Mount Carmel and Caesarea

Mount Carmel

(Hebrew: Karem El = "vineyard, plantation, garden land or fruit of God"), spans thirteen miles from its promontory, which juts out into the Mediterranean Sea at the Bay of Acco. Jeremiah compared the sight of this mountain to Nebuchadnezzar’s domineering rule over Egypt: "Surely one shall come who looms up like Tabor or like Carmel by the sea" Jeremiah 46:18

Mount Carmel is best known as the site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Located about halfway between Jezebel’s Sidon and Ahab’s Samaria, the site was well chosen for God to display of His superiority over the pagan god. Here, this dramatic demonstration climaxed when God honored Elijah’s challenge to Baal and hurled down fire to burn up his water-soaked sacrifice (1 Kings 18:19-40). This event probably occurred in an amphitheater-like small plain near the base of the mountain, close to the Kishon stream.

The statue at the Carmelite monastery at the top of the mount reflects the Lord's victory over the prophets of Baal. Carmelite Monastery located on the top of Mount Carmel. They have a roof garden that we were allowed to go up on (after the rain) to take advantage of the views.
Biblically, Mt. Carmel is referenced most often as a symbol of beauty and fertility.
"Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses." Song of Solomon 7:5
But for Carmel to wither was a sign of devastating judgment.

"He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade." Nahum 1:4
Below Mount Carmel lies a vast fertile plain, the Plain of Jezreel.
As I was preparing to leave, I noticed this sweet little garden beside the monastery and I couldn't resist a picture.
And it was always fun when we had Kay on the bus with us!!

The Aqueduct

On our way to Caesarea we stopped on the coast of the Mediterranean to get a picture of the Aqueduct that Herod had built to supply water to the old city. It truly was remarkable but there was quite the storm brewing and quite the breeze blowing and I wasn't too sure if I really wanted off the bus!!

Oh well, how many times are you going to have this opportunity!!

The Aqueduct brought running water to the old city of Caesarea. The source of the water was the springs of Shummi, 10KM away. Herod build the aqueduct in the 1st C BC. later, in the 2nd C AD it was expanded by the Romans. Later, 2 more aqueducts were built.

Caesarea

Caesarea was located on the Mediterranean coast thirty-three miles north of Joppa and sixty miles northwest of Jerusalem.

Herod built his seaport on the site of the old Phoenician city, Strato’s Tower. The place was given this name after the king of Sidon, Strato I, erected a tower as a lighthouse and built a small, fortified port to provide anchorage for ships sailing in the eastern Mediterranean. No natural ports existed along Israel’s coast. During bad weather, this could be a dangerous sector on the major shipping route from Alexandria to Phoenicia, Syria, and eventually to Athens and Rome. To provide a safe haven, Herod created an artificial harbor, constructing large breakwaters.

Uncle Kenny giving us the "lay of the land" for what we are about to see...

Caesarea’s harbor was as large as that of Piraeus, Athens’ port. It brought status and revenue to Herod’s kingdom. He used the port to import materials for his numerous building projects. The harbor also made Palestine easily accessible to Rome, only a ten-day voyage away.

The city of Caesarea encompassed 165 acres. It boasted a theater, an amphitheater, a hippodrome, palaces, public buildings, storerooms, residential areas, and a sewer system.

This is a picture of the back of the amphitheater where Kay will be teaching. This view is a little deceiving as you will see below.

Roman statuary recovered at the site.

Near the amphitheater, a stone tablet was found with an inscription of the name Pontius Pilate, and dedicated to Tiberius Caesar who nominated him as procurator. This tablet probably tells that Pilate consecrated a temple of Tiberius in Caesarea.

The tablet says: "Tiberieum, Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea".
(1) TIBERIEUM,,
(2) (PON) TIUS PILATUS
(3) (PRAEF) ECTUS IUDA (EAE)

This is important evidence of the existence of Pontius in Caesarea.

Remains of Herod's Promontory Palace. Looking down over the fence in the above pic you would see the scene below.

The square area cut out of the stone above was the fresh water swimming pool in Herod the Great's Palace here in Caesarea.

This is an artist's rendering of the harbor that Herod the Great built at Caesarea.
I have included this aerial photo to give an idea of the scope of what was built! After examining the remains of Herod's palace we were driven by bus beyond the stadium and to the Crusader City
You enter the Crusader City by crossing a bridge over a deep moat and through the gatehouse with beautiful Gothic vaulting!

Kay is waiting for our group to get caught up so she can point out a few things to us...
such as the rounding of the edges of these stones which were supposedly made as horses rubbed against them as they made the sharp turn through the gatehouse.

The Gothic vaulting of the ceiling!!

I think we were all impressed by the gatehouse!

We had a delicious lunch at the Aresto Restaurant. We had taboon-oven pizza and salad! A taboon oven is a clay oven, shaped like a truncated cone, with an opening at the bottom from which to stoke the fire.

Playing with the camera outside the walls of the Crusader City.

Palm Tree growing out of the walls of the Crusader City. Note the size of the moat surrounding the city!!

The Roman Theater, capable of seating 5,000 spectators, was constructed in the time of Jesus and Pontius Pilate, and has been restored. This is where Kay taught us and where they were setting up for an upcoming concert!

This is the view from the top of the amphitheater looking out over the ruins and the Mediterranean.

The theatre has incredible acoustics and a beautiful view of the Mediterranean as a backdrop.

Biblical History

When you are in the Holy Land you quickly realize that wherever you go it it is going to be rich in Biblical history! Here in Caesarea...

After baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip was "transported" to Azotus (Ashkelon) and from there continued to Caesarea, evangelizing as he traveled (Acts 8:40)

As a result of Paul’s boldly proclaiming Jesus in Jerusalem, the Hellenistic Jews there plotted to put him to death. Believers who were concerned for his life, brought Paul down from Jerusalem to Caesarea to return him to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:28,29).

An angel of the Lord visited Cornelius, a God-fearing Roman centurion at Caesarea, instructing him to send for Peter who was in Joppa (Acts 10:1-8).

Immediately after Peter’s vision of various animals lowered from heaven in a white sheet, messengers arrived, summoning Peter to the centurion’s residence in Caesarea, a two-day journey up the coast. There Peter first preached the gospel to Gentiles. Cornelius and his Gentile household believed in Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, validating the fact that salvation was for all people (Acts 10:24-48).

Herod Agrippa I died in Caesarea after "being eaten by worms" as God’s judgment on him for receiving praise due only to the Lord (Acts 12:19, 21-23).

The apostle Paul returned from his second and third missionary journeys to the port of Caesarea (Acts 18:22; 21:8). After his third journey, Paul stayed in the city with Philip and his four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. Paul then proceeded to Jerusalem with several disciples from Caesarea (Acts 21:9-16).

Because of danger to his life, the Roman authorities in Jerusalem sent Paul to Caesarea for trial. The apostle gave a bold witness to Christ during his hearings before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. Under house arrest for two years at Caesarea, Paul eventually used his Roman citizenship to appeal to Caesar for a hearing (Acts 23:23- 26:32).

Tel Dan and Ceasarea Philippi

As if our time with Kay in Chorazin were not enough to absorb and contemplate for a day, we are off to lunch and on to Tel Dan. It is so wonderful to be so well taken care of and to be able to board a comfortable bus without a care as to the route taken, knowing that when we arrive the food will be excellant and plentiful and the sights beyond will take our breath away! I don't believe it will get any better until we view the New Jerusalem!

Anytime you travel it is always good to see the universal knife and fork!!

Today we had lunch at the Hagoshrim Kibbutz Resort and Hotel. Sorry, no pics of the food. They had several buffet tables and my hands were full. :) I will point out that all of our meals were Kosher which meant that no dairy was served along with meat. That said we had a long buffet table of creamy desserts and ice cream every night in Jerusalem but it was made with soy! If you are frowning, then you should appreciate that we all fought over the ice cream bowl! (Did I say fought over - OK, perhaps a healthy tussle would be a better description! Ha!)

Tel Dan

Tel Dan is a part of the Tel Dan Nature Reserve which is only about 120 acres. The reserve features three trails and the one we are on will take us to the ruins of the Canaanite city of Laish.

"This gate, which was approached on a stepped path, is built of three arches. The arches, the piers supporting them, the the towers flanking the gate are constructed of sun-baked bricks and were covered with white plaster. The gate has survived to it's full height of seven meters. Today it is possible to see only the outer arch."

This is one of the oldest arched gates in the world dating back to the 18th century BCE. According to the Bible (Genesis 14;13-16) it is outside these gates that Abraham fought a battle against the 4 kings in order to free his nephew Lot.

Two outstanding women of the faith whom I love - Kay and Tommye from Precept Ministries.

Two amazed women of the faith happy to be in such wonderful company!!

Above is a picture of the Israelite city gate which has been heavily reconstructed. The famous "House of David" stele or sign was found outside this gate.

Thanks to the Bet Ussishkin, a small nature museum in nearby Kibbutz Dan, this is a picture of the stele found in the marketplace in Dan outside the Israelite gate. This inscription is important because it represents the oldest textual reference to the historical King David ever found!

"Following the division of the Kingdon of Solomon in 930 BCE, Jeroboam son of Nebat established a cult at Dan as an alternative to the one at the Temple in Jerusalem. He placed a golden calf in the city and built a house of high places. In the Hellenistic period, the cultic precinct was surrounded by a wall that is visible to this day. A bilingual (Greek-Aramaic) inscription found at this site attests to the sanctity of the precinct."

Jeroboam looked upon religion as a tool of the state, not as a strength and the pleasure and the glory of the life of his people. So Jeroboam made two golden calves; one of them he set up before a great altar at Bethel and the other he placed in the land of Dan at the headwaters of the Jordan River.

And, he said, “These be thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” Now, there are two things about that. One is this: it shows the deep, basic unbelief of King Jeroboam, for God had said to him, “You walk in My commandments and I will establish your house forever.” He did not have to fear or to worry about that dread, that the people might return back to Jerusalem and to Rehoboam, for God had promised him, “You obey My commandments and walk in My laws, and I will establish your house forever.” But, Jeroboam didn’t believe the Word of God.

Area where Jeroboam would have set up the golden calves of Dan. The stairs located in the right of the picture lead to the high place.

Altar Chamber

The gate throne where the judges and even kings would sit to hear lawsuits brought before the city elders. Lawsuits were routinely conducted at the city gate for several reasons. It was a naturally open place to assemble witnesses; it was the literal and symbolic hub of the town’s public affairs; and many cities housed divine icons, which might serve as ritual object in oath taking.

Tel Dan Post

I am standing at the Tel Dan Post where the "Water War" between Syria and Israel took place. In 1923, the British Mandate of Eretz Israel and French Mandate area of Syria and Lebanon drew a line with a lead pencel to reflect the Biblical verse, "from Dan to Beersheeva". Both sides claimed sovereignty over the area covered by the pencil line, which represented 130 meters of land, including 'En Dan, one of the most profuse springs in the Middle East.

In 1964, Syria used the thickness of the pencil line as grounds to claim the right to draw water from the Dan. (Note: The Dan is the largest tributary of the Jordan river and the only source of the Jordan that is wholly located within Israeli territory.) The Syrians built a post in the village of Nohila and stationed tanks there. In respo se, the Israel Defense Forces paved the patrol road and blocked Syrian access to the Dan springs. The Israeli armored forces also used the Tel Dan Post to prevent the Syrians from diverting the sources of the Jordan river.

The picture above was taken when I turned and looked up and behind me where the Israeli Defense/Intelligence Force maintains a post.

This is a picture of the United Nations camp that is maintained down the road from the abandoned Syrian village of Nohila.

Trenches used by the Israeli army until the 1967 Six Day War

In front of the largest tree you see in the picture above is the remains of a burnt-out armored tank.

These pictures are important if for no other reason than to remind us of how close Israel's enemies are to her and how important our support of her is!

" And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Genesis 12:3

Caesarea Philippi/Banias

Situated 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and at the base of Mt. Hermon, Banias is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. It is a beautiful spot that is truly an oasis from the heat! :)

Banias, as well as being a place of great natural beauty, is the site of ancient Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus demanded to know of His disciples who people were saying He was.

And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he charged them to tell no one about him. Mark 8:27-30

Caesarea Philippi was the local center of the Cult of Pan (hence Panias/Banias) and, as being close to the source of the Jordan, had the river gushing out of a cave that led people to declare it was the river Styx, the gateway to the underworld. (You can see the cave above and the water supply is such that it no longer flows from the mouth of the cave.)

Beginning in the 3rd century B.C., sacrifices were cast into the cave as offerings to the god Pan.

The view looking down from the mouth of the cave.

Adjacent to the cave is a rocky escarpment with a series of hewn niches. Archeologists know that statues of the deity were placed in these niches by depictions of such on coins of the city.

One niche housed a sculpture of Echo, the mountain nymph and Pan’s consort. Another niche housed a statue of Pan’s father, Hermes, son of nymph Maia. Inscriptions in the niches mention those who gave large donations.

As always, I am impressed by the detail of the work done at that time.

That is Pat in the distance "getting the shot" and the four women to the right represent Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Africa! And let me just add that we traveled with a wonderful group of people!!

A picture of the countryside as we are headed back to Tiberius and the hotel. I am sorry I haven't included any of the teaching by Kay and her son, David which was awesome but this post is a little long!! And to think this is just the end of day one!!!

Chorazin...

The Cursed City

We know from scripture that Jesus did many miracles in this city. These people witnessed the mighty power of God in their streets for the better part of three years. Yet, it seemed to make no difference in their lives, Jesus finally said: "Woe to you, Korazin...If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you" Matthew 11:21-22

I thought I would include the above sign in case you wanted to try your hand at a new language!

And who could resist such beauty blooming where it is left unattended.

Our guide "Uncle Kenny" born in New Orleans raised in Israel.

The majority of the structures are made from black basalt, a volcanic rock found locally. The main settlement dates to the 3rd and 4th centuries. A mikvah, or ritual bath, was also found at the site.Houses in the central quarter. In front of them is the main street of the city.

Barley was growing wildly in the adjacent fields and it was pointed out that it is one of the seven firstfruits. Can you guess the other six?

The entrance to the Synagogue was decorated, and the reconstructed gable is located on the floor of the outer court and shown above.

This is the view of the south entrance and the outer court. It was accessed from the main street by a staircase, and there were 3 doors (the restored structure shows only the side door on the left and the central door on the right). A part of the decorated top of the door is seen on the floor.

The 3rd century synagogue was destroyed in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 5th.

Our group (yellow bus) listening to Kenny, who you can't see, but can follow our bus hostess Diane who you could always find because of the yellow umbrella! :) (Bob and Diane were our host and hostess in Greece, as well, and given the opportunity we would travel with them again!! They're the best!!)

I am always amazed at the detail of the work that was done so long ago.

A decorated conch which probably flanked the Ark of the Law.

The 'seat of Moses'.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. Matthew 23:1-3

And, sadly, a Medusa was found built right into the synagogue wall!! It's presence shows an assimilation with the Greek and pagan practices of the time. Perhaps this, too, helps to explain the curse on this town. A town that had the King of Kings come to visit regularly and were witness to many miracles and generations later still could not stay faithful to the one true God!

A message for us as well! When we present ourselves to the world as God's covenant people we must be true to God and His Word or He will judge us!

"You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins." Amos 3:2