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Israel/Jordan with Brandon Hammonds
November 3-15, 2014
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The Beginning
Our day started with a visit to Gezer, where we sat on top of 20 layers of cities that had risen and fallen over several thousand years. We also overlooked the valley where Samson sent foxes through the crops of the Philistines with torches on their tails (see Judges 15).
Beth Shemesh
A border city between Judah and Dan, Beth Shemesh was given to the Levites. Beth Shemesh was the most important Israelite city in the Sorek Valley as it watched both east-west traffic through the Sorek Valley and north-south traffic along the “Diagonal Route.” Recent excavations have shown a thriving city here from the Middle Bronze Age through the Iron II period.
After a stop at Beth Shemesh, we enjoyed the highlight of the day, a long, steep climb to the top of a hill, giving us a fantastic view into the Valley of Elah. From there we imagined the Philistines scattered across one side of the valley and the Israelites on the other, and down on the valley floor a young boy armed only with a sling and five stones facing down a giant.
Tel Azekah and Elah Valley
The Brook Elah is famous for the five stones it contributed to the young slinger, David. Some surmise that David chose five stones instead of the one needed in case he needed to face Goliath’s four brothers.
The day ended with a visit to a tomb, where we saw a stone much like the one that was rolled in front of Jesus' burial place, and a stop at the cave of Adullam, where David stayed while fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 22). Then, after wandering for a while like the Israelites following our lost tour leader Brandon, we boarded the bus for our next hotel.
Steve Bartlett
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