Israel 2009 Day 5 1of2 Jordan Valley

DAY 5 — JORDAN VALLEY (Tues. Mar. 17) Part 1

1st part of Day 4 Map: Had to split day four into two maps because we covered so much N/S territory! Left our hotel in Tiberias and in the morning took one more trip around the Sea of Galilee to tour the pagan towns on the eastern side of the lake that Jesus visited. (Gideon Spring is west of Beit Shean and not pictured on this portion of map… you can see it marked on "whole map" in my pictures)

Geshur: the name of a district or principality of Syria near Gilead, between Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee • Absalom was the third son of King David. His mother was Maacah, daughter of Tholmai, the King of Geshur.

• Absalom sought refuge from his father's wrath with his grandfather at Gessur.

• After three years of being banished, David was persuaded by Joab to allow Absalom back into his kingdom. However, Absalom was still not permitted to be in the king's presence for two more years. ( 2 Samuel 13:37-39 "But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.

And David mourned for his son day after day. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.")

Decapolis ○ The Decapolis was a ten-city Greco-Roman federation, or league, occupying all of Bashan and Gilead in northeastern Palestine. The territory was contiguous except for Damascus which some believe to have been an honorary member. Eusebius records it as the region around Hippos, Pella, and Gadara. Created under Pompey the Great, about 64-63 BCE as part of his eastern settlement, the league provided a formidable means of defense on the eastern frontier of the empire.

Such leagues existed in other parts of the Roman empire for purposes of trade and mutual protection. Its cities, according to Pliny the Elder were: Scythopolis (Bet She'an), Hippos (Susieh), Gadara (Umm Qais), Pella (Tabaqat Fahl), Philadelphia (Amman), Gerasa (Jerash), Dion (Adun), Kanatha (Kanawat), Damascus, and Raphana (Abila).

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○ Alexander the Great desired to spread Greek culture and encourage Greek expansion.

Hellenism was a partial acceptance of that culture but not completely "Greek". The Decapolis on the Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee was a contribution to this culture.

The Miracle of the Swine at Kursi nods to this cultural difference in reference to the herd of pigs. ○ Interesting ideas about Jesus' view of the Decapolis:  Some excerpts from www.followtherabbi.com, Harry's teaching from Kursi.  Gospel of Mark's organization of these passages is interesting.

• Mark 4: records the calming of the storm • Mark 5 there is the healing of the demon possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes • Mark 6: records Nazareth's (Jesus' childhood home) rejection of him along with the death of John the Baptist and the feeding of the 5,000 near Capernaum.

• Mark 7: records his ventures up to Sidon and Tyre and heals the Syrophoenician Woman's daughter while reminding her that he had come first for the Jews… her faith and persistence moved him to compassion and he granted her plea. It further states that he healed a deaf man in the "region of the Decapolis" and then records the feeding of the 4,000. While there were Jews living in this area it was known as a place of gentiles.  While we know that Jesus' primary ministry was to the Jews he has numerous encounters with gentiles. As Jesus taught his disciples, he often traveled among the Jewish cities of northwestern Galilee. Most of his disciples came from that area and probably thought of the Decapolis as a place to avoid—an area dominated by evil gods. Jesus challenged his disciples' beliefs and fears about the Decapolis. And he gave them undeniable demonstrations of his power over evil. 

In Jewish tradition, the Decapolis was known as "the land of the seven" representing the seven pagan nations driven from Israel in Joshua's day. (This should have been cleared for the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh but the Israelites never completed the task.)

 Jews believed the area was dominated by the devil. ("The other side of the sea" was as dirisive as our "other side of the tracks".) The pagans were known for worship of fertility gods, and many of their practices were detestable to God's people. (Satan loves to dwell among pagans because it is a rich ground for cultivating his rebellion which is rooted in the "Denial of Distinction" between the Creator and the creation, which begins with the denial of distinctions among the creation.)  Jesus challenged these norms by taking his message to the dark corners of the Decapolis. Mark 4 records that Jesus told the disciples to head "to the other side" an expression used to describe the Decapolis. The disciples started off, probably questioning the wisdom of traveling to pagan territory, and soon found themselves in a terrible storm. As they struggled against the waves, the disciples Page 2

themselves in a terrible storm. As they struggled against the waves, the disciples were terrified. They thought of the sea as an abyss where evil spirits lived—and they were right in the middle of it, in the midst of a fierce storm. Fearing for their lives, they woke Jesus, who had been sleeping, and asked him why he didn't care that they might drown. Jesus challenged them, asking ?Do you still have no faith?

Rebuking the wind and waves, Jesus calmed the storm—and showed his disciples that he had power over nature and over the supposed gods of the Abyss.  After their stormy night on the sea, Jesus and the disciples arrived in the Decapolis area, probably near the town of Kursi (Gerasa). The first person they encountered was a demon-possessed man. There is no one so lost he cannot be found and rescued by Christ! □ Five signs of demon possession recognized by Rabbis  Uncleanliness "He lived among the tombs"  Unnatural strength "No one had the strength to subdue him."  Bizarre behavior "he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones."

 Sexual behavior "nakedness"  Necromancy "He lived among the tombs"  Jesus once again demonstrated his sovereignty over the evils of the Decapolis by casting them out of the man and into a herd of pigs. The pigs—sacred animals to Decapolis pagans—plunged into the sea (Hebrew cosmology=eternal abyss and place of evil spirits) from a steep cliff. Jesus' miracle presented a clear message: He came to be the light of the world, and his light could penetrate even the darkest corners of the world. There is no power which can stop HIM from saving the lost!

Remains of a Byzantine Chapel over traditional site of the Miracle of the Swine at Kursi.

Caves, near Kursi, along the cliffs that resemble where the pigs ran off into the sea.

 When nearby townspeople saw the miracle, they asked Jesus to leave. No doubt they were shaken and scared to see a Jewish rabbi displaying such power over the spirits of their area.  There is no person saved that GOD cannot use to seek and save others!

The healed man was eager to travel with the Messiah, but Jesus encouraged him to stay in the Decapolis and to share his story with others. Later, when Jesus Page 3

to stay in the Decapolis and to share his story with others. Later, when Jesus returned to the area, he was greeted by "great crowds" of people who wanted to learn about him. Apparently, the simple testimony of a formerly demonpossessed man had tremendously impacted his culture. Hundreds of years ago, a man in the Decapolis was willing to talk about his "shady past." A past of craziness and demon-possession so that people would understand what Jesus had done for him. His simple story brought hope to one of the darkest regions of the world. As we confront the darkness today, Christians must never forget the importance of a story. The Spirit can use our testimonies to impact the hardest of hearts. And that's exactly why the devil works so hard to keep Christians quiet.

He tempts us to care about our own reputations more than the souls of those around us. He wants us to build walls around our personal lives, to avoid exposing our weaknesses. But how will our non-Christian friends and neighbors find true hope if we refuse to share our stories with them? How will they understand God's grace if we pretend that we do everything in our own strength? Some will listen to our stories and criticize us. Some may call us liars and accuse us of ulterior motives. But others will be transformed. Just like the man in the Decapolis, we each have a story that can shine into the most impossible darkness. What's your story? Do you believe that it could transform the world?  Mark 6 records when Jesus fed 5,000 people with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes near Capernaum with 12 baskets of bread left over. This miracle happened in "the land of the twelve" where devout Jews, descendants of Israel's twelve tribes, continued to worship God. Through this miracle, Jesus clearly communicated that he was the bread of life for the Jews.

 Mark 8 then records that Jesus fed a crowd of 4,000 people with 7 loaves and "a few small fish" and seven baskets of bread were left over. But this miracle was done across the lake, in "the land of the seven"—the Decapolis area dominated by pagans. Through his feeding miracles, Jesus presented a wonderful message: Not only was he going to save the Jews, but he also came to save the pagans. The Messiah showed his audience, in a very concrete way, that he was truly the bread of life for the world. There is no place that Jess will not go to seek and save the lost!

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Travel to Beit She'an: Land of Milk and Honey Israel's dairy production is the highest in the world. One of the reasons for this is that Page 4

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Israel's dairy production is the highest in the world. One of the reasons for this is that the Israelis are not as bound to "tradition" as other dairy farmers. This is a new endeavor for them and they are willing to try new and innovative concepts. One of the most serious concerns for production is heat stress which dehydrates and lowers food intake. By using special sprayers in the enclosures where the cows are fed the lower their body temperature and create a cool environment that encourages them to "hang out and eat" during the hottest parts of the day.

○ Seven Sacred Species of the Promised Land • Olive • Dates • Pomegranates • Wheat • Barley • Grapes • Figs Three Major Festivals (coincide with harvests) • Passover (Wheat) remembering flight from Egypt • Pentecost (Barley) remembering the receiving of the Law • Tabernacles (Olives & Dates) remembering God's provision during 40 years in wilderness Peace treaties with Jordan are based on Water Treaties… Jew do not farm along this particular part of the Jordan River but allow Jordanians to control and irrigate.

Picture below is a checkpoint into Jordan as we cross the very low Yarmookh River.

Yarmookh River: is 50 miles long, rising near the Jordan-Syria border and flowing generally West to the Jordan River south of the Sea of Galilee.

Beit She’an (Scythopolis) • The city is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament. For example, the fall of King Saul to the Philistines at Gilboa: 1 Samuel 31:8-13 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. 11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. (NIV) [Also 2 Samuel 21:12]

During the Biblical silence of the inter-testament period, the Greco-Roman city of Scythopolis was founded in 250 B.C. encompassing the area of ancient Beth-Shean and became the capital Page 5

was founded in 250 B.C. encompassing the area of ancient Beth-Shean and became the capital of the Decapolis and the only one located west of the Jordan River.

Green Tell (#1 in model) represents the heart of old city of Beth Shean and a sacred pagan temple area even in Roman times. (Where Saul & his sons bodies were hung‌)

The amphitheater (#2 in model) which seated 7000. The upper levels were destroyed and have not been rebuilt.

The Roman coliseum (#3 in model).

Here gladiators fought their battles and people were thrown to the lions. In the later persecutions of Christians, many would have been put to death here.

The Roman Cardo (#4 on model) with covered market/shops area running down central area or "Main Street" of city.

Gideon's Spring (Herod's Fountain) Page 6

Gideon's Spring (Herod's Fountain) where Gideon selected his soldiers to do battle against the Midianites.

"Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

"It was here that Gideon administered the 'water test' as a way of choosing the warriors for the coming battle Judges 7:4-7.

From Amos about Gideon's Spring: (While he is speaking several warcraft do maneuvers over head reminding us we stand near a disputed border in a very small country) • In 1260 Baybars I, a Mamluk general defeated the Mongolian army that had invaded Palestine, in the battle of Ayn Jalud (the Arabic name for the Harod Spring) that was fought here. The battle put an end to Mongolian occupation of the Middle East.

• In 1910: Yehoshua Hankin, the "Redeemer of the Valley" (Russian Jew who devoted himself to negotiating, finding backers and purchasing large tracts of land in Eretz Israel) lived in a small white house which is preserved as a small museum just above the cave and serves as an observation point of the valley. The tombs of Hankin and his wife Olga are located here as well. Ironically, the Arabs thought they were getting the best of the Jews because at that time the Jezreel Valley was a malarial swampland and seemed worthless! The Jews found ways to make the most of the land through draining some of the swamps and turning other brackish areas in to a major fishery.

• In 1936: Orde Charles Wingate, called, "The Friend" by the Yishuv (the Jewish Community) a British intelligence officer who was sympathetic to the plight of the Jews in Eretz Israel was assigned to the staff of the British Mandate of Palestine Arab guerrillas had begun a campaign against both the British Mandate and the Jewish communities which came to be known as the Arab Revolt. Although he was not Jewish he saw he creation of a Jewish State to be the literal fulfillment of Christian prophecy and became an ardent supporter of Zionism. Wingate's political attitudes toward Zionism were heavily influenced by his Plymouth Brethren religious views. He formulated the idea of raising small assault units of British-led Jewish commandos, heavily armed with grenades and light infantry small arms (Special Night Squads / Palmach), to combat the Arab uprising, and took his idea personally to the commander of British forces in Palestine. This was the first time the British conceded the legitimacy of the Haganah (name literally means "defense" and was comprised of armed, organized and clandestine Yishuv volunteers.) Wingate trained, commanded and accompanied them in their patrols He operated from his headquarters at Kibbutz Ein Harod (Gideon's Spring) one the first training bases for the Palmach . He was so deeply associated Page 7

Spring) one the first training bases for the Palmach . He was so deeply associated with political causes in Palestine that his superiors considered him compromised as an intelligence officer in the country and in 1939 he was deported back to Britain. Wingate became a hero of the Yishuv (the Jewish Community), and was loved by leaders such as Zvi Brenner and Moshe Dayan who had trained under him, and who claimed that Wingate had "taught us everything we know." and ultimately led to the establishment of the IDF, the Israel Defense Force.

Wingate would stand by the spring of Gideon and read his story to focus his men.

He would conclude with the statement, "You are people of the book…be proactive against the enemy…Take the battle to them!"

Thoughts from Harry at Gideon's Spring: Learning about Leadership from Gideon • We take this world not with swords but with the LIGHT of the WORD and the Authority of GOD! • The LORD found Gideon hiding in a wine press threshing wheat. He does not immediately accept GOD's call but questions HIS timing and choices.

• Gideon was required to tear down his father's idols. He went at night, but he did it! (thus the name Jerubbaal "one who contends with Bael" • His famous campaign against Midian with only 300 men is legendary and afterward the people desired to make him a king. He rejected this and said YHWH was to be Israel's only king… he turns around in the very next breath and asks them for gold to create an idol with! After Gideon's death the people turned back to their idols.

• We have a choice to make… evil is all around us but we are People of the Book and we must trust the LORD, be proactive about our faith and take the battle to them!

Rest of Day 5 on part 2 The Dead Sea...

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