Beit Shean
Day 4 October 29 This morning we said goodbye to the lovely, peaceful, green area of the Galilee. We are heading down the Jordan Valley (the Rift Valley) to the Dead Sea. As we travelled, Eli pointed out the various towns and areas that were home to Biblical characters. Places where the scripture told us about. Elijah, Saul and Jonathan’s battles, and where Saul met with the witch at Endor. Sort of amazing to actually see the places that the Bible talks about. As we traveled we were very close the Jordan and the border fence. We went into the “West Bank” and then into Israel again. We stopped at Beit Shean a Roman city. In 1 Samuel 31 it tells the story of Israel’s defeat by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa and King Saul and Jonathan were killed. Their bodies were hung on the city walls of Beit Shean (31:10). We explored the ruins of the Roman city built below on flat ground. It was so interesting to see the theater, the market, homes, bath house, and city streets uncovered after so many centuries. There Ed Smelser shared the parable that Jesus gave in this city about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Our hearts were moved by the Father’s love for his son who returned. We left there and continued down the valley, passing Jericho, to Qsar el Yahud. This is a location where many believe that John the Baptist baptized and Jesus was possibly baptized. It is right on the border between Israel and Jordan. There were military present because right across the river was Jordan. Many people were being baptized here, but the water was very dirty. Jericho dumps their waste into the waters upstream. Our next stop was Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. We learned about the Essenes and their community life here. We walked around the ruins and looked across to the cave openings on the hillsides where the scrolls were found. Next stop was the Ahava Outlet and Factory. Many in the states know of this product and cosmetic line. Prices were great. Then on to our hotel at the Dead Sea. Right on the shores of the Dead Sea. Some enjoyed floating in the Sea or taking a spa treatment. What a great place to rest up for the rest of the journey. Tomorrow we head to Masada and then up to Jerusalem.