We travelled along the Jordan River Rift Valley through the West Bank today. It’s cold but dry and clear. The land changed along the way from green and fertile to very dry.
Our big stop along the way was Bethshean (Bethshan, Bet She’an) mentioned along with other places we have visited in Judges 1:27.
Bethshan was the place where Saul’s decapitated body was hung on the city walls after he lost the battle with the Philistines. (1 Sam31).
Bethshan has been dominated by the Egyptians, the Philiistines, the Greeks, the Romans and more and evidence of these periods are all shown in the excavations we visited. The old city was built on the hill in the background of the photo.
A group of us sang “Amazing Grace” in the remains of the Roman Theatre – the acoustics are amazing.
After reaching Jerusalem we entered Bethlehem for a barbeque lunch Middle Eastern style and visited the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of Jesus birth place. It’s an extremely old church which has survived the years without the destruction rebuilding cycles found at other sites. It was the site of the siege of Bethlehem a few years ago.
Sabbath day in Israel is a day when the roads are quiet and most of the shops and businesses are closed. We are experiencing Kosher meals in the hotels meat and fish and no dairy in the evenings and diary products in the morning for breakfast.
Our big stop along the way was Bethshean (Bethshan, Bet She’an) mentioned along with other places we have visited in Judges 1:27.
Bethshan was the place where Saul’s decapitated body was hung on the city walls after he lost the battle with the Philistines. (1 Sam31).
Bethshan has been dominated by the Egyptians, the Philiistines, the Greeks, the Romans and more and evidence of these periods are all shown in the excavations we visited. The old city was built on the hill in the background of the photo.
A group of us sang “Amazing Grace” in the remains of the Roman Theatre – the acoustics are amazing.
After reaching Jerusalem we entered Bethlehem for a barbeque lunch Middle Eastern style and visited the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of Jesus birth place. It’s an extremely old church which has survived the years without the destruction rebuilding cycles found at other sites. It was the site of the siege of Bethlehem a few years ago.
Sabbath day in Israel is a day when the roads are quiet and most of the shops and businesses are closed. We are experiencing Kosher meals in the hotels meat and fish and no dairy in the evenings and diary products in the morning for breakfast.
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