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| Beit She'an, ancient Roman city built on the site where the Philistines hung King Saul's body |
Our days are very full but also very enriching. I have especially learned a lot about the Old Testament and the meaning of many of the images and places I have taken for granted or overlooked through the years. I also have a new appreciation for the ancient world's struggle for water as it is in many parts of the world today. Although King Herod ends up being on the wrong is side in the story of Jesus' birth, he was a brilliant ruler, engineer, and military leader. Remains of his palaces still stand as a testimony to his reign and power.
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| Amazing ingenuity for aqua ducts and water movement is found in many locations. |
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| Masada, one of King Herod's palace fortresses |
We try to make about 4 locations a day. We leave early in the morning from our hotel in Jerusalem, travel around and then return about 6:30 p.m. for supper to the same hotel. It has been good to have a home base and it also helps to get a perspective on the distances. Everything is much closer than I expected. For example, Bethlehem is only 6 miles from Jerusalem and many places are visible from hill to hill with our hikes up to see the vista.
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| The maps are filling up with information and places |
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| Kirk in a manger |
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| Having a wonderful time with rain & sunshine, heat and cool |
We checked out of our hotel in Jerusalem today to spend the rest of our time studying the area around the Sea of Galilee. It will give us a sense of where Jesus grew up and spent much of his time teaching and preaching. It is also a whole other kind of geography. We are staying in a lovely resort on the water but closed the day but watching the sun set from the area where the Sermon on the Mount may have taken place.
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| Sunset over the Sea of Galilee |
Hope these pictures get you excited to see these sites for yourself in 2017.
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