Day 01 - Shephelah: Gezer, Beth Shemesh, Azekah, Caves of Adullam, Lachish

Today was a BIG day!

We began the day Kiriath Jearim and learned with many visuals about the fruit of the land.  God’s promised land to his chosen people was strategically placed at the cross roads of the ancient world, and is filled with wheat, barley, figs, dates, pomegranates, vines, and olives.  The Hebrew calendar was marked with feasts and festivals surrounding the harvest times of these abundant blessings.  We learned the meaning behind many of the natural images found in the Bible, which helped create a rich context. 

Leaving Kiriath Jearim we visited several places in the Shephelah, which is the hill country separating the Judean Mountains and the Coastal Plains.  This is a place where cultures collided, and we were challenged to consider the places of influence in our own lives. 

Our group travelled to the Soreq Valley where we learned some of the deeper meanings in the Samson story in the book of Judges. We saw the battle site of David and Goliath in the Valley of Ellah, and we ventured into the Caves of Adullam where David escaped from Saul’s wrath. Our day finished at the great ancient city of Lachish, where we learned about the faith of King Hezekiah in the face of the insurmountable Assyrian army. We learned through these lessons that nothing is greater than our God, and those who live for him and his glory prevail. The heroes of our lessons today were people who did amazing things, living in faith, so that the world might know who is God.