Down in the Valley

Today we started out our morning by heading to the Shephelah Region were we went to Beth-Shemesh in the Soreck Valley. There we learned that this was very fertile and lush land so there were lots of fights to take possession of this lands. This area was often a crossroads between two world views since the people were trying to conquer the land. We learned that here the story of Samson took place in this area, and the Philistines and Israelites were both fighting over the land. We looked into more depth how Sampson being a Nazarite and living in the Soreck Valley influenced his story and his choices and leading of the Israelite people during the time of the judges.

Our second stop of the day was the Tel Socoh which is where the camp of the Philistines was set up in the story of David and Goliath. As we sat on the Philistine side we looked down upon the Elah Valley where the battle took place and up at the hill on the other side where the Israelites had camped out. We proceeded into the Valley after talking about the story for a bit and reenacted the David and Goliath story in the Elah Valley were it took place. Then we hiked around the valley looking at the land and all the different trees. There were fig trees, olive trees, almond trees, and pomegranate trees.

Next we stopped at the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We were able to explore that exhibit that went through all the Holocaust events very detailed from beginning to end. Giving real stories from the survivors of the Holocaust, walls covered in real pictures that were taken from that time, and artifacts like shoes from the victims and the actual gas they used on the Jews in the death chambers. They also had a children’s memorial that had a room with five candles that was reflected through a series of mirrors to represent the number of children who were killed in the Holocaust. While a recording read off the name, age, and country these children were from in three different languages. It was really a beautiful remembrance of the children.

The fourth place we went to today was the Israel Museum where we were able to see a model of Jerusalem from the 1st century to help get us oriented for when we actually go to the old city of Jerusalem. We also went to the Shrine of the Book which was an exhibit with some of the scrolls from the Dead Sea Scrolls in cave one. In the center of the exhibit was a very well done replica of the Isaiah scroll in its entirety.

Lastly, we stopped at the Promenade in Jerusalem where we surprised Stacie and sang happy birthday to both her and Marisa because it was both their birthdays today. We also got a great view of the Old Jerusalem and put the model we just saw into more perspective.

Today we explored so many different sights, it was a lot to take in. I really felt a full range of my emotions. On one end of the spectrum I saw the heartbreaking photos and heard the horrific stories of the Holocaust. It just broke my heart to see what these people had to go through and all the pain and suffering they had that they never deserved. On the other hand, I was in awe standing in the actual valley in which the battle of David and Goliath took place, and in that place we were able to act out the story and fully understand the landscape and the conflict that was happening. Seeing how David was so fearless and faithful to the Lord while he went to take on Goliath. How all his routine, and seemingly meaningless job as a shepherd really was God’s way of helping him prepare for his great triumph. It was a great reminder that we have no clue when God going to place big moment in our lives, so we need to always prepare so that we can be ready. Overall, it was another amazing day in the Holy Land.

-Ashley Balkema