Learn about Ashdod and the 5 cities of the Philistines. What all happened in Ashdod? What is its history? Who were the Philistines, where did they come from, and where did they live? They are mentioned in many places in the Old Testament and were the enemies of the Israelites. The Other Cities Were: Ekron, Ashkelon, Gaza, and Gath. Biblical Ashdod Photo Gallery Places of Interest Ashdod 1. Ashdod is located on the Mediterranean Sea and is the northernmost city of the five Philistine cities. 2. It's about 18 miles (29 km) south of Jaffa and Tel Aviv. 3. Tel Ashod is just about 2.5 miles (4.5 km) inland from the sea. It remains in its natural form and has had some excavations carried out but not extensive ones. 4. It appears that the city was large and extended all the way to the sea, or had another part of the city that was by the sea. 5. During the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua and the Israelites, giants known as Anakim were found here (Josh. 11:22). Ashdod was allotted to Judah, but they failed to conquer it (Josh. 13:3, 15:46–47). 6. During the time of Samuel, Ashdod and the other main cities of the Philistines were still independent. 7. Ashdod was conquered and came under the authority of Assyria around 711 BC. Later, Babylon also conquered it around 605 BC. 8. In later times, the Ashdod-Yam Fortress (also called Qal’at el-Mina) was built by Caliph Abd al-Malik (685-705 AD) at the end of the seventh century AD on the ruins of a Byzantine settlement. The fortress was part of a coastal defense system designed to prevent a Byzantine invasion from the sea. The system consisted of a string of strongholds along the Mediterranean Sea situated in sight of one another. In times of danger, messages were conveyed using fire beacons (at night) and smoke signals (during the day). In 1033, the fortress was destroyed by an earthquake and abandoned. It was reconstructed and resettled during the Crusader Period (12th and 13th centuries AD). Its name was changed to Castellum Beroart. It was finally abandoned after the Crusaders were banished from the country in 1290. Places of Interest 1. Tel Ashdod 2. Ashdod-Yam Fortress Ashdod in the Bible 1. The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and took it to Ashdod, and placed it in the House of Dagon (their false god). 1 Samuel 5:1-2: Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod . 2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon , and placed it beside Dagon. The Ark may have resided in the house of their false god, Dagon, which could have been by the sea. From Ashdod, the Ark was taken to Gath. 2. God revealed Himself as the Lord of Lords to the Philistines by making their false god, Dagon, bow down and submit to Him. 1 Samuel 5:3-4: When the Ashdodites got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 4 But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. 3. God struck the people of Ashdod with tumors to show them He was the true God. 1 Samuel 5:6-7: Now the hand of the Lord was heavy on the Ashdodites , and He made them feel devastated and struck them with tumors , both Ashdod and its territories. 7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, because His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.” 4. God prophesied that a people of mixed origins or nationalities would live in Ashdod and among the Philistines. This was certainly fulfilled in history and can even be seen today. Zechariah 9:6: And a people of mixed origins will live in Ashdod , and I will eliminate the pride of the Philistines . 5. Ashdod was the recipient of many prophecies proclaiming its doom and destruction. Isaiah 20:11, Amos 1:8, Jeremiah 25:20, and Zechariah 2:4, 9:6. However, Ashdod continued to be inhabited as the Jews intermarried with its inhabitants after their return from Babylon (Neh. 13:23–24). 6. In the New Testament, Ashdod is called Azotus. Acts 8:40: But Philip found himself at Azotus , and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. Faith Lesson from Ashdod 1. God revealed Himself as the Creator and true Lord to the Philistines on different occasions so they would know He was the true God. God reveals Himself to everyone through His creation, so that no one can claim to be without excuse. Romans 1:18-20: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse . 3. Any person from any nation was welcome to join in the Jewish faith, obtain salvation, and be right with God. The Philistines had this opportunity, like every other nation. 4. What about us? Are we right with God and letting our lights shine to a world that needs God and His salvation through Jesus Christ?

Tour Mount Nebo & all the sites of interest. It's the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land and died. Learn why Moses was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. Mount Nebo & Moses Overview Mt. Nebo & Moses Overview Mount Nebo is in the country of Jordan today. However, it was originally part of the Promised Land. It was conquered by the Israelites and then possessed by 2 1/2 tribes of Israel (Rueben, Gad, and 1/2 of Manassah). Location 1. Mount Nebo is a high mountain in Moab where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. It rises more than 4,000 feet or 1,200 meters above the Dead Sea. 2. It is located on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. 3. This site is on the highest place of the mountains in this area. It fits the biblical description of being on the peak of a mountain opposite Jericho. 4. Arc haeology, history, eyewitness accounts, and the Bible all support this site as the authentic place where Moses reached the end of his ministry. 5. There is no reason to dispute this site as the authentic place where Moses looked over the Promised Land. It's quite sobering to be in the very footsteps of Moses and ponder this place and site. Historical Background 1. The word "Nebo " was a reference to the Mesopotamian god, Nabu . From this false god, world leaders would attach it to their name. For example, Nebuchadnezzar did this. It would be like saying, "god Nebuchadnezzar." Nebuchadrezzar was king of Babylonia from approximately 605 BC until approximately 562 BC and is mentioned around 90 times in the Bible, most of which is in the book of Daniel. In biblical history, Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for conquering Judah and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC. 2. M ount Nebo has a long history of religious significance because it's believed to be where Moses stood to view the Promised Land before his death. 3. According to the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses died on Mount Nebo and was buried in Moab. 4. Sometime before 300 AD, a structure was built here to venerate this site. Its date seems unknown at this time. 5 . In the 4th century AD, a sanctuary mentioned by the pilgrim nun Egeria was built on Mount Nebo to honor Moses. This was certainly built upon the site of an even older structure. The church was finished by 394 AD and had three east apses flanked by funerary chapels on the north and south sides. 6. In the 6th century, the church was enlarged and transformed into a basilica with a sacristy and new baptistery (whose surviving floor mosaics date from c.530 AD). Soon the church was the heart of a large monastery and pilgrimage center that would thrive for nearly six centuries. The basilica still stands on Mount Nebo today and contains a fascinating collection of Byzantine mosaics. 7. The site was abandoned by 1564 and remained abandoned and neglected for several centuries. The Franciscans bought the site in 1932 and were responsible for excavating most of the church and monastery's ruins and reconstructing much of the basilica. During this period, a protective shelter was installed over the archaeological remains to protect them. Today, Mount Nebo is an active Franciscan monastery and the headquarters of the Franciscan Archaeological Institute. Sites of Interest Bianchi Sculpture The first site on the path to the Moses Memorial Church is a rock sculpture by Vincenzo Bianchi, commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul II to Mount Nebo, in the year 2000. Pope John Paul II visited the Mount Nebo in holy land, and during his visit to the Moses Memorial Church he also planted an olive tree. Mount Nebo Siyagha Memorial of Moses Stone Just past the Bianchi Scupture Stone is a large rock commemorating Moses. Abu Badd Rolling Sto ne This rolling stone was used as a fortified door of a Byzantine monastery in the old village of Faisaliyah, once known as Kufr Abu Badd. Some say this stone may be from the Tomb of Jesus. It stands today‬ as a memorial to ‪Moses, marking where it's thought Moses stood to look at the “Promised Land.” Moses Memorial Church A church was first constructed in the second half of the 4th century to commemorate the place where Moses died. The church design follows a typical basilica pattern. It was enlarged in the late fifth century AD and rebuilt in 597 AD. It has a large number of mosaics that date back to 530 AD. The mosaics have been well preserved and portray images of wildlife and hunting, a common pastime in the Byzantine era. The church is first mentioned in an account of a pilgrimage made by a lady name d Aetheria in 394 AD. Six tombs have been found hollowed from the natural rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church. In 1989 a new shelter consisting of a complete basilica was built over the ancient church. The Ancient Baptistery On the left side of the Memorial Church of Moses is the excavated Baptistery, complete with the most spectacular mosaics ever excavated. These magnificent mosaics are dated to August 531, thanks to an inscription in Greek. It also lists the three workers on this project and the Bishop when it was built. The Bishop listed was Elias. Theotokos Chapel This chapel was dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, and was added about 604 CE at the time of Bishop Leontius. It's located next to the exit door and was added in the 7th century, where three monastery rooms previously stood. Its apse has a mosaic of a square object that may be a vessel for the Eucharist. The floor of the chapel is paved with mosaics of plants and flowers. Diakonikon Baptistery The Diakonikon Baptistery inside the rebuilt basilica houses several remains of antique mosaics. Narthex This marks the entrance to the old church structure. The Brazen Serpent Monument The Brazen Serpent is a sculpture situated on Mount Nebo. It has become so popula r that it is now recognized as the symbol of Mount Nebo. It was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni and is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14). A glimpse of the serpent protected one from the deadly plague God sent. Memorial Viewpoint A small sign at the viewpoint has lines pointing to some of the major landmarks visible from Mount Nebo, and if the day is clear, you can see all the way to Jerusalem itself. Ancient Monastery On the highest se ction of this site, the complete remains of an ancient Byzantine church and the original monastery can be seen. These were found in the excavation of 1933. The walls of this ancient monastery can be seen as you exit and go outside. Caves on Mount Nebo According to extra-biblical legend, the prophet Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave on Mount Nebo and said that this "place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy" (2 Maccabees 2:7). Museum The Mount Nebo Interpretation Center is a small, single-room museum at this site. Inside are several reconstructions of mosaics, a Roman milestone from the area, and a number of smaller archaeological finds from the surrounding areas. Mt. Nebo & Mo ses in the Bible 1. Mt. Nebo is where the ministry of Moses ended; he looked at the Promised Land from a distance and died. Deuteronomy 32:48-52: Now the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying, 49 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo , which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho , and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession. 50 Then you are to die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52 For you will see the land at a distance but you will not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.” Deuteronomy 34: 1-6: Moses ascended from the desert plain of Moab toward Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the entire land, from Gilgal as far as Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire territory of Judah all the way to out over the sea, 3 including the Negev, the Arabah, the valley of Jericho, and the city of the palm trees as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord told him: “This is the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by an oath when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ I’ll let you see it with your eyes, but you won’t cross over there.” 5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. 6 He was buried in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab, but no one knows to this day where his burial place is. 2. The life of Moses can be divided into three 40-year periods. From birth to fleeing to the land of Midian in Arabia. During this period, he was raised in Egyptian royalty and prestige. He knew he was called to deliver God's people. During this period, he could be classified as a "somebody." After killing an Egyptian in his attempt to deliver God's people by his own power and might, he fled to Midian, where he married and became a shepherd. During this period, he could be classified as a "nobody." Then God supernaturally moved in his life, and by God's hand, he delivered God's people and led them to Mt. Nebo, just on the edge of the Promised Land. During this period, he could be classified as an "everybody." 3. We should realize that Moses was a godly man who was used greatly by God. He was very humble and sought to please God in everything. Deuteronomy 12:3: Now the man Moses was very humble , more than any person who was on the face of the earth. 4. However, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land because of a major sin he committed. This sin is often overlooked, and God is viewed as harsh and overreacting. 5. What was this major sin, and why did God forbid Moses from entering the Promised Land after he had served God for 40 long, difficult years? There are two accounts where God provides water from a large rock supernaturally. Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land due to how he treated the rock, which represented God and Christ. 6. Account 1 Exodus17:1-7: Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why is it that you have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What am I to do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock , and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 Then he named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” In this first account of the rock and water, Moses obeys God fully, so God is pleased with Moses. 7. Account 2 Numbers 20:1-13: Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 3 Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! 4 Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; 7 then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.” 9 So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock ?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff ; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. In this account, God is displeased with Moses. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them .” 13 Those were called the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them. First, we must understand that the rock represents God and Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4: For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; 2 and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ . 8. The three sins of Moses that prevented him from entering the Promised Land. 1. He did not trust God. “Since you d id not trust in Me" 2. He did not treat God as Holy in the sight of the Israelites. “Since you d id not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel" 3. He acted in anger toward the people and God. Psalm 106:32-33: They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went badly for Moses on their account. 33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. Faith Lesson 1. Moses was very humble and greatly used by God. What about us? Humility is not viewing ourselves as worthless but means that we rely upon God and not ourselves. 2. Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land because he did not trust in God the second time he was to bring water from the rock, which represented God and Christ. What about us? Do we follow God in the midst of storms and pressure? It's when we're under pressure and extreme stress that we reveal the depth of our spiritual maturity and faith. 3. Moses did not treat God as holy in the sight of the people he led. What about us? Do we treat God as holy and honor Him in our dealings with others? 4. Moses was angry with God's people and God. What about us? Do we deal harshly and angrily with others? 5. Even though God forgave Moses, there were still consequences for his sin. We see this also in the life of King David. What about us? Do we realize that God forgives us but doesn't always remove the consequences of our sins? Also, sometimes it takes time for the consequences to heal.

Why is the Holy Land so special? See amazing and interesting facts and truths about Israel, the Holy Land. Videos, maps, books, talks, archaeology, Bible teachings, history, walls, gates, people, and language of the people and places in Israel. Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, Masada, Negev, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Hebron, Shechem, Samaria, Jordan River, Beersheba, and more. Holy Land Overview: Why It's So Special Israel – God’s Chosen Land Israel . . . Land of the Bible . . . Land of Faith . . . the Holy Land, revered throughout recorded history as the cradle of monotheistic religion. For a person of faith whose beliefs are rooted in the Bible, there is no place on earth like the Holy Land. In this narrow strip of land lies the source of religious belief of much of mankind. Here, amongst the barren hills and fertile plains, man’s spirit learned to soar and from here a new message went out to all the world: “. . . and many peoples shall come, and say, “Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For out of Zion (Hill next to Jerusalem) will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3,4). The unique factor about the Holy Land is its special location in the World. Situated as it is, straddling the divide between Africa and Asia, the area has almost always been a battleground. Wave after wave of conquerors poured into it, anxious to control the strategic trade routes linking the centers of the ancient world. It’s not by accident that it’s virtually in the center of the world. In God’s master plan of creation, He decided to place in exactly in the center of His creation. Located on a tiny land bridge between Africa and Asia, there is no other way to get between the two of them except through Israel. It’s located on the crossroads of the world. Whoever wanted to trade between the two continents, or control the known world, had to conquer and control Israel. For this reason there have been more wars and events that have taken place in Israel than any other country on earth. God positioned Israel in its unique location in order to influence the world and be on “Center Stage” so all of creation would know that He alone is God. For nearly 2,000 years, Christian visitors from all over the world have come to the Holy Land, the land of their spiritual heritage. With Bible in hand, they have walked the places Jesus walked, and prayed in the places He preached and prayed. For Christians, Israel is a place like no other. It provides them a one of a kind opportunity to experience the land of the Bible, to deepen their faith, and to be spiritually transformed for a lifetime.

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See the Bible come to life as we take a look at a key event from the Scriptures that took place here. Here in Caesarea is where God gave the Holy Spirit to all mankind through Cornelius, a Gentile. Up until this time, God’s work was mainly focused on the Israelites. Caesarea Maritima: Holy Spirit Given to Gentiles Photo Gallery Places of Interest Caesarea Maritima: Holy Spirit Given to the Gentiles Welcome to the Holy Land and the biblical site of Caesarea. See the Bible come to life as we take a look at a key event from the Scriptures that took place here. Here in Caesarea is where God gave the Holy Spirit to all mankind through Corne lius, a Gentile. Up until this time, God’s work was mainly focused on the Israelites. Here are some key points in this fascinating story to help us better understand it: Cornelius lived here in Caesarea He was a Gentile He was a high-ranking Roman Soldier in a prestigious position He and his family were devout and God-fearing people. He was certainly touched and moved by the Jewish faith and all he knew and saw about the true God of Israel. He gave generously to the needy and prayed regularly. In Acts 10, we find this fascinating story takes place and see it begin with Cornelius receiving a vision, and then asking for the Apostle Peter to visit him and share the good news of the Gospel with him, his family, and friends. Acts 10:1-8: “At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.” Right after Cornelius’ vision, God gives Peter a vision in Joppa. Acts 10:9-11 picks up the story, “About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. In the meantime, several of Cornelius’ servants arrive at the house where Peter was staying. Acts 10:23-24: “Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. Here at Caesarea, God gives the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. Acts 10:34-48 concludes this special account, “Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. So what have we seen in this special account? God loves all people, regardless of their nationality. God is the one who searches and seeks the lost. Do I allow what I think about people to influence whether or not I share my faith with them? In the same way Peter went to go to share the Gospel with Cornelius, am I willing to go and share my faith with others? Do I know God’s Word so I can rightly share it?

See Nazareth, the Church of the Annunciation, Mary's Well, Mary's Home, Synagogue Church, Mount Precipice, St. Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church, and more. Nazareth is where Jesus grew up. Later, Jesus returned to His hometown and was rejected. They were so angry that He claimed to be the Messiah that they attempted to throw Him off a cliff. Nazareth had an estimated population of around 300 during the time of Christ. It’s where the Angel Gabriel announced the miraculous virgin birth to Mary. Nazareth Overview Photo Gallery Places of Interest Nazareth Location 1. Nazareth is in the northern part of Israel in the Lower Galilee area. 2. It’s about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of the Sea of Galilee, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Cana, and about 23 miles (37 km) inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Historical Background 1. Nazareth had an estimated population of around 300 during the time of Christ. 2. It’s a famous town because this is where the Angel Gabriel announced the miraculous virgin birth to Mary. 3. Nazareth is also the place where Jesus grew up. 4. It was a small farming town where everyone knew each other. 5. For some reason, Nazareth had a bad reputation. John 1:43-46: The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? ” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Places of Interest 1. Church of the Annunciation (also known as the Basilica of the Annunciation). This church is built over the site of Mary's home. 2. Mary’s Well 3. Greek Catholic Church 4. Synagogue Church 5. Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation ~ This church is built over the well where it's believed the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. 6. St. Joseph’s Church 7. Mensa Christi Church 8. Greek Catholic Church 9. The Maronite Cliff (in Nazareth) ~ The cliff where they tried to throw Jesus off to kill him. 10. Mt. Precipice (outside of Nazareth) ~ The cliff where they tried to throw Jesus off to kill him. Nazareth In the Bible 1. Nazareth was the home of Joseph and Mary and the place where the angel Gabriel was sent to announce to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Christ, the Messiah. 2. Two churches have been built here to commemorate the events of the annunciation and the life of Mary. Church of the Annunciation: Commemorates the home of Mary and the Annunciation. Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation: Commemorates the Annunciation. Luke 1:26-38: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High . And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 3. After living in Egypt for some time after Christ’s birth, His parents returned to Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. Matthew 2:19-23: But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth , that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene. Luke 2:51–52: And He went down with them and came to Nazareth , and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. 4. Jesus lived in Nazareth until He started His earthly ministry at the age of 30. From Nazareth, Christ relocated and set up His ministry home base in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 4:13–17: And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 5. Jesus was rejected by His own townspeople at Nazareth and was unable to perform many miracles there due to their lack of faith in Him. Luke 4:14-27: And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up . And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23 And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself.' What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well." 24 And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." 6. Those who knew Christ best rejected Him and attempted to throw Him off a cliff near their town. Today, this place is called Mount Precipice. Luke 4:28–30: When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. Faith Lesson from Nazareth 1. Nazareth had a bad reputation. God often places light in the darkness so that the light can illuminate it. Are we being lights where we live? 2. The people of Nazareth largely rejected Christ. It shouldn’t surprise us if we, too, are rejected because of our faith in Christ and adherence to His Word. 3. Christ was rejected, so He understands when our close friends and family members reject us because of our faith in Him. 4. Do we reject Christ by refusing His offer of salvation, by refusing to be obedient to Him, or by not sharing our faith with those around us?

At the Oaks of Mamre is where God made the most important covenant in the Bible. All of humanity would be saved by grace through faith, regardless of what period or testament in the Bible they lived. Nearby to Hebron, see and learn about this place where it all took place. This site of Mamre, known as Ramet Haram Al-Khalil, which means "The Height of the Sanctuary of the Friend." The evidence that this is the place where Abraham met with God is extremely strong. Oaks of Mamre, Hebron Photo Gallery Places of Interest Oaks of Mamre, Hebron Place of Covenant Introduction Welcome to the Oaks of Mamre. Many significant events from the Bible took place in this area. These are the highlights. 1. It was here that God's covenant with Abraham, which would affect the entire world, would be carried out. The covenant established that all humanity would be saved by grace through faith. 2. In an attempt to fulfill God's promise of having a son, Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar, gave birth to Ismael here. 3. God repeats and affirms His covenant with Abraham here and institutes circumcision as a mark of the covenant. 4. God appeared to Abraham here in the form of three angels and confirmed the promise of a son through Abraham and Sarah. 5. From here, God pronounced the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to Abraham because of their extreme wickedness. 6. From here, Abraham went to look down upon the Jordan Valley and witness the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding area. 7. Six different layers of construction have been discovered at this site that we'll be exploring. Location 1. Located within Hebron, Mamre is set in the Judean Mountains about 20 miles (32 km) south of Jerusalem. 2. It stands 3,000 feet (914 m.) above sea level, making it the highest city in Israel. 3. It is located on a well-traveled route that runs north and south through the mountainous part of Israel. Well-known towns such as Beersheba, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Bethel, Shiloh, and Shechem are located along this route. 4. Abraham and the other patriarchs traveled this route repeatedly. Historical Background 1. This site of Mamre, known as Ramet Haram Al-Khalil, which means "The Height of the Sanctuary of the Friend," was first excavated from 1926 to 1928. 2. Six different layers of construction have been discovered at this site: 1. Time of Abraham (2050 BC) Bronze Age pottery during the time of Abraham was discovered at this site, which confirms that it was inhabited during the time of Abraham. 2. Time of the Kingdom of Israel (1000-586 BC) 3. Time of Herod the Great/Early Roman Period (63 BC to 70 AD) 4. Pagan Blood Channel Drain (130-324 AD) 5 . Time of Constantine & the Byzantine Period (324-614 AD) 6. Time of Islamic Period (638 AD and beyond) 3. The evidence that this is the place where Abraham met with God is extremely strong. With this being the case, this site is holy ground because God was here and met face-to-face with Abraham. Places of Interest 1. Layer One ~ 2050 BC Well/Spring Hole in the Bedrock 1 (Oak Tree Location) Hole in the Bedrock 2 (Oak Tree Location) In the rocky terrain of the Middle East, trees will grow up through bedrock if they have sufficient water. This is evidenced by the large holes found at this site. A nearby spring at the site would have provided all the water these great trees would have needed to grow and flourish in the rocky soil. Abraham's Altar 2. Layer Two ~ 1000 BC Kingdom of Israel Structures Just outside the main walls Herod the Great built are two square structures with a passage between them. These are believed to be part of a gate leading into a walled structure around this site that King David constructed. This evidence further supports the view that this site was holy and commemorated. 3. Layer Three ~ 15 BC Roman Wall construction by Herod the Great. 4. Layer Four ~ 130-324 AD Pagan Blood Channel Drain This was used during the early Roman Period to drain blood from the pagan sacrifices made on the original altar Abraham had constructed. 5. Layer Five ~ 324-614 AD Byzantine Basilica Church The apse of the church is visible, pointing east. 6. Layer Six ~ 638 AD Islamic Building Walls Mamre in the Bible (Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant) 1. God's covenant with Abraham (Abram) begins with a call to leave his country and relatives and go to the land of Israel. The first part of the covenant included the land of Israel (Canaan), and that through Abraham, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Genesis 12:1-4: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” 4 So Abram went away as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 2. Abraham obeyed God and went to the land of Israel, known at that time as Canaan. Genesis 12:5-9: Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the people which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; so they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time. 3. God confirms His covenant with Abraham that He would give all the land of Israel. Genesis 12:7-8: And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. 8 Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 4. From Bethel, Abraham traveled south to the Negev area, then lived in Egypt for a while. Genesis 12:9-10: Then Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev. 10 Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a time, because the famine was severe in the land. 5. When the famine was over, Abraham moved back to the Negev. After Lot and Abraham separated, because of the size of their herds, Abraham settled in the place called "The Oaks of Mamre." This would be where Abraham first established his dwelling place in Israel. The Negev is the southern area of Israel. Genesis 13:1: So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him. Genesis 13:18: Then Abram moved his tent and came and lived by the oaks (great trees) of Mamre , which are in Hebron; and there he built an altar to the Lord. 6. It was at the oaks, or great trees of Mamre, that God's covenant with Abraham, which would affect the entire world, would be carried out. It's an amazing, unique event—the most important covenant in the Bible. The covenant established that all humanity would be saved by grace through faith. Genesis 15:1-6: After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram also said, “Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He credited it to him as righteousness . God reaffirms this truth in the New Testament in Galatians 3:6-11: Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness . 7 Therefore, recognize that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham . 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith , preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse ; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” 11 Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “the righteous one will live by faith .” 7. God ratifies the covenant with Abraham at Mamre. Genesis 15:7-16: And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 But he said, “Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?” 9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 And birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the wrongdoing of the Amorite is not yet complete.” 8. Interestingly, instead of both parties walking through the midst of the dead animals, only God walks through them. In ancient times, walking through the animals ratified a covenant, and if any party broke the agreement, they would wind up like the dead animals. Only God walked through the dead animal because the covenant was based on God's faithfulness, not on mankind's efforts. Genesis 15:17-21: Now it came about, when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, a smoking oven and a flaming torch appeared which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the land of the Kenite, the Kenizzite, the Kadmonite, 20 the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.” 9. In an attempt to fulfill God's promise of having a son, Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar, gave birth to Ismael at the Oaks of Mamre. Genesis 16:15-16: So Hagar bore a son to Abram; and Abram named his son, to whom Hagar gave birth, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him. 10. God repeats and affirms His covenant with Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre and institutes circumcision as a mark of the covenant. Genesis 17:1-10: Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. 2 I will make My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall you be named Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land where you live as a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 9 God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised . 11. God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre in the form of three angels and confirmed the promise of a son from Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 18:1-3: Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre , while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he raised his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 12. From Mamre, God pronounced the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to Abraham because of their extreme wickedness. Genesis 18:16-21: Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom ; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19 For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” 20 And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done entirely as the outcry, which has come to Me indicates; and if not, I will know.” 13. From Mamre, Abraham went to look down upon the Jordan Valley and witness the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding area. Genesis 19:27-29: Now Abraham got up early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord; 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah , and toward all the land of the surrounding area; and behold, he saw the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. 29 So it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the surrounding area, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. 14. Later, Abraham moved a little farther south and lived in Beersheba. It was here, twenty-five years after the initial promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son, Isaac was born. Genesis 21:1-2: Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. 2 So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham named his son who was born to him, the son whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Faith Lesson from the Oaks of Mamre & Abraham 1. The Abrahamic Covenant establishes that every person is saved by grace through faith, regardless of whether they lived in the Old Testament period or the New Testament period and beyond. 2. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). In the Old Testament, faith was expressed by believing in God, and then later, when the Law was given at Mt. Sinai, by believing and obeying the sacrificial system. In the New Testament and beyond, faith is expressed in believing in Christ and obeying Him. 3. What about us? Do we believe in Jesus and have we placed our faith in Him for our salvation? 4. Like Abraham, do we believe in the promises of God and the hope of eternal life in heaven with Him? 5. Do we believe it's worth it to love and follow Christ? 6. Do we believe the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18)? 7. Do we believe that our light and momentary affliction is working in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17)? 8. Like Abraham, do we hold on to hope even though things aren't working out the way we think they should and hoped they would?

The church of Dominus Flevit marks the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He entered it on Palm Sunday at His famous, Triumphal Entry from the Mount of Olives. See everything you want to know about this historical event. Triumphal Entry Photo Gallery Places of Interest Triumphal Entry Introduction Welcome to the Triumphal Entry Path. You are on the very path Jesus walked on Palm Sunday, just a few days before He was crucified. 1. The Triumphal Entry was prophesied in the Old Testament. 2. The Triumphal Entry was fulfilled in the New Testament. 3. The Triumphal Entry, which occurred the Sunday before the Passover, was also lamb selection day for the Passover. 4. Christ descended this path to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. 5. The crowd took branches of palm trees and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” 6. On this path, at the place marked by the church, Dominus Flevit, Christ paused and wept over Jerusalem. 7. We're in the very footsteps of Jesus as this was the same route He would have taken. Location 1. The Triumphal Entry begins at the upper part of the Mount of Olives and winds its way down to the bottom of the mountain to the Garden of Gethsemane. 2. A church called, Dominus Flevit, is located halfway down the western slope of the Mount of Olives and marks the place where Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem. Historical Background 1. The Triumphal Entry was a major event in the life of Jesus wherein He entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before He would be crucified (Friday the Passover) and rise from the dead the following Sunday. 2. This event was designed by Christ to broadcast to the Nation of Israel that He was their Passover Lamb. 3. It is also referred to as Palm Sunday because palm branches were laid on the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. 4. It would mark Christ’s last days of intensive teaching and condemnation of the Jews for rejecting Him and His message. 5. It would be the beginning of Christ’s last week on earth. 6. The Dominus Flevit Church was built in 1953 to commemorate this important event. 7. The current church stands on the ruins of a 6th-century Byzantine church. Some mosaics of the church still remain. 8. Dominus Flevit is Latin and means, “the Lord wept.” Places of Interest 1. Bethphage (beginning point of the Triumphal Entry) 2. Mount of Olives 3. Triumphal Entry path 4. Dominus Flevit Church 5. Garden of Gethsemane 6. Temple Mount 7. The western window of the Dominus Flevit Church provides a beautiful view of the Temple Mount. 8. A mosaic on the altar of the Dominus Flevit Church has an illustration of a hen gathering her chickens, which is based on Luke 13:34: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! 9. Ancient burial caves located by the Dominus Flevit Church. 10. Ossuary boxes ~ Bones of people were placed in these boxes after their bodies had decayed. Triumphal Entry in the Bible 1. The Triumphal Entry was prophesied in the Old Testament. Some 450–500 years earlier, the Prophet Zechariah prophesied: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” ( Zech. 9:9). 2. The Triumphal Entry was fulfilled in the New Testament. Matthew 21:7–9: They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 3. Palm Sunday was also the fulfillment of the Prophet Daniel's "seventy sevens" prophecy. Daniel 9:25: Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. 4. The Triumphal Entry, which occurred on the Sunday before the Passover, was also lamb selection day for the Passover. According to Exodus 12, this was the day set aside for each Israelite family to choose the lamb they would kill for their Passover meal. The blood from their lamb was to be put on the doorposts of their homes so the angel of death would not kill their firstborn children. The Passover was celebrated each year to mark their deliverance from Egypt and how God had miraculously saved them. The fact that Christ entered Jerusalem on this very day was no accident. He was proclaiming Himself as the Passover Lamb, not only for the Israelites but for all humanity. 5. Christ entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Luke 19:28–35: And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this: 'The Lord has need of it.'" 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of it." 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. The meaning of a donkey. A donkey was a symbol of peace; a horse was a symbol of war. Christ came to make peace with mankind at His first coming by dying for our sins. However, at His second coming He will come riding a horse to wage war with mankind and judge them for their sinful rejection of Him. 6. The crowd took branches of palm trees and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” John 12:12–13: So, they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" It was a cry for deliverance from Roman occupation. The last time the Israelites had their freedom during the Maccabean rule from 167–63 BC, their money had the symbol of a palm branch as a sign of freedom. It was like the national flag of a country. It was the Jew’s way of saying that they wanted Christ to be their King and deliver them from the Romans.The meaning of the palm branches. 7. At the place marked by the church, Dominus Flevit, Christ paused and wept over Jerusalem. Luke 19:41–44: And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation." There are only two times in the Bible where it is noted that Christ wept. The first time was at the death of Lazarus, and the second during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Both places are located on the Mount of Olives. In this account of Christ weeping, He wept for those who aren’t saved and the judgment that awaits them. Within 40 years, in AD 70, Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled. Roman legions besieged Jerusalem and, after six months of fighting, burnt the temple and leveled the city. 8. The first time Christ wept took place at the death of Lazarus just a week or so earlier on the backside of the Mount of Olives. J ohn 11:33–36: When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" In this account, Christ weeps for those who suffer. Faith Lesson from the Triumphal Entry 1. The Triumphal Entry was a prophesied event from the Old Testament and reveals the validity of Scripture and God’s sovereignty. 2. Christ wept over Jerusalem because they rejected Him and the coming judgment they would face as a result. Does Christ weep for you because you don’t know Him and will be separated from Him in hell for all eternity? 3. Christ wept with those at the death of Lazarus. Does Christ weep with you as He understands your pain and suffering?

The temple was to be a house of prayer for all the nations, not just Israel. Mark 11:17: Christ said, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." The money changers were corrupting the temple by charging excessive fees for the purchase of animals to be used by those coming to the temple to offer sacrifices. Temple Mount: Jesus Cleanses the Temple Temple Mount: Jesus Cleanses the Temple Welcome to the Holy Land and the biblical site of the temple mount. The temple mount encompasses around 35 acres and was where the temple was located during the time of Christ. See the Bible come to life as we take a look at a key event of Christ cleansing the temple area that took place here. Why did Christ cleanse the temple by driving out the moneychangers? Mark 11:15-17: “And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." Who were the money changers? They were basically businessmen who took advantage and overcharged those traveling from afar who couldn’t bring animals to sacrifice because of the long distance, and therefore, chose to buy them at the temple instead. Let’s also look at the background and understand the purpose of God for the temple and the Nation of Israel. God’s plan for Israel was that they would be a blessing to the whole world, a people through whom God’s love and commandments could be shown to all. Gen. 12:1-3: “Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed." The Nation of Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19:4-6: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." Israel was to be a light to the nations. Isaiah 6:1-4: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.” Christ summed up our purpose, and the purpose of Israel in Matthew 5. Matt. 5:13-16: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” The temple was to be a house of prayer for all the nations, not just Israel. Mark 11:17: Christ said, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." What can we observe and learn from these events that happened at this significant place? God’s plan for Israel was that they would be a blessing to the whole world, a people through whom God’s love and commandments could be shown to all. God’s purpose for Israel was to use them as a kingdom of priests to spread His truth to the world. The temple was a house of prayer for all nations, not just Israel. The money changers were corrupting the temple by charging excessive fees for the purchase of animals to be used by those coming to the temple to offer sacrifices. What about us? Am I a light to the world, showing God’s truth and commandments to all? Am I being an example of a child of God for all to see? Do I corrupt the message of God’s truth in any way by my lack of honesty in finances, by being a bad example, by not living out the truth, etc.?

Experience one of the greatest miracles in the Bible about how God saved Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem. Sennacherib, King of Assyria, was defeated supernaturally by God because an angel of the Lord killed 185,000 soldiers. Because of King Hezekiah's great faith in the Lord, God provided an astounding miracle to save him and Jerusalem. Learn all about it here. Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, Gihon Spring, Pool of Siloam, Hezekiah's Tunnel, City of David, Temple Mount, Tel Lachish, Tel Azekah. Hezekiah's Broad Wall Photo Gallery Places of Interest Hezekiah's Broad Wall Introduction Hidden within the Jewish Quarter of the Old City lies one of Jerusalem’s most impressive archaeological finds: Hezekiah’s Broad Wall. 1. Built around 710 BC by King Hezekiah, this massive fortification was constructed to protect Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. 2. It's over 23 feet thick (7 m) and hundreds of meters long. It cut through houses and streets to strengthen the city’s defenses. 3. It matches the account in Isaiah and 2 Chronicles describing Hezekiah’s preparations for the Assyrian siege. 4. It was unearthed in the 1970s and revealed how urgently Jerusalem expanded its walls to shield its growing population. 5. Today, visitors can stand beside its remains and imagine the tense days when Jerusalem prepared for war and survival. 6. Let's experience and relive the miracle God did here to protect Jerusalem from the most powerful nation on earth at that time Location 1. Hezekiah’s Broad Wall connected the lower part of the City of David with the west side of the Temple Mount. 2. The part that is visible today is located just north of the Hurva Synagogue, to the left of Bonei ha-Khoma St. Historical Background 1. After the division of the nation of Israel into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah), God sent prophet after prophet to warn them to turn from their sinful ways and follow Him. However, all these warnings fell on deaf ears. 2. All the 19 kings who reigned in the northern kingdom of Israel did not follow the Lord and acted wickedly. 3. As a result, the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and taken into captivity by 722 BC by the Assyrians because of Israel’s continual disobedience. 2 Kings 18:11–12: Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and put them in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded; they would neither listen nor do it. 4. The Assyrian army was brutal and known for its torturous tactics. They intentionally instilled fear in the hearts of those they conquered, causing other countries to surrender rather than fight. 5. By 701 BC, the Assyrians, headed by Sennacherib, invaded Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, because they had disobeyed God repeatedly over centuries. 6. According to an Assyrian stele found in the ruins of the royal palace of Nineveh, Sennacherib conquered 46 cities in Judea before attempting to destroy Jerusalem. 7. God allowed most of Judah to be conquered but protected Jerusalem because of Hezekiah’s obedience to Him. 8. As Hezekiah began to prepare for what he knew would be a terrible siege by a merciless Assyrian war machine, he had to figure out how to protect his people. This meant building new defenses. 9. During the time of Hezekiah, Jerusalem’s urban population had grown far outside the old walls of the city and was unprotected. 10. King Hezekiah fortified the existing walls of the city and rapidly built a new wall to protect those living outside the city walls. 2 Chronicles 32:5: He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 11. Hezekiah’s new wall measured about 22 feet wide (7 m.) by 25 feet high (8 m.). 12. It was a massive undertaking and measured around 2.5 miles (4 km) in length. 13. A portion of the wall was discovered in the 1970s by Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad and dated to the reign of King Hezekiah (716-687 BC). 14. It was called “Hezekiah’s Broad Wall” by archaeologists because of how wide it is. 15. King Hezekiah also built a water tunnel to keep the water from the Gihon Spring inside the city walls so the Assyrians couldn’t cut off the water supply (2 Chron. 32:3–4). The curving tunnel is 583 yards (533 m.) long and has an altitude difference of 12 inches (30 cm.) between its two ends. It was chiseled from both ends to the middle simultaneously. It took the water from the Gihon Spring, located under the mountain, to the Pool of Siloam, situated below the city of David. Places of Interest 1. Hezekiah’s Broad Wall. 2. Gihon Spring 3. Pool of Siloam 4. Hezekiah's Tunnel 5. City of David 6. Temple Mount Hezekiah in the Bible 1. King Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, was a wicked king. He closed the doors to the temple and burned his children in sacrificial worship to false gods. 2. King Hezekiah was a godly king who reopened the temple and restored worship to God. 2 Kings 18:3–6: And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). 5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 3. King Hezekiah chose not to serve the King of Assyria. 2 Kings 18:7: And the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 4. Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, conquered the southern part of Judah, including the mighty city of Lachish. King Hezekiah tries to keep him at bay by paying him money. 2 Kings 18:13–16: Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them. 14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear.” So the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver which was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house. 16 At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 5. King Sennacherib makes plans to conquer Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:17: Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a large army to Jerusalem. So they went up and came to Jerusalem. 6. King Sennacherib mocks King Hezekiah and the God of Israel. 2 Kings 18:32–35: And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us .” 33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 35 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’” 7. King Hezekiah humbles himself before God and sends for the Prophet Isaiah. 2 Kings 19:1–7: And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the Lord. 2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver. 4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left.’” 5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.” 8. King Sennacherib once again threatens King Hezekiah and speaks against the God of Israel. 2 Kings 19:9–12: So he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed.’” 9. Hezekiah seeks the Lord’s help. 2 Kings 19:14–19: Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 Now, O Lord our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God.” 10. God answers Hezekiah’s prayer. 2 Kings 19:20–22: Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.’ 21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken against him: ‘She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin daughter of Zion; She has shaken her head behind you, The daughter of Jerusalem! 22 ‘Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice, And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!’” 2 Kings 19:32–34: Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city, declares the Lord. 34 For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” 11. God miraculously destroys King Sennacherib and his army. 2 Kings 19:35–37: Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh. 37 It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place. Faith Lesson from the Life of King Hezekiah 1. Even though Hezekiah had a wicked father, he chose to serve the Lord. 2. No matter what our background might be, and the parents we have, God can still use us greatly if we yield ourselves entirely to Him. 3. He was extremely dedicated to God. 2 Kings 18:5–6: He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. 4. He trusted in God during times of great trials. 5. God blessed him and protected him because of his faith and dedication to Him. 6. He worked hard to fortify the old walls, built a huge new wall, and protected the water source of the city. All this was good, but not needed, as God supernaturally protected Jerusalem because Hezekiah trusted in the Lord. 7. King Hezekiah lived the kind of life God blesses. Are we following his example?