now displayed at the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem.

City of David website wins global UN award

Our recent group to Jerusalem was able to see a few of the new discoveries made in the City of David excavations. Everyone can enjoy and profit by looking at this great website. Israel21c reports,

Israel may have missed out at the Oscars in Hollywood, but an Israel website, http://www.cityofdavid.org.il, won first prize at the UN-sponsored World Summit Awards (WSA) in Venice recently.

Selected as “the best in e-content and creativity in the category of e-culture,” “this outstanding website brings remote visitors face to face with the protagonists and locations of the living Bible,” the WSA stated in its laudatory citation.

“Its fabulous visuals and rich description of the site – in English, Spanish, Hebrew, French and Russian – bring to life the only place on earth where the only guidebook needed is the Bible itself.”

Read the full article here.

View the website of the City of David. It is a beautiful site filled with small photos, videos, and timelines. Below is a photo of the entrance to the City of David park. This entrance is located a little south of Dung Gate on the road that leads down to the point where the Kidron, Tyropean, and Hinnom valleys meet.

This area is not without political controversy and ramifications. An alternative web site, From Shiloah to Silwan, has good material.

HT: Paleojudaica.

Some recommended books

The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide by Jerome Murphy-O’Connor is now back in print. Be sure you get the fifth edition (2008). This is one of the finest, most authoritative guide of archaeological sites in Israel.

Todd Bolen has called attention to an interview with Jerome Murphy-O’Connor on the Radio Scribe radio program. The files are available in mp3. I suggest you listen to these. I will try to give you the links to the two interviews:

Book and Spade interview with Murphy-O’Connor # 2

Book and Spade interview with Murphy-O’Connor # 1

Something Murphy-O’Connor said in one of the interviews is that he is unable to judge regarding some claims made by various archaeologists. He said, “I write as a communicator.” I like that, and think of myself in the same way as I direct my tours.

Another good book to study along with your Bible is the Wycliffe Historical Geography of Bible Lands by Vos. Be sure you get the 2003 edition. The earlier edition was by Pfeiffer and Vos, but has now been updated by Vos.

Go to our Travel Book Store to order.

Home safely, and on time

I am thankful to report that I arrived home safely last evening from Amman, Jordan. Every flight was on time, and the flights from Amman and Frankfurt had a few seat available; there was no one sitting next to me. What a joy!

Lots to do to catch up. Uploads to WordPress are working correctly from my home computer, so I am posting this composite panorama of the site of ancient Jericho. The view is toward the east. The mountains of transjordan can be seen to the left of the tell. I hope to have more photos and information to share in the days to come.

Site of ancient Jericho. View toward the east. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Intermediate stop for Jacob and his family

Yesterday we were disappointed that we could not locate the road to the tell (Tell Dhahab west) that is thought (by some at least) to be the site of Penuel. Not wishing to be defeated, this morning I contacted the Department of Antiquities and inquired about how to reach the site from Deir Allah. I was given the mobile (cell in the USA) number for the Inspector for the area. When I called he said he would be delighted to assist.

When we arrived at Deir Allah (likely the site of biblical Succoth), we went to the Inspector’s office and visited a while. After tea, he went with us to the sites. Some of the road was very difficult, but we followed his pickup and made it in our rental car. This site is a few miles east of the Plains of the Jordan.

The site of Penuel with the Jabbok River below. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The photo above shows Tell Dhahab (West) on the left. I put a white dot on the impressive tell. You can see the Jabbok River below on the right. It was in terrain like this where Jacob crossed the Jabbok after wrestling with an angel.

So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. (Genesis 32:30-31)

Jeroboam fortified Penuel at the beginning of his reign as king of the northern kingdom of Israel (shortly after 931 B.C.).

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. (1 Kings 12:25).

For one who loves traveling in the land of the Bible as much as I do, this was an exciting day. Maybe even better than finding the Roman road north of Tarsus last summer. The bus could not have made it to this place.

At Petra in Jordan tonight

Today we left Israel, crossed the border into Jordan, and made our way to Petra for the night. We visited a site now being identified as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Mount Nebo, Madaba, and then followed he Kings Highway and the Desert Highway to Petra. Here is the photo of the group. I know the photo is a little small, but if you know someone in the group you will probably be able to identify him/her. The photo is made from the Mount of Olives with the city of Jerusalem in the background.

Bible Land 2008 Group Photo from Mount of Olives with Jerusalem in the background.

Here are a few photos I intended to upload earlier. The first one is of the Hill of Moreh. Moreh overlooks the Jezreel Valley, and is where Gideon defeated the Midianites.

Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him, rose early and camped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. (Judges 7:1)

Hill of Moreh where Gideon defeaed the Midianites. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

And finally, for tonight, here is a photo made in the Iron Age tunnel at Megiddo. Scholars often attribute this tunnel to the time of Ahab, king of Israel about 850 B.C. Walls, water, and food were the three most important necessary things in an ancient city. This tunnel connected the city to the spring that was outside the city.

The Iron Age water tunnel at Megiddo. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Tomorrow night we probably will not have Internet access from the hotel at the Dead Sea. Perhaps I will be able to post another photo tomorrow morning before visiting Petra.

The lowest spot on earth

Today we visited Masada, the Dead Sea, Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found), and Jericho. Everything is going well on our tour. Tomorrow we cross the Jordan River and go into Jordan. Perhaps there we will have better success with the Internet connection.

This is not to say that it would be impossible to find a place in Jerusalem to upload photos. It is just that he connection in this good hotel does not seem adequate.

A day in Galilee

is is the way I began the day by viewing the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee from my hotel window at Tiberias. This is always a beautiful view. It brings to mind many of the teaching of Jesus in the Galilee area. Jesus met his disciples on the shores of Galilee after His resurrection. John 21:12 records that Jesus prepared breakfast for the disciples.

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee. Photo made from Tiberias by Ferrell Jenkins. April 3, 2008.

We always include a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee as part of ou tour. One of the men on our boat showed how nets were cast in bible times. This was in the area where Jesus appeared to the disciples. Here is the account in the Gospel of John:

But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. (John 21:4-6).

 

Fisherman casting a net on the Sea of Galilee. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We visited Capernaum, Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes, and Bethsaida. We drove along the eastern side of th Sea of Galilee and saw the area where the swine ran down the steep cliff into the sea.(Matthew 8:32). We stopped at En Gev and made a photo of the tell of Hippos. We made a few photos at the new excavations at Tiberias. In December excavations were renewed at Magdala. We stopped at the site, but the entire area is locked and it was practically impossible to make any decent photos of the site due to the fencing around the site. Perhaps in future years the site will be open to the public. Magdala was the home of Mary Magdalene.

Everyone in the group seems to be having a good time learning more about the land of Jesus.

Two of our ladies are publishing blogs that are very informative and are filled with human interest. We learned that the 3rd grade class at Athens Bible School is following our tour as one of their projects. There are four women on our tour who are grandmothers of children in the class. Here are the links to the other blogs.

gowithjo.blogspot.com

Landing amid snipper fire!

About the time we were ready for landing the pilot began what seemed link some diversionary tactics, first turning to the left, and then to the right. We knew that this was an area that had seen conflict for several millennial.

When the pilot had the plane safely on the tarmac we all jumped out and hunkered down to avoid the sniper fire from all sides. The greeting that had been planned for us had to be cancelled.

So much for April fool’s day! (I haven’t heard anything about the presidential campaigns since leaving the USA.)

We made the trip safely, but several pieces of luggage were missing. Once these reports had been filed we left the airport and went to Joppa.

Joppa is located on the Mediterranean Sea. Joppa is now part of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. The site is associated with several important evens from biblical times. Solomon traded wheat, barley, oil, and wine to Hiram of Tyre for the timber of Lebanon to be used in Solomon’s building projects, including the temple.

“Now then, let my lord send to his servants wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which he has spoken. We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may carry it up to Jerusalem.” (2 Chroinicles 2:15-16).

Jonah took a ship from Joppa toward Tarshish in a feeble attempt disobey the Lord (Johan 1:3). Peter raised Dorcas (Tabitha) at Joppa (Acts 9:36-43). While in the city, Peter received messengers from Cornelius of Caesarea (Acts 10-11). Part of the account in Acts reads this way:

“And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.” (Acts 11:13-14).

Our photo today is made from the site of Joppa, looking toward the modern city of Tel Aviv. We plan to see Caesarea tomorrow.

Tel Aviv from the site of ancient Joppa. The Mediterranean Sea. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In the air and on the road again

We are off to Israel and Jordan.

Soon we will be leaving our hotel and heading for Lufthansa at the JKF International Airport to meet our group. There were at least eight of us at this hotel last night. We have an intermediate stop at Frankfurt, and then on to Tel Aviv. If we arrive on time we will be able to visit Joppa before sunset. Our overnight stay will be at Netanya, along the beautiful Mediterranean.

If possible we will connect to the Internet at Frankfurt. Otherwise, expect our first post from Netanya. We hope to give you a brief behind the lense look at the places we visit in Israel and Jordan. Our time in Israel and Jordan will be seven hours ahead of EDT.

Nikon D40X and Ferrell Jenkins on Roman Road near Tarsus.