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We invite you to join us on a virtual journey to the place where the Bible and the Land speak for themselves. Dr. Karl Coke and Anton Farah, Senior Israeli Guide, take us on a geographical tour through the most important Biblical sites in Israel. From Mount Hermon in the North, to Eilat in the South. From the Jordan River in the East, to the Mediterranean Sea in the West.
Subscribe now to get full access to the first episodes of the journey. See and hear about the places where Jesus walked, taught and performed miracles. Learn about the geography, culture and history of places you have read about in the Old and New Testaments. Watch the stories come alive as you follow Dr. Coke through the Land of the Bible. You will have unlimited access to the videos on a monthly or yearly (saving you 50%) subscription basis, as well as downloadable detailed site notes with each episode. We will continue adding content as we complete it, until we reach our 52 episode goal.
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Beth Shean
Today, Beth Shean is a city of approximately 20,000 people in the Northern District of Israel. It is located approximately 12 miles south of the Sea of Galilee. Beth Shean's location has always been strategical. It is located at the junction of Israel highway 71 and Israel highway 90 (which runs north and south the entire length of Israel) where the Jordan River valley meets the Valley of Jezreel (Megiddo). It is the southeastern entrance into the Valley of Jezreel. Its location makes it the city which guards this entrance. Beth Shean controls this east to west entrance for all people from Syria and Jordan who desire to move west toward the Mediterranean Sea. It also controls the north/south route from the Sea of Galilee to/from Jerusalem.
The Harod River (visible from atop the tel) separates the ancient tel Beth Shean from the private farm of Moshe Dyan and his family. Due to the closeness of the Dyan farm, many ancient artifacts were unearthed when fields were plowed. The Dyan family has donated all of these artifacts to the Israeli Museum of Antiquities located in Jerusalem.
The Harod River was bridged by the Romans when they took custody of Beth Shean. From atop the tel, all can see the ruins of this magnificent bridge. It is the longest Roman bridge discovered to date. Also seen atop the tel are the ancient Canaanite walls made of mud and straw. Regrettably, exposure to wind and rain have destroyed most of these discoveries.
Mount Gilboa
Battle of 1183 C.E.
The Mountains of Gilboa are included in the famous battles fought between Muslims and Christians
during the "Crusades." The "Crusades" were religious wars aimed at recovering the Holy
Land from Muslim rule. Pope Urban II called for the first Crusade in his sermon at the Council
of Clermont in 1095 C.E. The two-century "Crusades" failed and ended in 1291 C.E. Early in the
"Crusades," however, the Crusaders established four Crusader States: 1) Country of Edessa; 2)
Principality of Antioch; 3) Kingdom of Jerusalem; and, 4) County of Tripoli. The Kingdom of
Jerusalem was headed by Sir Guy of Lusignan when Sultan Saladin defeated him at the battle on
the Horns of Hattin July 4, 1187 C.E. The Horns of Hattin are located west of the Sea of Galilee
and north of the Jezreel Valley. The loss of this battle by the Crusaders meant the loss of the city
of Jerusalem to the Muslims.
Many believe the Crusades were fought due to rival Catholic churches seeking to gain political
and territorial advantages. The Christians, however, who fought were told that their purpose
was to rid the Holy Land of paganism and heresy. The term, "Crusades," was not used until 1760
C.E. One of Pope Urban II's stated aims of having "Crusades" was to give pilgrims access to Holy
Land sites. But his aim may have been to unite the Western and Eastern Churches, divided in
1054 C.E., and establish himself as the head of the reunited church.
The most famous Muslim leader opposing the "Crusades" was the Egyptian Sultan, Salahuddin
Al Ayyubi. He is best known as Sultan Saladin. A previous minor battle between Sir Guy of the
Crusaders and Saladin of the Muslims took place at the foot of Mount Gilboa in 1183 C.E. This
skirmish gave Sir Guy an apparent minor victory because he withdrew from the battle.
Battle of 1260 C.E.
The November 6, 1260 C.E. Battle of Ain Jalut was fought at the foot of Mount Gilboa near Ein
(Spring) Harod. The battle was between the Mongols and the Mamluks. The Asian Mongols
were led in battle by Hulagu Khan, grandson of Ghengis Khan. The Mamluks were non-muslim
slave soldiers and Muslim rulers who had slave origins. The Mamluks were led in battle by Sultan
Qutuz who was asassinated after one year of rule. He was succeded by a fellow Mamluk leader,
Baibars. Although Qutuz's reign was short, he holds a high position in Islamic history.
The success of the Muslim Mamluks against the Mongols in 1260 C.E. marked the end of the
westward push of the Asian, Mongol empire. This seemingly insignificant defeat of the Mongols
by the Maluks at Mount Gilboa changed the history of Europe, indeed the entire world.
Mount Tabor
Fire Mountain
Until the time of Christ, Mount Tabor was used as a "fire mountain." That is, it was used to
announce approaching armies, Levitcus 23 Feast Days and the beginning of new months.
Seven Israeli high mountains were used to light signal fires. From north to south (in Israel) the
fire mountains were: 1) Mount Hermon; 2) Mount Tabor; 3) Mount Sartaba; 4) Mount Nabi
Samuel; 5) Mount of Olives; 6) The Herodian; and, 7) Mount Masada. When an announcement
was made, a fire was lit atop a fire mountain and then, each fire mountain would light their fire to
pass the news along. In today's warfare, a fire mountain is equivalent to a radar site.
The Jewish Hasmoneans rebelled against Aulus Gabinius, proconsul of Syria in 55 B.C.E. Alexander
of Judaea and his 30,000 soldiers were defeated by Aulus in the battle at Mount Tabor with
10,000 Jewish soldiers killed. Alexander fled to Syria.
Eleven years later, during the first Jewish-Roman War, the Galilean Jews retook Mount Tabor
under the leadership of Josephus Flavius (Yosef ben-Matityahu). According to Josephus in his
book, "The Wars of the Jews," Roman Emporer, Vespasian, sent a Roman army under the
leadership of Placidus. The Jews attacked Placidus, who retreated, then, returned to the mountain
and killed many Jews and blockaded the road back to the top of Mount Tabor. Many Jews
returned to Jerusalem and the rest surrendered due to the lack of water and left the montain to
Placidus. Following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., Jews resettled Mount
Tabor.
From the 4th century C.E. onward, the importance of Mount Tabor in Christian tradition made it
an important pilgrimage site. During the Byzantine period (6th century C.E.) there were three
churches atop the mountain. These facilities were used for church services and for food and
lodging for the pilgrims. By the Arab period, during the 8th century C.E., there were four
churches and a monastery atop the mountain. Once again, however, in 947 C.E., during the Arab
Caliphate period, a war broke out between the differing Arab factions over control of Israel on
Mount Tabor.
During the Crusade period, Mount Tabor changed hands many times between Muslims and
Christians. In 1099 C.E., the Crusaders fortified the area of the monastery in order to protect
pilgrims. While under Crusader control, Benedictine monks rebuilt the basilica and fortified the
abbey. However, in 1212 C.E., Sultan Al-Adil I built a large fortress atop the mountain and it
held against the 1217 C.E. Christian armies of the Fifth Crusade. But, in 1229 C.E., the top of the
mountain was again occupied by Christians. In 1263 C.E., the Mamluk ruler, Baibars, occupied
the fortress and destroyed the mountain's buildings.
Mount Megiddo
Mount Megiddo is located on the southern most foot of the Mount Carmel Range. It overlooks
the Valley of Megiddo from the west. From Mount Megiddo, one can see eastward, Mount
Gilboa, Mount Moreh, Mount Tabor and Nazareth in the mountains north of the Valley of
Megiddo. Its location makes it impossible to hide an approaching army making its way westward.
It is located 18 miles (29 kilometers) southeast of Haifa. Its location and history demand that it
be excavated.
Megiddo was first excavated by Gottlieb Schumacher for the German Society for the Study of
Palestine between 1903 and 1905. Schumacher's notes and records were destroyed in World
War I. Following the war, Carl Watzinger published a little of the remaining data from the dig.
In 1925, excavations were resumed by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and
financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The excavation, initially led by Clarence S. Fisher, intended
to excavate the entire tel, layer by layer. Fortunately, they ran out of money, because proper
excavation limits itself to digging a trench to "see" and "preserve" each layer.
"Trenching" techniques have revealed eight layers in Tel Megiddo and artifacts found from the
layers are safely stored in both the Rockefeller Museum, Jerusalem, and the Oriental Institute,
Chicago.
Yigael Yadin conducted excavations in 1960, 1966-67 and 1971 for the Hebrew University. His
findings were published (in 2016) as Qedem.
Since 1994, the Tel Aviv University has conducted biannual excavations at Megiddo in
cooperation with the George Washington University (USA).
Because of its location, Tel Megiddo is a favorite tourist destination. It can be reached on
Highway 66 from Haifa (located on the Mediterranean Sea), or, Highway 5 from Afula (located
in the center of the Valley of Megiddo).
Tourists will find a gift shop, restaurant, restrooms, large maps on the museum's walls indicating
the importance of Megiddo throughout history, and a fabulous minature model of the tel. This
model reveals the main features of the tel and provides excellent preparation before one ascends
the actual Megiddo tel. Because it is an Israeli National Park, a brochure is available.
Mount Carmel, "Natural Barrier"
Mount Carmel is not a single peak. It is a mountain range running from the southeast to the
northwest at the western end of the Valley of Megiddo. It stretches from Mount Megiddo into the
Mediterranean Sea at Haifa. Modern day highway 75 runs close to its base.
Mount Carmel may refer to its 24-mile (39-kilometer) run from Hiafa on the Mediterranean Sea
to Jenin in the northern Samaritan Mountains. Mount Carmel may also refer to just the northwestern most 12 mile (19 kilometer) run from Megiddo to Haifa. Finally, Mount Carmel may
just refer to the northwestern end (Haifa) where it juts out into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mount Carmel range is approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide. The southwestern side
gradually slopes down toward the Mediterranean Sea until it gives way to the Plain of Sharon
which runs south along the Mediterranean Sea from Haifa to Tel Aviv. Running south through
the Plain of Sharon is a sand dune. This sand dune stops the rivers from flowing west toward
the Mediterranean Sea. This barrier causes the rivers from Mount Carmel and the Samaritan
Mountains to form stagnant pools of water east of this Plain of Sharon sand dune. This stagnant
water attracts malaria ridden mosquitoes. They bite people causing the spread of malaria. The
cure for malaria comes from the wild flowers growing on the Plain of Sharon. All varieties of
these wild flowers are referred to as the "rose of Sharon.
The Mount Carmel range facing northeast is a steep monocline 1,791 feet (546 meters) high.
This makes the Mount Carmel range a natural barrier at the eastern end of the Valley of Megiddo.
Armies may not pass this range on their way to the Plain of Sharon without the permission of the
armies protecting Mount Carmel's passes. This impacted migrations and invasions in the entire
Levant during ancient history. The mountain range is a mixture of flint and limestone. It
contains many caves. It is covered with volcanic rocks. The sloped side of the Mount Carmel
range is covered with heavy vegetation including trees such as oak, pine and laurel. This side of
the Carmel range includes a "sea" of olive trees. Olive oil is what is referred to in Deuteronomy
33:24c, "... and let him dip his foot in oil." The "oil" in this verse is not petroleum.
The significant modern towns located on the Carmel Mountain rage are: Haifa; Zichron Ya'akov,
Nesher, and Tirat Hakarmel. The Druze communities of Isfiya and Daliyat al-Karmel are located
on Mount Carmel's central ridge. Southeast of Haifa, located on the highest ridge of Mount
Carmel is the Israeli kibbutz, Beit Oren. Forty-one people died and thousands of acres were
burned in a 2010 forest fire at Beit Oren.
Nazareth, Cana, Gath Hepher
Nazareth
Franciscan priest, Bellarmino Bagatti, excavated the Roman Catholic "Venerated Area" from 1955 to 1965. He found pottery dating from 2200 to 1500 B.C.E. He found ceramics, silos and grinding mills dating from 1500 to 585 B.C.E. A 3rd century C.E. Hebrew inscription found in Caesarea mentions Nazareth as the home of the priestly Hafizaz family following the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135 C.E.). Professor James F. Strange noted: "Nazareth is not mentioned in ancient Jewish sources earlier than the 3rd century C.E. This likely reflects its lack of prominence both in Galilee and Judea." He estimated the population at the time of Jesus Christ to be "... a maximum of about 480." Israeli archaeologists, Yardenna Alexander and Butrus Hanna, in 1997-1998 C.E., discovered remains in Nazareth. They reported: "The discovery is of utmost importance since it reveals for the very first time a house from the Jewish village of Nazareth."
Cana
In the 17th century C.E., the Pope officially confirmed that Cana is indeed "Cana of Galilee." Researchers identify Cana with the "Kana" mentioned in the Egyptian Tel-Amarna tablets from 1360-1332 B.C.E. From the Roman and the Byzantine periods, there was a large Jewish community in Cana. However, by the Mamluk period, most of Cana's residents were Christian. Today, Muslims are the majority of Cana's residents. In the center of Cana there are a few remains of ancient buildings and burial caves. Today, the three most important sites in Cana are: 1) the 1879 Roman Catholic Church; 2) the 1886 Greek Orthodox St. George Church; and, 3) the Saint Bartholomew Church built on the site of Nathanael of Cana's house (John 21:2).
Gath Hepher
Remains have been found near Gath Hepher from the Early Bronze Age, Persian, Roman and Byzantine eras. In his commentary on Jonah, Saint Jerome (Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus - 347-420 C.E.) speaks of Gath Hepher as an inconsiderable village about 2 miles from Sepphoris (Zippori) on the Tiberius road where the tomb of Jonah was shown. Benjamin of Tudela said that Jonah, son of Amittai, was buried "in the mountain" near Sepphoris. Benjamin of Tudela was a 12th century C.E. Jewish geographer and historian. In 1517 C.E., Gath Hepher (Mashhad) was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire with the rest of Palestine. In 1596 C.E., it appeared in the Ottoman tax registers under the name of Mashhad Yunis. It had a population of 31 Muslim households including 6 bachelors. They all paid 20% tax on wheat, barley, fruit trees, vegetables, goats and beehives. When Napoleon invaded in 1799 C.E., it was called El Mecheh. By 1838 C.E., it was called a Muslim village in the Nazareth district.
Genessaret
Flavius Josephus, as well as the Babylonian Talmud, mention the lake by the name "Sea of Ginasor" after the small fertile plain of Ginasor that lies at the foot of Tel el Oreimeh, ancient Kinneret. Josephus refers to the area having very rich soil.
Francis Thompson's poem of apparent contradictions, The Kingdom of God, begins ... "O world invisible, we view thee ...," and ends ... "And lo, Christ walking on the water, not of Gennesaret, but Thames!" Thompson was born in Winckley Street, Preston, Lancashire. His father, Charles, was a doctor who had converted to Roman Catholicism, following his brother Edward Healy Thompson, a friend of Cardinal Manning. Thompson was educated at Ushaw College, near Durham, and then studied medicine at Owens College, now the University of Manchester. He took no real interest in his studies and never practiced as a doctor, moving instead to London in 1885, to try to become a writer. Here he was reduced to selling matches and newspapers for a living. During this time, he became addicted to opium, which he first had taken as medicine for ill health. Thompson started living on the streets of Charing Cross and sleeping by the River Thames, with the homeless and other addicts. He was turned down by Oxford University, not because he was unqualified, but because of his addiction. His most famous poem, The Hound of Heaven, describes the pursuit of the human soul by God.
Archaeological digs have revealed several ancient cities that lay above the other on Kinnorot Hill, a ridge which slopes on all sides except on the North. Since the Early Bronze Age, Kinnorot controlled the highway known as the "Via Maris" as it passed through the Sea of Galilee area connecting Egypt from the South to Syria in the North. Additionally, the surrounding area was supplied by perennial springs and fertile soil making it perfect for its citizens.
In the Bible, Kinnorot is listed in the fortified cities in Joshua 19:35. The Tell was identified as the Biblical town of Kinneret in 1921 by archaelogist Gustaf Dalman and in 1923 by archaeologist William Foxwell Albright. Kinneret is also listed in ancient Egyptian sources: 1) the list of Palestinian cities conquered by Thutmoses III, 1490-1436 B.C.E. at Karnak; and, 2) the Papyrus Petersburg 1116A, equally dated to the 18th Egyptian Dynasty.
The first explorations on Tell Kinnorot were done in 1911 by Paul Karge who focused on prehistoric remains. The first excavations were conducted in 1932 and 1939 by Robert Koppel. In the 1950s, Israeli archaeologists Gershon Edelstein and Bezalel Rabbani examined archaeological remains found at the Merkot Pumping Station. In the early 1980s, Shan Winn (University of Southern Mississippi) and Jak Yakar (University of Tel Aviv) cut a small deep trench near the Sea of Galilee. They were looking for evidence from the Early Bronze Age occupa- tion of Kinnorot. From 1982 to 1985, 1995 to 1999 and in 2001, it was Volkmar Fritz (University of Mainz/ Giessen, Germany) who directed the first systematic and continuous excavations on the Tell. Continuing Fritz's work since 2002, the Kinneret Regional Project directs the archaeological activity on and around the Tell. These universities include the Universities of: 1) Berne, Switzerland; 2) Helsinki, Finland; 3) Mainz, Germany; and, 4) Leiden, Netherlands. The Project is directed by Stefan Munger, Juha Pakkala and Jurgen Zangenberg.
In most attested phases of ancient occupation, human habitation extended over the entire mound. Settlement seems to have been reduced to only the Acropolis area in the Iron Age-II period. Remains encountered on the southeastern slope date to several periods of the Iron Age-I and the Bronze Ages.
Tabgha
The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter's current modern structure was built in 1933 and incorporated parts of an earlier 4th-century church. At the base of its walls, opposite the main altar, foundations of the 4th century church are visible. In the 9th century, the church was referred to as the Place of the Coals. The name refers to the incident of Jesus' preparation of fish for the apostles, building a charcoal fire upon which to cook the fish. Also first mentioned in the year 808 C.E. are the "Twelve Thrones," a series of heart shaped stones, which were placed along the shore to commemorate the Twelve Apostles. The church survived longer than any other in the area, finally being destroyed in 1263 C.E. The present Franciscan chapel was built on the site in 1933. This church was included in the itineraries of Popes Paul VI in 1964 and John Paul II in March 2000.
The Church of the Beatitudes' current modern structure was built in 1937 for a Franciscan order of nuns, to a design by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi–and partly financed by the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. The spacious slope of the Mount of Beatitudes (also known as as Mount Eremos ... "Eremos" is a Greek word meaning: "solitary," or, "uninhabited"). This slope would have provided ample space for a large crowd to gather to hear Jesus. The 4th-century pilgrim, Egeria, records a tradition that may go back to the Jewish- Christians of Capernaum. She tells of a cave in the hillside at the Seven Springs, near Tabgha, "upon which the Lord ascended when he taught the Beatitudes." Archaeologist Bargil Pixner says: "The terrace above this still existing cave, called Mughara Ayub, must be considered the traditional place of the Sermon on the Mount. The hillcrest of Eremos indeed offers a magnificent view over the entire lake and the surrounding villages. The cragginess of this hill meant it was left uncultivated and enabled Jesus to gather large crowds around him without causing damage to the farmers." A Byzantine church was erected nearby in the 4th century, and it was used until the 7th century. Its ruins have been discovered downhill from the current church.
The Church of the Multiplication's earliest structure was a small chapel built around 350 C.E. by the Jewish convert to Christianity, Joseph of Tiberius. According to Epiphanius, Joseph was a contemporary of Emperor Constantine, a Rabbinical scholar, member of the Sanhedrin and a disciple of Hillel II. Following his conver- sion, Emperor Constantine gave him the rank of count (comes), and gave him permission to build churches in the Galilee, specifically, in Jewish towns which didn't yet have a Christian community, and the Galilee including the Sea of Galilee, was an area with a Jewish majority. This was probably the shrine described by the pilgrim Egeria at the end of the 4th century. The 4th century small shrine was dismounted in 480 and a bigger chapel was built by Martyrius of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem from 478 to 486. Martyrius was Egyptian by origin, and this may be the reason why the floor of his chapel was covered with a beautiful Nile mosaic, a style of art popular in the Byzantine time, describing Nilotic landscape and the fest of the Nile. The mosaic of the fish and loaves is laid next to a large rock, which has caused some New Testament scholars to speculate that the builders of the original church believed that Jesus stood on this rock when he blessed the fish and loaves just before the feeding of the crowd who had come to hear him. The large monastery and a church were built in the 5th century. While some date the destruction of the site to the time of the Arab conquest, the church was most likely destroyed in 614 C.E. during the Persian invasion, for already in 670 C.E., Bishop Arculf had reported that only columns from the church remained. In any case, by the time of the Crusader conquests, the Byzantine site was forgotten, and only rediscovered in the 20th century. The area's lands were purchased in the 18th century by a German Catholic association so they could build a hotel for pilgrims. As they dug, they discovered archaeologi- cal evidence of the earlier churches. German archaeologists, Mader and Schneider, uncovered the church walls and mosaics in 1981. The church was restored by German Benedictines. Today, the church and land are the property of the German Association of the Holy Land whose head is the Archbishop of Cologne and is main- tained by Benedictine monks from Dormition Abbey, Mount Zion, Jerusalem.
Capernaum
Capernaum is not inhabited today. It is both an archaeological and a tourist site. Capernaum is pronounced "kefarnach-
choom" in Hebrew and means "covering of the consoler." The site is owned by two Christian denominations.
The Roman Catholic Franciscans control the western side and the Greek Othodox Church the eastern side where an
ancient church still stands. It is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is on the Roman road from
Tiberias to the Golan Heights. It is mentioned sixteen times in the New Testament and not at all in the Old Testament.
Capernaum was the center of Jesus' activities in and around the Sea of Galilee. The home town of Jesus was Nazareth,
but, Matthew 4:13 says, "Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum." Jesus taught in the Capernaum synagogue
where He was confronted by a demoniac while teaching (Mark 1:21-27). Also here, Jesus healed the servant of the
centurion. This was the centurion credited with building this synagogue (Luke 7:3). Furthermore, in this synagogue,
Jesus told the Jews that He was the bread of life eaten by the Israelis while they were in the wilderness (John 6:35-39).
Capernaum prospered during the Roman time (before Jesus). Its citizens were mainly fishermen, farmers and people
who provided services to the Roman road (Via Maris) and to passing caravans. The provided services to Rome
included tax collecting. One of Capernaum's citizens was Matthew–the tax collector. Jesus called Matthew to become
one of His disciples here in Capernaum. Matthew accepted Jesus' call and totally reformed. Matthew is the author of
the Gospel of Matthew.
At the time of Jesus, Capernaum covered six Hectares and supported a population of approximately 1,500 citizens.
Today's excavations have revealed one-third of its city limits. Capernaum reached its zenith during the Byzantine
period revealing the (partially restored) fourth-century limestone synagogue which was built upon the black basalt
stone foundation of the synagogue of Jesus' time.
Chorazin
Chorazin is not inhabited today. It is both an archaeological and a tourist site. Chorazin was inhabited starting in the 1st century. Chorazin is pronounced "core-ah-zeen" in Aramaic and "core-ah-zeem" in Hebrew. Chorazin is now the site of a National Archaeological Park.
Extensive excavations and a survey were carried out in 1962-1964. Excavations at the site were resumed in 1980-1987. The majority of the structures excavated are made from black basalt, a volcanic rock found locally. The main excavated settlement dates to the 3rd and 4th centuries C.E. A 4th century C.E. mikvah, or ritual bath, was found at the site. Also the handful of olive millstones used in olive oil extraction found suggest a reliance upon the olive for economic purposes, like a number of other villages in ancient Galilee.
The town's ruins are spread over an area of 25 acres (100,000 m2), subdivided into five separate quarters, with a synagogue in the center. The large, impressive 4th century C.E. black basalt stone synagogue is decorated with Jewish motifs and three alse gods, Bacchus, Pan and Medusa. In 1926, archaeologists discovered the "Seat of Moses," carved from a basalt block. According to the New Testament, this is where the reader of the Torah sat (Matthew 23:1-3).
In May–June 2004, a small-scale salvage excavation was conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority along the route of an ancient road north of Moshav Amnun. In the literature, the road is referred to as "The Way through Korazim." It crossed the Chorazin plateau from west to east, branching off from the main Cairo–Damascus road that ran northeast toward B'not Yaakov Bridge. Unnoticed by most tourists, adjacent to the 4th century C.E., synagogue building, is a more impressive "open-air" synagogue dating to the time of Jesus. It was "open-air" because the original meaning of the Greek word, sun-agwghv (synagogue) is:, an assembly together of men–not a building. It corresponds to the Hebrew word for "congregation" (lh;q; Qah-hal).
Zippori
The modern archaeological site of Zippori contains a rich and diverse historical record that
includes findings from the Middle Paleolithic, Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, Middle Chalcolithic, Greek, Jewish, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Crusader, Arabic and Ottoman periods. Further-more, findings at the site establish that Zippori was founded around 5000 B.C.E. Ceramic remains indicate Zippori was inhabited during the Iron Age (1000-586 B.C.E.).
Greek
Actual occupation and building work has been verified during the Greek period of the 4th century B.C.E.
Jewish
The Bible makes no mention of Zippori. In Jewish tradition, however, it is thought to be the city Kitron mentioned in Judges 1:30 (also in the Talmud, Meg. 6a). Kitron was not conquered by the Tribe of Zebulon. In 104 B.C.E., the Hasmoneans conquered Galilee under Alexander Jannaeus and Aristobulus I. Zippori was then administered by a Jewish quarter-master.
Roman
Gnaeus Pompey Magnus, placed Zippori under Roman rule in 63 B.C.E. and made it one of the five synods of Roman influence in the Middle East. In late antiquity, Zippori was believed to be the village of Joachim and Anna, parents of Miriam, mother of Jesus (the parents' names come from a legendary source written more than one century after Jesus Christ died). The legend asserts that Zippori was the birthplace of Miriam, mother of Jesus. A 5th century C.E. basilica has been excavated at Zippori which honored the birth of Miriam. Following the 132-135 C.E. Bar Kokhba Revolt, Zippori was a Galilean center where Jewish rabbinical families relocated. A 5th century C.E. synagogue has also been discovered at Zippori. In the 7th century C.E., Zippori was conquered by the Arab Rashidim during the Muslim con- quest of the Levant. Successive Arab authorities ruled the area until the Crusades. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Zippori Arab village (Saffuriya) was depopulated. The Jewish Moshav Tzippori was established near the site in 1949. In 1974, Moshav Tzippori had a population of 974. The historical Zippori was designated a national park in 1992.
Hippos
Kursi, Hippos and the Yarmuk River (and Gadera) are located on or near the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Though not mentioned in the Bible, all three impacted the Jesus narratives.
Hippos (Susita) located on a flat-topped foothill 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of the Sea of Galilee directly above modern day Kibbutz Ein Gev which is located on the eastern shoreline of Galilee. It is 350 meters (1,150 feet) above the Sea of Galilee and 144 meters (472 feet) above sea level. It was first a Greek then a Roman secondary fortress. Its modern Arabic name is Qal'at al-Hisn which means "fortress of the horse." From Hippos one can see Mount Hermon to the north, Mount Tabor to the west, southwest and the mountains of Samaria to the southwest. From Hippos, one can easily see the activity in Tiberius located directly across the Sea of Galilee. This made Hippos the enemy of Tiberius (Rakkat in the Book of Joshua).
Yarmuk River
Kursi, Hippos and the Yarmuk River (and Gadera) are located on or near the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Though not mentioned in the Bible, all three impacted the Jesus narratives.
Gadera above the Yarmuk River was first a Greek then a Roman desert fortress with a commanding view of the entire area due to its elevation of 1184 feet (361 meters). The Yarmuk River was in plain view along with the Lower Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee. Yet, due to its location, was easily defended. The site was chosen early in the 7th century B.C.E. because it was located on early trade routes, had fertile soil and abundant rain water. Gadera is called Umm Qais (Arabic) today and is located inside Jordan. It can be easily seen from the Israeli Golan Heights and Yarmuk River Valley. Near the Yarmuk River beneath Gadera is the Hamat Gader health spa (controlled by the Israeli government).
The Nimrod Fortress
The Nimrod Fortress (Kal’at al-Subeiba in Arabic), is situated in the northern Golan, on a ridge rising some 800 meters above sea level. It was named by the Druze after a biblical hero, the hunter Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-9), who, according to local tradition, dwelt on this summit.
The park entrance is located on Route 989 between Kiryat Shmoneh and Mount Hermon, about twenty minutes east of Kiryat Shmoneh. Nimrod, an Israeli settlement, is located nearby. In the Israeli film Beaufort, the castle substituted for Beaufort Castle, which is located in southern Lebanon.
The entire fortress complex is 420 meters (1350 feet) in length and 150 meters (500 feet in width. It is built of large, carefully squared stones. Along the walls are numerous rectangular and semi-circular towers, roofed with pointed cross arches.
Overlooking the high, eastern edge of the fortress stood a large keep, measuring 65 by 45 meters (200 by 150 feet). This keep was protected by massive rectangular towers. Remains of several luxurious halls, water pools and rooms suggest that this may have been the residence of the governor.
The fortress overlooks the deep narrow valley leading north from the Hula Valley past Mount Hermon to Damascus. It has a commanding view of the former Crusader town of Banias (Caesarea Philippi). Beyond the fortress lies one of the most magnificent delights–the stunning views afforded visitors from every aspect. This wonderful lookout offers views of beautifully forested valleys and impressive vistas over the Golan Heights. The fortress also looks out over the Hula Valley of the Upper Galilee, across to the hills bordering Lebanon. There is a nature trail beginning at the Fortress that winds down to the Banias Springs.
Tel Dan
According to the archaeological excavations at Tel Dan, the town was originally occupied in the late Neolithic era (circa. 4500 B.C.E.), although at some time in the fourth millennium B.C.E. it was abandoned for almost 1,000 years.
The archaeologists of Tel Dan uncovered a city gate made of mud bricks placed on a foundation of megalithic basalt stones called "orthostats." They estimated the time of gate's construction to be around 1750 B.C.E. The gate's popular name is "Abraham's Gate" due to the Bible story that Abraham traveled to Dan to rescue his nephew Lot (Genesis 14:14). The gate was covered and restored in 2009 C.E. and is a popular tourist attraction.
There is also an Israelite, Iron Age, gate not far from Abraham's Gate. Close to entrance into the Israelite gate, parts of the Tel Dan Stele were found within the remains of the city wall. The basalt stele bears an Aramaic inscription referring to one of the kings of Damascus. Some of the excavators believe that the king it refers to is Hazael (circa. 840 B.C.E.) while a minority argue that it refers to Ben-Hadad (circa. 802 B.C.E.). A small part of the inscription remains. "House of David" and "King of Israel" make the inscription the first time that the name, David, has been found at an archaeological site dating before 500 B.C.E.
Because Dan was the closest city in Israel to Aram, it suffered during the era of expansion of the Arameans. The Books of I and II Kings suggest that Dan changed hands at least four times around the time Ahab ruled Israel and Ben-Hadad I ruled Aram (and their successors).
When the Assyrian empire expanded southward, Israel initially became a vassal state, but, after rebelling against Assyria, the Assyrians invaded and Dan fell to Tiglath-Pileser III in 733/732 B.C.E. In 1992, in order to clean the site for visitors, debris was removed which dated from the time of the assyrian destruction of the city by Tiglath-Pileser III. A hitherto unknown earlier gateway to the city was uncovered. The entrance complex led to a courtyard paved with stone and with a low, stone platform. Apparently, in the ninth century B.C.E., the podium was enlarged, major fortifications were built, a city wall with buttresses and a complex gate were also added. The podium was further enlarged by Jeroboam II, then, destroyed by Tiglath- Pileser III.
At the Israelite gate, there is a raised square platform reached by two steps. Decorated stone sockets at the four corners were built to hold four canopy poles. The chair on the platform was for the king who would sit in judgment over legal matters.
During the Persian, Greek and Roman periods, stone reliefs of their gods indicate cultic activity around the city gate. These sites are called "high places" in the Bible.
Caesarea Philippi
Alexander III of Macedon (born: July 20, 356 B.C.E., died: June 10, 323 B.C.E.), commonly called Alexander the Great, was born in Pella. At age twenty, he succeeded his father, Philip II, as king of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon. He spent his ruling years on a military campaign through Asia and northeast Africa. By age thirty, he established the Greek Empire stretching from Greece to India. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history's most successful commanders. His conquests started the Hellenization (mixing Greek culture with local cultures) of Egypt, Israel and Syria that continued 1,000 years following his death. Paneas (Caesarea Philippi) was first settled in the Hellenistic period. Alexander's successors, the Ptolemaic kings, built a cult center at Paneas for their mythological god, Pan.
During the Hellenistic time, the spring gushed out of a cave (called "gates of hell" by Jesus in Matthew 16:18). This spring was one of three which formed the Jordan River. The water was the reason the main road from Egypt to Syria followed this route throughout history. That road was called "the way of the sea" ("via maris" in Latin) by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1). Due to earthquakes, the spring now exits Mount Hermon below the cave.
The pre-Hellenistic mythological gods associated with Paneas are Baal-gad and Baal al-Hermon. The Greek historian Polybius's history of The Rise of the Roman Empire mentions the Battle of Panium. This battle occurred in 198 B.C.E. between the Ptolemaic armies of Egypt and the Seleucid Greek armies from Coele-Syria. The Seleucids were led by Antiochus III and they won the battle. This victory established Seleucid control over the Paneas. Having control, the Hellenized Seleucids built a pagan temple dedicated to Pan (the goat-footed "god of victory in battle," or, "creator of panic in the enemy").
Following the death of Zenodorus in 20 B.C.E. (ruler of a small principality near Damascus 23- 20 B.C.E.), Paneas was annexed to the Kingdom of Herod the Great. Herod erected a temple of "white marble" at Paneas in honor of his Roman patron.
In 3 B.C.E., Philip II (Philip the Tetrarch) founded a city at Paneas. His new city became the administrative capital of his large tetrarchy which encompassed the Golan and the Hauran plateau. In 14 C.E., Philip II named it Caesarea in honor of Roman Emporer Augustus and made improvements to the city. His image was placed on a coin issued 29/30 C.E. to commemorate the founding of the city. This was considered idolatrous by the Jews.
The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, refers to this new city as Caesarea Paneas in his Antiquities of the Jews. The New Testament calls the city Caesarea Philippi to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritime which is located on the Mediterranean seacoast of Israel between Haifa and Tel Aviv.
Jordan River: From Mount Hermon to the Sea of Galilee
Three Tributaries
Banias River @ Caesarea Philippi
Caesarea Philippi is located where the Banias River begins as a spring from the base of Mount Hermon. The Greek deity associated with this spring was Pan. The spring was also called Ba'al-Hermon. The cave located above the spring gave place to the worship of Pan by its local numen [those believing in spiritual powers of a location]. In the Hellenistic period the spring was named Panias in honor of Pan, who was the god of victory in battle since he instilled "panic" among enemies. Ptolemaic kings built a cult center there in the 3rd century B.C.E.
Dan River @ Tel Dan
Tel Dan is located where the Dan River begins as a spring from the base of Mount Hermon. The ancient city of Dan is named Leshem in Joshua 19:47 where it was renamed Dan by the Tribe of Dan. The city of Dan was also called Laish in Judges 18:7. This city depended upon this karst spring-fed river. The water from this spring forms the Dan River and is the largest of the three tributaries forming the Jordan River. The Tel Dan Nature Reserve is perhaps the most beautiful oasis in northern Israel. The original gate entering Leshem [Laish] is made of straw reinforced bricks and is the oldest standing gate in Israel.
Hasbani River @ Qiryat Shmona
Although the Hasbani River comes from Lebanese springs at the base of Mount Hermon, it flows south into Israel to join the Banias and Dan rivers at Qiryat Shmona, a city in northern Israel. The Hebrew words "Qiryat Shmona," in English, "Town of Eight." The city was named after the eight people, including Joseph Trumpeldor, who died in 1920 with seven others defending Tel Hai. Joseph Vladimirovich Trumpeldor was an early Russian Zionist hero who helped organize the Zion Mule Corps to bring Jews to Israel. He is given credit for the famous quote, "It does not matter, it is good to die for our country." Like the Banias and Dan Rivers, the Hasbani River joins others to give its life for the country of Israel. Qiryat Shmona is the northernmost Israeli city with a population of over 25,000 (mostly Moroccan) Jews.
Jordan River: From the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea
Three Tributaries
Yarmuk River from Jordan
The Yarmuk River drains much of the Haran Plateau. It is the largest tributary of the Jordan River. It runs in Syria, Jordan and Israel. The Yarmuk River has four tributaries, Awdiy and Ruqqad from the north and Ehreir and Zeizun from the east. When the Yarmuk River turns west to join the Jordan River south of the Sea of Galilee, it is thirty feet wide and five feet deep. At this point, the Yarmuk River is the border between Jordan and Israel. In 1966, the Jordanian Government took the Yarmuk river to supply the East Ghor irrigation canal that supplies all of the water for the vegetable farms on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River Valley from the Sea of Galilee south to Amman, Jordan. None of the water from the Yarmuk River joins the Jordan River today on its way south to the Dead Sea.
Jordan River from Sea of Galilee
Due to the pumping of fresh water from the Sea of Galilee, very little water escapes to fill the Jordan River onward south of the sea on its journey to the Dead Sea.
Harod River from Valley of Megiddo
Rain upon Mount Gilboa causes spring water to flow from Ein Harod and Ein HaShlosha. These two springs flow north, join together and then flow east past Beth Shean as the Harod River. This river is totally dependent upon rainfall and flows into the Jordan River twelve miles south of the Sea of Galilee. The water volume from the Harod River, however, is insuf- ficient to fill the Jordan River on its way south to the Dead Sea.
Israel's Dilemma
Israel needs 2 billion cubic meters of fresh water per annum. To satisfy its growing population and industrial boom with water, Israel, since 2005, has built 5 desalination plants along the Mediterranean Sea. These five plants currently supply 1 billion cubic meters of fresh water. Three of these five successful plants are located at Ashkelon, Palmachim and Hadera. Cur- rently, Israel is constructing two more plants to have a total of seven.
There are also plans to supply both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea with desalinated water from these sources before total disaster happens to both.
Tel Hatzor
The archaeological site of Tel Hatzor is located on Highway 90, just 14 kilometers north of the Sea of Galilee on the way north toward the city of Kiryat Shmoneh. It overlooks Lake Mermom in the Hula Valley. It is located in the northern Korazim Plateau. Tel Hatzor is called Tell el- Qedah in Arabic.
Across the highway from Tel Hatzor is a mini-museum which is worth visiting. The Hatzor Museum is located at the entrance to Tel Hatzor near the entrance to Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar. It contains various finds from Tel Hatzor such as: 1) Canaanite temple vessels; 2) statues of deities; 3) basalt stelae, 4) vessels from Egypt, Cyprus and Greece; 5) Israelite objects; 6) a musical instrument made from a conch shell, 7) cosmetic instruments; and, 8) ancient Hebrew inscriptions.
Hatzor is located on the highway known as the "Via Maris." The "Via Maris" (Way of the Sea) connects Egypt to Syria and Eastern Europe to Syria through the seaport at Acco (Haifa today). This puts Hatzor on the caravan route of the ancient Middle East. Hatzor was situated on the Via Maris highway before it turned northeast through Lebanon's Beka Valley and on to Babylon, and, before it turned northwest to Phoenicia.
Hatzor is first mentioned in the 18th century B.C.E. Egyptian documents known as the Execration Texts. By this time, Hatzor had become a great city of 15,000. In those days, Hatzor was the only Canaanite city having political ties to Mari located on the Tigris/Euphrates Rivers.
Archaeological finds indicate the greatness of Canaanite Hatzor. For its time, Hatzor was gigantic. It was fortified with an earthen ramp and walls. Palaces, temples and dwellings have been unearthed. Also found are pottery, statues, weapons, jewelry and many artistic items. These discoveries reveal Hatzor's extensive links with Syria, Egypt, the Hittite Kingdom, Babylon, Crete, Greece and Cyprus.
The Irish scholar, Leslie Porter, was the first to identify Hatzor in 1875. In 1928, the British archaeologist, John Garstang, conducted a short excavation at Hatzor. Hebrew University's archaeologists, Yigael Yadin and Yohanan Aharoni, excavated Hatzor in 1955-1958; 1968 financed by the Rothschild Foundation. The Hebrew University's archaeologists, Amnon ben-Tor and Sharon Zukerman renewed digging at Hatzor in 1990.
All excavations have revealed that Canaanite Hatzor was heavily populated and prosperous due to its location.
Tzphat
The city of Tzphat is located 850 meters above sea level in the southeastern corner of the Naphtali mountains on modern Israeli highway 89 just 6 kilometers due west of the village of Rosh Pina which is on highway 90 north of the Sea of Galilee. To further identify Tzphat's location, it is 48 kilometers due east of Acco (on the Mediterranean Sea - called Acre in the Bible) and 40 kilometers north of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.
Tzpaht is the highest city in Israel and may be seen from the Sea of Galilee and the villages of Magdala, Gennesaret, Tabgha and Capernaum. It can also be seen from the Golan Heights east of the Sea of Galilee.
The Joseph Caro Synagogue is located a few blocks west of Tzphat Peak. One will find the Joseph Caro Synagogue in the midst of a very narrow street lined with artisan shops. The climb up the mountain to Tzphat and the walk up through the artisan shops is a rich reward for all who make the trip.
Tzphat is located west of the Jordan River Valley which runs from Mount Hermon in the north, through the Sea of Galilee south to the Dead Sea. From the Dead Sea to Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba, the Jordan River Valley is called the Arabah. Actually, this "rift" valley runs from Victoria Falls in Africa north to Allepo, Syria. Two tectonic plates are moving past each other in the Jordan River Valley and is actually the cause of this "rift" valley. The western, Africa plate is moving north and the eastern, Asian plate is moving south. The result is massive earthquakes in and near the Jordan River Valley. Since Tzphat is near this "rift" valley, it is one of the most at risk from earthquakes. The last major earthquake to hit Tzphat was the Galilee earthquake of 1837.
Due to its elevation in the mountains, Tzphat has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold, rainy (and snowy) winters. Tzphat receives 682 mm in annual rainfall per year. The summers are hot and dry with an average daytime temperature of 29 degrees C and an average nighttime temperature of 18 degrees C. The winters are cold and wet with an average daytime temperature of 10 degrees C and an average nighttime temperature of 5 degrees C.
Owing to its commanding view of the Galilee area, when the Mamluk Sultan Baibars captured Tzphat in 1266, he made it the administrative center and called it "Mamlakat Safad." Under the Ottomans, Tzphat functioned as their capital in the area and they called it "Safad Sanjak."
Ashkelon
The Neolithic era site of Ashkelon is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea 1.5 kilome- ters north of Tel Ashkelon. Poor radiocarbon dating places this area to circa. 7900 B.C.E. It was discovered and excavated in 1954 C.E. by French archaeologist, Jean Perrot. In 1997-1998, a large scale project was conducted at the site by Yosef Garfinkel on behalf of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Nearly 1,000 square meters were examined. A final excavation report was published in 2008. In the site, over one hundred fireplaces and hearths, and, numerous pits were found. No solid architecture with the exception of one wall were found. Various phases of occupation were found, one atop the other, with sterile layers of sea sand between them indicating the site was occupied on a seasonal basis. Pre-Pottery Neolithic C flint arrowheads were found along with circa. 100,000 domesticated and non-domesticated animal bones. This find has led scholars to believe the site was used by pastoral nomads for meat processing. The nearby sea could have supplied salt to preserve meat.
Ashkelon was a thriving Middle Bronze Age (2000 - 1550 B.C.E.) city of more than 150 acres. It is mentioned as Ashqelon on the Merneptah Stele. The city was originally built on a sand- stone outcropping and had a good underground water supply. It was a large ancient city with as many as 15,000 people living inside its walls. Its commanding ramparts (a vast semi-circle) measured 2.4 kilometers long, 15 meters high and 46 meters thick. Even its ruins stand two stories high today. The walls were so thick, the mudbrick city gate had a stone-lined, 2.4 meter wide, tunnel-like barrel vault coated with white plaster. It is the oldest such vault ever found. This semi-circle protected Ashkelon on the land side. On the sea side, it was defended by a high natural bluff. A roadway more than 6 meters wide ascended the rampart from the harbor and entered a gate at the top. A finely cast bronze statue of a bull calf was found inside a small ceramic tabernacle in 1991. This originally silvered image is 10 centimeters long and was used in the worship of the Canaanite gods, El and Baal. Ashkelon is mentioned in the seven Tel Amarna Letters (circa. 1350 B.C.E.) between (to and from) Ashkelon's king, Yida, and the Egyptian pharaoh.
The Philistines conquered Canaanite Ashkelon about 1150 B.C.E. The Philistines were one of the "Sea Peoples" defeated by Egypt's Pharaoh, Ramses II and driven out of Egypt. The Philistines left Egypt and landed on the shores of Canaan and conquered the Israeli sea coast from Gaza to north of Joppa. Ashkelon became one of the five main Philistine cities along with Ashdod, Gaza, Gath and Ekron. The Philistines constantly warred with the Israelites and the successive kingdom of Judah. Ashkelon was the last of the Philistine cities to hold out against the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar II in 604 B.C.E. who burned and destroyed the city ending the Philistine era.
Ashkelon became an important city once again during the Crusades (circa. 1096 to 1272 C.E.)
Lod
The village of Lod (Lydda) is located eleven miles east, southeast of Joppa just south of Highway 1. It is located west of Israel's number one north/south Highway 6. Lod is at the intersection of the ancient highways that led from Babylon to Egypt and Joppa to Jerusalem. A smaller highway number 40 passes through the eastern side of Lod. It is located immediately southeast of the Ben Gurion International Airport which was originally named Lod International Airport. St. George Monastery is located on Eliyahu Galomb Street. St. George was born in Lod (Lydda) and is the most important soldier-saint in Christian tradition. His remains are kept in a crypt of this Greek-Orthodox church. The church and the attached el-Omari mosque, are located near Khan Hilu–the ruins of an Ottoman period inn.
Joppa
The city of Joppa is located south of the city of Tel Aviv on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. When approaching Joppa from Tel Aviv, proceed south on Nahum Goldman Road, past the Jaffa Clock Tower on to Yefet Street. The ancient city of Joppa is then entered by turning right toward the beach. Joppa is located thirty-five miles due west of the city of Jerusalem.
The area of ancient Tel Joppa is quite small and easily seen within one hour. The important sites are: 1) traditional location of Simon the Tanner's House located in the narrow streets of Joppa's art community; 2) underground museum in the center of the tel; and, 3) the docks where Hiram delivered cedar and fir trees to King Solomon.
Tel Aviv
The city of Tel Aviv is located on the Mediterranean Sea north of Joppa at the Yarkon River which marks the southern end of the Plain of Sharon. It is the main airport gateway into Israel for the entire world. Located due west of Jerusalem, it connects eastwardly to the city by Israel Highway 1 and most recently, by rail. Tel Aviv city limits cover 20 square miles. Due to
its climate and location, Tel Aviv's beach area is the favorite attraction for tourists. Over 4.4
million tourists visited Israel in 2019, and, most entered through Ben Gurion International
Airport near Tel Aviv. Many of the tourists spend one or more nights in the high-rise, expensive, 10,500+ hotel rooms located on the Tel Aviv beaches. Also, Tel Aviv is still home to many foreign embassies.
Haifa
Haifa is the third largest city in Israel with a population of approximately 300,000. Built on
the slopes of Mount Carmel, the settlement has a history of more than 3,000 years.
Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it is the major Israeli seaport. It lies approximately 90
kilometers (56 miles) north of Tel Aviv. Israel highway 4 runs on both sides of Haifa forming
a "hairpin" around the northern tip. On the west side of Haifa, Highway 4 (heading south)
splits in Haifa forming both highway 4 south to Tel Aviv and highway 2, which also runs
south, but, near the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea toward Caesarea Maritime.
Haifa is considered a relative haven for coexistence between Jews and Arabs. Two highly
respected academic institutions, the University of Haifa, and, the Technion, are located in
Haifa. The largest K-12 school in Israel, the Hebrew Reali School, is also located in Haifa.
Haifa plays an important economic role in Israel. It is home to Matam, one of the oldest and
largest high tech parks in Israel. Haifa owns the only underground rapid transit system in
Israel, the Carmelite. Haifa Bay is a center for heavy industry, petroleum refining and chemical processing. Haifa formerly functioned as the western terminus of an oil pipeline from Iraq
via Jordan.
Caesarea Maritime
The archaeological site of Caesarea Maritime is located on the Mediterranean Sea 27 miles south of Haifa and 34.5 miles north of Tel Aviv. It is located on highway 2 which parallels the coast. Furthermore, it is located on the Plain of Sharon and easily reached from Israel's highway 4. Clearly marked signs will lead all west to this fabulous dig.
Among the many things ready to be seen are: 1) Roman amphitheater; 2) Roman temple
dedicated to the goddess Roma and emperor Caesar Augustus; 3) Roman hippodrome; 4)
Tiberieum where the "Pontius Pilate Stone" was found; 5) Harbor; 6) 60 meter wide Moat;
and, 7) Double Aqueducts which brought fresh water 10 miles from Sushi Spring at the base
of Mount Carmel.
Acco
Acco was originally called Acre. The remains of the oldest settlement at Acre are at Tel Akko, 1.5 kilometers
east of modern Acco. They date to circa 3000 B.C.E. during the Early Bronze Age. The sight was abandoned
after several centuries due to rising sea water. Acre was resettled as an urban center during the Middle Bronze
Age circa 2000 to 1500 B.C.E. and has been continuously inhabited since. During the Iron Age, Acre was
culturally and politically affiliated with Phoenicia.
Strabo refers to Acre as a rendezvous for the Persians in their attacks against Egypt. According to historians,
Diodurus, Siculus and Strabo, King Cambyses II attacked Egypt after massing a huge army on the plains near
the city of Acre. In December 2018, archaeologists unearthed the remains of a Persian military outpost at Tel
Keisan in Acre that may have played a role in the 525 B.C.E. Achaemenid invasion of Egypt. These fortifications were heavily damaged during Alexander the Great's 4th century B.C.E. campaign to remove Achaemenid
from the Levant.
Following Alexander's death, his two generals, Ptolemy and Seleucid, divided his empire between themselves.
At first, the Egyptian Ptolemies held Acre. Ptolemy II renamed Acre to Ptolemais circa 260 B.C.E. Antiochus
III conquered Ptolemais for the Syrian Seleucids circa 200 B.C.E. Circa. 170 B.C.E. Antiochus IV founded a
Greek colony in Ptolemais and renamed it once again, Anitoch, after himself.
Via Dolorosa / Holy Sepulchre
The Via Dolorosa ("Way of Suffering" in Latin) is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem believed to
be the path Jesus walked on His way to His crucifixion. It stretches 600 meters (2,000 feet) from the Fortress
of Antonia to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The current route has been established since the 18th century
C.E., replacing earlier routes. Today, it is marked by nine Stations of the Cross. The remaining five Stations of
the Cross are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Due to the presence of the Temple Mount, the Via
Dolorosa (west of the Cardo Maximums) was constructed south of its eastern portion creating the discontinuity
in the road still present today.
The first reports of a pilgrimage route corresponding to the Biblical events dates from the Byzantine era.
During that time, a Holy Thursday procession started from the top of the Mount of Olives, stopped in the
Garden of Gethsemane, entered the Old City at the Lions' Gate, and then, followed the current route to the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There were no stops along the Via Dolorosa itself. By the 8th century C.E., the
route went from Gethsemane west toward Caiaphas' house, then to the Abbey of the Dormition, and finally to
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1517 C.E., the Franciscans began following the events of "Christ's Passion"
chronologically. The Franciscan development of the Via Dolorosa was due to their ardent devotion to
meditation along this path. Their written meditations expanded on the terse accounts of the Via Dolorosa in the
Bible. These meditations morphed into the Stations of the Cross. The first stations to appear in pilgrimage
accounts were the encounter with Simon of Cyrene and the Daughters of Jerusalem. These were followed by
a host of other ephemeral stations such as the House of Veronica, the House of Simon the Pharisee, the House
of the Evil Rich Man (who would not give alms to the poor), and, the House of Herod. Herbert Thurston, in his
book, The Stations of the Cross, notes, "... we must recognize that there was a complete want of any sort of
uniformity in the enumeration of the Stations. All stations came from Roman Catholic tradition–not the Bible.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus fell from carrying His cross.
The Via Dolorosa begins at the Lions' Gate. Four lions are carved above the gate–two on the left and two on the
right. Suleiman had the carvings made to celebrate the Ottoman defeat of the Mamluks in 1517 C.E.
The next main feature along the Via Dolorosa is Hadrian's Arch (a.k.a. Ecce Homo Arch) a tripled arched
Roman gateway into Jerusalem believed to be the location of Pontius Pilate's Ecce Homo (Behold the man!)
speech found in John 19:5. Hadrian called this area the Lithostrotos. In 1857 C.E., Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne,
a French Jew who converted to Catholicism and became a priest, purchased the site and started the Roman
Catholic Congregation of Notre-Dame de Sion Convent.
Beneath the convent is an extensive area of Roman flagstones that would have been used by horses, chariots
and humans to enter Jerusalem from the east through the Fortress of Antonia. Ruts in the flagstones and
"score" marks chiseled into the flagstones show their use even in rainy weather. In 1864, an etching of a
Roman soldier game, "monk king," led the nuns to believe this was "Gabbatha" mentioned in John 19:13–
where Pontius Pilate held Jesus' trial.
The end of the Via Dolorosa is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, thought to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion,
death, burial and resurrection. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built in 326 C.E. by Constantine in honor
of his mother, Helena. After seeing a vision of a cross in the sky, Constantine signed the Edict of Milan,
legalizing Christianity and sent his mother, Helena, to Jerusalem to look for Christ's tomb. With the help of
bishops Eusebius and Marcarius, a rock-cut tomb was identified as the burial site of Jesus.
Upper Room
Zion Gate
Zion Gate (a.k.a. Bab an-Nabi Dawud in Arabic) is one of seven gates built in July 1540 C.E.
and was the direct continuation of the street called the Cardo. In the 19th century C.E., a leper
colony, slaughter house and livestock market were located near the Zion Gate. These shops
along the wall near the gate were torn down during the British Mandate. On May 13, 1948, a
major from the British Suffolk Regiment presented Mordecai Weingarten with the key for the
Zion Gate. Restoration on the gate was done in 2008 marking its 468th birthday.
Abbey of the Dormition
Formerly called the Abbey of the Dormition, the Hagia Maria Sion Abbey, a Benedictine
monastery, was built under John II, Bishop of Jerusalem, in the early 5th century C.E. The
Abbey is shown in the 6th century C.E. Madaba Map. It was destroyed in 614 C.E. by Sasanian
king, Khosrau II. Its foundations were recovered in 1899 by Heinrich Renard when he
investigated the site. Renard delivered the designs and plans for the Abbey. Theodor Sandel,
architect and member of the Temple Society constructed the building. Work began October 7,
1900 and the Abbey was dedicated April 10, 1910 by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Upper Room
The Upper Room (a.k.a. Cenacle), according to Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, who wrote in
the 4th century C.E., that the building was spared during the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus
in 70 C.E. There is much debate about when the Cenacle was constructed and by whom.
Suggestions range from during Herod the Great's reign to the Byzantine Period. However,
what is known is that Syrian Christians maintained the Cenacle until 1330 C.E. when it passed
into the custody of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order of Friars who managed it until 1524.
At that time, Ottoman authorities took possession of the Cenacle and converted it into a mosque.
The Franciscans were evicted in 1550. The lasting evidences of this Muslim control of the
Cenacle are the mihrab (niche), the Arabic inscriptions on the walls, the qubba over the stairwell,
the minaret and dome on the roof. Christians were not allowed to return until the establishment
of the State of Israel in 1948. It is currently managed by the Israeli Ministry of the Interior.
David's Tomb
David's Tomb is located on the ground floor of the Cenacle (Upper Room), the traditional site
of the Last Supper. The site of David's burial is unknown. The Old Testament (TaNaK)
locates it in the City of David near the Pool of Siloam. The idea that David was entombed on
Mount Zion dates to the 9th century C.E. The Mount Zion conquered by David (according to
II Samuel 5:7) was wrongly ascribed by medieval pilgrims to this site, and David was presumed
to be buried there. Today, David's Tomb is under the management of the Diaspora Yeshiva,
founded in 1967 by Rabbi Mordechai Goldstein, an alumnus of the Chefetz Chaim Yeshiva in
Queens, New York.
Caiaphas' House
The church takes its name from the Latin word "Gallicantu" meaning "cock's-crow." This
name commemorates Peter's triple denial of Jesus "... before the cock crows twice." (Mark
14:30) It is also known as Caiaphas' House.
A Byzantine shrine dedicated to Peter's repentance was erected on this spot in 457 C.E., but
was destroyed by the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah in 1010 C.E. The chapel was
rebuilt by Crusaders in 1102 C.E. and given its present name.
After the fall of Jerusalem the church again fell into ruin and was not rebuilt until 1931. Today
a golden rooster protrudes prominently from the sanctuary roof in honor of its biblical
connection. This spot is also believed to be the location of Israel's High Priest Caiaphas'
palace. According to the Pilgrim of Boreaux in his Itinerarium Burdigalense, "... going up
from the Pool [Siloam] to Mount Zion one would come across the House of the Priest Caiaphas."
On the north side of the church is an ancient staircase that leads down towards the Kidron
Valley. This may have been a passage from the upper city to the lower city during the first
temple period. Many Christians believe that Jesus followed this path up from the Garden of
Gethsemane the night of his arrest.
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