ATS Israel Study Trip, December 28, 2006 to January 10, 2007
Director/Guide: Dr. Bryan Widbin
Th Dec 28Leave NY aboard Turkish Air jet.
F Dec 29Arrive Tel Aviv. Transfer to Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv.
Sa Dec 30Patriarchs, Judges and Philistine Wars: Beth Shemesh/Azekah/Lachish/Beersheva. Today we head for the wilderness via the road taken by the Ethiopian eunuch through the lowlands. Our first stop is Beth Shemesh, below the fortress of Zorah where Samson was born. Here we discuss the account of the return of the ark to Israel. Then it is on to Azekah, the setting for David and Goliath. Our view affords us an excellent look at the battlefield. Before lunch, we motor to Lachish, star city of the Judean defense of the hill country during the monarchy and setting for the striking of Sennacherib’s army in the days of Hezekiah. Finally, we visit Beersheva, the southernmost city in Judah and city of Abraham, before quickly moving south through the Wilderness of Zin to the border of the Paran desert. Overnight Ramon Inn, Mizpeh Ramon.
Su Dec 31The Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings: Ein Avdat Hike/Mamshit/Tel Arad/Arad tents. We begin the day with a look at an erosion crater in the desert, a feature much like the Grand Canyon. This is proposed by many as the region of Mount Sinai. Then before lunch we hike a ravine (Wadi Avdat) surely used by the wandering Hebrew tribes to get a feel for survival for forty years in this desert environment. If time we visit the Nabatean outpost of Mampsis, where caravans stopped during the days of Jesus. Finally, we head for the Judean wilderness along the route taken by the early Israelites in their failed attempt to take Canaan from the southern approach. Here we visit Solomon’s fortress of Arad where the soldiers of Judah protected the southeastern flank of the kingdom. There is found the only existing Israelite temple from the days of the monarchy. After this, we stop in the desert to enjoy the hospitality of the desert people, eating hafla with them and bedding down for the night in their tents. You’ll hear the “sounds of silence” heard by Elijah in this region so far from the hustle and bustle of our world. Overnight and hafla in Arad tents.
M Jan 1More Intrigue in the Wilderness with the Negev and Dead Sea Regions: Camel Trek/Masada/Ein Gedi swim. We rise very early this morning for a camel trek through the highlands of the eastern Negev near Arad. Then after a hearty breakfast with the Bedouin, we move east on an ancient desert road to the back side of the fortress of Masada where fanatical Zealots stood to the last against 15,000 Roman troops. We’ll ascend the fortress on foot up the siege ramp built by the Romans to subdue the Zealots before an unforgettable visit to the palaces and battlements of the site. Then we head down via cable car over a thousand feet to the level of the Dead Sea (lowest point on earth) and there swim in this most unique body of water (32% salt!) before retiring for the evening at a kibbutz on its western shore near where David hid from Saul. Overnight Kibbutz Ein Gedi Guest House.
T Jan 2From the Land of Milk to the Land of Honey: Nahal David Hike/Qumran/Beth Shean/Nain. Rise and shine to a hike up the ravine where David hid from Saul. There we consider the details of Psalm 23, with a remarkable context for David's words. After this, we visit the settlement that produced the Dead Sea scrolls, at Qumran. Then after lunch it’s on to Galilee stopping at the capital of Palestina secunda, the amazing remains of the decapolis city of Scythopolis. Contrasting this stop, we pause briefly for a look at Nain, where Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead. And then it is on to the Sea of Galilee and our residence on the southern shore for the next several days. Overnight Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar.
W Jan 3Jesus and Days of Boyhood, Commencement and Distinction: Nazareth/Chorazim/Fish Lunch/Capernaum/Boat Ride. Our day begins with a drive through the hills of lower Galilee to Nazareth, boyhood home of our Lord. After considering the context of Jesus’ rearing we look at the years of his public ministry around the sea, beginning at Chorazin and then examine the remains at his “own city” of Capernaum. After a fish lunch beside the sea, the day climaxes with a boat ride across the sea and a discussion of the importance of the sea at the time of Jesus. Overnight Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar.
Th Jan 4Border Sites and a Time of Exiting: Kursi/Dan/Banyas/Gamla. Our first stop of the day is at the site of Kursi/Gergesa where Jesus cast the demons into the swine herd. Then we head north to the city of Dan on the northern border of the kingdom where Jeroboam erected one of his golden calves. Before lunch we visit Caesarea Philippi and consider Peter’s confession of Christ against this background. Then it is on to lunch in a Druze village on the Syrian border and a look at the Damascus road where Paul’s life was forever changed. After a brief stop at Gamla, where zealot battled Vespasian’s 10th legion in the early days of the revolt, we return to our kibbutz for the night’s rest. Overnight Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar.
F Jan 5A Pilgrimmage to the Holy City: Muhraqa/Megiddo/Ein Harod/Jericho. We leave Galilee on our pilgrimmage to Jerusalem as did the tribes so often throughout the days of the first and second temple. Circling the hills of lower Galilee, we speed to Mount Carmel where Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal. Then we rim the valley of Armageddon on our way to Megiddo, which gives us a good sense of a typical Old Testament city. Finally, we stop on the Harod Spring where Gideon pared down his men against the Midianites. A brief stop at Jericho ends our day of review of Old Testament Israel before heading up again to Jerusalem. Overnight Notre Dame Hospice, Jerusalem.
Sa Jan 6FREE DAY. A welcome break after our journeys to begin to get acquainted with the Holy City. We’ll do a recap session in the morning and introduce you to the layout of the city highlighting some possibilities for spending your free day. Overnight Notre Dame Hospice, Jerusalem.
Su Jan 7Jerusalem: City of David/Western Wall/Hezekiah’s Development/The Citadel. Today we explore. the development of Jerusalem throughout the biblical period. We begin at the hill conquered by David from the Jebusites and then visit the western retaining wall of Herod’s temple, fully laying out the temple square delineated by Solomon. After lunch in the upper city, we’ll visit with an orthodox Jew to get a better feel for his faith and for the importance of Jerusalem to Judaism, then look at remains of Hezekiah’s development of the city on the western hill. Our final stop examines Herod’s fortified palatial estate at the Citadel overlooking the valley of Hinnom and there view multiple models and schematics of Jerusalem’s development from Canaanite times to the present. Overnight Notre Dame Hospice, Jerusalem.
M Jan 8The Birth of Jesus and the Jerusalem of Jesus’ Day: Wohl Archaeological Museum/Southern Wall Excavations/Bethlehem/Model at Holy Land Hotel. A short walk through the Christian Quarter of the Old City begins our day to the quarter of the Sadducees where we visit their dwellings 10 feet below the present day level of the old city. After this we walk down to the southern staircase of the temple to get a complete impression of the Jerusalem that Jesus knew. Before lunch it’s on to Bethlehem and a discussion of the events of Jesus’ birth from the area of the town where Jesus was born. After lunch we’ll visit a 1:50 scale Model of Jerusalem to secure in our minds the details of the city. This will be most helpful for our walk through the events on passion week on Saturday. Overnight Notre Dame Hospice, Jerusalem.
T Jan 9Passion Week and Jesus Finishes His Ministry on Earth: Mount of Olives/Dominus Flevit Church/Gethsemane/St. Peter in Gallicantu/Holy Sepulchre. We start the day with a panorama of the eastern side of the city, then visit the events of Jesus’ weeping over the city as well as his passion in the Garden of Gethsemane. A most memorable stop follows at the house of Caiaphas and a discussion of the Jewish and Roman trials of Jesus. After lunch we walk with Jesus to the place of his crucifixion and there consider the meaning of the resurrection for early Christians and ourselves. A last night Middle Eastern barbeque caps our experience wonderfully. Overnight Notre Dame Hospice, Jerusalem.
W Jan 10Depart Turkish Air, Tel Aviv to New York.