Day 01 - Shephelah: Yad Hashmonah, Beth Shemesh, Azekah, Beth Guvrin (Maresha)

Since day 1 was a full day of travel, we started today, Wednesday, December 7 as our first day of site visiting which is technically day 2. We began at a fabulous park called Yad Hashmonah. Our incredible guide Dan shared information on what the site was as well as the overview of our tour. We could not have asked for better weather or guide extraordinaire. 

Our next stop was the original Bet She'mesh. We are now certain without a doubt of this location of the original tribe of Dan, Samson’s hometown, the site of city of Timnah. We will call these “Grade A” sites. (Sites that we know without a shadow of doubt they are what the say they are. Indisputable proof has been established.) And several trade routes through the Sorek Valley. We learned how important it is to not scream where scripture is silent or remain silent where scripture screams, but also read to understand the context of what scripture is actually saying. For example, today I never thought to ask the question, "Where were Samson's parents when he fought the lion or why didn't they know he killed a lion?" 

In review the story of Samson in Judges 13, we know he was set apart as a Nazirite for GOD. These vows are very well known: 1. No razor shall touch his head (i.e: never have his hair cut), 2. He was not to touch or drink wine (wine comes from grapes so no touching grapes). We continue reading and come to chapter 14 verse 5, we read that "Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah.” Sitting here looking at the geography of the hometown of Zorah, which sits on top of a large hill (a mountain by Israel standards)  and the pathway to the city of Timnah that sits at the bottom in the middle of the Sorek Valley, and what is in between is a major agricultural zone of nothing but vineyards. 

The understanding of what had to occur makes more sense when you see it; Samson could not go the same route as his parents. He would have to travel a completely different section to circumvent the vineyards so he did not touch the grapes. His parents could go directly to Timnah through the vineyards. Samson could not. So as we read this, we wonder why didn’t his parents know about the lion he killed if they “went together”? Because they didn’t travel together. Our limited understanding of the text in Hebrew doesn’t explain the context of the scripture. That when the Hebrew says 'they went together' is the same thing as saying the left the house together and met up at the same destination, but it doesn’t mean they walked side by side. Instead of just chalking this up to a mistake in writing, we need to ask if there is a mistake in our understanding. 

Follow me for a second as this applies to our theme of 'Encountering Jesus.’ When we read the gospels, or any scripture for that matter, and think “yeah, I get this” or “man, this is too hard to understand” and we are faced with either contentment with what we are reading or discontent with what was said. A reaction is called for. Jesus always meets us where we are, but he loves us too much to leave us there! We cannot encounter 'a lion' and not be changed for better or worse. But we can encounter Jesus Christ and come away better, always better. 

We had several other stops before finally reaching our hotel for the next two nights. Its a beautiful location at the edge of the Dead Sea. I write this post from a balcony overlooking the water listening to the waves hit the shore and laughter of a group of friends having a great time. Maybe next time you can be one of them? There is always room for one more. 

Shalom Shalom! 

Until tomorrow-

Jennifer Walter