Bet She’an:
The first stop on Monday was at the archeological site that was Bet She’an or Skytopolis, a once a great Roman city, was left buried under earth from 749 AD until 1949. There are believed to be 19 civilizations that had built their cities on these very grounds, one of those civilizations being the Philistines. In 1 Samuel Chapter 31, the armies of Saul had been pushed back and defeated all the way to Mount Gilboa in the North, most of Israeli Kingdom. Saul rather than face the embarrassment of defeat, took his own life. In retribution for the Israelites parading the head of Goliath through their kingdom, Saul’s body was hung from the walls of Bet She’an and his head was sent to all the Philistine cities in the nation. The reason for this city being such a desirable location was for the face that it was gateway to the East West Road. It was the ancient link of the Mediterranean to the Far East, think of it as the center of the Ancient World.
To bring you up to the time of Jesus, fast-forward and envision this vast Roman city with 80,000 people. Imagine the pearly white marble tiles leading up to downtown shops, the giant basalt archways outside the theatre, and the Roman Empire’s largest stone bathhouses. Everything was made of rock, one of the most necessary imports even today in Israel is lumber. The “a-ha” moment of this location was reflecting on Jesus the Carpenter. But if Jesus was a carpenter, and if all the buildings were made of stone, was Jesus constantly unemployed? We learned today that the direct translation of his occupation was “builder”, and builders of that day age, were more than likely stone masons. Yet another great context revelation of this trip. He was termed a carpenter to help people of modern times better understand his profession. This was the start of the Culture Clash section of the tour, the Jewish Old Testament beliefs crashing into the Western Roman culture during the time of Jesus.
-Rob, OCS Alumni ‘10
Beth Shean
Located 17 miles (27 km) south of the Sea of Galilee, Beth Shean is situated at the strategic junction of the Harod and Jordan Valleys. The fertility of the land and the abundance of water led the Jewish sages to say, “If the Garden of Eden is in the land of Israel, then its gate is Beth Shean.” It is no surprise then that the site has been almost continuously settled from the Chalcolithic period to the present.
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Megiddo:
Megiddo is a tel(artificial hill) that through time has had 26 civilizations formed on it. It was most known for its unique way of getting water from a spring just outside its walls. Through their unique irrigation system, the Maccabees were able to divert spring water into the middle of their town. Today we walked through this irrigation system. We got to see how big and extensive the tunnels were and got to wonder how difficult the project must have been with nothing more than picks and chisels. This sight also overlooks the Valley of Jezreel and it is thought by some to be the place of the final battle, Armageddon, that is mentioned in the book of Revelation.
-Tyler, Current OCS Junior
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.
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Mt. Carmel:
We then travelled to Mt. Carmel, the location where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a competition. The prophets of Baal went first, pleading with Baal to prove his power; Baal failed. Elijah went next, building an alter from 12 stones symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. He covered the alter with water and prayed to God; the alter and the offering where burned. This is yet another example of the power of God, he cannot be overcome. It was very impactful being on the mountain and reading the verses because it gave context to the verses. The Mediterranean was within view to the East, The Valley was around 3 miles away to the east. Since it was cloudy when we arrived, it made it seem as if we were there with Elijah as the rains came.
-Christian, Current OCS Senior
Caesarea:
Caesarea is a harbor that was built by Herod in 22 BC. It was the largest harbor in the world at that time, but it also had Herod’s palace, several Roman sports, and it was where Paul was imprisoned and where Peter taught to the Gentiles. We walked around Herod’s palace and sat at both a theatre (that is still in use) and the hippodrome where some Oaks volunteers participated in an intense foot race.
-Jen Hance, Current OCS Senior
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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