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Israel, Jordan Study Tour with Cornerstone Theological Seminary
January 2-12, 2019
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Art, symbolism, and history
Today we continued our journey with a steep walk up to Herod the Great’s man-made mountain fortress, Herodium (Matt. 2:1-22). As we’ve repeatedly seen on the trip, this site continues to prove the genius of Herod the Great. Not only was he a politically savvy warrior, but also THE architectural innovator and trend-setter of his time.
As we stood towards the top of Herodium, we could actually see Bethlehem, our next stop on the itinerary. In Bethlehem we explored the Church of the Nativity, the potential birth place of Jesus (Luke 2:1-15). The entryway demanded respect since one could not enter without kneeling; the doorway was between 4-5 feet! There we witnessed all of the art, symbolism, and history of the site. This was definitely a unique site of the trip because there wasn’t nearly as much archaeology as other sites, but it was an impressive site. A paradise for those intrigued by church history and theology to say the least.
Herodium
Herodium is 3 miles southeast of Bethlehem and 8 miles south of Jerusalem. Its summit is 2,460 feet above sea level.
Herod built or re-built eleven fortresses. This one he constructed on the location of his victory over Antigonus in 40 BC.
From here we went to Azekah, our last stop for the day (Josh. 10:10-11; 15:35; Neh. 11:30; 1 Sam. 17:1; 2 Chron. 11; Jer. 34:7) Azekah is where the Israelite lookout was during the infamous David and Goliath battle, a story known by several, faith notwithstanding. We stood on the hilltop about 5 miles east of Gath, Goliath’s hometown. With Gath in our rear view, we saw the valley where David would’ve met Goliath between the Israelite (NW of Socoh) and Philistine camps (W of Socoh).
Azekah
Azekah (Heb: עזקה, ʿazeqah) was a town in the Shephelah guarding the upper reaches of the Valley of Elah, about 26 km (16 mi) northwest of Hebron. The current tell (ruin) by that name has been identified with the biblical Azekah, dating back to the Canaanite period. According to Eusebius' Onomasticon, the name meant "white" in the Canaanite tongue. The tell is pear shaped with the tip pointing northward. Due to its location in the Elah Valley it functioned as one of the main Judahite border cities, sitting on the boundary between the lower and higher Shephelah.[1] Although listed in Joshua 15:35 as being a city in the plain, it is actually partly in the hill country, partly in the plain.
We concluded our day with an unforgettable experience called “The Parent’s Circle.” A group of both Palestinian and Israeli families finding common ground through bereavement. The cyclical conflict between them leads to inevitable collateral damage, including the death loved ones. The two men we met, one Israeli and one Palestinian, along with 600 families who have lost loved ones and share experiences of hatred and despondent heartbreak, come together seeking to put an end to the destruction for the sake of peace. Putting reconciliation for the sake of mutual humanity above the patriotic destruction they grown to indoctrinate since they were young. Hearing their stories was powerful and convicting, putting the issues we are used to witnessing on the internet into perspective. We were honored to hear them share their stories and humbled by their willingness to answer our questions.
You can check out their website at theparentscircle.org if you wanted to learn more about their mission, origin, and ways you can support them. I can’t speak for all of us, but I know I was definitely moved by their stories.
Written by Alexandra
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