Category Archives: Israel

Back in Print: Middle East Conflict…

Posted on February 2, 2024 | 4 comments

My booklet on The Middle East Conflict and the Bible has been available off and on since 1991. I have presented numerous short series of lessons on this topic in past years.

Today Florida College Press has an attractive edition for sale in the bookstore at 119 N. Glen Arven Ave., Temple Terrace, FL 33617. This is just in time for those attending the Florida College lectures next week to pick up a copy. I remind you that the content of this booklet is written from the amillennial perspective. Specifically I have explained it as the Philosophy of History, Preterist, or Historical Background viewpoint.

We had hoped to have The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation available in a new format but still lack a little having that completed. We hope to have it ready soon.

My Studies in the Book of Revelation is available and I suggest it as the book one should choose if he/she wants to gain an understanding of the overall content of the great book of Revelation.

The Middle East Conflict and the Bible discusses the following questions.

Is the return of the Jews to Palestine in the twentieth century a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy?

Why do the Arabs and Israel have so much conflict

Was Saddam Hussein the successor to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon? Will Babylon be rebuilt?

What does Biblical prophecy say about Israel, Babylon and Nineveh?

Does God use Nations to serve His purpose?

When and how will the nations turn their swords into plowshares?

It is difficult to locate these books on the Florida College Bookstore website, but you can ask for them by calling the bookstore at the college switchboard and asking for the Bookstore: 813.988.5131.

Review Comments:

Three persons received a preview copy of the book. Here are their comments.

Don Truex: “As has been the case for decades, Ferrell Jenkins sets the standard for Biblical, practical and applicational knowledge of the events in the Middle East and their relevance to Christians. His firsthand knowledge of the Text, the land and the people combine to bring essential insight into the all-too-common turmoil in this history filled region.”

Leon Mauldin: “Today I read my advance copy of The Middle East Conflict and the Bible. I know of nothing else like it, that packs so much in one small book. This is truly a great resource!”

Brooks Cochran: “The Middle East Conflict and the Bible” is an excellent resource to use in a study of current events in the Middle East as they relate to Bible Prophecy and the Nation of Israel. This updated edition includes a chapter on “Understanding Islam The Moslem Religion”.”

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Biblical Studies, Books, Israel, Palestine, Revelation, Travel

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Centurions of the New Testament

Posted on September 6, 2023 | 1 comment

Cornelius, a Roman centurion, was the first Gentile convert to the faith. He was stationed at Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast at the time when the apostle Peter was actively working in the spread of the Gospel.

A centurion in the Roman army normally had charge of 100 men (= to an Army captain). A regular cohort was one tenth of a legion and had a paper strength of 600 men. An auxiliary cohort was usually comprised of 1,000 men. Cornelius was of the Italian cohort. There is inscriptional evidence for the “Italian cohort” from Syria (See Bruce, 215).

When Paul set sail from Caesarea for Rome he was accompanied by a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius (Acts 27:1). All of the centurions mentioned in the New Testament make favorable impressions. This was not true of soldiers generally (Luke 3: 14). Note these examples:

  • The centurion at Capernaum (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-10).

  • The centurion at the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:47).

F. F. Bruce (The Book of Acts, NICNT) cites Polybius (History vi.24) saying,

“Centurions are required not to be bold and adventurous so much as good leaders, of steady and prudent mind not prone to take the offensive or start fighting wantonly, but able when overwhelmed and hard-pressed to stand fast and die at their post.”

There is a wonderful performance in the early second century A.D. hippodrome at Jerash, Jordan. The RACE show (Roman Army Chariot Experience) shows actors dressed as Roman soldiers performing various activities of the early soldiers. Our photo shows a Roman centurion from that show.

Roman Centurion, with his chariot waiting,
in the RACE show at Jerash, Jordan.

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Posted in Apostle Paul, Bible Places, Bible Study, Book of Acts, Israel, New Testament, Photography, Travel

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Girding up the loins of your mind

Posted on August 22, 2023 | 2 comments

The Apostle Simon Peter followed Jesus during His personal ministry. It is not surprising that some of the illustrations he uses come from this experience. In 1 Peter 1:13 the apostle wrote,

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13 NKJ).

The Louw-Nida Lexicon says that the Greek phrase used in 1 Peter 1:13 is “(an idiom, literally ‘to bind up the loins of the mind’) to prepare oneself for learning and thinking – ‘to get one’s mind ready for action, to be ready to learn and to think, to be alert.” The Greek phrase is translated this way: ‘so then, have your minds ready for action.1 Peter 1:13.” (27:55)

In The IVP Bible Background Commentary, Craig Keener writes,

Men wore long robes and would tuck them into their belt, “gird up their loins,” so they could move more freely and quickly. Although the image also occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament, here Peter may specifically allude to the Passover (Exodus 12:11): once God’s people had been redeemed by the blood of the lamb (1 Peter 1:19), they were to be ready to follow God forth until he had brought them safely into their inheritance (cf. 1:4), the Promised Land.”

Even though I have never worn a long, flowing robe I could illustrate this over and over from my years of travel in Israel. Take a look at this photo made at Horbat Adumim in upper Galilee.

Walking through thistles.
Walking across fields to get a desired photo often brings one in contact with thistles, as happened at Horbat Adumim.

Horbat Adumim is a national park in Israel, the site of an the ruins of an ancient synagogue. My frequent traveling companion on private study tours is Leon Mauldin. Leon is seen here seated at the entrance to the old synagogue.

I have used this text from 1 Peter various times in discussing the need to avoid those things that hinder us in service to God. Gird up the loins of your mind.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Culture, Flora and Fauna, Israel, New Testament, Photography, Travel

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Did the Prodigal Son Eat Carob Pods?

Posted on August 19, 2023 | 3 comments

In the parable of the young prodigal and his older brother, Luke says that when the younger brother ran out of money he would gladly have eaten the pods the pigs were eating.

He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:16 NET)

BDAG says that the word keration (translated pod) is used in the plural “of the fruits of the carob tree, carob pods.” Louw-Nida states that the word is “a diminutive derivative of keras which means horn.” They add,

“the pod of the carob tree (which closely resembles a small horn.…Carob pods were commonly used for fattening swine and were employed as an article of food by poor people.”

The first photo shows a carob tree loaded with green pods in the Spring of the year in the Jezreel Valley at Gan-Hashlosha.

Carob pods in the Sprint.
Green Carob pods in the Spring of the year.

Some nutritionists suggest that carob is high in protein content and is a good substitute for chocolate.

The next photo shows dried pods underneath a Carob tree at Hazor. Having been brought up on a farm, I can easily image the pigs rooting in these pods for the best one.

Dried pods from a Carob tree at Hazor. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
Dried Pods in the fall of the year at Hazor.

When the young prodigal son came to himself he headed for home. There is a good lesson in this for each of us when we become too attached to the things of this world (1 John 2:15).

 

 

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

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A View of Jerusalem From the Citadel

Posted on August 9, 2023 | 2 comments

The climb to the roof of the Citadel, also known as the Tower of David, is worth the climb just to see the roof tops of various significance buildings. The Citadel is located at Jaffa [Joppa] Gate which serves as the main entry to the Old City of Jerusalem on the west side of the walled city. 

Our photo looks northeast. 

View of Jerusalem from the Citadel. View is NE.

In a second photo I have placed identifying names on many of the highlights. Remember that you may download these photos for use in your Bible teaching. I had trouble uploading the second photo to WordPress, but you can see it in larger format by right clicking on it to open it.

Photo made from the Citadel. Showing identification of several of the significant rooftop buildings. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Beginning left to right here is a list of some of the significant places shown on the photo.

  • Hezekiah’s Pool. Whether this pool had anything to do with King Hezekiah is unknown. Josephus identified it by the name Amygdalon, a place where the 10th Roman Legion was active in A.D. 70 (Wars, 5:468).
  • The Holy Sepulchre. This site has marked the location of Golgotha (the smaller dome) and of the burial of Jesus (the larger dome) since the early 4th century A.D.
  • The tower of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is the white tower with a pyramidal top. It is also possible to climb to the top of that tower. 
  • At this point look to the North (left) on the horizon where you will see Mount Scopus, the place from which Alexander the Great scoped the city. Today this is the home of the Hebrew University. Continue along the mountain top right to the tower of the Victoria Augusta Hospital. Continue to the south (right) and you will see the Mosque of Omar, more commonly known as the Dome of the Rock. This site sits very near where Solomon’s Temple was built. The hill to the east of the Temple Mount is the Mount of Olives. If I had been using a slightly wider lens we would have a photo of the Tower of Ascension which is near Bethphage and Bethany.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, New Testament Times, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Cedars of Lebanon in 1969

Posted on July 31, 2023 | 2 comments

My first trip to Lebanon was in May, 1968. At that time I was able to visit several of the historic places that I had read about in the Bible and other sources. These included Tyre and Sidon, Byblos, and the Cedars of Lebanon.

The Cedars are about 75 miles north of Beirut on a mountainous road and not included on my second Bible Lands Tour. But we had a half day free to visit as we wished. My wife Elizabeth and I were joined by Louis and Margie Garret, co-workers at Florida College, and Joe Corley who had come all the way from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to join the tour. We had met Joe and his family earlier when I preached there a year or two earlier. We crowded into a taxi willing to take us to the Cedars.

A couple of days ago I located a slide I made on Agfachrome film during that visit. I hope you will enjoy it about half as much as I enjoyed seeing it again.

There are numerous biblical references to the cedars, but I wanted to mention just one reference today.

About 1040 BC King Solomon, the new king of Israel, requested cedars from King Hiram of Tyre in Lebanon for use in building the temple in Jerusalem. If you have visited Israel or read about the buildings you know that most of them are made of stone. Wood for various purposes had to be brought from other places.

Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians” (1 Kings 5:6 ESV).

Over the years we have posted several articles about the Cedars of Lebanon. To access these just put Cedars of Lebanon in the Search box. Think of the blog as a mini-dictionary where you can find information about various Bible places and customs.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Flora and Fauna, Israel, Lebanon, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

They tried to kill Jesus

Posted on July 25, 2023 | 3 comments

True. It happened more than once. Here I have in mind the event at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:16-30). Jesus read a portion of Isaiah 61 in the synagogue and claimed that He fulfilled that scripture. His teaching outraged those present. They took Jesus to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, intending to throw him down the cliff. Jesus passed through the crowd and left Nazareth to go down to Capernaum, a town that would become the headquarters for His earthly ministry.

Nazareth is located in the hills of Lower Galilee, where the elevation is about 2000 feet above sea level. These hills lie on the north side of the Valley of Jezreel (Esdraelon, or Megiddo). The hill of precipitation overlooks the Jezreel valley.

The Mount of Precipitation at Nazareth. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
The Mount of Precipitation at Nazareth.

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

Vineyards at Lachish Then and Now

Posted on July 22, 2023 | Leave a comment

After Sennacherib, king of Assyria (704-681 BC), defeated the Judeans who lived at Lachish he tried to capture Jerusalem but was unsuccessful. Back home in Nineveh the king left a limestone relief of the siege of Lachish on his palace wall. The original is now in the British Museum. There is a replica in the Israel Museum.

The panel below shows the landscape around Lachish with palm trees and vineyards. Here is a small section of the relief. Notice especially the upper left corner of the relief.

A portion of the battle scene from Sennacharib's palace relief. British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In resettling the land of Biblical Israel, the modern settlers tried to plant the same plants known in Bible times. The Sennacherib relief shows clearly that date palms and vineyards were in abundance in the region. Our next photo which I made in the Lachish area in the month of August shows grapes for eating in abundance.

Grapes growing in abundance in the area of Lachish, Israel.

Click on the images to see a larger photo suitable for use in your teaching.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Flora and Fauna, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

The Eastern View of the Mount of Olives

Posted on July 18, 2023 | 2 comments

Today’s photo shows the Mount of Olives from the east. The tall tower on the peak is the traditional place of the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:9-11).

Luke’s account of the ascension says Jesus took the disciples as far from Jerusalem as Bethany where he was taken up (Luke 24:59-51). Both Bethphage and Bethany are located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. Bethphage is nearest to the tower of ascension with Bethany being a short distance further to the south (left in the photo).

The Mount of Olives is about 200 feet higher in elevation than the ridge on which the city of Jerusalem is built. The city of Jerusalem is not visible from the east until one is on the Olivet ridge, or Mount Scopus further to the north (right). This is the view of the Mount of Olives Jesus and others would have seen when walking from Jericho to Jerusalem.

You may download the photo and use it in your teaching of the Bible. Please maintain our credit logo which shows in the lower right corner.

 

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Book of Acts, Israel, New Testament, Photography, Travel

The Broom Tree

Posted on June 29, 2023 | 1 comment

Traveling along the Dead Sea or in the Sinai one sees many Broom trees.  Our first picture shows one along the shore of the Dead Sea.

This Broom tree is growing along the shore of the Dead Sea.

The broom tree is mentioned only a few times in the Bible.

  • After Elijah had traveled a day’s journey he sat down under a broom tree, then he lay down and slept there (1 Kings 19:4-5). The Hebrew word for the tree (rethem) is also translated juniper tree, broom bush, and shrub.
  • Job 30:4 states that some eat the roots of the broom tree.
  • Psalm 120:4 mention burning coals of the broom tree.

It was hot when we visited EnGedi along the western shore of the Dead Sea. Numerous broom trees may be seen growing in the area. Paulette tried to get a little shade under one of the broom trees,

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Flora and Fauna, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel