Israel 2015 Day 3, Thursday, May 28
Last night we spent our first night in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We are staying at the beautiful and aptly named Caesar Premier Hotel. This is the same hotel as in 2009. Today we will are headed back into lower Galilee and the Jezreel Valley.
Beth Shean / Scythopolis, Canaanite City and then one of ten Roman cities making up the Decapolis, has played historically an important role due to its geographical location, at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley. Joshua 17:11-13 Also in Issachar and in Asher Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages...and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages‌12 Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 13 Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. 1 Samuel 31 states that "the victorious Philistines hung the body of King Saul on the walls of Beit She'an". Portions of these walls were excavated on the Mound ("Tel Beit She'an"). King David was able to capture Beit She'an in a series of brilliant military campaigns that expelled the Philistines from the area, pushing
them back to their southern coastal strongholds of Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, Gaza, and Ashdod. City was burned during the Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel and remained in ruins until the Helenistic Period when it was rebuilt as the Decapolis city, Scythopolis Roman Cardo not necessarily North/South due to topography
Pastor Reeder' comments @ Beth Shain: Romans controlled the people by creating military and entertainment events as a distraction from the spiritual pursuits. YHWH seeks true worshippers... Pagan cosmology view of the body: Negative view of the body as evil or dirty. Therefore, the Romans had elevated hydropathy to a science and the bath houses were a major part of any Roman city. The Hebrew cosmology is that body & Spirit are good. Ritual cleansing but not as obsessive as pagans. Ritual Baths and sporting events require “necessary arrangements” and the Romans had it all figured out… you and about thirty of your closest friends! The Latin word vomitorium derives from the verb vomō, vomere, "to spew forth." In ancient Roman architecture, vomitoria were designed to provide rapid egress for large crowds at amphitheatres and stadiums, as they do in modern sports stadiums and large theatres. Beth Shain was located on the King's Highway... once again the tribes of Ephraim failed to take the high places...
Gideon' Springs Judges 7:1-8 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me. ’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead. ’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. NAIN Nain is where Jesus raised the widow’s son. Nain lies a short distance from Mount Tabor. It is described in biblical guidebooks as lying at the foot of the Hill of Moreh. The village looks out onto the Plain of Jezreel. In 1880, the Franciscans acquired the ruins of an ancient church, which had at one time been converted into a mosque. They were helped by the head of the village to build a simple, rectangular church. Inside, two paintings depict the miracle in different styles. The family that lives next door used to have the key and for a generous tip would unlock the church but the Vatican has reclaimed the key due to “legal liability” so we were not able to go inside. Just like in 2009 as soon as Harry began teaching the Islamic Call to Prayer began from the minaret across the street.
Excavations have begun in this empty lot next to the church and found remnants of an early city gate. Luke 7:11-17 Jesus Raises a Widow's Son 11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “ God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. One of three resuscitations... not resurrections. Ministry of Mercy but also a miracle that creates a wonder to signify something important about God. Women and children are utilitarian in pagan societies. Jesus had mercy and restored her son. The Miracle was a picture of Jesus’ authority & mercy. According to Jewish tradition, the Oral Torah was passed down orally in an unbroken chain from generation to generation until its contents were finally committed to writing following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, when Jewish civilization was faced with an existential threat. The major repositories of the Oral Torah are the Mishnah, compiled between 200–220 CE by Rabbi Yehudah haNasi, and the Gemara, a series of running commentaries and debates concerning the Mishnah, which together are the Talmud, the preeminent text of Rabbinic Judaism. In fact, two "versions" of the Talmud exist: one produced in Jerusalem c. 300-350 CE (the Jerusalem Talmud) which was actually sealed in Tiberius and second, more extensive Talmud compiled in Babylonia and published c. 450-500 CE (the Babylonian Talmud). MEGIDDO lies on the southern end of the Plain of Esdraelon (or the Jezreel Valley), a broad arrowhead- shaped valley. The city of Megiddo was very large, and the site guarded a strategic pass through Mount Carmel. Twenty separate layers of occupation were found at Megiddo, each one built on top of the ruins of the preceding city. During the time of the Judges , Megiddo eluded the warfare of the Israelites (Judges 1:27), apparently despite the message in the song of Deborah in Judges 5 which speaks of a victory over the Canaanite kings near Megiddo. At a later stage it did become an Israelite city; maybe it was conquered by King
David. It became of the main cities in the united monarchy. Solomon built a double wall on the summit of the city and built many public buildings (I Kings 9:15). Five years after Solomon's death it was razed by Pharaoh Shishak's campaign of 923 BE, as becomes clear from inscriptions on a victory stele (a pillar with inscriptions on it) that was found in Megiddo (see also I Kings 14:25 -26). Despite the destruction it became once again one of the important cities in the Israelite kingdom, and especially so during the reign of the Northern Israeli Kingdoms, Kings Omri and his son Ahab during the 9th century BCE. These kings restored the city to its former splendor and more. They were also militarily strong and succeeded to ward off the Assyrian power, at least temporarily. Shishak of Egypt set up a monument at Megiddo to commemorate his victories over the towns of Israel and Judah. In 733 BCE Megiddo could not hold them back anymore. The Assyrian army under command of Tiglath Pileser III invaded and destroyed the city and, after renovations, made it their capital of the Jezreel valley (II Kings 15: 29). From here the Northern Israelites were led away to exile to other countries. The original inhabitants never returned. Perhaps the Holy Land’s best-known Biblical city is Megiddo better known in its Latin form "Armageddon". Located at the foot of the Carmel mountain range, Megiddo commands one of the most strategic points in the land of Israel. Like other Israelite cities, Megiddo was destroyed and rebuilt over and over again producing a mound or "tel." In about 609 B.C. "while Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the
Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo." Josiah's servants brought his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb" [2 Kings 23:29-30]. The city never recovered from the resulting devastation The book of Revelation mentions a great battle at the place called "Armageddon" a site where the decisive battle between the forces of good and evil will be fought before the Judgment Day [Rev. 16:16]. Archaeological excavations have unveiled monumental fortifications and gateways dating to the days of Solomon - exactly as recorded in the Bible. The acropolis includes altars, palaces made of ashtarah stones, and many public and private buildings. Archaeological digs reveal 20 layers of civilization, including fortifications of King Solomon and the water tunnel of King Ahab. Megiddo provides a magnificent view of the fertile Jezreel Valley, prophesied site of Armageddon, at the crossroads of the ancient Via Maris. Date Palms on top of Tel Megiddo are jokingly referred to as the trash (date pits) from the 1930 era School of the Orient Researchers who were the first in modern history to explore the site.
This was one of Solomon's three fortified Chariot Cities: Hazor, Megiddo & Ashulon. He maintained peace by superior power and preparation.Solomon's Tunnel: Of all these exciting findings, the most impressive was a system of water works hewn from the center of Megiddo by way of a 60-meter vertical shaft and a horizontal tunnel about 120 meters long. This water system permitted Megiddo’s inhabitants secret access to a spring located outside the city walls they deepened the spring to maintain the water supply;built up the area around the reserve to allow room for women with buckets dug a shaft from the inside of the city walls to protect access.
Holy Sites: circular alter of stones which might have included sacrifice or worship of the Canaanite deity, Moloch, a human figure with a bull's head and outstretched arms, ready to receive the children destined for sacrifice. The image of metal was heated red hot by a fire kindled within, and the children laid on its arms rolled off into the fiery pit below. Some did not sacrifice the children but simply placed them on the hot metal hands of the idol to symbolize their dedication with the "marks of molech"
Canaanite city (14cen bc) 1st (Lowest) Gate: Tutmose III of Egypt; no cut stones, no concrete
2nd (Solomon's) Gate: cut stones with headers and stretchers shows significant engineering expertise. Importance of the North Gate: facing perceived threat of Lebanon Jeroboam II's grain silo (8th century; roof missing
Megiddo Stables (notice stone manger): Solomon' Stables were here to hold chariot horses and rebuilt in the time of Ahab. Chariots = the tanks of the ancient world Ahab had 2000 chariots and one of the largest forces in the Near East. Heavy taxation of the surrounding countryside required to feed the horses required to pull the chariots. Horses were first introduced into the Near East in the 12-13th century BCE. The Philistines were masters of technology (Iron & Horses) God told Joshua the secret to overcoming such defenses in Joshua 11:4,6 "And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”
Final Note on Megiddo: Megiddo was the Junction of the world on the Via Maris "Way of the Sea" but it was also just north of the Samaritan country and therefore Jewish traffic did not generally precede south… obstinate Jews refused to travel through Samaria. Harry's 2009 thoughts from atop Megiddo "The Slice" Early Archeologists (1930's expedition) cut a giant slice through multiple layers to try to get an overview… God repeatedly tells the Israelites to destroy the Canaanite high places which they refused to do. Among the gods worshiped by the Canaanites was Molech. Mark of Molech… You cannot allow the high places of sin to remain in your life or it will come down and infiltrate every area of your existence. Caleb, rather than cowering like the other 10 men offered to take the "high places" knowing God was faithful to give him the battle. Ephesians 2:1-2 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—" Satan plays the fiddle and our "flesh" will start tapping its foot! Romans 12:1 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Sin takes no prisoners and gives no quarter…it will destroy you unless you destroy it first…If Satan cannot kill you he will attack and destroy your worship… Be like Caleb, Joshua 14:12a "So now give me this hill country of which the LORD s poke on that day" who was confident that the LORD would give him victory over the high places! What is the great battle in my life? Am I arming myself… Am I training to win?
Misc Notes: Sanhedrin located in Tiberius until they were disbanded. Deena' fact of the day: There are more trees in 20th century Israel than 19th century Israel. Mark asked Harry Reeder what he got out of doing these trips. Harry's Answer: 1. Sharing the Gospel and teaching 60 people on a very deep level and watching their response and use of what they have learned. 2. Opportunity to deeply study historical and spiritual significance of areas visited. 3. Attempting to find at least one new aspect or perspective on an often visited site or an opportunity to see new things.
Back to Tiberias for the night and tomorrow we continue touring the Upper Galilee!