This weekend, meaning last weekend because i haven't gotten a chance to spend any extensive time online in the past week, was incredible. For my physical settings of the Bible class we spent three day wandering around the southern half of Israel. Some highlights: we visited the sorek valley, which is where Samson grew up and defended Israel for 20 years; we also went into the Elah valley, where David defended Israel in Saul's stead and killed Goliath; we also hung out at Azekah, which is where Joshua chased the Amorites down to when they joined forces against him - read joshua 10, it's awesome! The kings are terrified of Joshua, so they come up to wage war against Gibeon which has become his ally, and the Israelites chase them way down south as God has the sun stand still - this is insane, i have to quote verse 11 for you: "And as they fled before Isarael, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword." Is that not the coolest thing in the world? ; then we went on to Lachish, which was Israel's strongest southerneastern city during the reign of the kings - Sennacherib, when he came through and devestated Israel until crushed by the angel of the Lord in Jerusalem, boasted most of conquering the fortress of Lachish out of all his conquest in Judah because Lachish was such a power house; we ended the day swimming in the Mediteranean Sea. The next day we hung out in the "vast and terrible desert" way down south. And Saturday we went up the coast of the Dead Sea: We spent a good deal of time exploring Masada, after which we swam in the Dead Sea and headed over the spring of En Gedi where David often went in hiding from Saul. We ended the day at Qumran where they found the Dead Sea scrolls. The trip was intense to say the least.
Where do i start in telling stories? If i have time, i'll try to write something about Samson that might give a different perspective than we're used to or at least than i'm used to. I think for now i'll just put up some pictures and hopefully i'll have more time later to write more - ha! that's wistful thinking!
Pictures
Here is the Elah Valley. I am standing on top of the hill were the Philistine armies were encamped against Israel in the story of David and Goliath.
This, my friends, is the very stream David went to get his five stones. You too can go to this stream, which is now covered by those nice buildings for your convenience, and get a stone from the stream. Who knows, it could be a stone that was there when David picked out his stones. Of course, it's highly unlikely since they ship in the rocks by the truckload from other parts of Israel so that tourists can pick themselves a stone, but you know, the thought is what truly counts.
Welcome to the canyons of the "vast and terrible wilderness." The only life here is a few small bushes in the creek at the bottom, the rest is dry and dusty.
Ok, try to picture this: i am taking this picture looking down from the top of a cliff we just hiked up. The windy thing is our trail. How in the world did we survive?!
Now that you have an idea how steep the canyon is, picture this guy casually walking along it as though it were a flat surface. I can't remember their names, but these are the animals the book "Hinds feet in High Places" was written about. THe book is about the verse that says God will make our steps sure on the rocks - or something like that, don't quote me on that one, i'm not positive. Anyways, the idea is that God will make our walk like their walk, not that life will be smooth, but that he will make our step sure. These animals could have jogged along the side of the cliff if they wanted, which they did once or twice. Not along the top edge or bottom edge, but right in the middle of the cliff, halfway up where you would think it is impossible to go without climbing gear. It's a neat picture of God's guidance.
Here's a closer look thanks to the zoom on Ben's camera. They are fun guys to pet.... just kidding. i know, no petting animals in Israel, they might have rabies. I'm behaving, I promise : )
Ben, my roomate, victorious after conquering the mountain.
I was victorious too.
Down south in the Negev, aka. "vast and terrible wilderness," we saw this temple likely built by Solomon. What you are looking at is the Holy of Holies area. The little stands in the front are the incense alters that went up as an aroma to God. The Temple in Jerusalem would have been a similar set-up, though there would only have been one. Here there are two. Odd... so one to God Almighty and one to some other god? Not cool. Perhaps this is the similar to the reference of "Yahweh and His Asherah"? Asherah was the wife goddess of Ba'al, so perhaps here they just put her in with God Almighty to keep Him company.
"When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." - 1 Kings 11:4
An attempt at a visual of what the creators of this abomination might have been thinking...
What should have been done to the temple the moment it was built! That was for Dr. Beyer, our amazingly godly professor at CIU.
This is a four horned alter like the one that would have been in the Temple of Jerusalem. Benito is being sacrificed by Benaiah.
Our last stop Friday was Maktesh Ramon.
This is a much more accurate picture of the Maktesh - which means crator/canyon. I have never seen such an awestriking vastness in any my imaginations. You feel tiny when you look at something in God's creation like this canyon.
That's all I have time for now, I'll try to get more pictures up later from Saturday. But wow, what a weekend.
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