Holy Land Site Videos Video News We are currently in the process of producing Bible Teaching Videos filmed on location in the Holy Land. We are releasing new videos on a regular basis so please return periodically to see these new releases. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel or newsletter to get notifications for new releases. In addition to personal viewing, these videos can be used for Bible Studies, Sunday School Classes, Youth Groups and etc. These videos are high-quality productions and designed to be used free of charge.​ ​ Videos on the left and below are the same! See some of our most popular videos below! Biblical Sites of Israel Israel Overview Tour of All Biblical Sites Jerusalem Sites Jerusalem Overview ​ Jerusalem Holy Sites Overview Antonia Fortress ​ Chapel of the Ascension: Ascension & Return of Christ ​ Church of the Holy Sepulchre ​ City of David Overview Dominus Flevit Church: Triumphal Entry ​ Eastern Gate Garden of Gethsemane Garden Tomb: Resurrection of Christ Gethsemane to Golgotha: Christ's Path to the Cross ​ Hezekiah's Broad Wall Hinnom Valley Overview House of Caiaphas: Peter's Denial of Christ Kidron Valley: Judgment of God Mary's Tomb Mount of Olives Overview Pater Noster Church: Lord's Prayer ​ Pilate's Palace: Trial of Jesus ​ Pool of Bethesda & St. Anne Church Pool of Siloam ​ Prophecy, Proof t he Bible Is True: Mount of Olives Solomon's Temple ​ Temple Mount Overview ​ Temple Location Temple Southern Stairs Temple Cleansing by Jesus Temple & the Early Church ​ Tomb of the Prophets The Upper Room ​ Via Dolorosa History Of Jerusalem's Walls and Gates Western Wall & Tunnels Tour ​ Other Sites In Jerusalem Sea of Galilee Sites Sea of Galilee Overview Bethsaida Calling of the Disciples Capernaum Overview Chorazin Feeding of the 5,000 Jesus Walks on Water, Calms the Sea Kursi: Demonic Man Healed Magdala: Mary Magdalene Mount Arbel: The Great Commission ​ Mount of Beatitudes Sower's Cove: Parables of the Kingdom Tabgha: Restoration of Peter ​ Yardenit Baptismal Site ​ Other Sites Around the Sea of Galilee ​ Northern Israel Sites Beth Shean ​ Beth Shean Amphitheater Caesarea Maritima Caesarea Philippi Cana: First Miracle of Jesus ​ Dan (City of Dan) ​ Gideon's Spring ​ Hazor ​ Jordan River Overview ​ Megiddo: Armageddon Mount Carmel & Elijah ​ Mount Tabor: Transfiguration of Christ Nazareth Overview Nazareth: Church of Annunciation Nazareth: Mt. Precipice ​ Sepphoris (Tsipori, Zippori) Other Sites in Northern Israel Central Israel Sites Ai Bethel ​ Beth-Shemesh Emmaus Road Gezer: On Crossroads of the World ​ Gibeon - Nabi Samwil Gilgal ​ Inn of the Good Samaritan Jericho ~ Tell Es-Sultan Joppa (Jaffa, Yafo) Overview ​ Jordan River: Crossing into the Promised Land ​ Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qsar al-Yahud) ​ Judean Wilderness ​ Judean Wilderness: Testing of Jesus ​ Qumran: Dead Sea Scrolls Samaria (Sabastia) Shechem ​ Shechem: Jacob's Well Shiloh: Center of Worship ​ St. George's Monastery (Wadi Qelt) ​ Valley of Elah: David & Goliath ​ Other Sites in Central Israel ​ Southern Israel Sites ​ Arad ​ Beer Sheba: The Patriarchs Bethlehem Overview ​ Bethlehem: Church of Nativity Bethlehem: David & the Psalms ​ Bethlehem: Herodian Fortress Bethlehem: Naomi, Ruth, Boaz Bethlehem: Shepherds' Field ​ En-Gedi: Living Waters Exodus, Red Sea Crossing, Mt. Sinai Hebron Overview Kadesh Barnea ​ Lachish Masada Mount Sinai Sodom & Gomorrah Timnah: Life of Samson ​ Timna Park: Tabernacle, Moses Other Sites In Southern Israel ​ Other Biblical Sites ​ Noah's Ark & the Great Flood

The Five Philistine Cities Photo Gallery Places of Interest The Philistines and Their Five City Strongholds Location The Philistine territory encompassed the southern coastal plain of Israel. They occupied five city-states that controlled a major travel route connecting Africa with Asia and Europe called the Via Maris . ​ The cities of the Philistines were Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gaza, Ekron, and Gath. ​ Historical Background 1. The Philistines were an ancient people who lived on the south coast of Canaan from around 2000 BC until 604 BC. From around 715 BC to 604 BC they were controlled by the Assyrian Empire and then destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar II of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. 2. After becoming part of the Babylonian Empire and later part of the Persian Empire, they lost their distinct ethnic identity and disappeared from the historical and archaeological record by the late 5th century BC. 3. The Philistines are best known in the Bible for their biblical conflict with the Israelites. The Philistines are mentioned around 222 times in the Bible, beginning with Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, and ending with Zechariah, the second to the last book of the Old Testament. ​ 4. It appears that a sea people called the Peleset, from the Aegean Sea area, settled and mixed in with the Philistines in around 1155 BC. ​ 5. The Philistines worshiped the false god, Dagon, a god of fertility. A couple of references to Dagon temples in the Philistinian cities of Gaza and Ashdod are mentioned in Judges 16:23, and 1 Samuel 5:2-5. ​ The Five Philistine City Strongholds ​ 1. 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 2.75 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 in around 711 BC. Later, Babylon conquered it as well in 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 C.E) 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, massages were conveyed by means of beacons of fire (by night) and smoke signals (by 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. ​ 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 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 . ​ 3. 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). ​ 4. 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. 2. Ashkelon ​ 1. Ashkelon is located just south of Ashdod, it also is on the Mediterranean Ocean and was one of the five cities of the Philistines. The origin of the name Ashkelon appears to come from the word “shekel,” denoting a measure of weight – a fitting name for a commercial port city. The specific name Ashkelon is mentioned in the Egyptian execration texts of the 19th century BC, and it appears again in other, later Egyptian inscriptions. ​ 2. Ashkelon has the world's oldest Canaanite Gate in the world that dates back to almost 4000 years ago. ​ Ashkelon in the Bible ​ 1. Joshua and the Israelites conquered Ashkelon in the conquest of the Promised Land (Josh. 13:3), and it was allotted to Judah, who then occupied it (Judg. 1:18). 2. One of the golden tumors (emerods) that was returned with the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines was from Ashkelon. 1 Samuel 6:17: Now these are the gold tumors which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod , one for Gaza , one for Ashkelon , one for Gath , and one for Ekron . ​ 3. Askelon is mentioned by David when, after Saul and Jonathan die, David laments and mourns over them. 2 Samuel 1:19-20: Your beauty, Israel, is slaughtered on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon , or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate. ​ 4. Ashkelon was also denounced by Jeremiah (Jer. 25:20, 47:5–7), Zephaniah (2:4–7), and Zechariah (9:5). ​ 3. Gaza 1. Gaza is located south of Ashkelon and Ashdod, it also is on the Mediterranean Ocean and was one of the cities of the Philistine Pentapolis. It is the southernmost city. Today, virtually no ruins remain from this city as it has been destroyed in later years due to what appears to be political reasons. ​ 2. It was on a hill rising about 200 ft. (61 m.) above the valley floor. There were sand dunes between it and the sea, which was about 2 miles away. 3. Today, because ancient Gaza lies in the Gaza Strip, where land is scarce and Israeli interests are not valued, the remains of ancient Gaza are practically nonexistent. ​ Gaza in the Bible ​ 1. In the conquest of the Promised Land, Joshua and the Israelites failed to conquer Gaza, along with several other main cities of the Philistines (Josh. 10:41, 11:22). ​ 2. Later, the tribe of Judah captured Gaza but couldn’t control it for long, and it fell back into the hands of the Philistines (Judg. 1:18). ​ 3. Samson had many encounters with the Philistines. In one encounter, Samson carried heavy gates from Gaza all the way to the Hebron area, a distance of around 42 miles (72 km.). Judges 16:1: Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and had relations with her. Judges 16:3: Now Samson lay asleep until midnight, and at midnight he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two doorposts, and pulled them up along with the bars; then he put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain which is opposite Hebron . ​ 4. Samson met his death in Gaza. Judges 16:28-30: Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed outwards powerfully, so that the house fell on the governors and all the people who were in it. And the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime. ​ 5. After the Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle and captured the Ark of the Covenant during the priesthood of Eli and his two wicked sons, Gaza, along with the other main cities of the Philistines, sent a trespass offering to God when the ark was returned to the Israelites at Beth-Shemesh (1 Sam. 6:17–18). 6. When Hezekiah reigned, he defeated and pursued the Philistines to Gaza but did not seem to have captured the city. However, the Assyrians later captured it in 720 BC. 7. In the New Testament, Philip was sent to Gaza to evangelize the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:26: But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza .” ​ 4. Gath 1. Gath (Tell Es-Safi) is located east of Ashkelon about 17 miles (28 km.) The word Gath means “winepress.” ​ 2. Gath was one of the five main cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 6:17). 3. The site is a large, multi-period site that is made up of many layers. Each layer represents a different phase in the history of the site. 4. Tell Es-Safi has a long history of settlement. The site was first settled sometime around 5000 BC. It has been continually settled until modern times. The last settlement there was an Arab village that was abandoned during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948. 5. It was a well-fortified walled city (2 Chron. 26:6). 6. Joshua and the Israelites were unable to conquer Gath despite the numerous conflicts between the Israelites and the inhabitants of Gath. 7. It wasn’t until King David that the city was conquered and became part of the Israelite Kingdom (1 Chron. 18:1). 8. Its name is most remembered as the home of the giant, Goliath, whom David slew (1 Sam. 17:4). ​ Gath in the Bible ​ 1. It has archaeological remains that are unusual that reveal giants once lived here. This is affirmed by the Bible. 1 Chronicles 20:8: These were descended from the giants in Gath , and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. It was also the hometown of the warrior Goliath, who appears in the Bible. ​ 2. It was one of the Philistine cities where the Ark of the Covenant resided before being taken to Ekron. 1 Samuel 5:8: So they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Have the ark of the God of Israel brought to Gath .” So they took the ark of the God of Israel away. ​ 3. Goliath, the giant that young David slew was from Gath. 1 Samuel 17:4: Then a champion came forward from the army encampment of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath . His height was six cubits and a span. ​ 4. When King Saul was seeking to kill David, David went to Gath to hide from Saul and acted like a crazy person because he feared the king of Gath. 1 Samuel 21:10-15: Then David set out and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath . 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12 David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath . 13 So he disguised his sanity while in their sight and acted insanely in their custody, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is behaving like an insane person. Why do you bring him to me? 15 Do I lack insane people, that you have brought this one to behave like an insane person in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?” ​ 5. Later, when King Saul was again pursuing David to kill him, David fled and lived in Gath for a while. 1 Samuel 27:2-3: So David set out and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath . And David lived with Achish in Gath , he and his men, each with his own household—David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow. ​ 5. Ekron ​ 1. Ekron is located east of Ashdod and the Mediterranean Sea about 13 miles (20 km.) 2. In archeological terms, Tel Ekron (Tel Miqne-Ekron) is significant because it is one of the largest Iron Age sites in Israel. 3. More than 100 oil presses were found here, as well as the Ekron Inscription, which clearly identifies the site as Philistine, Ekron. 4. Just to the west of Tel Ekron is Kibbutz Revadim, where a Museum of the History of Philistine Culture shows a reconstructed Philistine street with many artifacts. ​ Ekron in the Bible ​ 1. Joshua and the Israelites failed to conquer Ekron in the conquest of the Promised Land as found in Joshua 13:3. 2. It was allotted to Judah in the division of the land and then to the tribe of Dan as found in Joshua chapters 15-19. ​ 3. However, the tribe of Dan failed to conquer the area and moved to the northern part of Israel. Judah wound up conquering Ekron and inhabiting it as found in Judges 1:18. ​ 4. Ekron was one of the Philistine cities where the Ark of the Covenant resided before being returned to the Israelites at Beth Shemesh. 1 Samuel 5:10: So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron , the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” ​ 1 Samuel 6:13-16: Now the people of Beth-shemesh were gathering in their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced at seeing it. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stopped there where there was a large stone; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the saddlebag that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the Lord. 16 When the five governors of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day. ​ 5. After David killed Goliath in the Valley of Elah, the Israelites pursued and defeated the Philistines all the way to Ekron. 1 Samuel 17:52: Then the men of Israel and Judah rose up and shouted, and they pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron . And the Philistine dead lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron . ​ 6. Ekron is included, among other cities, in pronouncements of judgment by the prophets Amos 1:8, Jeremiah 25:20, Zephaniah 2:4, and Zechariah 9:5–7. ​ The Philistines in the Bible 1. According to Genesis 10:6-14, the Philistines were descendants of Ham, one of Noah's sons. Genesis 10:13-14: Mizraim fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines ), and Caphtorim. 2. At Beersheba, Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech, king of the Philistines. Genesis 21:32: So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, got up and returned to the land of the Philistines . ​ Genesis 26:1: Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines . ​ 3. Abraham lived in the territory of the Philistines which included much of the Negev (southern part of Israel). Genesis 21:34: And Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines for many days. 4. In the book of Judges, God used the Philistines to punish the Israelites because of their disobedience. Judges 10:7: And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines , and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. ​ 5. King Saul fought against the Philistines all throughout his reign. 1 Samuel 14:52: Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any warrior or any valiant man, he attached him to his staff. ​ 6. The well-known story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 takes place in the Valley of Elah just east of Gath, which was the hometown of Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:1-3: Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel were assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, and they drew up in battle formation to confront the Philistines . The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side, while Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. ​ 7. When Saul pursued David, David fled and lived with the Philistines. 1 Samuel 27:1: Then David said to himself, “Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to safely escape into the land of the Philistines . Then Saul will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel, and I will escape from his hand.” ​ 8. The Philistines killed King Saul and his sons in battle. 1 Samuel 31:2: And the Philistines also overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 9. King David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. 2 Samuel 8:1: Now it happened afterward that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them ; and David took control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines. ​ 10. During King Saul's time, he ruled over the Philistines. 1 Kings 4:21: Now Solomon was ruling over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. ​ 11. God prophesied that the cities of Gaza Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron would become desolate. This prophecy has certainly come to pass. Zephaniah 2:4: For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a desolation; the inhabitants of Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. ​ Faith Lesson from the Philistines 1. God used the Philistines to punish the Israelites because they turned away from Him and followed false gods. In the same way, God often uses people in our lives to get us back on track with the Lord when we stray. 2. 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 everyone is 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 and 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?

Church of the Holy Sepulchre Photo Gallery Places of Interest Church of the Holy Sepulchre Introduction ​ Welcome to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The evidence is overwhelming that this is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. This is the most significant and important event in Christian history. We will explore all the evidence and witness this monumental event. There are two main sites here that we'll see: (1) Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified, and (2) the tomb where Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. Let the importance of this place touch you as you think about what Christ did here for you and everyone else. Its role in God's master plan of salvation cannot be overstated. Location 1. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located about 450 yards (415 m.) west of the Temple Mount. 2. It was located outside the city walls during the time of Christ. 3. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the place where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. 4. It is the ending place of the Via Dolorosa path, and the last five stations are located there. 5. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the most important holy site in Christianity and is visited by over one million pilgrims every year. Historical Background 1. The place of Calvary was once a stone quarry that supplied stone for the building of the temple and so forth. 2. During Christ's time, there was a gate to Jerusalem called the Gennath Gate, which means garden gate. This gate was discovered recently. It is in a slightly different location than the Jerusalem model, which was built before the gate was discovered. Josephus mentions this gate in his historical writings as well. There was a road that passed by the stone quarry for travelers entering and leaving Jerusalem. Because the quarry had fallen out of use many years before Christ, it slowly developed into a garden and had a cistern and pool of water close by. Some of the rock was left, and the Romans crucified people upon it. This rock can be seen in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today. It was an ideal place because it was just outside the city and located on a well-traveled road. The Romans crucified people in the most visible places possible so all would learn what would happen to them if they disobeyed Roman laws. There were also tombs in the rock faces that were used for burials. Scripture states in John 19:20 that the place of crucifixion was near the city of Jerusalem, so this place fits the biblical narrative well: Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city ; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. Substantial remains of the First Wall have been found in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. In these latter excavations, the remains of the Gennath (Garden) Gate and the beginning of what is believed to be the Second Wall have been found, just where Josephus described them as being (cf. War 5.146). The name "Garden Gate" indicates that a garden must have been located nearby. However, this garden wasn't like a flower garden; it was a farming garden for raising crops. Excavations below the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer show that this area used to be an ancient quarry, which was later abandoned. A layer of new farming soil has been found under the Church of the Redeemer, verifying that it was a garden area. The excavators believe that the area was filled with good soil, presumably to turn the ugly quarry remains into a small farming garden. An additional area by the rock quarry became a cistern as the city developed. From the Gospels, we know that Jesus was crucified in a place called "Calvary" and buried in a garden that was in the same place as Joseph of Arimathea's tomb. The front wall of the tomb faced east so the early morning sun could illuminate it. According to Hebrews 13:12, Jesus was crucified outside the city. Some people have a problem with the proximity of the place where Jesus was crucified and his tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. However, John 19:41 states, "Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid." So, Scripture clearly indicates that the crucifixion and tomb were close to each other. 3. According to tradition, the early Christian community of Jerusalem worshiped at this site of the crucifixion from the time of the resurrection until 135 AD, when Emperor Hadrian destroyed and rebuilt Jerusalem. Visiting the burial sites of rabbis was a common practice that is even done to this day by the Jews. So, there is no doubt that the early Christians would have visited the place where Christ died and rose again as well. No one was like Jesus, so His followers knew exactly where Golgotha was and venerated it. There is no way this spot would have been lost or forgotten by them. For example, shortly after the resurrection of Christ, the Upper Room was converted into a church, and the apse (which is a half-round circle with a dome shape) pointed toward the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection place of Christ. This provides significant evidence that this place was venerated and visited early on after Christ's resurrection. Because this place was so important, the apse of the Upper Room Church pointed toward it and not the temple. Another interesting fact is that there are also burial tombs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that date to the time of Christ. They are of the type that were used from about 37 BC to around 70 AD. These tombs clearly indicate that this area had tombs and was outside the City of Jerusalem during the time of Christ, as regular people were not buried within the city. ​ Lastly, during this time period, from the time of Christ to 132 AD, a carving with an ancient Latin description was found here. It says, "Yes, Lord! We will go." This shows that early Christians venerated this place. 4. About 10 years after the crucifixion of Christ, a wall was built by King Agrippa I that enclosed the area of Christ's execution and burial within the city. This accounts for why the Holy Sepulchre is located inside the Old City walls of Jerusalem today. 5. The next major event that affected the site of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ was a major Jewish rebellion against the Romans called the Bar Kokhba revolt in around 132 AD. Because of the revolt, the Roman Emperor Hadrian destroyed much of Jerusalem and changed its orientation. He renamed the city Aelia Capitolina and the country to Palestine, which was a Philistine name. His desire was to erase the Jewish connection to the land because of the Jew's continual rebellions and uprisings. He constructed a main street that ran north and south called the Cardo Maximus (which means heart, or center of). He also desecrated the place of the crucifixion and resurrection that had been venerated by the early Christians, and in its place, he built a large platform that filled in the quarry and had upon it a large temple dedicated to Jupiter and Aphrodite (Venus), an ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty, identified with Venus by the Romans. Hadrian was so intent on destroying any connection to the land by the Jews and the Christians that he buried all the evidence of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ under a platform that housed his large temple to Jupiter and Venus. Hadrian laid out the new City of Jerusalem so that the major streets led to his temple to Jupiter and Venus, which again were over the remains of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ. ​ Coins have been discovered that depict the image of the temple Hadrian built to Jupiter and Venus. ​ Origen of Alexandria (1 85 – 253 AD) is also an eyewitness of the location of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the location of Golgotha. Eusebius, the bishop of Caesarea , Israel, who lived from 260 to 339 AD, gave a chronological account of the development of Early Christianity from the 1st century to the 4th. He was an eyewitness to some of the events Hadrian did and wrote down what he saw. Regarding the desecration of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ, Eusebius says: "The Romans brought a quantity of earth from a distance with much labor and covered the entire spot and buried it. Then having raised this to a moderate height, they paved it with stone." What he described was the raised platform Hadrian built, upon which he erected his temple to Jupiter and Venus. This platform had retaining walls around it, some of which can still be seen inside the Church today. Also, some of the stairs leading up to the temple of Hadrian can be seen today in the lower part of the church to the east. Eusebius goes on to say, "The monument of his most holy passions so long ago buried beneath the ground." Here, he is describing the place where the crucifixion and tomb of Christ were buried. Hadrian also minted a coin depicting the temple he built upon Golgotha. The temple of Hadrian would remain in place for another 200 years or so until the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. 6. In 313 AD, a major change happened in the Roman Empire when Constantine legalized Christianity. Later, because his mother was so passionate about Christ, she made a trip to the Holy Land to build churches over the main events of Christ’s life. She built the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives (currently known as the Pater Noster Church), the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Roman Emperor Constantine had the temple Hadrian erected to Jupiter and Venus demolished to make way for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In the process of the demolition, the tomb and crucifixion site of Jesus were uncovered once again, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was erected. Additionally, Constantine's mother, Helena, is claimed to have discovered the relic of the Cross of Jesus at this time as well. The church was dedicated in 335 AD. The church was laid out in three sections: 1: Leading up from the Cardo was the church venerating the crucifixion site, also known as the Basilica of the Martyrium (taken from the word, martyr). The apse of the church faced west. 2: The courtyard was called the triportico because it had three sides with covered walkways. Just outside the church and before the mausoleum (rotunda dome) was an open courtyard. Just to the left was the crucifixion site of Christ. Now I should mention that some believe the crucifixion site was located in the apse part of the Basilica of the Martyrium and not in the courtyard. However, both places are just a few feet away, so it's unimportant. I should mention that part of the rock of Golgotha is still preserved today and is in the place where the courtyard was and not in the church where the apse is. 3: Just beyond the open courtyard was the large rotunda covering the tomb of Christ. This is also called a mausoleum, or anastasis. The tomb was initially carved out of the rock and preserved. You can see an example of this in Absalom's Monument in the Kidron Valley. The crypt, or cistern of the crosses, was under the Basilica of the Martyrium, venerating Golgotha. 7. Now, let's see what Jerome says about Hadrian’s temple being located on top of the crucifixion and tomb site of Christ. Jerome lived from 347 to 420 AD. In about 389 AD, he established a monastery at Bethlehem and translated the Hebrew Bible into Latin. Bethlehem is very close to Jerusalem, so Jerome was an eyewitness to what he wrote. Here's what Jerome tells us: "From the time of Hadrian to the reign of Constantine, the spot which had witnessed the resurrection was occupied by a figure of Jupiter while on the rock where the cross had stood a marble statue of Venus was set up by the heathen and became an object of worship. The original persecutors indeed suppose that by polluting our holy places, they would deprive us of our faith in the passion and in the resurrection." So Jerome confirms that from the time of Hadrian to Constantine, the temple Hadrian built was located on top of Golgotha. So, in the place where Christ died for the sins of humanity, Hadrian set up a temple to false gods who promoted deep immoral sins. What a contrast. 8. Eusebius, whom we referred to earlier, describes the destruction of Hadrian's temple by Constantine: "As soon as his [Constantine's] commands were given, these engines of deceit were cast down from their proud eminence to very ground and the dwelling places of error with the statues and the evil spirits which they represented were overthrown and utterly destroyed. Nor did the Emperor's zeal stop here, but he gave further orders that the materials of what was thus destroyed, both stone and timber should be removed and thrown as far from the spot as possible, and this command also was speedily executed." Eusebius continues: "The emperor, however, was not satisfied with having proceeded thus far, once more fired with holy adjure he directed that the ground itself should be dug up to come to a considerable depth and the soil which had been polluted by the foul impurities of demon worship transported to a far distant place. This also was accomplished without delay, and as soon as the original surface of the ground beneath the covering of the earth appeared, immediately the venerable and Holy Monument of our Savior's resurrection was discovered. Then indeed did the most holy cave [referring to the tomb] present a faithful similitude of his return to life and that after lying buried in darkness, it again emerged to light and afforded to all who came to witness a sight a clear and visible proof of the wonders of which that spot had once been seen, a testimony to the resurrection of the Savior clearer than any voice could give." Eusebius then speaks about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that Constantine built: "Accordingly, on the very spot which witnessed the Savior's suffering, a new Jerusalem was constructed where at the side opposite to the Sepulcher [Jesus's tomb] which was the eastern side, the church itself was erected, a noble work rising to a vast height and a great extent in length and breadth." Eusebius now describes the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Constantine: "Thereupon the Emperor issued sacred edicts, and when he had provided an abundant supply of all the things required for the project, he gave orders that a House of Prayer worthy of God should be erected round about the cave of salvation [he is speaking about the tomb], and on a scale of rich and imperial costliness to be greater than anything else that had been built on earth." So Constantine built a large mausoleum over the place of the tomb. A mausoleum is a structure designed for burial or entombment above the ground. 9. Another eyewitness account that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was located on the site of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ comes from the Pilgrim of Bardot from 333AD: "On your left is a little hill of Golgotha where the Lord was crucified, about a stone's throw from it is the Crypt where they laid his body and from where he rose again on the third day. These are present by order of Constantine. There has been built a basilica that is a church of wondrous beauty." 10. A quote from another pilgrim's account of a worship service in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre comes from 380 AD: "I know you were eager to know about the services they have daily in the holy places, I shall tell you about them. When the first cock has crowed, the bishop straightaway enters and goes into the tomb and the anastasis [anastasis means resurrection and is the round rotunda dome place in the church over the tomb of Christ] and the whole crowd streams into the Anastasis which is already ablaze with many lamps. Then the bishop standing inside the screen takes the gospel and advances to the door of the tomb, where he himself reads the account of the Lord's resurrection. When the gospel is finished, the bishop comes out and is taken with hymns to the cross, and they all go with him to the great church, the martyrium. The people assemble in the great church built by Constantine upon Golgotha." 11. Another amazing piece of evidence is found at the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana, which is recognized as the oldest place of Christian worship in Rome. In the apse of the building, which dates to around 400 AD, is a mosaic of Christ with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the background. So, we actually have a photo of what Constantine's Church of the Holy Sepulchre looked like. This is strong evidence of the church's authenticity. ​ 12. In addition, more substantial evidence supporting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the true site of Golgotha is found in Madaba, Jordan. The Madaba Mosaic Map is part of a floor mosaic in the early Byzantine church of St. George in Madaba, Jordan. The map is of the Middle East, and part of it shows the oldest surviving original depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. In the map of Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre can be found in the center of the city. This reveals that the church existed and was venerated as the site of Jesus' death and resurrection. The map dates to around 550 AD. 13. The next big change to the church occurred during the Persian conquest in 614 AD, when it was pillaged and suffered significant damage. However, the monk Modestus restored it. According to tradition, the relic of the True Cross was also taken during this time and then recovered in 630 AD. 14. In 648 AD, Jerusalem came under Muslim rule, but Christians could still make pilgrimages to the church. 15. In 1009 AD, the Muslim Caliph al-Hakim ordered all churches to be destroyed. This proved fatal for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was singled out in particular and destroyed beyond recognition. During the destruction of the church, the tomb of Christ was largely destroyed. However, some of the rock of the tomb and its location were still preserved. 16. In 1048 AD, Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and Patriarch Nicephorus of Constantinople again restored the church at great expense. 17. The Crusaders renovated the church in 1112 AD and reconsecrated it in 1149 AD. Much of what is seen today of the church is from the Crusader renovations in around 1112 AD, although portions are part of the original church of Constantine. As 12th-century maps reveal, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was Christendom's spiritual focus and its most important pilgrimage center. The church was laid out so pilgrims could move from chapel to chapel, culminating in the Holy Sepulchre itself. The church that the Crusaders built included the courtyard where Golgotha was believed to have been and enclosed everything under one roof within a magnificent cathedral. The entrance to the church was changed from the east end and placed on the south side. The Basilica of Helena, accessed from stairs leading downward, was built. This is the believed place where Helena found the true Cross of Christ. It was originally in a hole under the quarry. The entrance to Calvary was from the outside of the church, with stairs leading upwards to a platform where all the events of the crucifixion are located. The Basilica of the Martyrium was changed, and everything was housed under the cathedral's roof. The apse of the church Constantine built for the crucifixion site faced west; today, it faces east. The sites of the crucifixion and tomb have remained in the same places since the time of Christ. Only the buildings around them have changed. An Edicule was built over Christ's tomb, and within it is the Chapel of the Angels and what's left of Christ's tomb. 18. The right-hand door was blocked up after the Muslim reconquest of the city in 1187. Today, the entrance consists of just one large single door. 19. The three primary custodians of the church were appointed when the Crusaders ruled Jerusalem. They are the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic churches. In the 19th century, the Coptic Orthodox, the Ethiopian Orthodox, and the Syrian Orthodox also acquired responsibilities as well, but in a smaller way. Each church denomination agrees to times and places of worship. 20. A Muslim family has been given the key for opening and closing the church doors since 1187 AD, when Muslims seized control of Jerusalem. 21. After a fire, the last major changes to the church took place in around 1808. The Edicule over the tomb was renovated. The central Catholicon was closed, which was at one time where part of the courtyard of Constantine’s church was located. New stairs leading up to Calvary were changed from outside the church to inside. Today, you enter from just inside the church, turn right, and take steep stairs up to the platform of Calvary. The Edicule, or tomb of Christ, has been renovated several times since the Crusaders. It suffered an earthquake in 1927 and was shored up, and then, in 2016, it underwent another renovation. 22. Because of all the adornments and construction over the centuries, it is hard to imagine how the site would have looked in Christ's time. However, these 2,000 years of activity and tradition give greater weight to its authenticity. Some people have an adverse reaction to the atmosphere inside the church. However, this is what we should expect from a place that has been venerated for two millenniums. ​ 23. In April of 2022, a stone slab was recently turned over during renovations, and its significance was rediscovered. They identified unique decorations on this stone slab that combine Classical, Byzantine, and early Islamic art, in which finely cut tiles of colorful marble are used to fill in circular engravings on the stone. The stone slab stood at the apex, at the sanctuary of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This provides more evidence that this site has been venerated for millenniums as the true site of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Now, in archaeology, one of the most important factors in locating an authentic site is having one thing built upon another. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has around 2,000 years of such history. For me personally, there is no doubt this is the genuine place where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead to pay for our sins. All of the evidence and historical writings from eyewitnesses provide overwhelming evidence that points to the authenticity of this site. ​ 24. In conclusion, the true site of Golgotha should have all the evidence of the buildings described by all the eyewitness accounts, should match the historical records, archaeological discoveries, and have these remains visible to some extent today. There is only one place in the world that contains all this evidence, and it's the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The evidence is just so overwhelming that this is the true location of Golgotha. Here is the very place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. It is, therefore, Christianity's most holy site. Places of Interest 1. The Chapel of the Franks (Station 10 of the Via Dolorosa) is located at the right of the entrance to the church. ​ 2. Ladder on the window arches above the main entrance ~ The so-called immovable ladder under the window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, made of Lebanon cedar wood, was in place by 1728 and has remained there ever since the 1757 status quo was established, aside from being temporarily moved twice. The ladder is referred to as immovable due to the agreement of the Status Quo that no cleric of the six ecumenical Christian orders may move, rearrange, or alter any property without the consent of the other five orders. 3. A stairway on the right, just inside the entrance, leads to Calvary (or Golgotha), the place where Jesus was crucified. 4. Chapel of the Nailing of the Cross (Station 11). It features a 12th-century mosaic of Jesus being nailed to the cross. 5. The Greek Orthodox Calvary contains the believed Rock of Calvary, around which the church was built. The rock can be seen under a glass cover on either side of the main altar. Beneath the altar is a hole that permits people to touch the rock. 6. The Crucifixion Altar marks the place where Christ was crucified (Station 12). A silver disk with a central hole lies underneath the altar, marking the place where the Cross stood. On each side of the altar is the bedrock from the original site of Golgotha. 7. The Stone of Unction (Station 13), located just after entering the church, commemorates the preparation of Jesus' body for burial. Behind the Stone is a mosaic depicting Christ's anointing for burial. 8. Underneath the large dome of the church (Rotunda) is the Tomb of Christ itself (Station 14). It is housed in a large shrine and is referred to as the Edicule. It is supported by scaffolding on the outside to protect it from possible earthquakes. In the first room of the burial tomb is a rock on a table. It is believed to be part of the original stone that was rolled to seal the tomb. In the second room of the burial tomb is bedrock from the original tomb. To the right is the bench where the body of Jesus would have been laid. 9. The Chapel of Adam enshrines a cracked slab of rock behind glass, which is believed to have been caused by the earthquake after Christ died on the Cross. 10. The Catholicon (Greek Orthodox cathedral) area was the main part of the Crusader church. 11. Armenian Shrine and Chapel of the 3 Marys, also known as the Mourning Place. It marks the place where they watched the crucifixion of Christ. John 19:25: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 12. In 2016, an archaeological team was given permission to lift the marble slate covering the tomb, and an older marble slab with a carved cross was found under it, and underneath it was the original limestone burial bed of Christ. 13. The Coptic Chapel is located behind the tomb of Jesus. 14. The Jacobite (Syrian) Chapel is located in the original 4th-century Constantine church walls. Within this chapel are burial tombs, one of which is believed to be that of Joseph of Arimathea. 15. Chapel of Mary Magdalene. Dedicated to the encounter Christ had with Mary after His resurrection. 16. Franciscan Church of the Aspiration of Mary. Dedicated to the meeting between Christ and His mother, Mary, at Christ’s crucifixion. 17. Arches of the Virgin Mary 18. Greek Orthodox Chapel of the Prison of Jesus 19. St Longinus Chapel. Longinus was the believed Roman Centurion who commanded the soldiers that stood watch at Golgotha. He was an eyewitness to Jesus' final moments and proclaimed that Jesus was truly the Son of God. ​ 20. Chapel of St. James ​ 21. Chapel of John the Baptist 22. Division of the Holy Robes. The place commemorates the division of Christ’s clothing. 23. Derision chapel. This place commemorates how the mob derided Jesus by mocking and laughing at him while He hung on the Cross. 24. Armenian Chapel of St. Helena. Within this area is the Chapel of the Invention (discovery) of the Cross of Jesus. ​ 25. The oldest pilgrim's inscription has been discovered. It says, "Yes, Lord, we will go." 26. Rock of Golgotha enclosed in glass. ​ 27. Byzantine Ruins ​ 28. Hadrian's Temple Platform to Jupiter Ruins ​ 29. S tone Slab Unique Decorations Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Bible 1. Jesus arrives at Golgotha and is stripped of His garments (Station 10 of the Via Dolorosa; for all stations, see Via Dolorosa). John 19:23–24: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” 2. Jesus is nailed to the Cross (Station 11). John 19:17–18: And he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 3. Jesus dies on the Cross (Station 12). Luke 23:44–45: It was now about the sixth hour [12:00 pm], and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [3:00 pm], 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.” 4. Jesus' body is removed from the Cross (Station 13). John 19:38–40: After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 5. Jesus is placed in the tomb (Station 14). John 19:41–42: Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. ​ 6. Jesus raises from the dead. Matthew 28:5–6: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Faith Lesson from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 1. While we might not agree with the decorations and atmosphere of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, do we appreciate all the devotion and sacrifice that has been made to remember and commemorate all Jesus did for us on the Cross? 2. The fact that this place, along with many others, has been preserved and set aside to honor Christ and the events of the Bible provides powerful evidence regarding the historicity of Christ and the truthfulness of the Bible. Do we truly believe the Bible and everything written in it? ​ 3. This is the believed place where Christ gave His life for each one of us. Have we received Christ's gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life with Him in paradise? ​ 4. Are we grateful for the price Jesus paid to save us and have a living relationship with us?

Qumran: Dead Sea Scrolls Photo Gallery Places of Interest Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls Location 1. Qumran is located on the northwest side of the Dead Sea on Hwy. 90 about 13 miles (21 km.) east of Jerusalem. 2. It’s in the Judean Wilderness, where it’s barren and hot. 3. It’s located 1200 feet (366 m.) below sea level. 4. Its water source comes from the Judean Mountains to the west of the community via an aqueduct. 5. There are many caves in the area. 6. At Qumran, one of the most important discoveries in the history of biblical archaeology took place in around 1947. Historical Background 1. It’s believed that the ancient settlement of Qumran was established by a Jewish group called the Essenes. 2. They lived here from about 200 BC to around 68 AD. 3. There were around 200 people who inhabited Qumran during its history. 4. The ruins were excavated in the 1950s by a French archaeological team. 5. The Essenes were a Jewish sect that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD. They were a spiritually devoted group of folks who left Jerusalem because they believed that the priesthood had become corrupted beyond repair and separated themselves to study the Bible, copy it, and seek the Lord in the desert. ​ 6. The Jewish historian Josephus records that the Essenes existed in large numbers; thousands lived throughout Judaea. They were fewer in number than the Pharisees and Sadducees (the other two major sects at the time). The Essenes lived in various cities, but congregated in communal life dedicated to voluntary poverty, daily immersion, and asceticism; their priestly class practiced celibacy. Most scholars claim they seceded from the Zadokite priests. It was this group of Jews who lived at Qumran. They mainly lived in the surrounding caves or tents just outside the community. ​ 7. They were a strict Torah observant, Messianic, apocalyptic, new covenant Jewish sect. They were led by a priest they called the "Teacher of Righteousness.” They were highly educated and very familiar with writing and study. 8. The future monastery lifestyle followed similar patterns of the Essene community. 9. Josephus wrote that the men of Qumran rejected marriage and instead cared for the needy and neglected children of others. However, later discoveries have found skeletons of women, so it’s believed some men possibly were married and women were part of the community. 10. The Essenes most likely wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls from about 200 BC to 68 AD. Josephus and other secular sources mention the Essenes. However, they are not mentioned in the New Testament. 11. It's likely the Essenes stored their copied manuscripts in caves so they were protected from the elements and safe in case of war. 12 . It's also likely that w hen the Essenes saw the nation of Israel falling to the Romans in around 68 AD, they hid their manuscripts in caves around Qumran. These manuscripts are what we refer to as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Historical Background of the Dead Sea Scrolls 1. Around 1947, Bedouin shepherds were tending their goats and sheep near the ancient settlement of Qumran. One of the young shepherds threw a rock into a cave and heard an echo sound. He and his friends later climbed into the cave and found a collection of large clay jars, seven of which contained leather and papyrus scrolls. An antiquities dealer from Bethlehem bought the scrolls, which later wound up in the possession of numerous scholars who estimated that the manuscripts were around 2,000 years old. After news of the discovery was made public, Bedouin treasure hunters and archaeologists discovered tens of thousands of additional scroll fragments from 10 nearby caves. 2. The scrolls were discovered in eleven caves between the years of 1947 and 1956. The manuscripts are numbered according to the caves in which they were found. 3. There are around 972 manuscripts (15,000 fragments) that have been found to date. The longest is 26 feet (8 m.) long. 4. They include fragments from every book of the Old Testament except for the Book of Esther (Esther might have been lost or decomposed due to time or may have been damaged by the Bedouin shepherds). 5. The writings consist of biblical manuscripts and other religious writings that circulated during the Second Temple era (516 BC to 70 AD). About 230 of the manuscripts are referred to as biblical scrolls. However, many of the manuscripts were fragmented and had to be assembled. 6. Cave 4, which is right beside ancient Qumran, had around 75% of all the material from the Qumran caves. 7. The Isaiah Scroll, found relatively intact, is 1,000 years older than any previously known copy of Isaiah, and the other scrolls are the oldest group of Old Testament manuscripts ever found. 8. The major intact manuscripts from Caves 1 and 11 were published by the late fifties and are now housed in the Shrine of the Book Museum in Jerusalem. 9. To date, there are around 53 caves that have been discovered, many of them containing more scrolls. 10. Amazingly, the biblical manuscripts are virtually identical to the manuscripts we have today of the Old Testament part of the Bible. This proves God’s ability to preserve His word through the ages. 11. Interestingly, the inhabitants of Qumran were either killed or fled, as no one ever came back to retrieve the scrolls. Places of Interest 1. Aqueduct Entrance 2. Reservoirs 3. Cisterns 4. Tower 5. Kitchen 6. Scriptorium 7. Pottery Shop 8. Kiln 9. Mikveh (Ritual Bath) 10. Assembly Hall 11. Pantry 12. Animal Pen ​ 13. Aqueduct 14. Cave viewing area (caves 4–10) 15. Caves 1, 2, 3, and 11 are located about 1 mile (1.62 km.) north of Qumran 16. Dead Sea Qumran and the Bible 1. The Dead Sea Scrolls would have been the same Hebrew Bible that Christ and the apostles used. 2. The Hebrew Bible was divided into 3 sections: The Law (Torah), the Writings (historical books), and the Prophets (major and minor prophets). 3. Christ gave full validity to the authority and accuracy of Scripture and used every section of it in His teachings. He repeatedly said, “So that it might be fulfilled,” “It is written,” “Have you not read?” and so forth. 4. Christ used the Old Testament to explain His purpose on earth. Luke 24:27: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 5. In the New Testament, there are 850 quotes or references to the Old Testament. 6. The New Testament is built upon the Old Testament and cannot be fully understood without it. The Uniqueness of the Bible 1. The Bible was written by 40 different authors, on 3 different continents, and written over a period of 1,600 years. Yet all the books of the Bible harmonize and keep the same themes like a puzzle pieced together in perfect harmony. 2. This harmony is a miracle in and of itself. For example, if an accident happened on a street corner and 10 witnesses were asked what they saw, there would be many different accounts or versions of the incident. However, this is not so with the Bible. It has one guiding theme despite having many authors writing over a long period of time on different continents. The Bible Was Written and Preserved Supernaturally by God 1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2. 2 Peter 1:19–21: And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 3. Hebrews 4:12–13: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 4. Matthew 4:4: But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5. Matthew 5:18: For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 6. Luke 21:33: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Faith Lesson from Qumran 1. The Dead Sea Scrolls were one of the most important discoveries in the history of mankind. God supernaturally did this in order to prove the reliability of His Word. Do we believe in the Bible and that it’s God’s divine revelation to us? 2. Christ referred to every section of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and repeatedly said, “So that it might be fulfilled,” “It is written,” “Have you not read?” and so forth. If Christ claimed the Hebrew Bible of His day was accurate, do we trust in the accuracy of the Bible we have today as well? 3. The New Testament contains around 850 references from the Old Testament. This shows how the New Testament is built upon the Old Testament. Do we read the Old Testament in order to understand the New Testament better? 4. If Christ was so passionate about the truthfulness of Scripture and claimed it was the very Word of God, then we too, like Christ, can certainly trust God’s ability to preserve Scripture. Like Christ, are we passionate about the Bible, and do we read it regularly? 5. If God supernaturally preserved the accuracy of the Old Testament, do we believe He could do the same for the New Testament?

Dead Sea Area Photo Gallery Places of Interest Dead Sea Area ​ At the very lowest point on earth, at about 1,410 feet (430 meters) below sea level, lies a natural wonder replete with its own unique ecosystem, breathtaking desert views, and mineral treasures that have attracted visitors for thousands of years. Because of its unique location, healing properties, geological and historical background, surrounding ecosystem, and the epic biblical events that have happened around it, the Dead Sea is an irresistible venue for tourists. Location 1. The Dead Sea is a large salt lake located in the Judean desert of southern Israel. It's about 15 miles (25 km.) east of Jerusalem and is Israel's largest body of water within its borders. It also forms part of the border between Israel and Jordan, with Jordan being on the east side. ​ Historical Background & Info 1. The Dead Sea is one of the world's four saltiest bodies of water. These special conditions are an outcome of its extreme geomorphological structure alongside a harsh desert climate. These create constant dramatic changes that form a landscape different from any other in the world. The unique mineral content of the air, land, and water in the area is globally renowned for its therapeutic qualities. Even since the time of Herod the Great (37-4 BC), it has been a health resort. ​ 2. The Jordan River is the only major water source flowing into the Dead Sea, although there are small perennial springs under and around the lake, forming pools and quicksand pits along its edges. Today, after diversifying the waters from the Sea of Galilee in the 1960s, the only incoming water sources are from sulfur springs and wastewater, along with rare drizzles and flash floods. ​ 3. The water level of the Dead Sea has been receding gradually, at an average yearly rate of about 3 feet (1 meter). This is causing large concern about the Dead Sea drying up. This drop in water level is caused by evaporation under the harsh desert sun, but also because little water is now flowing into the Dead Sea. 4. Why is it called the Dead Sea? For several reasons. Because it has 10 times more salt than other oceans. Because of this, fish and plant life cannot exist. There is absolutely no life whatsoever in the Dead Sea. In various languages, the Dead Sea is referred to by different names, all reflective of its characteristics. The earliest known name is recorded in the Hebrew Bible, referred to as “the Salt Sea," due to its significantly high salt content. It was also called the "Sea of Arabah." It's called in Hebrew "Yam HaMelaẖ" (Salt Sea), and in Arabic "Al-Baḥr Al-Mayyit," ( Sea of Death). ​ Salt was a highly valued commodity in the later Roman era – Roman soldiers were paid in salt rather than money! This is also the source of the Latin word “salary,” which comes from “salt.” ​ In a spiritual sense, some have likened it to being dead because water comes in but doesn't leave. That's what happens to us. If we only receive but don't give, then we will also be spiritually dead. 5. The Dead Sea is globally renowned for the therapeutic effect of the minerals in its waters and mud, which are especially high in concentration. Dead Sea minerals in the water and mud have helped improve many skin conditions, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and acne. ​ 6. Why is the Dead Sea so salty? It appears that after the Great Flood, this body of water was landlocked. Like the other oceans, this water had a certain level of salt. Then, over the years, its salt content was derived from the erosion of rocks on land, with their salt ions driven by rivers into the landlocked lake. Its extremely low elevation means that water cannot escape the Dead Sea once it enters, and exposed to the intense heat, the water evaporates more quickly, leading to an intense salinity. ​ Another reason it is so salty appears to be because God destroyed the area, as found in Genesis 19:23–29. Deuteronomy 29:23 mentions, "All its land is brimstone and salt , burned debris, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows on it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and in His wrath." ​ 7. Why do you float in the Dead Sea? Because of the high concentration of salt, the water is much denser than plain fresh water, meaning that our body weight is lighter – which causes us to float! It's important not to say in the water for long periods as it can be dangerous. B e careful about getting water in your eyes or open cuts. It's best not to shave too soon before entering the water as this can cause burning and irritation. Lastly, it's best not to dunk your head under the water. ​ 8. The drop in the level of the water after 1960 or so, has changed the physical appearance of the Dead Sea. Most noticeably, the peninsula of Al-Lisan gradually extended eastward until a dry land strip separated the lake’s northern and southern basins. In addition, the southern basin was eventually subdivided into dozens of large evaporation pools (for the extraction of salt), so by the 21st century, it had essentially ceased to be a natural body of water. The northern basin—effectively now the actual Dead Sea—largely retained its overall dimensions despite its great loss of water, mainly because its shoreline plunged downward so steeply from the surrounding landscape. 9. The Dead Sea lies in a desert. Rainfall is scarce and irregular. It averages about 2.5 inches (65 mm) of rain a year. Because of the lake’s extremely low elevation and sheltered location, winter temperatures are mild, averaging around 63 °F (17 °C) in the winter months. Freezing temperatures never occur. Summer is oppressively hot, averaging 93 °F (34 °C) in August, with a recorded maximum of 124 °F (51 °C). Evaporation of the lake’s waters often creates a thick mist above the lake. Places of Interest 1. Sodom Lot’s Wife Mount Sodom 2. Gomorrah Sphinx Pyramid 3. Zoar 4. Admah 5. Zeboiim ​ 6. Jericho ​ 7. Jordan River Crossing Site 8. Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qsar al-Yahud) ​ 9. Judean Desert ​ 10. Jordan River Inlet ​ 11 . Northern Beaches ​ 12. Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) ​ 13. Avnat (Kidron Valley Drainage from Jerusalem) ​ 14. En Gedi ​ 15. Sink Holes ​ 16. Masada ​ 17. Southern Beaches ​ 18. Dead Sea Mineral Factories ​ ​ The Dead Sea in the Bible There are many mentions of the Dead Sea in the Bible, and it has long been associated with mysticism, wonderment, and religious significance. ​ 1. It appears the area around the Dead Sea was lush and well-watered before God destroyed the area with fire and brimstone. Genesis 13:10: Lot raised his eyes and saw all the vicinity of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt going toward Zoar. ​ 2. It appears that after God destroyed the area, it changed to the state it is today, a dry, barren desert. Deuteronomy 29:23: All its land is brimstone and salt , burned debris, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows on it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and in His wrath . ​ 3. It is referenced often to describe the borders of Israel. Numbers 34:12: And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea . This shall be your land according to its borders on all sides. ​ 4. It was a densely populated area during the time of Abraham before God destroyed the area. Genesis 14:1-3: And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these kings came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). ​ 5. Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the other cities of the valley, were wicked, sinful people. Genesis 18:20–21: 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 if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” 6. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:23–29: The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar [located south of Sodom and Gomorrah]. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Now Abraham arose 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 valley , and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. 29 Thus, it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley , that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. ​ 7. The slopes of Mount Sodom are located in the southeast corner of the Dead Sea, and they feature salt formations that look like pillars – which are traditionally referred to as Lot’s wife. ​ 8. At the end of the Tribulation Period, when God judges the nations in the Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat), the blood will flow from Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea, and south. The drainage system from the Kidron Valley empties into the Dead Sea at Avnat. Revelation 14:20: And the wine press was trampled outside the city [Jerusalem], and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of 1,600 stadia [185 miles, 300 km.]. ​ The Kidron Stream is about 30 miles, 50 km., from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. This blood river will then flow south from Avnat for a distance of 150 miles, 241 km., to the Red Sea. ​ 9. During the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth after the Great Tribulation Period, a supernatural river will flow from Jerusalem, using the same Kidron Valley drainage system, and will change the Dead Sea area entirely. Ezekiel 47:7-11: Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea [Dead Sea], being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh . 9 And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh ; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” ​ Zechariah 14:8-9: And on that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem , half of them toward the eastern sea [Dead Sea] and the other half toward the western sea [Mediterranean Sea]; it will be in summer as well as in winter. 9 And the Lord will be King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. ​ ​ Faith Lesson from the Dead Sea Area 1. The main lesson we'll take from this area is that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The reason it was destroyed is a serious, sobering message we should allow to sink in deeply. 2. The primary sin for which God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality. However, they sinned in many other ways as well. 3. Sodom and Gomorrah are a foreshadow of what hell will be like. 4. Jesus talked about how His second coming would be like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus also spoke more about hell than heaven. 5. If God, the prophets, Christ, and the apostles used Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the eternal judgment in hell that awaits the ungodly, then we should do the same today as well. 6. God is a God of love and has done everything He can to save us, but for those who reject His offer of salvation, eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire awaits them (Rev. 20:10). ​

Israel Geography Video Series

Holy Land Travel Orientation Holy Land Travel Orientation Understand that half of what there is to see in the Holy Land is hidden from most that walk her paths. They are unseen spiritual truths, only revealed to the sensitive and spiritual of heart. This page is desig ned to help you get the most out of your travels in the Holy Land. ​ Following are nine orientation se ctions we highly recommend you acquaint yourself with before departing on your Holy Land Trip to Israel: Sectio n 1: Historical Periods in Israel's History ​ Section 2: Preparing Yourself to See the Holy Sites in Israel ​ Section 3: How to Get the Most Out of Your Holy Land Trip ​ Section 4 : Understanding Group Travel Dynamics ​ Section 5: Travel Tips for Israel ​ Section 6 : Packing List ​ Section 7: Staying Connected While In Israel ​ Section 8: Getting Around In Israel for Personal Use ​ Sec tion 9 : Orientation Meeting In Israel Topics ​ Below are two very helpful videos showing exactly what to expect and the process you will need to follow for arriving and departing Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. See where to get your tourist visas, go through the Passport Checkpoint area, proceed to the baggage claim area, go through customs, exit the airport, get a taxi, and more. Then, for departing Israel, see the steps for the security checkpoints, luggage check-in, terminal layout, and more. Anchor 1 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 1 Historical Periods in Israel’s History Why it's important to understand a brief overview of the historical periods of Israel. The Holy Land is an old place, about the oldest in the world! While in the Holy Land, you’ll be seeing things as old as 6,000 years. That’s old! Different periods of history will be referred to when describing Israel’s holy sites and places. Please realize that at a particular site, there will likely be several key events that have taken place there. Each event will have happened during a specific period in Israel’s history. If you can understand the different periods a little, you’ll get much more out of your experience. Please click here for the Historical Timeline of Israel Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 2 Preparing Yourself to See the Holy Sites in Israel ​ The Need to Understand What You’re Going to See It would be wonderful if the Holy Land was exactly the same as it was 2,000 years ago when Christ walked its paths, or 4,000 years ago when Abraham traversed its hillsides and valleys. However, 4,000 years is a long time, and there have been many changes that have taken place during this time span. It’s hard for us to understand, but 4,000 or even 2,000 years is a long time! Because of its strategic location in the world, no other country has had as many kingdoms occupy it, or as many battles fought on its soil as Israel. This, along with time, has led to much change to Israel and its holy sites. The good news is that many of the biblical sites are in their natural state and appear much the same as they did when the events that happened there occurred. Other sites have had monuments, churches, or basilicas built near, or on them and are not exactly as they appeared when the events that occurred there happened. Also, many sites have had many events happen in one spot over thousands of years, so it would be impossible to have each event preserved just the way it happened. Understanding What Some of The Holy Sites Will Be Like Many of these monuments, churches, or basilicas will have a Catholic, Arabic, or Mid-Eastern style look. They’re very different from what we’re accustomed to seeing, and at first glance, you might find this unattractive. You also might disagree with the religious backgrounds of some of these sites and feel somewhat uncomfortable as well. In addition, you most likely will find other people visiting the Holy Land from other countries who are actually worshipping and kissing some of the adornments on these sites. On a previous trip to Israel, some in our group found all this a little repulsive and chose not to enter some of these holy sites. Because of these possible negative reactions, we would like to provide you with a little background and history about how these holy sites have been preserved so your sightseeing experience can be the best as possible during your time in the Holy Land. A Little History Even before the time of Christ and afterward, many of the holy sites were marked out and preserved. Then, about 300 years after the time of Christ, the Roman Empire (world power at that time) embraced Christianity. At that time, the mother of Emperor Constantine (Helena) was one of the first of the royal family to convert to Christianity. Later, Emperor Constantine did as well. Helena came to the Holy Land and wanted to preserve some of the holy sites, so she had churches, monuments, and basilicas built over some of the key holy places. These included the Church of the Holy Sepulture, Church of the Nativity, Basilica in the Garden of Gethsemane, Church of the Annunciation, and others. Helena and others throughout history felt such emotion and awe at these holy sites that they wanted to honor and preserve them for future generations. The Early Church during this period was the first to be in charge of these sites, and then because the Early Church slowly evolved into what we know as the Catholic Church, many of these holy sites came under the care of the Catholic Church. The monuments, churches, and basilicas were not always Catholic in nature, so we shouldn’t assume that they shared the same religious views at their inception. There were others as well that came to the Holy Land to build churches, monuments, and basilicas on these holy sites (Armenians, Russians, Greeks, etc.). Their hearts felt the same awe and emotion as others who came, so they too built on or by these holy sites to honor and preserve them. Some of these holy sites are ancient (from as old as 5,000 years), and the churches have a Mid-Eastern style look. Gratefulness to Those Who Preserved the Holy Sites If it hadn't been for those who preserved the biblical sites, they would have been lost or had other buildings, roads, and infrastructure built over them. They would have been lost to the world forever. These early pilgrims felt the same awe and emotion you will feel. We certainly can’t fault them for this. Because of all the adornments and construction over the centuries, it's hard to imagine how some of these sites would have looked in their original setting. However, the years of activity and tradition at these holy sites give greater weight to their authenticity. And while we might disagree with the decorations and atmosphere of these places, we should appreciate and admire all the devotion and sacrifice made to preserve them. Some Might Find These Churches, Monuments, and Basilicas Repulsive Part of the reason some might find the places they see in Israel as repulsive will have to do with a difference in religious faith. Another reason is due to a misunderstanding of style. These holy sites have a very different style than what we’re accustomed to in modern churches. Most of the old churches we see are just a few hundred years old and have somewhat the same architecture and style from our modern era. Closing Thoughts 1. Entering these churches, monuments, and basilicas to see these holy sites doesn’t mean we’re in any way embracing and accepting their religious beliefs. 2. While the style, religious background, and adornments might not be to our taste, the motives of those who preserved these sites seem to be noble and honorable. As you see these sites, you will understand why these early pilgrims wanted to preserve them. 3. It’s important to note that we, from a modern mindset, have different views and tastes regarding building styles. Because to us, something 200-400 years old seems really ancient, we need to realize that seeing something 1,500 years old has an entirely different architectural look and sense to it than what we’re accustomed to seeing. Hopefully, this info will help you. As mentioned, on a previous trip to Israel, some didn’t really understand these things beforehand, and it took them a bit to get themselves wrapped around some of these concepts. It was kind of a self-discovery process. For this reason, this orientation and background are provided so you can get the most out of your Holy Land Experience Trip and not get bogged down in this area. Anchor 2 Anchor 3 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 3 How to Get the Most Out of Your Holy Land Trip ​ How to See What Many Don’t See in the Holy Land Understand that half of what there is to see in the Holy Land is hidden from most that walk her paths. They are unseen spiritual truths, only revealed to the sensitive and spiritual of heart. Try to get as close to God as you can prior to and during your time in the Holy Land, so you can see and hear things that many don’t see during their visit there. The Holy Land is not just places and historical artifacts; it’s an experience, an experience that is spiritual in nature and eye-opening for those who can see in this realm. You Won’t Be Able to See Everything It would be great to see every detail at every holy site, but that would take months, if not years, to do. It’s important to understand that there is a lot to see and, therefore, just the highlights can be seen. You’ll be eating the frosting off the cake and won’t be able to eat the whole thing. As a result, please don’t be discouraged if you can’t spend as much time in each place as you’d wish. You’ll have to move along to see just the highlights, and if you stay too long at one place, that means you’ll be saying “No” to another. Your Trip Won’t be Perfect It would be fantastic if you could be guaranteed a perfect trip with a perfect experience, but that’s just not reality. Going to the Holy Land is undoubtedly the closest you’ll get to the “Trip of a Lifetime,” but please don’t get your hopes up so high that you’re let down and feel discouraged if it doesn’t turn out as you dreamed. Your trip won’t be perfect. Your leader and the rest of your group will probably not live up to your expectations either. The only perfect person on the trip will be you (well, maybe not exactly perfect, but pretty close to it, lol). So just prepare yourself to understand that things just aren’t going to be flawless. Trust God for Your Experience It’s also easy to have preconceived ideas of what to expect; the emotions you’re going to feel, the dreams you might have of the Holy Land, and the experience you want to have. Please try to set some of these aside and trust God to give you the experience He has for you. Don’t get everything built up so high that it would be impossible to fulfill them. Trust God to bless you and teach you what He has for you. He’s the One who’s worked everything out for you to go, and I’m certain He has special things to teach you. Trust in Him and be looking for what He has for you. And after everything is said and done, be content with what He gives you. It’s His trip, and you need to be happy with the outcome, whatever it may be. Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 4 Understanding Group Travel Dynamics ​ Traveling with Others Part of the joy and richness of your Holy Land Experience will come from sharing it with others. Going somewhere alone is never as much fun as doing it with someone else. The impact and fullness of the experience will come alive as it’s experienced as a group rather than as an individual or couple. For this reason, you’ll want to consider a few things to make your Holy Land Experience the best as possible. Try to Think as a Group and Not as an Individual Traveling as a group is very different from traveling as an individual or couple. There will be other team members in your group, and each person needs to realize they’re part of a larger event than just themselves. The whole team will be depending on others to be punctual, courteous, thoughtful, and pleasant. Try to take into consideration that what you do affects everyone else on the team. Try to Keep Up with the Group It will be important that you keep up with the group and not linger too long seeing things during your travels. Because you’ll be seeing some really interesting things, it will be easy to get lost in these and forget that there are other things to see as well. Pleas e Be Punctual Everything from wake-up times, mealtimes, arrival times, departure times, and the site-seeing schedule for each day needs to be considered. Because you are spending a lot of money and taking precious time out of your busy life to experience the Holy Land, you’ll want to be as punctual as possible so you and your team can see everything as planned. Your group can only be as fast as the slowest person, so try to be punctual and thoughtful of others. If you tend to be a late person, consider getting a head start on things by starting earlier than normal so you can be on time. ​ Please Be Patient & Courteous Be aware that sometime during the trip, you’ll likely feel tired, a bit irritated with others, or upset at something that’s happened. Do your best to overlook the faults of others and try to keep yourself in check. Also, realize that we have an enemy who will do his best to take away from our experience by using others or problems. Be alert and prayerful! Keep yourself close to God and do your best to love others, and take everything in stride. Try to Be Rested Up Before Your Holy Land Trip Because you’re going to be expending a lot of energy during the trip, try to get as rested as possible before departure. To illustrate this point, we’ll use the term “gauges” to help us out. We all know that most of our vehicles have gauges: gas gauge, temperature gauge, oil gauge, etc. Using this analogy for our bodies, we all have bodily gauges as well. We have physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual gauges. Before your trip, try to get your bodily gauges as full as possible. By doing so, you’ll get more out of your trip and be more joyful and patient with others. Here are a few tips for filling up your bodily gauges before trip departure: Try and scale down on your activities and output before the trip. For example, cut back on meetings, outings, get-togethers, and social events. Get plenty of sleep. Get plenty of exercise (you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking, so try to get in walking shape before the trip). Get as much of your responsibilities and commitments done ahead of time, and don’t wait until the last minute to take care of things. There will be plenty of last-minute things to do, so don’t add to them by procrastinating. Try to get packed and ready at your earliest convenience. If you need to shop for trip items, try to do so plenty of time in advance. By doing the following, you’ll start your trip with your bodily gauges full and not empty. And when you think about it, who would start a long journey with their car having an empty gas tank and little or no oil in the engine? Anchor 4 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 5 Travel Tips for Israel ​ 1. Get in shape physically before you go to Israel. You will be doing a lot of walking, so the better shape you’re in, the easier and more pleasant your time will be. Several months prior to your trip, start walking at least 15 minutes a day. 2. Activate your credit/debit cards before departure to Israel. 3. Make sure your Passport is up to date and valid. It must have 6 months of time left before expiration (of your dates in Israel) to be valid. 4. Don’t shave your body before taking a dip in the Dead Sea. The salt and minerals will irritate your skin. 5. Don’t show public display of affection with the opposite sex, especially on the Temple Mount and Muslim sites. 6. Don’t be afraid to bargain for purchases at marketplaces. It’s expected, so take part in it. 7. Establish meeting places at each site so that if for some reason you get lost or separated, you can find each other. 8. Carry a water bottle and stay hydrated. 9. Pack layered types of clothing instead of heavy clothes. 10. Carry your personal items in a safe place on your person. 11. Take a good camera or video camera. 12. Get used to people smoking as it’s very common in Israel and the Middle East. 13. Many Israelis are not religious, but secular. This might seem weird, but it’s true. 14. Carry a copy of your Passport. 15. Women should dress very modestly, especially when visiting holy sites. Ladies should bring a large scarf or shawl to cover themselves when necessary. 16. Men should wear hats when visiting Jewish holy sites. 17. Men should not wear hats when visiting Christian holy sites. ​ 18. Men should not wear shorts or tank tops when visiting holy sites like churches, Temple Mount, etc. ​ Anchor 5 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 6 Packing List ​ General Items Travel Bible or smartphone with Bible app Journal and pen for taking notes Plug adapter for plugging devices into the outlets in Israel. Click here for purchase options Note: The outlets in Israel are different from the States. You’ll need this adapter for plugging things in to be charged, etc. Also, electricity in Israel is 220 volts. In America, it’s 110 volts. Many electronic devices today can adapt to both voltages, such as smartphones, tablets, etc. If this is all you'll be charging, then a plug-in like this is all you'll need. Lightweight Portable Chair. Click here for purchase options Note: Chairs are optional, but you might find them handy for our Bible teachings. Charger converter needed for Israel (Needed for charging cameras and etc.). Click here for purchase options Note: Electricity in Israel is 220 volts. In America, it’s 110 volts. Many electronic devices today can adapt to both voltages. If you plan to take an item that cannot use 220 volts, then the above link is a charger converter you’ll need. Travel alarm or smartphone that has this capability Flashlight (mini) or smartphone that has this capability Camera or smartphone that has this capability Film or Storage Disks for your camera (bring plenty, because it's much more expensive in Israel) Many people find it helpful to take Ziplock baggies or small plastic containers to put their lunches in. ​ Clothes Dressing in layers is best when considering your clothes. For the most part, the weather will be warm and sunny during the time we are in Israel. However, there might be some cooler days and evenings. Note: Special clothing requirements must be considered when visiting sites like the Temple Mount, many churches, and other religious sites. Ladies: Please bring a large scarf or shawl to cover yourself when visiting these religious sites. You also must dress modestly so your knees and shoulders are covered. Men: You will not be able to enter many religious sites if you are wearing shorts or tank tops. Therefore, we discourage wearing these items during the day. However, they can generally be worn during your free time in the evenings if you'd like. General Clothing Swimsuit, beach shoes, and a plastic bag for the Dead Sea experience if you want to get in the water Light jacket Sturdy walking shoes with traction for the many stone paths and roads you’ll traverse. FYI ~ Many of the streets are paved with stone, so it's challenging to wear shoes with awkward heels/soles on uneven pavement. Sleepwear Hat for sun protection purposes Day Pack/Back Pack (can be used as a carry-on and for travel in Israel) Ziplock bags for lunches and items you might find while in Israel. Umbrella - Small contractible type Sunglasses ​​ Toiletries In Israel, most products are available. However, prices in Israel generally run higher. Following are some reminders of items you might want to take: Shampoo/Conditioner Soap Toothbrush Toothpaste Deodorant Lip balm Razor After-shave Band-Aids Feminine items Sunscreen Tylenol/ Ibuprofen Eyeglasses/ contact lenses Anti-bacterial hand lotion Any prescription medicine Money We suggest bringing around $300 USD for emergency use if needed. A credit card is the best way to pay for things in Israel, as you will get the best exchange rate. However, some local vendors will not accept credit cards, so Shekels are best for that (USD are also accepted by local vendors selling to tourists). Shekels can be drawn out from most ATMs in Israel. No need to go to your bank to get them ahead of time. At our first hotel in Tel Aviv, there is an ATM close to it. Food & Lunches The day of arrival in Israel (unless you arrive earlier) will be a Sabbath evening . This means all Jewish stores, restaurants, and so forth will close early (normally starting around 3:00 pm) This can present challenges for eating and preparing a lunch for the next day. If you will be arriving after 3:00 pm, you can eat dinner at the hotel or buy something ahead of time. Some places will be open, but very few. For the next day's sack lunch, you can buy something ahead of time or take extra items from the breakfasts buffets at the hotels (the hotels seem okay with this). ​ Breakfast - The hotels will provide breakfast if desired. Some will provide dinners as well. These can be paid for when you book your lodging or at the hotels. It's ideal to eat breakfast at the hotels as it's handy. However, you can eat your breakfast if desired at a local restaurant or made by hand. ​ Lunch - Because eating out is expensive in Israel, time-consuming with a large group, and we will not always be close to a restaurant, each trip participant will prepare themself a daily sack lunch. Each day around noon, we will take a break to eat, or you can eat and snack as you wish. Lunch items can be purchased at local grocery stores or extra items from the breakfasts buffets at the hotels can be taken (the hotels seem okay with this). The hotels will have refrigerators in the rooms if needed. ​Dinner – On your own. Enjoy the local culture as you eat at local restaurants or the hotel if you prefer. ​ Note: Many people find it helpful to take Ziplock baggies or small plastic containers to put their lunches in. Luggage Size & Amount We don't have a luggage size and number allowance per person, but we suggest not exceeding over 40-50 lbs (18-22 kg) per piece of luggage as it makes it hard to handle. The lighter, the better. You will be responsible for handling your own luggage on the trip, so don't pack any heavier than what you can lift. ​ Documents & Items to Carry with You at all Times There are several options for carrying your money and important documents with you on your trip. You can use a money belt (waist style or necklace style) or pockets on your pants or shirt that can be buttoned and secure. Passport ~ Must not expire until 6 months after your trip. Copy of your Passport Driver's License Printed or screenshots of your payment receipts for our trip to Israel in case you are interviewed by Israeli security at the airports (because of security purposes, Israel often interviews travelers at incoming and outgoing airports) Health Insurance Card or proof of insurance Credit/Debit Card (make sure to activate your cards for Israel or international travel) Note: It’s a good idea to have your debit card activated so you can draw out Shekels for spending in Israel. Travel Visa received in Israel at customs. Special Note: When arriving in Israel, you’ll go through customs to receive your visa for your stay in Israel. It will be a small piece of paper. Please don’t lose it! You will need it on several occasions while in the country. You can tuck it away in your passport if you’d like. ​ Anchor 6 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 7 Staying Connected While In Israel ​ Staying connected with loved ones back home and having Internet access is a high priority for many. ​ Also, being connected to the Internet would be very helpful in accessing our HolyLandSite.com website, where you would be able to see and follow along during our Bible studies and tours of each site we'll be visiting in Israel. Additionally, it would be very helpful to access info during your free time in the evenings if you wanted to investigate sites of interest, dining options, directions, and so forth. ​ What are the options for staying connected while in Israel? Here are the best solutions: ​ 1. In many cases, you can use your phone in Israel if you add on an international plan with your cell provider. Just check with your provider to learn about the cost and availability of this service. 2. You can purchase an Israeli SIM card. In most cases, these can be mailed to your home before leaving for Israel and then activated upon arrival in Israel (I believe these are only available for those in the United States, but you could call them and see.) A SIM card service we use is TalknSave . ​ 3. You can purchase a SIM card at Ben Gurion Airport upon arrival. Here are some links for this option: Buying a Sim Card at Tel Aviv Airport in 2023 - Traveltomtom.net Israeli SIM cards | SimToIsrael | Tour Israel Jerusalem Tel-Aviv ​ Anchor 7 Anchor 8 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 8 ​Getting Around In Israel for Personal Use Public Bus Company - Egged Where will you find Egged buses? Almost everywhere. Egged is the biggest bus company in Israel. They usually operate as intercity buses, except for some cases in Northern Israel. Egged is also the main player in most Israeli cities, except for the Tel Aviv area. Their buses are completely green. Lately, they’ve also added a fleet of greyish buses. Useful Travel Apps Google Maps - This is our favorite. It has great maps in English, and you can use it to see exactly where you need to go. It also shows the live bus arrival times. Taxis Only use recognized, marked taxis in Israel. Sometimes, private people will act like a taxi service, but they are not. This can be risky. The taxis are easily recognizable with their distinct black and yellow taxi sign on their rooftops. The taxi fare you will pay to whichever city in Israel you are traveling to has a legally fixed price. This will depend on the time of the day that you are traveling (after 9.15 pm, there is a surcharge of +25%). There will also be an extra charge for more than two passengers, and if you have a large amount of luggage, you may have to pay another 5-10 NIS. Taxi drivers also charge an extra 5 NIS when leaving the airport. Catching a Taxi from the Street It is still common practice to hail a taxi on the streets in Israel. There are two ways to set the price: ​ 1. Ask the driver to turn on the meter. This is a good way to ensure you do not get overcharged. The meter will begin at a standard minimum charge and then go up from there. Drivers are also required to present you with a receipt at the end of the journey, should you ask for one. ​ 2. Negotiate a fee with the driver before you get into the taxi. Make sure you agree on a fair price for both of you so there are no nasty surprises when you arrive at your destination. ​ Taxi Apps In Israel Booking a taxi using an app on your smartphone is increasingly popular now. Following are several options. Yango Taxi Israel - This is an app where you can set your destination and see the estimated cost of your ride almost immediately. You can also track your ride in the App and see exactly when it will arrive. It’s an easy-to-use service that works both on Android and iOS telephones. ​ Yango lets you book a ride with multiple destinations and can also suggest alternative pickup points to reach your destination faster and at a cheaper price. Because the price is upfront, it will stay the same, even if you are delayed by traffic. ​ Gett - About 8,000 of Israel's 25,000 cab drivers now use Gett, an Israeli company once known as Gett Taxi. Gett Taxi app in Israel does not actually own taxis or employ drivers but simply takes a fee for introducing passengers and drivers and acting as a third party for payments. Like Yango, the system is transparent, so passengers can’t be overcharged. Also, it’s easy to pay by credit card. ​ Uber - Uber is smaller than Yango or Gett, so response times might be a bit longer. Ordering an Uber driver costs 8 NIS from the time you get in the car, then 1 NIS for every minute you spend in it, plus 2 NIS for every kilometer. The hotels can also order you taxis if needed. ​ Light Rail System This is a great way to travel while in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. ​ Transportation on the Sabbath Starting Friday afternoon (around 3:00pm) all public transportation in Israel will begin shutting down and won't resume until Saturday evening around 7:00 pm. Getting around during this time is limited to walking, or taxis. Anchor 9 Holy Land Travel Orientation Section 9 Orientation Meeting In Israel Topic s ​ We Admire You You have made many sacrifices to make this trip a reality. You have done this because you love the Lord and want to know Him and all He did in the Holy Land. Our prayer is that God will be our teacher and minister to our hearts and souls in a mighty way during our time here. Get Acquainted Time We'll begin our orientation meeting in Israel by getting acquainted. Each person is welcome to state their name and where they're from. Name Tags Each person will receive their own nametag that can be worn around the neck. Please wear it every day. This way, we can identify those in our group, and you won't get mixed up with other tour groups as well. ​ Audio Devices Each person will receive their own kit that will contain their audio device, charger, neckstrap, and earpiece. Each person will be responsible for charging their own audio device each evening. Please take care of your devices and keep the plastic bag they came in. T hese will need to be returned at the end of the trip in their plastic bags. Please top them off when you first get them so they're fully charged. ​ Lunches Because eating out is expensive in Israel and time-consuming, and we won't always be close to a restaurant, each person will need to prepare a daily sack lunch. Each day around noon, we will take a break to eat, or you can eat and snack as you wish. Lunch items can be purchased at local grocery stores, or extra items from the breakfast buffets at the hotels can be taken (the hotels seem okay with this). The hotels will have refrigerators in the rooms if needed. ​ Stay Hyd rat ed Water is the best way to stay hydra ted. Soda and most other drinks will not hydrate you but inste ad cause you to have to go to the bathroom more frequently. Many bathroom stops can slow down our tour schedule considerably. So, it's important to stay hydrated with the best means possible, which is water. ​ Bottled Water on the Tour Bus Bottled water is available on the tour bus for $1.00 USD per bottle. It is located at the front of the bus. ​ Bathroom Breaks You will have plenty of opportunities to use bathrooms, but we will not be able to stop all the time every time someone needs to use a bathroom. Stopping all the time can slow down our trip considerably and possibly cause us to omit some sites due to time constraints. As mentioned above, stay hydrated, but avoid drinking too many fluids so you don't have to go to the bathroom frequently. ​ No Bathrooms on Tour Buses in Israel Israel doesn't allow any bathrooms on any buses in Israel. This is to prevent dumping of sewage in unwanted places. Therefore, you will not have access to bathrooms on our tour bus. ​ Souvenirs We will be somewhat limited as to how long we can shop for souvenirs. There is always a tension between shopping and seeing sites. If too much time is taken shopping, then we might have to eliminate seeing a site during that day's agenda. During your free time (especially in Jerusalem), you can shop till you drop, so you might want to save your heavy shopping until these times. If you do see something at a site you must have, please make your purchases quickly so we can move along and see all the sites on the agenda for that day. ​ Video Filming As most of you know, we have a large YouTube Channel where we publish Bible videos of the Holy Land. In fact, most of you found this Israel tour trip through these videos. We will have our cameras rolling most of the time in order to gather more material to continue making more videos. We are grateful for your understanding and consideration of this ministry to the Lord. We hope you will go about everything as normal and count it a blessing to be used by the Lord through these videos. ​ Also, as w e tour the sites, please feel free to video, take photos, and so forth of our talks and teachings for your own use as well. We'll try to move slowly through the sites so you'll have plenty of time to capture your memories. ​ Understanding Some of the Sites Some of you might not agree with the religious background of some of the churches we enter. Please understand that just because we enter a church doesn't mean we are endorsing or agreeing with it. These churches have preserved these sites over the years so that they can be seen today. ​ We Won't Be Able to Wait in Long Lines at Some Sites There are two main sites where we will not be able to wait in long lines. The Church of the Nativity (to enter the grotto area) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (to enter the tomb) are the two main ones. To enter these sites can take many hours, so if they are really important to you, then you will need to make arrangements on your own time to see them. We would need to eliminate other sites on the agenda in order to wait in the long lines. ​ Pass Along Directions While in crowded areas, please pass along turn directions and so forth so those behind you know where to go. ​ Fro nt Seats on the Tour Bus Please save the first two rows of seats on the bus for Holy Land Site staff. We'll have camera equipment and other items for which we'll need the space. Thank you for your understanding. ​ Tour Bus Departu re & Arrival Times From the Hotels We will meet in the hotel lobby of the main hotel each day at 7:30am . Then, we will leave the hotel lobby promptly at 7:45am to board the tour bus. Unfortunately, we will not be able to search for late people, so it will be each person's responsibility to be on time. We have a schedule, and the bus will have to leave promptly at the times indicated. Thank you for your understanding. ​ From Each Tour Site After we have toured a site, you will have time to go to the bathroom and buy any souvenirs or items you want to purchase. We will tell you what time the bus will be departing so you can be sure to leave with the group. Again, we will not be able to search for late people , so it will be each person's responsibility to be on the bus when it departs. ​ Return Time to Hotels Our goal is to return to the hotel we're staying at each day by 5:00 pm. This will give you plenty of free time to do what you'd like in the evenings. ​ We Will Be Treating You As Responsible Adults It will be the responsibility of each person to be on time and ready to leave the hotels each morning and the sites we visit. We won't be able to search for you to make sure you're on the bus or ready to go at departure times. Again, we have a schedule, and the bus will have to leave promptly at the times indicated. Thanks again for your understanding. ​ If You Miss the Tour Bus If, for some reason, you miss the tour bus, you will need to get a taxi to the next place on the tour where we will be. Our itinerary can be found on our website. ​ Please Be Punc tual Your experience, along with everyone else in the group, will be so much better if each person is punctual. Our group can only be as fast as the slowest person, so try to be punctual and thoughtful of others. If you tend to be late, consider getting a head start on things by starting earlier than normal so you can be on time. ​ Tour Trip Itinera ry If you don't have Internet service when you're away from your hotel, it would be wise to download the tour trip webpage so you can see the itinerary in case you are late and miss the tour bus. ​ Digital Maps of Daily Trip Itinerary On the website trip itinerary, you will see at the bottom of each day's itinerary a link to see a Google Map Directory of the route and sites we'll be seeing each day. ​ Internet Service While In Israel If you don't have Internet via your phone service, free Internet service is provided at each hotel where we will be staying. Also, the tour bus has free Internet service as well. ​ Touring In Jerusalem This will be a little different than most places as we'll be on foot a lot. Be certain to stay with the group. We will use bathrooms along the way as needed. Please don't wander off, or you might get separated from the group. ​ Volunteers to Carry Our Tour Group Flag In many cases, it's nice to have our group's small flag so everyone can see where the beginning of the group is. If you would like to help out, just let us know. We would be grateful for the help. ​ Stay Toget her As We Tour It will be important to stay together as a group as we tour the sites. This way, you'll stay within range of the audio devices, which will allow you to hear the talks and not get lost. Please don't be a straggler or lag behind. ​ Please Don't Block Walkways As We Tour Be sensitive to blocking walkways, isles, and so forth. We want to be courteous and not cause others problems trying to get around or through our group. ​ Hotel Transfer Days Take into account on the days we change hotels that you will need to get all your luggage ready for transport. Please give yourself extra time in the morning to have your luggage with you when we depart the hotel lobby at 7:45am. ​ Also, check your rooms carefully when transferring hotels. If you leave something behind, it will be very difficult to return and get it. Also, it might not be there even if you return. ​ The Use of My Bible Over the years, I have moved over to using my cell phone for the Bible teachings due to the wind and ease of use. However, because I'm now known in all our videos with my Bible in hand, I now put my cell phone in my Bible when teaching. ​ When to Ask Questions During the introduction time of the sites and during the Bible teaching times, please hold your questions. Otherwise, please ask all the questions you would like. ​ Shekels for Using Some of the Bathrooms At some bat h rooms a few Shekels will be needed to use some of the bathrooms. If possible, have a few Shekels for this (you can draw them out in Israel at an ATM). If you don't have any Shekels, we will cover this for you. ​ Take Photos on Your Phone & Make Copies of Your Passports & Identification In case you might lose any of your identity documents, it's a good idea to take photos of them on your cell phone and make copies of them to carry with you. ​ Transportation on the Sabbath Starting Friday afternoon (around 3:00pm), all public transportation in Israel will begin shutting down and won't resume until Saturday evening around 7:00pm. Getting around during this time is limited to walking or taxis. ​ Just Call Me Todd While the Lord has blessed me with several Bible degrees and a Ph.D. in theology , please just call me Todd. I am your humble servant and nothing more. All that I am is due to God's grace and work in my life. Without Him, I am nothing. ​ Emergency Contact s ​ During Tour Hours Joel Fink: joelfink27@gmail.com 1-541-603-4770 USA ​ After Tour Hours Todd Fink: holylandsite.com@gmail.com 1-541-603-0881 USA ​

Holy Land Tour Trips to Is rael The Holy Land Experience Trip of a Lifetime October 21~November 6, 2022 17-Day Trip ​ Would you like to have a life-changing and never-to-be-forgotten experience? If so, it is our joy to invite you to join us on a trip of a lifetime to the Land of the Bible, where you will find a new dimension in understanding the Bible and the life of Jesus. We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, visit places where Jesus walked, lived, taught, performed miracles, walked on the water, calmed the sea, and where He was crucified and raised from the dead. We will immerse ourselves in the Land of the Bible and experience it to the depths of our souls.​ You will never be the same or read your Bible the same after a trip like this. ​ If it's Bible you want, then this trip is for you. At each site, we will give biblical and historical teaching along with a faith lesson. Therefore, this trip is designed to provide an in-depth study and perspective from the Scriptures of the events and places of the Bible. ​ We are delighted to share that Israel has removed every Covid vaccination mandate plus every other restriction, so visiting Israel is normal with no burdens whatsoever. As a result, we are rejoicing and really excited about our upcoming trips to Israel. ​ ___________________ ​ "An absolutely amazing trip with a guy who knows his Bible and can relate it to you in-country. I've gone with this dear friend of mine to Israel twice. It's an 11 out of 10 trip!" ​ Dan Reeves ​ Quick Links ​ Holy Land Trip Registration Form ~ Required for each person ​ Deposit Payment ~ $500.00 USD ​ Final Payment ~ $1,250.00 ​ Hotel Reservation Booking Section ​ Promotional Brochures ​ About Your Tour Hosts Trip Registration Info ​ Itinerary ​ Holy Land Trip Travel Orientation ​ Helpful Holy Land Learning Resources The Holy Land Experience! 17-Day Trip ​ Holy Land Site Fee ~ $1,750.00 USD Items covered by Holy Land Site Ministries: ​ Transportation in Israel Via a Deluxe A/C Motorcoach ​ All Park & Entrance Passes ​ Holy Land Site Tour Guide and Bible Teacher, Dr. Fink ​ Wireless Headsets for a Better Listening Experience Individual Costs ~ $2,500 (This cost can change depending on individual preferences and location) ​ To keep our trips as affordable as possible, we allow individuals to book their own lodging and airfare. Also, to see as many sites as possible, and again, keep costs down, we have folks pack a sack lunch. The hotels will provide breakfast. For dinner, folks can enjoy the culture by eating out at the local restaurants of their choice. Items to be covered by each individual: ​ The costs below are close estimates. Your price may vary depending on airfare from your location, room selections, and how expensive you want to eat. ​ Sack Lunch & Dinner Meals in Israel ........ $400 per person (Breakfast included in Hotel cost) ​ Lodging in Israel (found on itinerary) .... $1,100 per person (Based on private, double occupancy rooms.) ​ Airfare ........................................................ $1,000 per person ​ Travel from Ben Gurion Airport to Kfar Maccabiah Hotel & Suites in Tel Aviv, and from Prima Park Hotel in Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport. A taxi can be taken from the airport to our hotel in Tel Aviv for about $12.00 per person, and a light-rail train or shuttle can be taken from Jerusalem to the airport for about $7.00 on the light-rail train, or $25.00 on a shuttle bus. Due to multiple arrivals and departures from passengers, it is not possible for us to attend everyone’s various time schedules. However, we are happy to help in any way possible with these arrangements.​ ​ Total Cost of Trip ​ Holy Land Site Fee $1,750.00 ​ Individual Costs $2,500.00 ​ Total $4,250.00 THIS IS A CUSTOM-DESIGNED TRIP If you want to spend more time in Israel and see more holy sites, then this trip is designed for you. Most trips to the Holy Land allow only around 7-8 full days in Israel. This severely limits what can be seen. Therefore, most who go to the Holy Land miss out on many significant holy sites as a result. This trip will have you in Israel for 14 days. You will, therefore, see about everything significant there is to see in Israel. A 17-day trip like this normally is quite expensive (if you can find one). Why can we do it so inexpensively? Because we are eliminating tour companies, travel agencies, tour guides, etc., and are providing these services instead. We are also allowing you to book your own airfare, lodging, and some of your meals. And lastly, we are staying in nice, clean hotels/hostels instead of expensive hotels. It is our pleasure to serve you and our Lord Jesus Christ in offering you this special and affordable trip of a lifetime. Because this is a custom trip, each participant will be required to book their own airfare, lodging, and purchase some of their own meals. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This trip is not for the weak and faint of heart! There will be a fair amount of walking, some hiking, times when it could be warm (Dead Sea area), etc. Those considering this trip need to be in pretty good shape and able to withstand some discomfort at times due to heat, walking, hiking, etc. Our estimated walking distance will be about 1-2 miles a day. GROUP SIZE LIMIT We are limiting the group size to 30 people. This will allow us to be more efficient and see more places in Israel. Larger teams bring a different dynamic that slows things down and makes travel more difficult. AIR TRAVEL Each person will be responsible for booking their own air travel to Israel (to and from Ben Gurion Airport). Please make plans to arrive with plenty of time to attend our mandatory orientation and get-acquainted meeting at 7:00 pm at our Kfar Maccabiah Hotel & Suites in Tel Aviv. Due to customs and obtaining visas, please allow 3 hours from airport arrival to hotel arrival. The hotel is about 15 minutes from the airport depending on traffic. TRANSPORTATION IN ISRAEL We will be transported around in a large, air-conditioned motorcoach while in all areas of Israel except Jerusalem. When in Jerusalem, we will be transported to and from our hotel to the Old City (Jaffa Gate) via light rail. We will then be walking in and around the Old City from there. LODGING IN ISRAEL We will be staying at large hotels with private rooms and bathrooms during our time in Israel. Our itinerary shows the hotels where we will stay (a total of three: Tel Aviv, Tiberias, Jerusalem). Click here for hotel reservation links . ​ LUGGAGE You will be allowed one carry-on piece of luggage and one suitcase. Because each person will be responsible to transport their luggage from the motorcoach to the hotels, it is highly recommended to keep your suitcase under 40 pounds. This will also prevent you from an extra charge by airlines for heavy luggage. MEALS IN ISRAEL Each person will be responsible for paying for their own lunches and dinners. ​ Breakfast - The hotels will provide breakfast if desired. Some will provide dinners as well. These can be paid for when you book your lodging or at the hotels. ​ Lunch - Because eating out is quite expensive in Israel, and eating with a large group can occupy one or more hours of the day, plus, we will be on the go and not always close to a restaurant, each trip participant will prepare themself a daily sack lunch. Each day at noon we will take a break, eat, and then carry on. Lunch items can be purchased at local grocery stores, and the hotels will have refrigerators in the rooms. ​ Dinner – On your own. Enjoy the local culture as you eat at local restaurants, etc. PARK & ENTRANCE PASSES Holy Land Site Ministries will pay for all park and entrance fees to all sites. You will be responsible to pay for any entrance fees you want to see during your free time. WHAT WILL OUR VISITS TO EACH SITE BE LIKE? Our visits will normally last around two hours. We will begin with some orientation of the site. Then we'll do a walking tour to see the site and its points of interest. Afterward, we'll find a quiet spot to reflect on the main events from the Bible that happened at the site and close with a faith lesson to learn the key truths God would desire to teach us. Some of the Bible teachings might be filmed for publishing on our website. We'll then end our visit with some free time. ​ DOCUMENTS A valid U.S. Passport is required. Passports must have at least six months left before they expire for travel to Israel. TRIP PREPARATION Please utilize the videos and info on our website that provide help and orientation to better understand many of the biblical sites we will be visiting, the history of Israel, and other helpful info. In addition, we will provide helpful info leading up to our trip that will help prepare you to get the most out of your holy land experience. ​ We also ask that you acquaint yourself with our Travel Orientation Material found on our website. You will find it extremely helpful. TIME OF YEAR FOR THIS TRIP We’ve chosen these dates to visit Israel because the weather is stable, the days are longer, and there are no Jewish Holidays that will interfere with our travels. DAILY ITINERARY Please take into consideration that there might be slight adjustments to the schedule depending on things out of our control. Additionally, if the team would like some flexibility in seeing sights, we are happy to do this if possible. MONEY IN ISRAEL Credit cards and Dollars are readily accepted, Shekels can be drawn from ATMs. INTERNET IN ISRAEL All the hotels we will be staying at will provide free Internet. Phone SIM cards can be purchased for around $39.99 if you want Internet service at all times while in Israel. DAILY SCHEDULE We will leave our place of lodging each day at 8:00 am and return around 4:00 - 5:00 pm. From this time on, you will have free time to eat, relax, see the local sites and culture, etc. ​ AGE LIMIT The minimum age for trip participants is 12 years old unless other arrangements have been made with tour hosts. ​ ITINERARY Please see our detailed itinerary below. ​ FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASIS If you are serious about going on this trip to Israel, you will want to register at your earliest convenience. Our trips fill up fast and some are already getting close to full. Anchor 1 TOUR HOSTS Todd & Letsy Fink More about the Finks TRIP REGISTRATION INFO HOLY LAND TRIP NEWS Israel is open for tourism and has no vaccination mandates or restrictions at this time. ​ REGISTRATION DEPOSIT A registration deposit of $500.00 USD is required to register and secure your spot on the Holy Land Experience Team. Before paying your deposit, please fill out the online registration form. We will then notify you of your acceptance into the trip team, and payment of your deposit can then be made. After being notified of your acceptance on the team, you can pay your deposit at your earliest convenience. This will ensure your spot in the group. ​ REGISTRATION, DEPOSIT, AND FINAL PAYMENT LINKS ​ Holy Land Trip Registration Form (required for each person) ​ Deposit Payment ~ $500.00 USD ​ Final Payment ~ $1,250.00 ​ ​ REGISTRATION DEADLINE DATE Your trip registration, deposit, and final payment deadline is August 1 , 2022 . Tourism is growing quite rapidly in Israel and things need to be done earlier than in previous years. Therefore, booking lodging, bus transportation in Israel, etc. needs to be done no later than 3 months before trip departure to ensure availability (booking lodging is even recommended 6 months in advance for best availability). For these reasons, we have set August 1 , 2022 , as the deadline for trip registration for everyone. For those who desire to attend this trip after August 1 , 2022 , we will handle each person on a space availability case basis. Thanks for your understanding. ​ CANCELATIONS & REFUNDS Deposit Refund Paid to Holy Land Site Ministries In the unfortunate case you may need to cancel your trip due to personal reasons on or before the August 1 , 2022 deadline, Holy Land Site Ministries will only be able to refund one-half ($250.00) of your $500.00 deposit. ​ Deposit Transfer If you would like to transfer your deposit to another person you can do so. Just kindly have this person pay you and let us know. ​ Refunds of All Funds Paid to Holy Land Site Ministries In the unfortunate case you may need to cancel your trip due to personal reasons before August 1 , 2022 , Holy Land Site Ministries will only be able to refund one-half of your final payment. ​ If you must cancel your trip due to personal reasons after August 1 , 2022 , Holy Land Site Ministries will be unable to refund any of your final payment due to expenses we will have already incurred and cannot recuperate. ​ Full Payments Transfer If you would like to transfer your $500.00 deposit or final payment to another person you can do so. Just kindly have this person pay you and let us know. ​ Refunds from Personal Purchases of Airline Tickets, Lodging, etc. Because these purchases will be the responsibility of each person, Holy Land Site Ministries will be unable to refund any of these funds because they were not paid to Holy Land Site Ministries. ​ Refunds if Trip is Canceled Due to Events Out of Our Control, i.e., Covid-19, Other Viruses, etc. Refunds from flights and lodging will be the responsibility of each person as these were booked personally. Funds paid to Holy Land Site Ministries will be cheerfully refunded if Holy Land Site Ministries can recuperate expenses we have incurred. We suggest that you get trip insurance so you are protected for all your expenses, i.e., flights, lodging, Holy Land Site Ministries fees, etc. ​ TRIP PROTECTION INSURANCE If you would like trip protection insurance to protect you, or if the trip is canceled for any reason, many third-party insurance agencies provide travel protection insurance in the case of cancelations due to unforeseen reasons. Travel Protection Agencies (Rated the Highest by Forbes.com) ​ Forbes.com Adviser (compares many companies): https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/ ​ Allianz Travel Insurance: allianztravelinsurance.com ​ Travel Guard (AIG): travelguard.com/travel-insurance/plans ​ Seven Corners: sevencorners.com ​ WHEN TO BOOK AIRFARE & LODGING Please do not book any flights or lodging until you receive tour trip confirmation from Holy Land Site Ministries. HOTEL RESERVATION BOOKING LINKS ​ Kfar Maccabiah Hotel & Suites, 7 Peretz Berenstein Street, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv Check-in: Oct. 22, Check-out: Oct. 23, One night Hotel Reservation Link: Bookings.com ​ Prima Galil Tiberias Hotel, El Hadif Street 1, Tiberias Check-in: Oct. 23, Check-out: Oct. 27, Four nights Hotel Reservation Link: Bookings.com ​ Prima Park Hotel Jerusalem: 2 Vilnay Street, Jerusalem Check-in: Oct. 27, Check-out: Nov. 5, Nine nights Hotel Reservation Link: Bookings.com ​ If for some reason the hotels are full, just book a hotel of your choice nearby and meet us at the check-in lobby of the main hotel by 7:45 am. Bus departure is scheduled daily at 8:00 am from each hotel. ​ ​ CONTACT INFO: Todd Fink Phone: (541) 603-0881 Email: holylandsite.com@gmailcom Websites: HolyLandSite.com GoMissionsToMexico.com Anchor 2 Anchor 4 DAILY ITINERARY FRI, OCT 21 DEPART FOR THE HOLY LAND Please make plans to arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, on Oct. 22, 2022. Please arrive by 3:00 pm. This will give you plenty of time to attend our orientation and get-acquainted meeting at 7:00 pm. We'll meet at the main check-in lobby of the Kfar Maccabiah & Suites Hotel and then find a meeting place. SAT, OCT 22 TEL AVIV After arriving at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, you will proceed and go through customs. Please don’t lose your small tourist visa provided to you. Afterward, you can take a taxi to Kfar Maccabiah Hotel & Suites, 7 Peretz Berenstein Street, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv. Due to customs and obtaining visas, please allow approximately 3 hours from airport arrival to hotel arrival. The hotel is about 15 minutes from the airport depending on traffic. Orientation and get acquainted meeting 7:00 pm. Please meet in the main hotel lobby. Lodging at Kfar Maccabiah Hotel & Suites, 7 Peretz Berenstein Street, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv. One night total. ​ SUN, OCT 23 TEL AVIV – SEA OF GALILEE AREA Refreshed from a good night's sleep, we’ll visit Old Jaffa (Joppa), the traditional home of Simon the Tanner, the port from which Jonah sailed, and the logs arrived for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. We’ll then pass through the fast-growing towns and farms of the Plain of Sharon en route to Caesarea Maritima , site of major events in the lives of Peter and Paul. We’ll drive through the rolling hills of Galilee to Nazareth , site of the Church of the Annunciation, and Mt. Precipice. Time permitting, we’ll visit the Wedding Church in Cana, where Christ performed His first public miracle. Then it’s on to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, which will be our base for the next 4 nights. Lodging at Prima Galil Tiberias Hotel, El Hadif Street 1, Tiberias. Four nights total. ​ MON, OCT 24 SEA OF GALILEE AREA This day alone is worth the trip! We are now literally walking in the footsteps of Jesus. We will take a most memorable boat ride on the Sea of Galilee , in a replica of the ancient wooden boat used in Jesus’ day. We’ll visit the Mount of Beatitudes , location of the beautiful Sermon on the Mount where Christ preached his longest and most famous sermon. Then on to Capernaum , where Jesus set up His home ministry base and preached often in the ancient synagogue. We will continue our drive around the Sea of Galilee to Kursi , the place where Christ cast out a legion of demons out of a demon-possessed man. Time permitting, we'll visit the likely site where the F eeding of the 5,000 took place. ​ TUES, OCT 25 SEA OF GALILEE AREA We’ll journey north to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matt. 16:16). We’ll visit Tel Dan , the place that became the downfall of Israel. Then it’s on Tabgha , the place Peter was restored to ministry, and the location where Christ likely called some of His disciples. Time permitting, we’ll end the day visiting Magdala , the hometown of Mary Magdalene, from whom Christ cast out seven demons. WED, OCT 26 SEA OF GALILEE AREA We’ll drive along the Jordan Valley to Beth Shean , a stunning Roman Decapolis city and the place where Saul and his son’s bodies were hanged after defeat in battle. We’ll visit Gideon’s Spring , where Gideon selected his soldiers to do battle against the Midianites. We’ll return to the Sea of Galilee and finish the day on top of Mt. Arbel , the believed place where Christ gave the Great Commission, and which provides a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee. ​ THURS, OCT 27 JORDAN VALLEY AREA We’ll drive south along the Jordan Valley following the footsteps that Jesus and His disciples would have walked arriving at the Baptismal Site of Jesus where Jesus was baptized by John. Then to Jericho , oldest known walled city and first place Joshua and the Israelites conquered upon entering the Promised Land. We’ll then visit Qumran , where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. Then, we'll ascend and enter Jerusalem as pilgrims did since ancient times to fulfill the words of the prophet "I was glad when they said unto me: 'Our feet shall stand within thy Gates, O Jerusalem'" (Psalms 122:1–2). Lodging at Prima Park Hotel Jerusalem: 2 Vilnay Street, Jerusalem. Nine nights total. FRI, OCT 28 DEAD SEA AREA We’ll begin the day with a drive to Ein Gedi , a gorgeous oasis spring with waterfalls where David hid from King Saul. We'll then visit Masada , which overlooks the Dead Sea (the lowest spot on earth), where we ascend by cable car to visit the remnants of Herod's Palace, and where in 73 AD, the Zealots made their last stand against the might of Rome. We’ll visit ancient Gomorrah , one of the cities God destroyed by fire and brimstone due to their wickedness. Then, what would a visit to Israel be without taking a dip, or rather a float, in the Dead Sea ? Free time in Jerusalem afterward. ​ SAT, OCT 29 BETHLEHEM – JUDAH AREA We will visit Bethlehem, see Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, and ascend the magnificent Herodian Fortress to view the Shepherds' Fields, the Fields of Boaz and Ruth, and Bethlehem. We’ll then travel to the Valley of Elah , the place where David slew Goliath. Then on to Beth Shemesh , place where key events in the life of Samson took place and where the Ark of the Covenant miraculously was returned to the Israelites by the Philistines. Free time in Jerusalem afterward. ​ SUN, OCT 30 SAMARIA AREA Today we’ll travel north to the ancient Samaria region of the Bible. We visit Shechem , the place Abraham first entered the Promised Land and erected an altar. We’ll see and drink out of Jacob’s Well , the place where Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman. We’ll see where Joseph’s bones were buried at the Tomb of Joseph . We’ll see ancient Shiloh , the place the tabernacle resided for 369 years, and where Hannah prayed for a son (Samuel). Then it’s on to ancient Bethel , where Jacob saw a ladder to heaven, where the tabernacle resided, and where Jeroboam erected a Golden Calf. We'll drive by the site of ancient Ai , the second city Joshua and the Israelites destroyed. Time permitting, we’ll finish the day at Gibeon , a famous high place where the tabernacle resided and where Solomon had an encounter with God, who promised him wisdom, wealth, and power. Free time in Jerusalem afterward. MON, OCT 31 NEGEV AREA Today, we’ll travel to Hebron, t he place where God appeared to Abraham, and from where King David reigned over Judah for 7 1/2 years. While in Hebron, we'll visit the place where the patriarchs are buried in the Cave of Machpelah, and tour the ruins of ancient T el Hebron. We’ll then travel to Beersheba , where Abraham lived and made a covenant with Abimelech. We’ll end the day with a visit to Lachish , the last town destroyed during the Assyrian conquest, and we’ll learn about how God miraculously saved Jerusalem from the Assyrians. Free time in Jerusalem afterward. TUES, NOV 1 JERUSALEM We’ll start the day with a magnificent view of the Old City from the top of the Mt. of Olives and orient ourselves to the layout and places of Jerusalem . We’ll then visit the Chapel of Ascension , the place where Christ ascended back to heaven and where His feet will touch down at His glorious second coming. We'll visit Pater Noster Church , a place Christ taught His disciples how to pray. We’ll take the Palm Sunday Walk to the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations . Along the way, we’ll visit Dominus Flevit , the place where Christ wept over Jerusalem. We’ll see Mary’s Tomb and then enjoy free time in Old City Jerusalem. ​ WED, NOV 2 JERUSALEM Today, we’ll visit and walk upon the Temple Mount , the location where Solomon’s Temple was and the holiest and most battled-over piece of land in the world. We'll then see the Western Wall , the Jew’s most holy site in Israel. We’ll visit the Southern Stairs , which was the main entrance to the Temple Mount, a place Christ and His disciples would have often been, and the likely place where Pentecost took place. We’ll walk through the Cardo , the original Roman street, and see the amazing remains of the massive Broad Wall built by King Hezekiah. We’ll visit the House of Caiaphas , where Christ was tried before Caiaphas and Ananias, the high priests. While at the House of Caiaphas, we'll see a model of Jerusalem from around 135 AD. We’ll then go to Mt. Zion, the location of the Upper Room of the Last Supper and the location of the first church built by early Christians shortly after the time of Christ. Free time afterward. ​ THURS, NOV 3 JERUSALEM We’ll begin the day by seeing Pilate’s Palace and the judgment place where Christ was condemned to crucifixion. From there, we'll visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Then we'll see the Church of St. Anne, where the Pool of Bethesda is located. We’ll then walk along the traditional path of the Via Dolorosa and see the Stations of the Cross. Free time afterward. ​ FRI, NOV 4 JERUSALEM We'll begin the day at the Garden Tomb where we'll have a special time of reflection on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ . We'll then walk through Old City Jerusalem to the City of David , where everything began in Jerusalem. We'll take a look at Hezekiah's Water Tunnel , which diverts the water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam, and see the Canaanite Dry Tunnel. We'll see King David’s Tomb, then make our way to the Pool of Siloam , where Christ healed a blind man. We’ll then walk up the Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat) where God’s winepress of wrath will be poured out on the gathered nations at Christ's second coming and from where the blood (the height of a horse’s bridle) will flow to the Dead Sea and beyond. While walking up the Kidron Valley we’ll visit Absalom’s Tomb (monument). Free time afterward. ​ SAT, NOV 5 ISRAEL - HOME Today you’ll transfer to the airport and arrive home with wonderful memories of a visit to the Land of the Bible! The hotel in Jerusalem provides a shuttle service directly to the airport for around $25.00 USD and takes about an hour. Please arrange this with the hotel lobby a couple days in advance. The shuttle runs every day of the week, even on Shabbat (Saturday), the Sabbath. Because of Israel’s security measures, you will need to arrive at the airport at least 3-4 hours before boarding time. SUN, NOV 6 ARRIVE HOME Return home filled with an overflowing heart knowing that you walked in the footsteps of Christ and experienced the actual places where many of the events in the Bible took place. ​ ​ Anchor 3

Tomb of King David Photo Gallery Places of Interest Tomb of King David True Location Location 1. The place tourists go today to see the Tomb of King David is on the Western Hill at the same location as the Upper Room. This is so because the Crusaders (1095–1291 AD) believed Pentecost took place at the Upper Room and interpreted a verse in Peter's sermon as meaning King David's tomb was at the Upper Room and not in the Jerusalem area: "Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29). ​ Later, a Jewish Rabbi had a vision that King David's tomb was in the same area so a synagogue was built over the same building as the Upper Room and a casket was placed in it to honor King David. The casket is empty and does not have the bones of David in it. In 1913, Ramond Weill discovered the Tomb of David in the lower part of the City of David and for around 50 years tourists went to that site to see David's Tomb. However, after 1960, the tourists returned again to the location of the Upper Room where they believed the Tomb of David was located. Why did this change occur? We will see why in a moment. 2. The Bible provides quite accurate information regarding the location of the Tomb of David. ​ 1 Kings 2:10: Then David lay down with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David . ​ This verse makes it clear that the Tomb of David was located inside the City of David. The current place where tourists go to see the Tomb of David is not in the City of David but at the upper part of the Western Hill just west of the City of David about .5 miles or 1 km. away. ​ Nehemiah 3:15-16: Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He built it, made a roof for it, and installed its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah [Siloam] at the king’s garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David . 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David , and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty men. ​ These verses add additional clarity that the rebuilding of the walls of the City of David under the leadership of Nehemiah began at the southern tip of the City of David and moved north (uphill) along the eastern side of the city wall. ​ The "steps that descend from the city of David" have not been found but the Pool of Siloam has been. Based upon this location and the section of the wall described in Nehemiah, a Jewish archaeologist named Raymond Weill began digging in this area in 1913. Using around 200 local workers and 30 donkeys, Weill's team cleared the entire area all the way down to bedrock. Weill then found the remains of nine tombs in front of an ancient pool just as the Bible had indicated. The tombs were greatly damaged due to the stones that were quarried out of the site (to rebuild Jerusalem into Aelia Capitolina) later on and the intentional destruction by Roman Emperor Hadrian (135 AD) who tried wiping out the remains of a Jewish presence in the area. ​ However, two of the most important and monumental tombs were clearly visible. The most monumental tomb was identified by Weill as that of King David. ​ It should be noted that only kings were allowed to be buried within the city walls of a city as they were considered royalty and were exempt from obeying Moses' command to bury the dead outside the city walls because they were deemed as unclean. This gives additional weight that supports the most monumental tomb as that of King David. ​ Historical Background 1. As we have seen, Raymond Weill discovered the lost Tomb of David in 1913, and from that time on, this site was the place tourists would come to see David's Tomb. ​ 2. However, this all changed in 1960 when Kathleen Kenyon excavated this site when it was in the authority of Jordan and the Jordan Antiquities Authority. Kathleen's goal was to overturn any Jewish connections to the biblical sites and replace them with different views. She did this in Jericho and other places. She was clearly politically driven and not archaeologically driven. ​ Kathleen's interpretation was that the tombs were cisterns. This is remarkably irresponsible as all the evidence at these sites clearly supports them as being tombs and not cisterns. 3. As a result of Kathleen's interpretation, tourists began going to the site of the first floor of the Upper Room and no longer visit the true site in the City of David. In fact, most tourists don't even know the story behind what has happened and are ignorant as to the location of the true site. ​ Places of Interest 1. Pool of Siloam 2. Tomb 1: King David's Tomb 3. Tomb 2 4. Horizontal Tomb Shaft of Tomb 1 5. Burial niche at the very back of Tomb 1 ​ 6. Carved out trough at the back of the Tomb 1 horizontal shaft. This is the likely place where the bones of King David were placed. ​ 7. Quarried Area ​ 8. Ancient 3,000-year-old walls of the City of David ​ 9. Walls Nehemiah repaired that can be seen today ​ 10. Upper Room ​ ​Faith Lesson from the Tomb of David 1. The importance of the discovery of King David's palace and tomb can be found in Psalm 16.:9-11. ​ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 2. Was David writing about himself or someone else? He couldn't have been writing about himself as he died, his body decayed, and his bones turned to dust. 3. However, God made a promise to David that He would establish a house for him and establish and that there would come someone from his house that would reign forever. This would be the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ who would come from David's house (linage). 2 Samuel 7:11-13: The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever . ​ 4. For around a thousand years after David's death, the Israelites continued to remember this promise given to David and looked for their coming Messiah, the Son of David, who would fulfill this prophecy. Psalm 89:3-4: I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to My servant David, 4 I will establish your descendants forever and build up your throne to all generations. Psalm 89:35-37: Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. 36 His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. 7 It shall be established forever like the moon, and a witness in the sky is faithful. ​ 5. Christ fulfilled this prophecy. His tomb was empty and Christ never saw decay. He will reign forever and His kingdom will have no end. ​ 6. Have you received Christ as your Lord and Savior and will you be a part of Christ's eternal kingdom?

Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ Church of the Holy Sepulchre Photo Gallery Garden Tomb Photo Gallery Places of Interest Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ Location 1. We filmed our video about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ at Gordan’s Garden Tomb, as it provides a good setting for the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. 2. The Garden Tomb is located just 250 yards (220 m.) to the north of the Damascus Gate of Old City Jerusalem. 3. The traditional location of Golgotha is at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has overwhelming evidence as the authentic site. ​ Historical Background 1. The property of the Garden Tomb was purchased in 1894 by The Garden Tomb Association. 2. It is a Charitable Trust based in the United Kingdom and is made up of people from many different denominations and national backgrounds. 3. Their passion is to help people understand all Christ did for them on the Cross. 4. The site is maintained by volunteers that come from around the globe and join a team of local Palestinians and Israelis. Places of Interest 1. Garden Tomb. A cave-like tomb that can be entered. It has a channel at the entrance where a stone could be rolled to cover and uncover the tomb. 2. A rock face cliff that has the form of a skull which is believed to be Golgotha. 3. Damascus Gate 4. Old City Jerusalem 5. Church of the Holy Sepulchre ​ Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ in the Bible 1. At 3:00 pm, Friday afternoon, Jesus dies. This happened at the exact time the sacrificial lamb for the Passover was to be killed. Matthew 27:45–53: Now from the sixth hour [12:00 pm] there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour [3:00 pm]. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 2. Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. John 19:41–42: Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. 3. Jesus’ body was given to Joseph of Arimathea, prepared for burial, and placed in Joseph’s own tomb. Matthew 27:57–61: As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. 4. The Tomb of Jesus is sealed and secured by the Romans. Matthew 27:62–66: The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. 5. On Sunday morning, very early, Jesus rose from the dead. Matthew 28:1–10: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." 6. Mary Magdalene is our example of what it means to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. John 20:11–18: But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. 7. The Roman soldiers report to the chief priests. Matthew 28:11–15: While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. 8. The disciples respond in unbelief to the report from the women that Christ had risen from the dead. Luke 24:9–12: When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 9. Jesus appears to the disciples. Luke 24:36–47: While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” 10. Christ appeared to many others after His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me [Apostle Paul]. Faith Lesson from the Garden Tomb 1. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are true historical events that form the foundation to the Christian Faith. 2. Without Christ’s death on the Cross, our sins are not forgiven. 3. Without Christ’s resurrection, our faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14). 4. No other self-acclaimed prophet has risen from the dead. The fact that Christ did separates Him from all others, proving that He was God in the flesh. 5. The resurrection proves that all believers will receive resurrected bodies after death. 6. Mary Magdalene encapsulates what it means to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Do we love the Lord as Mary did?