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Israel Study Tour - Cornerstone University
January 3-14, 2015
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A lasting impression
Today started with a visit to Nazareth, which is located about 10 miles south-west from the sea of Galilee, in the Jezreel valley. The Jezreel valley’s location made it strategic for military purposes, being the access point into the Jordan Ridge Valley into the western part of Galilee.
This is the place where God fought for Deborah and Barak and won the battle. Gideon faced a great Amalekite army and also won through God’s intervention. More importantly, Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown for thirty years. In Luke 4, we read the account of Jesus going to the synagogue and read from Isaiah 61, proclaiming not only the arrival of good news but also the coming of the day of vengeance.
We travelled next to Megiddo, by the Aruna path that cuts through the mount Carmel range. Even from the early bronze age, Megiddo was a mayor city with big ramparts and massive walls. Joshua won a decisive victory at Megiddo. It was one of Solomon’s fortified cities along with Hazor and Gezer, also a center for administration of his kingdom. The Omrides fortified it again during the reigns of Omri and Ahab. Tiglath Pileser set up an Assyrian outpost there in 732 BCE and king Josiah died at Megiddo trying to stop Neco. Ultimately, Megiddo will be the place for Armagedon, earth’s final battle.
Megiddo
From the earliest times (EB) to the earliest historical records of the area (Thutmose III) to the future (Revelation 16), Megiddo assumes a prominent role. This is largely owing to its strategic location astride the Megiddo Pass (Wadi Ara) and inside the busy Jezreel Valley.
Our visit to Mount Carmel was short but left a lasting impression. We were reminded of the prophet Elijah and his encounter with the prophets of Baal. It was not Elijah who performed a miracle, but God, who again revealed himself as the true God by answering Elijah from heaven with fire.
Mt. Carmel
Biblically, Mt. Carmel is referenced most often as a symbol of beauty and fertility. To be given the “splendor of Carmel” was to be blessed indeed (Isa 35:2). Solomon praised his beloved: “your head crowns you like Mount Carmel” (Song 7:5). But for Carmel to wither was a sign of devastating judgment (Nahum 1:4).
Caesarea Maritima by the Mediterranean coast was a massive archaeological site with much to see and ponder. It was originally built by Herod as a means to honor the emperor. He spared no expense. It was amazing to think that this was the place where the apostle Paul defended himself against the accusations from the Jewish community. Every site makes the Bible come alive and reminds us of the wonderful God we serve.
Dan D. (M.Div. Student at GRTS)
Caesarea Maritima
The city and harbor were built under Herod the Great during c. 22–10 BC near the site of a former Phoenician naval station known as Stratonos pyrgos (Στράτωνος πύργος).[2] It later became the provincial capital of Roman Judea, Roman Syria Palaestina and Byzantine Palaestina Prima provinces. The city was populated throughout the 1st to 6th centuries CE and became an important early center of Christianity during the Byzantine period, but was mostly abandoned following the Muslim conquest of 640. It was re-fortified by the Crusaders, and finally slighted by the Mamluks in 1265.
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