Tuesday, Oct. 22, Luke 9:21-22,51

This is the day we arrive in Jerusalem.  But the journey there is another significant opportunity to see locations where important Biblical events took place.  Here is the itinerary.  You will note that most “Jerusalem” activities for this day were not accomplished.  Once you get in the vicinity of the City the traffic becomes difficult and we are soon just interested in getting to our hotel.  And you will note we had additional things to do at the end of the day.  More on that later.

·       Hwy. 60 N (Jerusalem to Shechem/Nablus; Way of the Patriarchs; Judges 21:19).  Just being on this road is an event.  The route of the patriarchs matches today’s highway from Shechem (Nablus) to Beer-Sheva. 

o   Abraham (Gen. 12:6-9; 13:1-18)

o   Jacob (Gen. 28:10-22; 33:18-20; 35:1-29)

o   “Hill Country of Ephraim” (Josh. 7:14-18; 1 Sam. 1)

·       Mt. Gerizim (John 4:20-26).  This Israeli National Park is much improved and there is a little more activity there these days.  Still most larger tours do not go this far into the West Bank.  This provides us an opportunity to see the twin mountains (Gerizim and Ebal) as well as to see modern Nablus and the memorial sites of Jacob’s Well and Joseph’s tomb from a distance.  (We are not allowed to take the rental car into Nablus.)  Furthermore, we get a great understanding of the religion of the Samaritans, a religion which dates back to the years after the Assyrian deportation of the northern ten tribes.  The woman at the well brought it up, referring to Gerizim (“this mountain”) as the place of worship.  Samaritans believe Mt. Gerizim IS Mt. Moriah, the place where Abraham offered Isaac to the Lord.  There are many other inconsistencies between the Samaritans’ version of the Torah (Pentateuch, first five books of the OT) and our version.  Their version is claimed to be ancient but has never been submitted to anyone for authentication regarding its age.

o   Mt. Ebal (Josh. 8:30-35)

o   Shechem/Nablus (Gen. 12:6; 33:18-20; 34)

o   Jesus and the woman at the well (John 4)

·       Shiloh (Josh. 18:1-10; Psa. 78:56-64; Jer. 7:12-15).  This private site has added a very nice “hologram” presentation of the designs of the tabernacle, temple, and the intermediate edifice that was at Shiloh after the Israelites entered the land.  We had our lunch/picnic here today (kind of cleaning out the cooler and food bag as this was the last picnic; as of this writing no one has died or even seemed to be sick to their stomach). 

·       Bethel.  One of the most important Biblical cities. 

o   Abraham, Jacob (he had a dream here, Gen. 28:10-22)

o   Look for “Ebenezer”, Gibeon

o   Altar of Jeroboam (1 Ki. 12:25-33)

·       Jerusalem.  We arrived to three tenors singing “The Holy City.”  We pointed out Mt. Scopus and then made it for Haas Promenade so we could give an introductory view of the Old City that is clearly visible from this location on “Abraham’s Ridge” (the ridge where Abraham first saw “The Land of Moriah” and the mountain God had chosen for him to offer Isaac).  Then we made it for our hotel to get checked in.  Dinner for most of the group was at Focaccia’s.  John Swenson and I went to Tel Aviv to pick up some suitcases we had left at our first guesthouse (Beit Immanuel) and then to return the rental car.  The Swensons are going from Israel to visit their missionary-son and family in Turkey and then on to Africa for a month of missions’ support.  The bags are items requested or needed at those locations.  We were happy to be part of their ministry.

o   Mt. Scopus

o   Haas Promenade

o   Ramat Rachel

§  Shepherd’s Fields (Lk. 2:8; Ruth 1-4)

o   Rachel’s tomb (Gen. 35:16-20)

o   Herodian