Petra Trip Extension Info & Payments Petra Trip Info & Payments Petra, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Extension Private, Custom Tour Because of all the Jordanian requirements, we have booked this trip via a trusted tour company in Israel called "Keshet Journeys." We have used their services before and were extremely pleased. They are a Christian-based travel agency. This is a unique extension trip that is only being offered for this Holy Land Tour Trip. We want to do Bible teaching videos on Petra, Mt. Nebo, and Madaba, so this is the m ain reason for this trip. For this reason, Holy Land Site is paying its own trip expenses . We are happy to invite you to join our ministry family for this venture . PETRA TRIP INFO Dates November 4-5 Cost $485 per person (double occupancy per hotel room) $525 per person (single occupancy per hotel room) Cost Includes 4 -Star Hotel Room in Petra Dinner & Breakfast at the Hotel in Petra All border crossing fees to and from Jordan Entry Pass to Petra Horseback ride in Petra Transportation via AC Deluxe bus with free Wifi Professional Tour Guide to accompany us. Jordan requires this (Todd Fink will still do all the Bible teachings and guiding) Cost Does Not Include Breakfast and lunch - November 4 (we will pack our own lunch) L unch and dinner - November 5 (we will pack our own lunch) Tips (because Holy Land Site is not charging any extra costs, each participant will need to tip the bus driver and tour guide $15.00 USD each) Other tips, etc. How to Confirm Your Spot for This Trip ~ Payment Link Below Pay a deposit of $150.00 (non-refundable) Final Payment Due by August 1, 2023 ~ Payment Link Below $335 balance (double hotel occupancy, non-refundable) $375 balance (single hotel occupancy, non-refundable) ITINERARY DAY 1: NOV 4 - MT. NEBO & MADABA 7:00 – Depart Prima Hotel Jerusalem 8:00 – Cross border at Allenby Bridge 10:00 – Visit Mt. Nebo 1:00 – Visit Madaba 2:30 – Drive to Petra 5:30 – Arrive at Petra DAY 2: NOV 5 - PETRA 7:30 – 1 :30 Visit Petra 1:30 – Depart Petra 5:00 – Cross border at Allenby Bridge 6:30 – Arrive in Jerusalem REMINDER Hotel in Jerusalem: Don't forget to include lodging in Jerusalem for this extension trip if needed. To register for this trip, please fill out the registration form below. Most of the info is for the travel agency in Israel that will need the info for the border crossing into Jordan. After filling out the form, please pay your deposit. Secure Payment Link Registration Deposit Payment To confirm your trip to Petra, please send your registration deposit of $150 by either credit card, PayPal, or check. The payment is set up for single and double payments. Just select the one that applies to you. If paying by credit card or PayPal, a 4% fee is added to cover fees charged by credit cards and PayPal. If paying by credit card or PayPal, click the button below. PayPal does not require you to create a PayPal account to use your credit card. Single Person Payment $150 Double Person Payment $300 If you would like to avoid the Credit Card fees, then you can send your check to the following address if you live in the U.S.A. or Canada. Holy Land Site (make check payable to this name, please) 196 Hambrick Ave. Sutherlin, OR 97479 Secure Payment Link Final Payment Due by August 1, 2023 To pay the balance of your trip to Petra, please pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. The payment is set up for single and double payments. Just select the one that applies to you. If paying by credit card or PayPal, a 4% fee is added to cover fees charged by credit cards and PayPal. If paying by credit card or PayPal, click the button below. PayPal does not require you to create a PayPal account to use your credit card. Single Person Payment $375 Double Person Payment $670 If you would like to avoid the Credit Card fees, then you can send your check to the following address if you live in the U.S.A. or Canada. Holy Land Site (make check payable to this name, please) 196 Hambrick Ave. Sutherlin, OR 97479

Shechem is the place where Moses and the Israelites brought the bones of Joseph out of Egypt and buried them here. Shechem is also the location of Jacob's Well, which he built almost 4,000 years ago. During the time of Jesus, Jesus met a Samaritan woman here and spoke words of eternal life to her. Joseph's Tomb, Shechem Photo Gallery Places of Interest Joseph's Tomb, Shechem Introduction Welcome to Joseph's Tomb in Shechem (Known as Nablus today). Many significant events from the Bible took place in this area. These are the highlights. 1. The book of Genesis says that before Joseph died, he made his brothers promise to carry his bones from Egypt to Canaan. He was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt. 2. Later, in Exodus, we are told that Moses kept this promise by taking Joseph’s bones when the Israelites left Egypt. 3. Finally, in the book of Joshua, it says that Joseph’s bones were buried in Shechem. 4. This is the place it's believed they were buried. Location 1. Joseph's Tomb is located in biblical Shechem, also known as Sychar in the New Testament and as Tel Balata and Nablus today. 2. Shechem is located about 30 miles (48 km) north of Jerusalem and about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Tel Aviv. 3. It was in the Samaria region of Israel in the territory of Ephraim during Bible times. 4. It was on a main north-south travel route that linked the northern and southern parts of Israel. 5. It was also on a main east-west route that linked the coastal plain of Israel with the Jordan Valley. 6. Shechem lies between the two famous mountains of Gerizim and Ebal. Historical Background 1. In the sixth century, during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527–565 AD), Joseph’s tomb was depicted on the Madaba Mosaic Map, indicating that the shrine existed before the Islamic era. This is also supported by a description of the tomb by the sixth-century AD Christian pilgrim and archdeacon Theodosius. Who mentions in his De situ Terrae Sanctae, “Close to Jacob’s Well are the remains of Joseph the Holy” (Golden 2004: 187). 2. The late Dr. Zvi Ilan, one of Israel's foremost archeologists, described Joseph's Tomb as: "...one of the tombs whose location is known with the utmost degree of certainty and is based on continuous documentation since biblical times." 3. At different times in history, Joseph’s Tomb has been the center of religious conflict. In the early Byzantine period, Samaritans and Christians fought violently over who controlled it. 4. After Israel took the West Bank in 1967, Palestinians were no longer allowed to worship here, and the place slowly became a Jewish prayer site. 5. Disputes between Jews and Muslims over the tomb grew common. Even after the Oslo Accords placed it under the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), it stayed guarded by Israeli soldiers, and Muslims were not allowed to pray here. 6. In 2000, at the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Palestinians rioted, destroyed, and burned the tomb right after it was handed to the PNA. 7. When Israel reoccupied Nablus (biblical Shechem) during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, Jewish worshippers began returning occasionally. 8. Between 2009 and 2010, the tomb was repaired, a new dome was added, and Jewish visits resumed. 9. In 2011, Palestinian police killed an Israeli worshipper at the site. The tomb was vandalized again by Palestinian rioters in 2015 and 2022. Places of Interest 1. Courtyard and Walls The building is in the Ottoman style and features a northern courtyard with a central water basin, as well as a domed inner room containing a stone memorial. The courtyard measures approximately 18 feet (5.5 meters) in width. Its white, plastered walls are approximately 1 foot (0.3 m) thick, 10 feet (3 m) high, and well-preserved. The entrance is located on the north side, through the remains of a small, square-domed building. On the south wall, there are two Hebrew inscriptions. 2. Burial Chamber The current “burial chamber” is a small rectangular room with a stone memorial, built in 1868. It contains no ancient building materials. Joseph's Bones and Tomb In the Bible 1. Joseph made an oath with his sons that when he died, his bones would be carried out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Genesis 50:24-26: Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will assuredly take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear , saying, “God will assuredly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here .” 26 So Joseph died at the age of 110 years; and they embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt. 2. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him when he left Egypt in the Exodus. Exodus 13:19: And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him , for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will certainly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 3. Joseph's bones were buried in Shechem. Joshua 24:32: Now they buried the bones of Joseph , which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem , in the plot of land which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons. 4. The bones of Joseph, being buried here in Shechem, fulfill God's promises and covenants. Hebrews 11:22: By faith Joseph , when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. Faith Lesson from Shechem 1. By faith, Joseph wanted to dwell in the Promised Land. Joseph instructed the nation to take his bones with them when they departed from Egypt. He wanted to dwell in the Promised Land. What about us? Do we have the faith to trust God that He will lead us to the Promised Land, which symbolizes His best for us, and ultimately, heaven? 2. It took a long time for the promise to be fulfilled. From the time Joseph ordered that his bones were to be carried to the Promised Land to their fulfillment was about 400 years. What about us? Are we learning to be patient in waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled in our own lives? 3. This hope for burial in the Promised Land foreshadowed the hope of resurrection. Joseph knew that God is Lord of the living and that the only way to dwell with God would be to dwell in His holy land. Thus, Joseph’s desire to be buried in Israel reflects hope that God would visit His people there and raise him from the dead. This hope is ours as well. What about us? Is our hope firm that we will be given glorified bodies to live with God and one another in paradise for all eternity?

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

Learn about Israel, the land of the Bible. See all the places, travel routes, cities, and geography of all the places and events in the Bible. Israel Geography Video Series

There are two main sites that have their own Shepherds’ Field, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing Christ’s birth. There is the Franciscan Shepherds’ Field and the Greek Orthodox Shepherds' Field. Both sites have substantial archaeological evidence and tradition supporting them. Shepherds' Field Bethlehem Photo Gallery Places of Interest Shepherds’ Field Bethlehem Location 1. There are two main sites that have their own Shepherds’ Field, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing Christ’s birth. Less than a half-mile (1 km.) separates them from one another. Franciscan Shepherds’ Field (the most visited as it’s more easily accessed and is set up for tourists). The Greek Orthodox Shepherds’ Field. 2. Both sites have substantial archaeological evidence and tradition supporting them. However, the Greek Orthodox site has more ruins and longer continuous usage. 3. Both places are located about a mile (2 km.) east of Bethlehem in the Beit Sahour village. The Church of the Nativity can be seen from each site. 4. Because the sites are so close to one another, it’s very possible that the angels’ appearance was seen from both places as there could have easily been numerous shepherds in close proximity. There are also various other ruins, churches, and monasteries in the area, which testify to the fact that this event happened here. Historical Background General Evidence 1. At the end of the 4th century, Jerome, who was translating the Hebrew and Greek Bible manuscripts into Latin at the Church of the Nativity, mentioned that the church in Jerusalem celebrated a feast-day at the Church of the Shepherds’ in this area on Christmas Eve. 2. In 384 AD, the pilgrim Egeria was shown the church called "At the Shepherds" in a valley near Bethlehem. She reported, "A big garden is there now, protected by a neat wall all around, and also there is a very splendid cave with an altar." 3. In the 7th century, Bishop Archulph spoke of a burial place of three shepherds in the church at the Shepherds' Field. 4. In the 12th century, Peter the Deacon, a Benedictine monk, quoted an anonymous pilgrim who said, "Not far from there, there is a church called of the Shepherds, where a large garden is fully enclosed by a wall, and there, there is a very luminous grotto which has an altar where an angel, appearing to the shepherds in a vigil, announced the birth of Christ." Franciscan Shepherds’ Field 1. It has a cave with a soot-blackened roof that has been partly enclosed to make a modern chapel. 2. A church built in the 4th century was erected by the cave. 3. The church was destroyed by the time the Crusaders arrived, but pilgrims continued to visit and commemorate this site. 4. It has ruins of a monastery dating from the 4th century to the 7th century. 5. A large complex of caves containing Mikvahs, tunnels, and rooms can be found here. 6. Today, above the cave is a modern church shaped like a tent and decorated with a bronze angel that was built near the ruins of an ancient monastery in 1953. Greek Orthodox Shepherds’ Field 1. The original church was in a cave located on the site. 2. Helena, the mother of Constantine, modified the cave into a church in 325 AD. It is the only original church Helena built that has survived to this day. 3. In the 5th century, a barrel-vaulted roof was built on the cave-church, and a monastery was built on the site later. 4. Above the 5th-century cave-church, a Byzantine chapel was built that was replaced by a larger church, which was destroyed in 614 AD. The Byzantine church and monastery were rebuilt in the 7th century and survived until the 10th century. 5. In 1972, in order to build a new church above the cave-church, excavations verified the remains of three different churches dating to the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries. 6. The cave-church Helena built served the Orthodox community from the 4th century to 1955. 7. Today, a new large church has been built, the 4th-century cave-church has been restored, and the remains of the upper church and monastery have been preserved. 8. According to tradition dating from the 4th century, this site was associated with the place where Jacob pastured his flock and built Mignal Eder (Tower of the Flocks), referred to in Genesis 35:16. The remains of the base of this tower are still visible today. 9. If Mignal Eder is the site where Jacob erected a tower in Rachel’s memory, this would also be the biblical location of Rachel’s Tomb, and Jacob would have lived in this area for some time. Places of Interest 1. Rachel’s Tomb 2. Church of the Nativity 3. Franciscan Shepherds’ Field 4. Greek Orthodox Shepherds’ Field Mignal Eder Tower 5. Fields of Boaz Shepherds’ Fields in the Bible 1. The Greek Orthodox Church site is associated with Mignal Eder, the place Jacob erected a tower of memorial to Rachel after her death. Genesis 35:16–21: Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath [Bethlehem], Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for you have another son." 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder . 2. Ruth gleaned in the grain fields of Boaz and then married him (Boaz was the Great Grandfather of King David). Ruth 2:1–2: Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3. Angels appeared to shepherds out in the field, watching their flocks by night. Luke 2:8–14: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field , keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 4. The shepherds went in haste to see Jesus. Luke 2:15–16: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 5. The shepherds spread the good news of Jesus’ birth and returned, glorifying and praising God. Luke 2:17–20: And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Faith Lesson from the Shepherds’ Fields 1. The shepherds were the first to hear the announcement of Jesus’ birth. 2. Shepherds were considered among the lowliest people. To be a shepherd was to be a nobody. It was a boring, lonely, despised job no one wanted. 3. Because Christ came to save all people and show his humility, the angels appeared to the shepherds as a sign that the “Good News” was available for all, from the lowliest shepherds to the noblest kings (the Magi). 4. Do we believe salvation is for everyone? 5. Are we humble like the shepherds were? 6. The shepherds went in haste to see Jesus. Do we show zeal and fervor in our desire to be with Jesus? 7. The shepherds spread the good news about Jesus. Do we share the good news (gospel) with others as well?

This site has a treasure trove of things to see: Roman crushed street, Trumpeter's Stone, Temple Mount Walls, ancient stones, Mikvahs, Pilgrims' Round, the Southern Stairs (also known as the Rabbis' Stairs), the Ophel, and many ancient ruins. Discover fascinating facts about how discipleship took place during Jesus' time. Jerusalem Archaeological Park Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jerusalem Archaeological Park Introduction Welcome to Jerusalem Archaeological Park, also known as Davidson Archaeological site. This site has a treasure trove of amazing things to see. Here are the highlights. Model of ancient Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. Ancient building stones. Roman Street, which was crushed by Roman destruction in 70 AD. Trumpeter's Stone Robinson's Arch Southern Stairs (Rabbis' Stairs) Mikvahs Ophel (space between the City of David and Temple Mount) Ruins dating to the time of Solomon. Huldah Gates Excavations in this area began in 1968 and have yielded breathtaking discoveries. Location The Jerusalem Archaeological Park is located on the southwest corner of the Temple Mount. Historical Background 1. The Southern Stairs were one of the main entrances from the south to the Temple Mount during Christ's time. Two main gate entrances led from these stairs up to the Temple Mount Platform. These gates are commonly known as the Huldah Gates. The gate for entering the Temple Mount Platform was on the right (east side), and the gate for leaving the Temple Mount was on the left (western side). In the Mishna, there is a simple and beautiful regulation regarding how to enter the Huldah gates. "All who enter the Temple Mount shall enter from the eastern side of the gate (right side) and then exit through the western side of the gate (left side), except those who lost a loved one and are in mourning or have a sick person at home or lost a valuable object." All those who entered from the western side gate and exited via the eastern side gate (in the opposite direction) would know that something bad had happened to them and could offer words of comfort. This was a custom that demonstrated sensitivity and care to others. 2. King Herod had the Southern Stairs redone and made them stagger so no one could enter or depart the presence of God (signified by entering or leaving the temple area) without being thoughtful in the process. 3. The stairs were hundreds of feet wide, providing plenty of space for congregating and teaching. 4. They were the main access to the temple from the City of David and the western area of the city, where most of the population lived. 5. Multitudes arrived at the stairs by using the Pilgrim's Road (Herodian St.), which connected the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount. As they ascended this road, they sang the songs of ascent found in Psalms 120-134. 6. The Pool of Siloam was a massive mikveh at the lower part of the City of David that the Jews used for purification purposes before entering the Temple Mount. 7. There were also many purification mikvehs at the base of the Southern Stairs as well (around 48 total). 8. The Southern Stairs were also called “The Rabbis’ Stairs” or the “Teaching Stairs” as rabbis taught their disciples on them. 9. There is no doubt Jesus would have walked on these stairs and taught His disciples here. It’s also likely that the young Apostle Paul sat here under the teaching of Gamaliel as well (Acts 22:3). 10. The stairs were cut out of the mountain's bedrock, and part of them can still be seen today. This staircase consisted of 30 steps. The steps alternate in width, with narrow, wide, narrow, and wide sections. These uneven steps have led some to speculate that the stairs were built to correspond to the rhythm of the fifteen Psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). In other words, the fifteen wide steps were built to represent each of these fifteen Psalms of Ascent. Psalm 122:1,2 (one of the Psalms of ascent) says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord. Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.’” 11. It’s most likely that Pentecost took place just above here in the area of the Royal Stoa, which was located on the southern end of the Temple Mount. It was a huge, covered portico that ran the whole length of the Temple Mount at the southern part. The Hebrew word for "house" refers to a dwelling, such as a temple or a covered structure. It doesn't really refer to a home. Just think that you are in the area where the Pentecost event took place. After Pentecost, the 3,000 who received Christ were baptized in the many mikvehs in this area. 12. The other main entrance to the Temple Mount from the south was Robinson's Arch Stairway. The southern stairs and Robinson's Arch Stairway served pilgrims who accessed the Temple Mount from Pilgrim's Road. This road led from the Pool of Siloam up to the Temple Mount. 13. The City of David lies just to the south of this area. This is where a significant portion of Jerusalem's population resided. Later, Hezekiah expanded Jerusalem to the south and west and built what is known today as Hezekiah's Broad Wall. As a result, this southern part of the Temple Mount was highly used. Places of Interest 1. Model of Archaeological Site at Entrance 2. Different Kinds of Stones Herodian Hasmonean Solomon/Hezekiah 3. Herod's Temple Mount Expansion Section 4. Temple Mount Wall Time Periods Herod Period Umayyad Period Suleiman the Magnificent Period 5. Trumpeter's Cornerstone (House of the Trumpeter). The original top part is in the Israel Museum. This one is an exact replica. The Jewish historian Josephus writes about this in his writings. Three blowings of the trumpet took place: (1) for the farmers to stop their work, (2) for the shopkeepers to close down, and (3) for the Sabbath to officially begin (or other holy feasts). 6. Shops on both sides of the street. Before the 1960 excavations, this street lay buried under approximately 20 meters of debris. 7. Broken Pavement from the stones that fell during the Roman destruction in 70 AD. 8. Burnt layers in the Western Wall from the Roman destruction. 9. Robinson's Arch There was a series of bridges and arches on the west side of the Temple Mount that allowed people access to the Temple platform. One of these arches, located close to the southern end of the Western Wall, is known as Robinson's Arch. The arch was discovered in 1838 AD and named after its discoverer, American researcher Edward Robinson. It was destroyed during the Great Jewish Revolt, only a few decades after its completion. 10. Isaiah Stone Right under Robinson's Arch, we can see the so-called "Isaiah Stone." It has a carved inscription in Hebrew, a partial quote or paraphrase of Isaiah 66:14. The carving reads: "And they will see, and rejoice your heart, and your bones like grass shall flourish." The verse they are quoting goes like this: When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies. The inscription, dated to around 300-700 AD, tells us that the Jews of that time venerated the Temple Mount as the location of the temple. It's just another piece of evidence revealing the Temple Mount as the authentic place where the temple once stood. 11. Pilgrim's Road (Herodian St.) led from the Pool of Siloam to the Southern Stairs and Robinson's Arch Stairway area. 12. Mikvehs by the Western Wall Area 13. Umayyad Palace Constructed around 700 AD. Eastern wall of the palace. 14. Huldah Gates The right side (eastern side) was the entrance to the Temple Mount. The left side (western side) was for departing the Temple Mount. Southern Stairs They were also referred to as the Rabbis' Stairs. Jesus undoubtedly would have walked these stairs and taught His disciples on them. They consisted of 30 unevenly spaced steps. These uneven steps have led some to speculate that the stairs were built to correspond to the rhythm of the fifteen Psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). Psalm 122:1-2: I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord. Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem ." The fact that the stairs are uneven in width prevented worshippers from running up them, thus maintaining a stately decorum as they entered the Temple. 14. Mikvehs by the Southern Stairs. 15. Royal Stoa - Large public meeting building on the south side of the Temple Mount just above the Southern Stairs. Pentecost Area 16. Crusader Tower 17. Temple Mount 28. City of David Discipleship in the Time Of Jesus 1. Discipleship in the Time of Jesus To understand biblical discipleship in its fullness, we must examine how it functioned during the time of Christ. Ray Vander Laan provides a rich understanding of this area. He notes, “Discipleship was a very common practice in Christ’s day and especially in the Galilee area. The people of Galilee were the most religious Jews in the world in the time of Jesus. This is quite contrary to the common view that the Galileans were simple, uneducated peasants from an isolated area. This perspective is probably due to the comments made in the Bible, which appear to belittle people from this area .” Vander Laan continues, “The Galilean people were actually more educated in the Bible and its application than most Jews were. More famous Jewish teachers come from Galilee than anywhere else in the world. They were known for their great reverence for Scripture and their passionate desire to be faithful to it .” 2. Discipleship Training Began Early in Life Discipleship training, as we know it today, actually began very early in a Jewish child's life. They would enter grade school (called Beth Sefer) at around 4–5 years of age, which was generally held at the local synagogue. The teacher at the synagogue was referred to as a rabbi. At this level, they would mainly be instructed in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), learning to read, write, and memorize it. The rest of the Old Testament was referred to as well. Much of the Torah was committed to memory, and it’s likely that by the time this level of education was completed (around age 13), they had memorized a significant portion of it. After grade school, the best students continued to middle school (called Beth Midrash). They would continue to learn and memorize the Torah, but also branch out to learn the rest of the Old Testament, committing much of it to memory. After the Beth Midrash level, those who wanted to continue in discipleship would then seek out a rabbi who would accept them as disciples. They would often leave home to travel with him for extended periods of time. These students were called talmidim (talmids) in Hebrew, which translates to "disciple." 3. Memorization Was a Key Factor in Discipleship Memorization was important during Jesus’ day because most people didn’t have their own copy of the Scriptures; they either had to memorize it or go to the synagogue to consult the local village scroll. As mentioned, by the time a child finished the Beth Midrash level of education, they had memorized most of the Torah and much of the Old Testament. The common memorization technique involved rote, constant repetition, a practice still used to this day. 4. A Disciple Imitated His Rabbi Discipleship in Christ’s day involved a heavy dose of imitation. A talmid (disciple) emulated his rabbi in all facets of life. His goal was to be like his rabbi. Vander Laan adds, “There is much more to a talmid than simply calling one a student. A student wants to know what the teacher knows to complete the class or degree, or even out of respect for the teacher. A talmid wants to be like the teacher, that is, to become what the teacher is.” That meant that students were passionately devoted to their rabbi and took note of everything he did or said. Vander Laan continues, “The rabbi-talmid relationship was a very intense and personal system of education. As the rabbi lived and taught his understanding of the Scripture to his students, they listened, watched, and imitated him to become like him. Eventually, they would become teachers themselves, passing on a lifestyle to their own talmidim.” 5. Discipleship Entailed Learning Much Scripture The very few talmids that reached the status of a rabbi were highly respected and sought after. Those who became rabbis were incredibly knowledgeable in Scripture, and many had memorized much, if not all, of the Old Testament. As mentioned, during Christ’s day, they didn’t have their own personal Bibles like we do today, so they had to memorize it to reference and discuss it. As a result of memorizing so much Scripture, the rabbis were extremely knowledgeable in God’s Word. Those who wanted to learn from a rabbi also committed much, if not all, of the Old Testament to memory. This was a requirement for being a disciple, as their discussions about Scripture didn’t focus mainly on what the Scriptures said, but on what they meant. Rabbis in the time of Christ would be equivalent to theologians today who hold at least one Ph.D. in theology. To reach the status of a rabbi was a great accomplishment. They were the ones who decided on the country's biblical doctrines, practices, and customs. Their words were exceptionally authoritative and valued. Doug Greenwold says, “In the world of Pharisaism, rabbis were the teachers who had been given the authoritative role to interpret God’s Word for the living of a righteous life—defining what behavior would or would not please God.” Rabbis were affiliated with various groups, including the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and others. For example, John the Baptist was a rabbi who had his own disciples (Luke 5:33), and the Apostle Paul was a disciple of Gamaliel before eventually becoming a disciple of Christ at his conversion to Christianity. Some rabbis attained notable status and had a significant influence on both religious and governmental affairs. 6. Strict Devotion Was Expected The rabbis expected strict, complete devotion and adherence to their teachings. They expected loyalty and obedience even beyond that given to their families. Greenwold states, “If a rabbi ultimately agreed to a would-be disciple’s request and allowed him to become a disciple, the disciple-to-be agreed to submit totally to the rabbi’s authority in all areas of interpreting the Scriptures for his life. This was a cultural given for all observant Jewish young men—something each truly wanted to do. As a result, each disciple came to a rabbinic relationship with a desire and a willingness to do just that—surrender to the authority of God’s Word as interpreted by his rabbi’s view of Scripture.” Different rabbis held varying views of Scripture, so students would choose their rabbis based on their recognition in the country and their theological positions. Today, it would be similar to choosing a seminary for a student's graduate-level theological training. These rabbis would occasionally take their students on training trips that could last from several days to several weeks. These were intense training times, when all distractions from the busyness of life were set aside and the students focused entirely on their rabbi's teachings. The example of Paul and why he refused to take Mark on a missionary trip. Acts 15:36-40: And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. The rabbis also had favorite teaching places, one of which was on the Southern Steps, which led up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Tradition holds that even Christ taught His disciples on these steps. 7. Theological Discussions Were a Part of Discipleship It was common for the rabbi and his disciples (a group known as Yeshivas) to wrestle deeply with the Word of God. These yeshivas would engage in intense dialogue and debate over various aspects of life and what Scripture said about them. “It was a standard part of rabbinic teaching methodology.” Greenwold adds, “Studying their rabbi’s view of Scripture and wrestling with the text to comprehend God’s way for the conduct of their life was the main priority of a disciple and the yeshiva experience. Since all disciples had memorized most, if not all, of their Hebrew Scriptures in preparation for their Bar Mitzvahs at age 13, the issue was not what God’s Word said but rather what it meant and how it was to be lived out.” During their periods of intense dialogue and debate, these yeshivas arrived at their theological convictions and doctrinal positions. 8. Tr ansparency and Accountability Were the Norms There was remarkable transparency among these yeshivas, as they spent significant time together during their teaching sessions and discipleship training trips. Doug Greenwold says it well: “Unlike many of our contemporary discipleship programs, there was no curriculum or agenda for this multi-year discipling experience. Rather, it was a continual daily relational living experience where either the rabbi would ask questions of the disciple as he closely observed the disciple’s life, or the disciple would initiate a discussion by raising an issue or asking a question based on some aspect of his daily life .” In this discipleship format, not only was theology passed on, but character, attitudes, and behavior. 9. The Meaning of “Believe” As a disciple learned from their rabbi, they were placing their entire trust and belief in him. This process was called “believing.” Unlike today, the term “believe” has a very different meaning in Hebrew culture. Once again, Greenwold states it well: “The Semitic understanding of ‘believe’ was not based on an intellectual assent to a creed, doctrinal statement, or series of faith propositions. Rather, to a first-century disciple, ‘believe’ is a verb in which you willingly submit to your rabbi’s interpretive authority regarding God’s Word in every area of your life. Thus, to say you were a disciple in the name of Gamaliel meant that you totally surrendered your life to Gamaliel’s way of interpreting Scripture. As a result, you conformed all of your life’s behavior to his interpretations .” In Hebrew culture, the word “believe” meant taking action, applying knowledge to daily life, and changing some attitude or perspective on life, not just mentally knowing something and remaining unchanged. Today, the word “believe” is often used as a noun and tends to imply mere intellectual agreement or mental assent, which is a significantly different meaning from its usage in Christ’s day. Faith Lesson 1. Discipleship Meant Commitment Considering the historical significance of discipleship, we can now gain a deeper understanding of the discipleship process Christ employed with His disciples. He called them to follow Him, be with Him, learn from Him, practice what they learned, surrender completely to Him, and love Him more than their families, friends, and culture. It meant even being willing to die for Him if needed. Therefore, a disciple can be summed up as a disciplined learner or student who chooses to follow Christ, their rabbi, to such a degree that they submit their entire life, will, time, plans, desires, dreams, character, and efforts entirely to Him and His teachings. They are willing to deny themself, take up their cross, and obey all His commands with total abandonment. A biblical disciple is a person who gives complete devotion and loyalty to Christ, above all human relationships and influences. It’s a person who is willing to die for the cause of Christ daily, and once and for all if needed. 2. The discipleship process during Christ's time placed a strong emphasis on knowing God’s Word, relational mentoring, character, discipline, commitment, and devotion. 3. Discipleship in Christ’s Day Versus Discipleship Today How are Christians and the church performing today in terms of biblical discipleship? The contrast between discipleship in Christ’s time and discipleship today is quite staggering. Unlike Christ’s disciples, who knew Scripture exceedingly well and had much of it memorized, 81% of Christians today don’t read their Bibles regularly and are largely biblically illiterate. Unlike Christ’s disciples, who were fishers of men and took the gospel to the ends of the earth, 61% of Christians today haven’t even shared their faith in the last six months. Unlike Christ’s disciples, who prayed extensively, the average Christian today spends only 1–7 minutes a day in prayer. And unlike Christ and the Apostles, who made discipleship a core part of their ministries, 81% of pastors have no regular discipleship program for mentoring their people. It’s clear that the value Christ and the Apostles gave to discipleship is vastly different from the value the average Evangelical church and Christian give it today.

An in-depth look at the Bible events, location, and discoveries of ancient Bethsaida at the El Araj site. Peter, Andrew, and Philip were from this fishing town, and then later moved to Capernaum. This new location of Bethsaida has been recently discovered, and we believe it is the true location. Et-Tell site of Bethsaida has been the traditional location, and the El Araj site of Bethsaida is the new location with the best evidence biblically and archaeologically for the location of Bethsaida. Bethsaida Overview Photo Gallery New Location Photo Gallery Traditional Location Places of Interest Bethsaida Overview Introduction Welcome to Bethsaida. Several significant events from the Bible took place here. These are the highlights. 1. Bethsaida was a fishing village with several hundred inhabitants during the time of Christ. 2. At least 3 of the 12 disciples were from Bethsaida. John 1:44: Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 3. It was one of the three towns Jesus cursed because the people there did not believe in Him after witnessing all His miracles. 4. It was a little distance south of Bethsaida where Christ fed the 5,000. 5. Not far from Bethsaida is where Jesus walked on the water and calmed the sea. 6. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida. 7. It is a natural site where you can swim in the Sea of Galilee, fish, or sit by its shore and think about all that happened here. Location 1. Currently, there are two leading candidates for the actual Bethsaida location. The first is the traditional site, which has been excavated since 1987. It sits on a hill, approximately 1.5 miles (2.25 km) from the high-water mark of the Sea of Galilee. Since no other sites were excavated besides this first one, it became the default site. The traditional site is known as Et Tell. A number of years ago, we did a video about the traditional site because at the time, it was the only site considered legitimate. However, we have revised our position and now believe that a new site, called El Araj, is the most suitable candidate for the actual location of Bethsaida. It is located at the high-water mark on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee, at the Jordan River inlet, and fits the biblical and historical records much better. 2. We know from the Bible that Bethsaida was in a desolate, remote place with little population. Luke 9:10: The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida. 3. The northwestern side of the Sea of Galilee was densely populated in Jesus’ time, but the northeastern side where Bethsaida was located was desolate. 4. Bethsaida was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee. In fact, its name means “House of Fishing.” 5. In John 1:44, we find that at least 3 disciples were from here: “Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ” We also know that at least Peter and Andrew were fishermen, so they lived in Bethsaida to be close to the sea. Historical Evidence Supporting the El Araj Site 1. Edward Robinson first identified the site of Et-Tell as the possible site of the Biblical Bethsaida in 1841. However, in 1888, Gottlieb Schumacher challenged Robinson’s proposed site because it was too far from the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. He proposed that El Araj was the proper location. 2. Like Schumacher, today some archaeologists and historians like Mordechai Aviam, Steven Notley, and Marc Turnage are not convinced the traditional site of Et Tell is the actual location of Bethsaida for two main reasons: The first problem concerns the distance from the Sea of Galilee to Et Tell. It is a considerable distance away and doesn’t align with the biblical, historical, and eyewitness accounts that clearly indicate Bethsaida was located right next to the sea. The traditional site is about 100 feet (30 meters) above the high-water level of the Sea of Galilee and about 1.5 miles (2.25 km) inland. They propose that the Sea of Galilee was approximately 16 feet (5 m) higher than the current high-water mark. It would have been impossible for the Sea of Galilee to have been at this level because it would have covered other known towns such as Magdala, Gennesaret, Capernaum, and the newly discovered site of Bethsaida, which existed during the time of Christ and are located right next to the high-water mark of the Sea of Galilee. All these would have been covered over with water. However, all the archaeology and ruins show otherwise. A dam was built in 1930 at the outlet of the Sea of Galilee, allowing Israel to regulate the flow of water. As a result, today the sea level can rise higher than it could have during the time of Christ. In recent years, due to heavy rainfall, the sea has risen higher than in previous years. However, as mentioned, during the time of Christ, the outlet prevented the sea from rising above the high-level watermark along the shoreline. Therefore, the traditional site of Et Tell has real problems as it is so far from the sea. The second problem concerns the scarcity of Roman archaeology at the traditional site of Bethsaida. Josephus, a Jewish historian, writes about how Bethsaida was converted into a Roman City in the first century AD and underwent urbanization. He says: "And to the village of Bethsaida [located] next to the lake of Gennesar [Sea of Galilee] Herod Philip granted the dignity of the city by [introducing] a multitude of inhabitants and other fortifications, and he called it Julias after the name of the daughter of the Emperor" (Antiquities of the Jews: 18:28). No substantial remains of a Roman settlement have been found at Et Tell. Its ruins are mainly from the time of King David and Solomon. It features an impressive six-chambered gate, a design common in Solomon's time. Jody Magnus, from UNC, speaks about the lack of Roman ruins at Et Tell. She says: "While the Iron Age remains at Bethsaida, or Et Tell, are monumental and impressive, the Roman period remains are very poor, and therefore, the site does not look like an urban center." For these two main reasons, some have questioned the traditional site of Bethsaida as the true site. We agree and now believe that the new site of El Araj is the true location of Bethsaida. 3. This “El Araj” site is also known by the locals by a different name. They call it "Bet Habek," which means "Habek House," and it was named after a Kurdish aristocrat who lived here in the 19th to 20th centuries. Some of the villa's ruins can still be seen today. 4. This site of El Araj is being excavated under the leadership of Professor Mordechai Aviam from the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology at Kinneret College, Israel. Dr. Steven Notley is the academic and historical director at the site. He is a professor from the New York City campus of Nyack College. Marc Turnage assists as well. The excavation process at el Araj began in 2014, when Marc Turnage organized a “shovel survey” under the leadership of Aviam Mordechai and Steven Notley. This involved digging and sifting the soil from several five-meter-by-five-meter squares to a depth of about a foot (30 centimeters). Archaeologists then collected and dated the pottery, glass, and coins they found to create a profile of the site and its settlement. It was determined that there was a settlement at el Araj for over a thousand years, spanning the Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Crusader periods—precisely the time frame of Bethsaida, according to historical sources. More serious excavations began in 2016 and continue to the present. 5. Now let’s look at some of the evidence that supports this site of El Araj as the best candidate for biblical Bethsaida. We will first examine the biblical accounts, then the eyewitness accounts, and finally the archaeological evidence, which aligns remarkably with the Bible and historical descriptions. Biblical account: According to the Bible, Bethsaida was located right beside the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus repeatedly traveled to and from it by boat. Historical and eyewitness accounts: As mentioned, Josephus, a Jewish historian, wrote about how Bethsaida was converted into a Polish or Roman City in the first century AD and urbanized. He wrote that Bethsaida was located next to the lake of Gennesar [Sea of Galilee], and that Herod Philip converted Bethsaida into a Roman polis and called it Julias after the name of the Emperor's daughter. Pliny the Elder, a first-century Roman writer, called Bethsaida “One of four lovely cities on the Sea of Galilee.” Later, Eusebius, in 305 AD, wrote about Bethsaida. He said, “The city of Andrew and Peter and Philip. It is located in the Galilee next to the lake of Gennesar" [Sea of Galilee]. Finally, we have a key testimony from Willibald, Bishop of Bavaria in 725 AD, that records the construction of a church at this site during the Byzantine period. "From Tiberias, they went around the sea by the village of Magdala to the village of Capernaum, where our Lord raised the prince’s daughter. And from Capernaum, they went to Bethsaida, from which came Peter and Andrew. There is now a church where previously there was a house.” Evidence of this church and a monastery has been discovered at this site. 6. From these biblical, historical, and eyewitness accounts, we learn the following about the location of Bethsaida: During the time of Christ, the community was predominantly Jewish. Peter, Andrew, and Philip originally lived in Bethsaida. It was located right beside the Sea of Galilee. Its name means fishing village. Jesus sailed to and from it regularly. Bethsaida was converted into a Roman Polis city in the first century and urbanized. It may be for this reason that Peter and Andrew left Bethsaida and moved to Capernaum. They didn't want to live in a Roman Polis city, which would have been secular, promoting many values they would oppose as Jews. Later, a Byzantine church was built over the home of Peter and Andrew in the fourth century, and it was still visible in 725 AD, as noted by Willibald. During the Crusader Period, it was venerated and used as a sugar plantation. 7. Archaeologists have divided El-Araj into several lettered excavation areas. These are separate trenches used to determine the size, history, and character of the ancient settlement. Area A – Church and Monastery: This is the main excavation area beside the ruins of the nineteenth-century Beit HaBek estate. Archaeologists uncovered a large Byzantine basilica with mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions, including one honoring Peter as “chief and commander of the heavenly apostles.” The excavators identify it as the Church of the Apostles, mentioned by the pilgrim Willibald in AD 725. Beneath the church and monastery are remains from the Roman period, including part of a bathhouse and walls dating as early as the first century AD. However, the discovery does not prove that a particular wall belonged to Peter’s actual house. Areas B and C – Roman Settlement: These trenches were opened away from the church to determine the size of El-Araj in Jesus' time. Area B, approximately 50 meters east of the original excavation, revealed Roman-period buildings, pottery, lamps, fresco fragments, and fishing-net weights. Area C, about 100 meters north of Area A, uncovered a private dwelling occupied between the first and third centuries AD, including coins, pottery, an oven, and fishing equipment. These discoveries show that El-Araj was an extensive fishing settlement rather than an isolated bathhouse. Area D – Earlier Jewish Village: This area contains Roman-period houses associated with fishermen. Finds include numerous lead fishing weights, stone vessels, coins, pottery, and a rare inkwell. At a deeper level, archaeologists found a wall, pottery, and a coin from the late Hasmonean period—approximately the late second or early first century BC. This suggests that the Jewish village existed before Herod Philip elevated Bethsaida to the status of a polis of Julias. Areas E and F – Boundaries and Public Buildings: Area E lies about 80 meters east of Area A and contains Byzantine walls that may belong to the monastery, with earlier Roman remains below. Area F was planned to investigate the settlement’s western limits and search for additional Roman houses or substantial structures. Together, these outer areas help archaeologists reconstruct the size and layout of Bethsaida-Julias. Taken together, the excavation areas reveal a Jewish fishing settlement from the New Testament period, evidence of Roman-style urban development, and a later Byzantine pilgrimage center. This combination is why El-Araj is presently considered one of the strongest—though still debated—candidates for ancient Bethsaida. 8. In summary, all the archaeological evidence points to the El Araj location as the actual site of Bethsaida. It fits better with the biblical narrative and the historical and archaeological evidence than the traditional site of Et-Tell. Archaeological Evidence at the Site of El Araj From the Jewish Settlement period, we find: Walls and plastering from the first century. Pottery Oil lamps First-century coins Stone vessels used by Jews in purification rituals. Limestone dishes and knife-pared Herodian lamps, which were only made in Jerusalem before 70 AD, provide clear indications of Jewish settlement at el-Araj. First-century homes are also found in area C. Lead fishing weights Galilean pottery Two capitals resembling those used in other early Roman synagogues were unearthed. A Lioness was found, a common occurrence in Jewish communities. From the Roman Period, we find: A key discovery from this period is a Roman Bathhouse with small tiles and mosaics. This bathhouse had an elaborate heating system and was used as a sauna. It proves Bethsaida was converted into a Roman Polis, as a bathhouse of this nature was not found in Jewish communities. The Roman Bathhouse dates back to the first century AD and confirms that the water level was precisely where the Bible indicates it would have been during Christ's time. Bethsaida and the other towns around the Sea of Galilee are on the shoreline, as the Bible and archaeology describe them. This discovery presents even more problems for the ET Tell site. Area C was opened in 2019 and reveals that Bethsaida was a large Roman city, as Josephus described it as Julia. A Roman coin from the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, dating to 66 AD, was also discovered. In the fourth century AD, a Byzantine Church and monastery were built over the homes of Peter and Andrew. A 30-meter section of the monastery's Byzantine wall was discovered. A cross was discovered on a Byzantine vessel. The Church described by Willibald was discovered. It was quite elaborate, with mosaic floors. Individual gold-gilded glass tesserae are only found in wall mosaics of ornate churches. A Byzantine Frieze was found. The base of a chancel screen was discovered. In 2019, the excavation team stood side by side to form the outline of the Byzantine Church. In 2024, the Byzantine Church was fully exposed, and the monastery is planned for exposure in the coming years. Lastly, a Crusader presence is also found at this site. The following items have been discovered: Sugar bowls A glass vase piece A ring, among other discoveries. At the end of the 2019 excavations, a geophysical study was conducted in the vicinity, using electromagnetic sensors operated on the ground and from a drone. The results indicate that this site is quite large, and many houses and buildings are buried, waiting to be uncovered and tell their stories. Now, regarding this site of El Araj being the actual location of biblical Bethsaida, Dr. Steven Notley says: "Every day, the argument gets stronger and stronger. You know, we are preparing, we are coming to the point where you say there's no question now. The question mark is finished, we're on the site of Bethsaida, truly." Historical Background 1. Bethsaida was a fishing village with several hundred inhabitants during the time of Christ. 2. At least 3 of the 12 disciples were from Bethsaida. John 1:44: Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 3. Later, however, it appears that these disciples moved to Capernaum to be closer to where Jesus lived. Mark 1:21: And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching. Mark 1:28: And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. Places of Interest 1. Et-Tell site of Bethsaida – Traditional Location 2. El Araj site of Bethsaida – New Location 3. Feeding of the 5,000 4. Approximate place Jesus walked on the water. 5. Capernaum Bethsaida in the Bible 1. Philip, Andrew, and Peter were from Bethsaida (John 1:44). 2. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida. Mark 8:22–25: And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again ; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 3. Bethsaida was one of the three towns Jesus cursed because the people there did not believe in Him after witnessing all His miracles. Matthew 11:21: Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 4. It was near Bethsaida, where Christ fed the 5,000. Luke 9:10–17: When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. 5. Not far from Bethsaida is where Jesus walked on the water and calmed the sea. Mark 6:45–51: Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night [the last watch before dawn], he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded. Faith Lesson from Bethsaida 1. Like the healing of the blind man, Jesus often heals in different and strange ways. Do we have faith and trust in God regardless of how or if He chooses to heal? 2. Christ cursed the town of Bethsaida because its inhabitants were apathetic, showed unbelief in Christ, and chose not to follow and obey Him. Are we often slow to trust and obey Christ as well? 3. Christ fed the 5,000 in the area of Bethsaida to reveal He was the true bread of life from heaven and that His Word is our spiritual food. In the same way there were 12 baskets of food left over, Christ, as our Bread from Heaven, is also abundant and overflowing in feeding us spiritual food through His Word. Are we eating daily and finding our life in the authentic Bread of Life? 4. Not far from Bethsaida, Jesus walked on the water and calmed the sea. Am I finding rest and peace in Jesus in the midst of my personal storms of life? Isaiah 26:3–4: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Tel Arad was founded by the Canaanites in around 3500 BC. It was conquered by the Israelites in the conquest of the Promised Land. A fortress was later built in the 9th century. It was destroyed by the Assyrians and later by the Babylonians. It has a well-preserved temple inside the fortress. Tel Arad Photo Gallery Places of Interest Tel Arad Location 1. Tel Arad is in the Negev about 16 miles (26 km.) east of Tel Beersheba, and 33 miles (54 km.) south of Jerusalem. 2. Tel Arad covers an area of about 100 acres (40 hectares) and is on the west side of Hwy 80. 3. Although this part of the Negev receives little rain, Arad is strategically situated on ancient trade routes. Historical Background 1. Tel Arad has two major settlement periods, a Canaanite and an Israelite period. The lower part of the tel is from the Canaanite period and the upper fortress part is from the Israelite period. 2. The Canaanites were the original settlers of Arad and established a large city here around 3500 BC. It had an estimated population of approximately 2,500 residents. 3. Israel captured Arad in the conquest under Joshua. Later, in around 940 BC, an Israelite settlement was established here. 4. Because Tel Arad is so strategically located and important, it was destroyed and rebuilt 6 times from the 9th to the 6th centuries. It was most likely destroyed in 701 BC by the Assyrians and again by the Babylonians in 587 BC. 5. Over 100 pottery shards (Ostraca) were discovered at Tel Arad dating to the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Two of these are of great value as they mention two people from priestly families in the Bible, “Pashhur” from Ezra 2:38, and Meremoth from Ezra 8:33. 6. Two other pottery shards found at Tel Arad have written on them the name Arad, which confirms the identification of the city. Places of Interest 1. Canaanite City City walls City gate Temple Palace City Well Homes 2. Entrance to Tel Arad 3. Upper parking – Easy access to the Fortress Mound 4. Israelite Fortress at Tel Arad Although there was a small settlement during the time of Solomon, it was during the divided kingdom period that a fortress was set up at Tel Arad. The fortress served to protect Judah’s southern border against its enemies. The southern area of Judah was dangerous, and the fortress at Arad was destroyed 6 times during the divided kingdom period. It is likely that one of the destructions of the fortress occurred during Hezekiah’s reign when he rebelled against the Assyrian King, Sennacherib, in 701 BC. Scripture recounts how all the fortified cities of Judah were destroyed at this time (2 Kings 18:13). The fortress was rebuilt but destroyed again as a result of Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Judah in 586 BC. During the Hellenistic period of the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC, a tower was built in the center of the fortress compound. During the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, the tower was repaired and used as a military post. During the early Arab period, the structure served as an inn for caravans. The fortress was finally abandoned in the 10th century AD. Entrance Towers Outer Court 5. Israelite Temple at Tel Arad Arad had a functioning temple during the time of the divided kingdom that was somewhat similar to the temple in Jerusalem. The temple at Arad was forbidden by God because the Israelites were to worship at no other place but Jerusalem at this time (Deut. 12:5-6). Outer Court Altar Holy place – In Scripture, the holy place was a long rectangular room. At Arad, it is a wide rectangular room. Altars of Incense Holy of Holies Dimensions of the Holy of Holies – In the tabernacle God ordered Moses to erect, the required dimensions of the Holy of Holies were to be 10 cubits by 10 cubits (15 ft., 9 m.) (Ex. 26:31–33). In Solomon’s temple, the Holy of Holies measured 20 cubits by 20 cubits (30 ft., 9 m.) (1 Kings 6:16). When the second temple was rebuilt under Ezra, the measurements of the Holy of Holies of Solomon’s temple were kept. The Holy of Holies at Arad measures about 7 ft. by 7 ft. (2.13 m.), much smaller than the Tabernacle of Moses and the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Standing stones – There are two standing stones in the Holy of Holies. One represents Yahweh and the other, Asherah, a false female god. This shows the worship of false gods mixed with the worship of God. Clearly, this was strictly forbidden. According to archeological data, the temple in Arad was destroyed during King Josiah’s reign in about 630 BC (2 Kings 23:4–20). It’s possible, though, that the temple could have been removed by King Hezekiah under his reforms (2 Kings 18:22). Even though the worshipers at Arad were commanded to tear down the temple there, they refused to do so and covered it over with dirt instead. Arad in the Bible 1. The King of Arad attacked Israel while they were making their way toward the Promised Land. Numbers 21:1–3: When the Canaanite, the king of Arad , who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” 3 And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah. 2. After the confrontation with the king of Arad, the Israelites turned around and headed south toward the Red Sea instead of entering the Promised Land from the Negev region (Num. 21:4). 3. The area of Arad was given to the tribe of Simeon during the conquest of the land (Joshua 19:1–8). 4. The relatives of Moses’ father-in-law (Kenites) also settled in the area around Arad. Judges 1:16–17: And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad , and they went and settled with the people. 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Josiah’s Reforms and destruction of the temple in Arad. 1. Josiah became king and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Kings 22:1–2: Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 2. Josiah’s grandfather, Manasseh, was very wicked until God humbled him, and he repented. His father, Amon, was so wicked that his servants killed him (2 Kings 21). Josiah’s heritage was wicked and could have given him an excuse to live the same way. However, even at an extremely young age of 8, he loved the Lord and did what was right. Interestingly, the Book of the Law wasn’t found until Josiah was 26 years old (2 Kings 22:3). This meant Josiah did what was right from a young age, even without Scripture to guide him. 3. The Book of the Law (Bible) was found and read to Josiah. 2 Kings 22:8–11: And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law , he tore his clothes. 4. Josiah read the Bible to his whole kingdom and made a covenant with them to follow the Lord. 2 Kings 23: 1–3: Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. 2 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 3 And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant. 5. Josiah cleansed the temple and ordered that all the altars and shrines to the false gods all throughout the land be destroyed (2 Kings 23:4–20). It was most likely Josiah who ordered the temple removed at Tel Arad. 6. Josiah reinstitutes and celebrates the Passover. 2 Chronicles 35:18: No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 35:7: Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; these were from the king's possessions . 7. There was no king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart. 2 Kings 23:25: Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. 8. Unfortunately, Josiah’s two sons who reigned after him did not follow the Lord but acted wickedly (2 Kings 23:31–37). Faith Lesson from Arad 1. The Israelites in Arad set up their own temple and worshiped God their own way, which was forbidden to do. Do we realize that worshiping the right God in the wrong way is still wrong? 2. Josiah’s heritage was rooted in sin, yet he chose to follow the Lord at a very young age. Do we realize that God can still use us mightily regardless of our past if we turn to Him with all our hearts as Josiah did? 3. Even though Josiah followed God with all his heart, his children chose evil. Each person has a free will to do as they please regardless of the kind of parents they have.

What are the differences between Christianity and Islam? Which one is true? There are huge differences that you need to know. Learn all about them in this comprehensive discussion of this important topic. The Differences Between Islam & Christianity What Are the Differences Between Islam and Christianity? Which One Is True? Introduction What are the differences between Islam and Christianity? Which one is true? You will be amazed at the differences! Islam and Christianity are the world's two largest religions. We will explore and show you things you probably don't know about this important topic, so let's explore it and see what we can learn. God Loves All P eople The religion of Islam is primarily made up of Arabs. However, this discussion is not about all Arabs and is not intended to be anti-Arab. I have several Arab friends and have met many Arab people while in the Holy Land who are wonderful folks. God loves all people, and every person is equal and created in the image of God. The Differences Bet ween the Bible and the Quran Details About the Bible 1. It has 1,189 chapters with about 783,000 words. 2. The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years, beginning in 1400 BC and ending in 100 AD. However, it reveals everything from the details of creation at the beginning of time and goes all the way to the end of the world and the creation of the new heavens and earth and eternity future. 3. It was written by around 40 different authors. This is a miracle in and of itself and gives the Bible incredible credibility. The fact that all the accounts harmonize is amazing. 4. It was w ritten on 3 different continents. 5. It is generally chronological in nature and has many different genres. 6. It claims to be inspired by God and is His word to humanity. 7. Jesus affirmed the Bible as God's Word. 8. The Bible contains many, many detailed prophecies. Many of which have come to pass. Details A bout the Quran 1. The Quran consists of 114 chapters, with around 78,000 words in all. It’s about one-tenth the size of the Bible. 2. The Quran was supposedly revealed to Muhammad by an angel (Muslims say it was Gabriel) over a period of around 22 years, beginning in around 61 0 AD and ending in 632 AD. 3. It is not chronologically written. It has the longer chapters at the beginning and the shorter chapters towards the end. 4. Muhammad, who received the so-called revelations, was illiterate and did not write any of the Quran. It was written after Muhammad died from accounts he shared with others. 5. It appears the Quran used other sources known at the time that are included in it. 6. It has some of the same characters as the Bible but changes many things about them. 7. It claims to be inspired by Allah and is his word to humanity. 8. The Quran contains just a few general prophecies . 9. Muslims claim the Quran has been unchanged during the past 1400 years of its existence. However, this is not true at all. There have been many different versions of the Quran, with thousands of differences among them. It's only since 1985 that there has been a universal Quran that is used worldwide by Muslims. Observation About the Quran Logically, why would God wait until 610 AD to reveal His will to mankind? What about the thousands of years of history before this time? How were people supposed to relate to their Creator? This fact about the Quran is very problematic and makes God out to be extremely irresponsible. The Roots of Christianity and Islam Both Christianity and Islam have their roots in Abraham and his offspring. Therefore, it's vital that we carefully look at this issue. While both faiths share the same roots, they have totally different beliefs regarding the Abrahamic Covenant and its meaning. We'll mainly be looking at the Bible's account of this covenant because this is where it's mainly found. The Abrahamic Covenant consists of three promises God established with Abraham. 1. A Land 2. A Nation or People 3. A Lineage – Through the lineage of Isaac would come Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The Abrahamic Covenant The Abrahamic Covenant is given numerous times in Genesis chapters 12-17 and continually reaffirmed throughout both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. You will notice that the Bible uses the name Abram before it is later changed to Abraham, which means father of many nations. God promises a land and a people: Genesis 13:14-17 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever . 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk throug h the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” God promises Abraham a son: Genesis 15:18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. After waiting a long time without Abraham and Sarah having a child, Sarah tries to fulfill this promise through her handmaid, Hagar. The birth of Ishmael: Genesis16:11-12 After Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, there arose bitterness between Sarah and Hagar. Then God describes the kind of person Ishmael would be. “Behold, you [Hagar] are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” What do we see here? 1. The bitterness between Sarah and Hagar begins the conflict we see today. Later, this bitterness would include Ishmael and Isaac. 2. Ishmael will be a wild donkey of a man and will be against everyone and everyone against him. We certainly see this throughout history. The fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant would come through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, not through Ishmael. Genesis 17:15-22: And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” 22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. What do we see here? 1. The Abrahamic Covenant, an everlasting covenant, would be through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. God’s covenant would not be through Ishmael. 2. Ishmael would be the father of a great multitude, which are the Arab people. 3. Through the Abrahamic Covenant, fulfilled in Isaac, would come Jesus Christ, the prophesied Savior. Galatians 3:13-14, 16: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles , so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed . He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. Galatians 3:29: And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring , heirs according to promise. What do we see here? 1. The genealogies of the Bible, which oftentimes we think are boring, are so important. They prove that Jesus Christ fulfills the lineage aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant that dates back to around 4,000 years. 2. P rophecy is what sets the Bible apart from any other writing. It contains very specific, detailed prophecies. So, in summary, the Abrahamic Covenant, which is the major storyline of the Bible, includes three major aspects: 1. A Land through Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his offspring, which today is known as the Holy Land. 2. A Nation or people through Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his offspring, which today are called the Jews or Israelis. 3. A Lineage – Through the lineage of Isaac would come Christ, the Savior of the world. The Ro ots of Islam The religion of Islam, which came into being in around 610 AD, completely denies the Bible’s storyline and radically changes it. Muslims believe that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mohamad and gave him a number of revelations from around 610-632 AD. The Quran and Muslim theology believe the following: 1. The Abrahamic Covenant was intended for Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 2. The Holy Land is for Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 3. The promise of a nation or people is through Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 4. Jesus Christ is not the Savior but just a prophet, and Mohamad is greater than Jesus and is the last prophet. 5. I t denies the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 6. It believes the Bible is corrupted and that the Quran is the true revelation from God. Note: This Muslim belief cannot be true because the Dead Sea Scrolls, written around 100 BC, 700 years before Mohamad, verify that the Old Testament we have today is the same as what was written in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, Islam does more than just claim the Bible has been corrupted. It denies about 95% of the Bible is even true. For example, the New Testament's main theme is that salvation is through Jesus Christ and how to live and serve Him as a result. Islam denies all this. So, saying the Bible has been corrupted is not an accurate statement. The truth is that Islam rejects virtually all of the Bible and what it teaches. 6. Mohamad is the main example of how we should live. This even includes marrying children, as Mohamad married a 6-year-old girl when he was 51 and then consummated the marriage (had sex with her) when she was 10 years old. Marrying children is extremely common among Muslims. The Difference Between Jesus and Muhammad 1. Jesus performed every kind of miracle to show He was Lord of every aspect of creation. Muhammad performed no miracles. Here are the kinds of miracles Christ performed: He healed all kinds of sickness. He had power over the demons and the demonic world. He had power over the weather and calmed the sea. He had power over nature and cursed a fig tree, and it died. He had power over animals – He cast demons into a herd of swine, performed miraculous catches of fish, and rode into Jerusalem on an untamed donkey. He had power over food – He fed 5,000 and 4,000 people. He had power over death – He raised a number of people from the dead and rose from the dead Himself. He had the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:10). Only God can forgive sins. 2. Jesus fulfilled countless detailed prophecies spoken of in the Old Testament. Muhammad fulfilled no prophecies spoken of in the Old Testament. In fact, his name is not even mentioned. 3. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. Muhammad made no such claim. 4. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. Muham mad was sinful and had a very troubling life. 5. Jesus died for the sins of all mankind. Muhammad did not. 6. Jesus was never married. Mohammed had eleven wives. 7. Jesus had a supernatural birth through Mary, a virgin. Muhammad's birth was natural. 8. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are historical facts that can be proven by history, eyewitness accounts, many extra-biblical sources, and archaeology. Muhammad denied all these facts and said they were lies. 9. Jesus rose from His grave and ascended back to heaven. Muhammad did no such thing. What Does the Quran Teach About Jesus? Now, because Jesus is the center of the entire storyline of the Bible, performed countless miracles, fulfilled countless prophecies, fulfilled the Abrahamic Covenant lineage, was crucified for our sins, rose from the dead, claimed to be God in the flesh, and that salvation from our sins only comes through Jesus, the Savior of the world, let’s look at what the Quran says about Jesus. This is what the Quran says about Jesus: Jesus is not the Son of God. Quran 19:88-92: And they (Christians) say, “The Most Merciful has begotten son ?” 89. You (Christians) have come up with something monstrous. 90. At which the heavens almost rupture, and the earth splits, and the mountains fall and crumble. 91. Because they (Christians) attribute a son to the Most Merciful. 92. It is not fitting for the Most Merciful to have a son. Jesus did not die on the Cross for our sins. Quran 4:157: And for their saying, “We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of God.” In fact, they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as if they did. Indeed, those who differ about him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it, except the following of assumptions. Certainly, they did not kill him. Unbelievers are those who believe Jesus was the Messiah. Quran 5:17. They disbelieve those who say, “God is the Christ, the son of Mary .” Those who believe Jesus is the Messiah are cursed by Allah. Quran 9:30. The Jews said, “Ezra is the son of God (which is not true),” and the Christians said, “The Messiah is the son of God.” These are their statements, out of their mouths. They emulate the statements of those who blasphemed before. May Allah assail them! How deceived they are! 31. They have taken their rabbis and their priests as lords instead of Allah, as well as the Messiah son of Mary. According to Muslims, the Angel Gabriel revealed the Quran to Mohamad. Interestingly, what the Angel Gabriel said in the Bible about Jesus is totally opposite of what Muslims believe he said to Mohamad. Luke 1:26-33 says: Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David [who is the descendant of Isaac]; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High ; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob [son of Isaac] forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Islam teaches that salvation is not through Jesus Christ. Islam denies that salvation is attained through believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and that Jesus did all this to be a sacrifice for our sins. That salvation is a free gift given when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Islam, salvation comes through keeping the five pillars of Islam. Salvation in Islam is through works. Salvation in the Bible is a free gift offered by Jesus Christ, our sacrifice for sins. What Does the Bible Say About Those Who deny the Bible’s Claims about Jesus Christ? 1 John 2:22-23: Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist , the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 2 John 1:7: For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Jude 1:3: Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints. Galatians 1:6-9: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, 7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! The Bible claims you can only tr uly know God and be saved by believing and embracing Jesus. 1 John 5:11-13: And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. The Bible claims there is only one way to salvation. Acts 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” What do we see here? 1. According to the Bible, the religion of Islam is cursed because an angel revealed a different gospel to Mohamad than what was already revealed in the Bible. 2. The Bible claims that there is no other truth and Gospel but that found in the Bible and that it was given once and for all. Islam states just the opposite and contradicts the Bible. 3. Someone who is anti-Christ denies Jesus is the Savior, denies God is His Father, and denies Jesus came in the flesh. The religion of the Antichrist will do the same. 4. As you can see, what the Quran says about Jesus is entirely different than what the Bible says. Therefore, it could not be the Angel Gabriel who revealed any revelation to Mohamad. The problem with believing Jesus was a prophet or great teacher. Bible prophesies claim Jesus was God in the flesh. Also, Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child [Jesus Christ] is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father , Prince of Peace. John 8:56-59: Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am [same Hebrew word God said to Moses when Moses asked Him who he should tell the Egyptians sent him].” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. John 10:31-33: The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” T here are three options about who Jesus said He was: 1. He was a liar. 2. He was a lunatic. 3. He was who He claimed to be. We can’t believe Jesus was just a prophet because a prophet wouldn’t be a liar or lunatic. The only logical conclusion is that Jesus Christ is indeed who He and the Bible claim Him to be. The Bible’s Claim About Islam According to the Bible, Islam is completely opposite to what the Bible teaches and is an antichrist religion. This explains why they hate Christians and Jews so much. The Jews believe in the Old Testament, and Christians believe in both the Old and New Testaments. Will the coming Antichrist be a Muslim? Many believe that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. This makes sense as Islam theology believes in a coming world leader called Mahdi. He will make a peace treaty for seven years, rule from the temple in Jerusalem, intend to kill all Jews and Christians and force all people to worship Allah. This Mahdi is exactly what the Bible describes as the Antichrist. Also, there is no other religion that is so against Christians and Jews like Islam. Additionally, Muslims believe Jesus will return to earth from heaven. But in their version of Jesus, he returns as a Muslim and will tell all the Christians that what the Bible says about him is wrong. He will destroy Christianity and demand that everyone convert to Islam and set up Islam as the one world faith. As you can see, Islam is anti-Bible and totally changes what the Bible teaches about the Abrahamic Covenant, which includes a land, a people, and a lineage. And most importantly, it teaches that Jesus was not who the Bible claims He is. Jesus warned about this when He was on earth. In Matthew 24:3-5, when Jesus was talking about the end times it says: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you . 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. What Islam teaches is the very thing Jesus warned believers to be on the lookout for and not to be deceived by it. Islamic World Conquest Through Jihad Explains the Conflicts in Israel The theology of Musli ms is to conquer the world for Allah and institute Muslim rule over the entire world. This rule is also known as Sharia Law. After this is done, they say, then peace will finally come to the world. This is why, since the inception of Islam, Muslims have been engaged in conquering land for Allah. This can be clearly seen in its nearly 1500-year-old history. Therefore, Islam is a violent faith that conquers lands and peoples for Allah by whatever means necessary, as taught in the Quran. We can see this in the following quotes and teachings of Islam. 1. World conquest and Jihad is taught in the Quran and Islamic theology. Quran 8:60: And prepare against them all the power you can muster, and all the cavalry you can mobilize , to thereby Allah’s enemies and your enemies. By using terrorism, governments and people yield to Muslims because of fear. They see the horrifying acts of terrorism and don’t want to make the devoted Muslims angry so they won’t be terrorized. Quran 8:39: Fight them until there is no more persecution, and religion becomes exclusively for Allah. But if they desist—Allah is Seeing of what they do. Quran 47:4: When you encounter those who disbelieve, strike at their necks. Then, when you have routed them, bind them firmly. Then, either release them by grace, or by ransom, until war lays down its burdens. Had Allah willed, He could have defeated them Himself, but He thus tests some of you by means of others. As for those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will not let their deeds go to waste. Quran 9:14: Fight them. Allah will punish them at your hands, and humiliate them, and help you against them , and heal the hearts of a believing people. Quran 9:29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah. The theology of Islam promotes the raping and sexual slavery of women if it’s done in connection with Jihad. That’s why the men are generally killed, and the women taken into slavery. 2. Jihad groups, like Hamas, use as part of their warfare, placing their rockets and military operations behind women, children, schools, hospitals, mosques, and so forth. This way, when these places are targeted and destroyed, they can cry out that horrific abuses have been done to their innocent places and people. 3. According to the current leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Mahmoud Abbas, no Jews would be allowed to live in the land of Israel unless they converted to Muslim if a State of Palestine was created. This is completely opposite to what the state of Israel allows. Israel has many Arab citizens, has Arabs in their government leadership, and allows for complete freedom of religion. 4. According to a Muslim statement, Muslims should not submit to any form of government that is not Muslim, and no non-Muslim government has the right to rule Muslims. And if they do, Muslims have the duty to dislodge non-Muslim governments from power by any means possible. 5. Under Muslim-run countries, there is no separation of church and state. The government rules as a theocracy for Allah. This is also known as Sharia Law. 6. When Muslims conquer countries, they persecute and pressure non-Muslims to convert, or life will become unbearable for them, even to the point of execution. 7. They also destroy all religious sites like churches, synagogues, and so forth. They do this to show dominance and conquest. This is why they built the Dome of the Rock exactly over where the temple once stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 8. In Islamic Jihad, it is okay to lie to defeat non-Muslims. This is partly what happened with the recent Hamas invasion of Israel at the time of this filming in 2023, where they killed around 1,400 people and kidnapped around 220 people. They told Israel they wanted peace. Therefore, Israel let their guard down and were deceived. 9. It is also commonly promoted that Islam is a peaceful religion. This is done to deceive the ignorant. History and Muslim theology clearly state that Islam’s purpose is to conquer the world for Allah through Jihad, which is war by all means necessary. 10. There are also terrorism and death sentences in Islam for those who leave Islam or convert to another religion. This includes honor killings, imprisonment, and persecution within Muslim-run countries. I have personal Arabic friends living in Israel who have left Islam and are under threat from family members and other Muslims who want to kill them. 11. Many Arabs and Arab Muslims just want to live in peace and live their lives. However, the devoted Islamic Jihadists are the ones causing most of the trouble. That’s why when peace agreements are made between Israel and Arabs, the Jihadists increase their terrorism. This was clearly evidenced by the OSLO agreement that President Bill Clinton oversaw. The peaceful Muslims don’t do or say anything contrary to the Jihadists out of fear for their lives. So, it’s the devoted Jihadists who control most of the Arab countries. Again, the goal of the devoted Jihadists is to conquer the world for Allah. 12. The devoted Jihadists reject peace because, in their view, peace is losing ground and yielding power. According to them, it stops the progress of conquering the world for Allah. 13. The Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as Hamas, is a Palestinian Islamist militant group founded in 1987. The group’s primary objective is to establish an independent Islamic state in all the Holy Land. To accomplish their purpose, they want to eliminate Israel from the Holy Land. Hamas is known for its armed resistance against Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by many countries. 14. The group’s charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in what they call “historic Palestine.” Hamas has been governing more than two million Arabs in the Gaza Strip since 2007. 15. In summary, the Quran, Muslim theology, Mohamad’s life, and Muslim history all call for Jihad to punish and fight for Allah in the conquest of the world. Quran 9:14: Fight them. Allah will punish them at your hands, and humiliate them, and help you against them , and heal the hearts of a believing people. This is what the Bible says about Islamic Jihad. John 16:2-3: They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God . 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father nor Me. Faith Lesson 1. Islam is totally contrary to the Bible and denies about 95% of it. 2. Islam denies the main themes of both the Old and New Testaments. 3. Islam denies Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be and did not die on the Cross for our sins. Therefore, according to the Bible, Islam is an antichrist religion. 4. Islam teaches salvation by works, and Christianity teaches salvation by grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 5. While oftentimes Islam is claimed to be a peaceful religion, this is really not the case. The Quran teaches violence and conquest of the world for Allah and Islam. 6. The main source of the conflicts moving forward will come from Islamic-run countries. Their goal is to conquer the world for Allah by whatever means necessary. This includes every kind of terror imaginable. Therefore, they will be the main players in events moving forward. 7 . It’s very logical a nd probable that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. As we have seen, in Muslim theology, a prophesied future Muslim leader will rule from the Temple Mount over the entire world for seven years. 8. God loves both the Jews and Muslims, and for that matter, all people and desires that everyone comes to salvation through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish , but that all should reach repentance.

See a detailed timeline of Israel's history from its beginning until now. No stone is left unturned. Great for understanding the basic periods in Israel's history. Videos, books, talks, maps, and more. Learn about its walls, gates, people, language, and more. Timeline of Israel's History Israel's History The importance of understanding Israel's historical periods. The Holy Land is an ancient place, one of 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 note that there will likely be several key events that have taken place at a particular site. 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. Chronology of Time Used by Archaeologists and Historians Early Bronze Age 4000–2000 BC Middle Bronze Age 2000–1500 BC Late Bronze Age 1500–1200 BC Iron 1 Age 1200–1000 BC Iron 2 Age 1000–586 BC Canaanite Period 4000–1875 BC 4000 BC – Canaanites inhabit the land of Israel. 2500 BC – Noah and the Great Flood. 2233 BC – Tower of Babel 1960 BC – Abraham is born. Later, moves to the land of Canaan from Ur of the Chaldeans. 1875 BC – Jacob and his family move to Egypt to live with Joseph. Israelite Period 1450–970 BC 1446 BC – Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. 1406 BC – Nation of Israel enters the Promised Land. 1043 BC – King Saul becomes the first king of Israel. 1010 – 970 BC – King David's reign. First Temple Period 970–586 BC 970–931 BC – King Solomon’s reign. Golden years of the Kingdom of Israel. 959 BC – Solomon completes the magnificent temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem (the same place Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac). 931 BC – The Kingdom of Israel divides because of Solomon’s sins. Jeroboam reigns over the northern Kingdom of Israel from Samaria. Rehoboam reigns over the southern Kingdom of Israel from Jerusalem. 722 BC – Assyrians conquer and deport most of the northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria. 586 BC – Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and Judah under Nebuchadnezzar and deport most of the southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylon. Second Temple Period 538–444 BC 537 BC – Many Jews return from Babylon; the rebuilding of the Second Temple begins under the leadership of Zerubbabel. 515 BC – Completion and dedication of the Temple. 458 BC – Ezra returns to Jerusalem with a second wave of Jews and teaches all Israelites about the Bible. 444 BC – Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. Hellenistic Period (Greek Rule) 333–167 BC 333 BC – Alexander the Great defeats the Persian Empire and sets out to conquer the world. After his sudden death in 323 BC, the Greek Empire was divided into several successor states. During this period, the Bible was translated into Greek (the Septuagint). Hasmonean Period (Maccabean Rule) 167–63 BC 167 BC – When the Jews were prohibited from practicing Judaism, and their temple was desecrated as part of an effort to impose Greek-oriented culture and customs on the entire population, the Jews revolted. First led by Mattathias of the priestly Hasmonean family and then by his son Judah the Maccabee, the Jews subsequently entered Jerusalem and purified the temple. This purification of the temple is commemorated by the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (164 BC). Roman Period (Roman Rule) 63 BC–31 3 AD 63 BC – Roman general Pompey captures Jerusalem. 37 BC–4 BC – Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel. He enlarges the Temple Mount and rebuilds the temple. He also builds other monumental projects, including Caesarea Maritima, Herodian, Cave of the Patriarchs, and Masada. 4 BC – Jesus is born in Bethlehem. 27–30 AD – Ministry of Jesus. 30 AD – Jesus crucified. 66 AD – Jewish revolt against the Romans. 70 AD – Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple. 74 AD – Fall of Masada. 132 AD – Bar Kokhba Revolt. Roman Emperor Hadrian destroyed Jerusalem, rebuilt it, and named it Aelia (the emperor’s family name) Capitolina (cult of the Capitoline Triad, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva), a pagan city. Many holy sites were preserved, but they also contained pagan shrines. He also renamed the country of Israel to Palestine, a name derived from the Philistines. Hadrian did this in an attempt to remove any association the Jews had with their land. Byzantine Period (Eastern Roman Empire Rule in Israel) 313–614 AD The word Byzantine refers to the period of time between when the Roman emperor Constantine I relocated his empire in 330 AD from Rome to Byzantium, which is modern-day Istanbul, and ending in 1453 AD with the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire lasted more than 1,000 years, but it only controlled Israel for about 300 years. In 638 AD, Muslims took over the Holy Land. After that, many churches and monasteries were destroyed by the Persians or Muslims, and most of them weren’t rebuilt until the Catholic Crusaders came in 1095 AD. 313 – Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity (Edict of Milan). He later converted to Christianity. 326 – Constantine’s mother, Helena, goes to the Holy Land and builds many churches and basilicas on holy sites. 380 AD – Edict of Thessalonica declared that Christianity was the only official religion of the Roman Empire. Persian Period 614–628 AD 614 – Persian conquest of the Holy Land. Many churches and monasteries were destroyed. Byzantines Recapture Israel 628–638 AD 628 – Holy Land recaptured by the Byzantines. Muslim Period 638–661 AD 638 – Muslim conquest of the Holy Land completed. Their rule originated from Damascus, then Baghdad, and subsequently from Egypt. Umayyad (Muslim) Period 661–750 AD 691 – Where the First and Second Temples were located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock was built by Caliph Abd el-Malik. Abbasid (Muslim) Period 750–969 AD 750 AD – Jerusalem and surrounding areas experienced relatively stable but indirect rule, with less imperial attention than under the Umayyads. Fatimid (Muslim) Period 969–1099 AD 1009 AD – A n Egyptian Muslim Caliph named Al-Hakim destroyed many of the Christian buildings in the Holy Land, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This sent shockwaves through Christianity and birthed the Roman Catholic Church to invade (the crusades) and conquer the Holy Land. Crusader Period 1099–1291 AD 1099 – In response to the destruction of many churches in the Holy Land by the Muslims in 1009 AD, the Crusaders (Catholic armies from Rome) conquered Jerusalem and many parts of Israel. 1147 – Second Crusade arrives in the Holy Land. 1187 – Destruction of the Crusader army by Muslim leader Saladin. The collapse of the Crusader Kingdom begins. 1265 – Mamelukes, led by Sultan Beybars, conquer the Holy Land. 1270 – Final Crusade arrives, and all its participants are massacred. 1291 – The Last Crusader stronghold of Acco was taken, ending Crusader rule. Mamluk (Muslim) Period 1291–1517 AD 1291 – Mamluk rule begins. 1333 – Franciscan Order established in Jerusalem. Its members care for holy places and pilgrims. By the end of the Middle Ages, the country’s urban centers were virtually in ruins, most of Jerusalem was abandoned, and the small Jewish community was poverty-stricken. Political and economic upheavals, plagues, locust invasions, and devastating earthquakes darkened the period of Mamluk decline. Ottoman (Muslim) Period 1517–1917 AD 1517 – Following the Ottoman conquest in 1517, the land was divided into four districts and administratively attached to the province of Damascus, with rule from Istanbul. 1537 – Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilds the city walls of Jerusalem. 1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte invades Israel but fails to capture it and is forced to leave. 1860 – The first neighborhood, Mishkenot Sha'ananim, is built outside of Jerusalem’s city walls. 1882 – First large-scale immigration to Israel, mainly from Russia. 1904 – Second large-scale immigration from Russia and Poland. British Period 1917–1948 AD 1917 – British Foreign Minister Lord Balfour issued on November 2, 1917, the so-called Balfour Declaration, which gave official support for the “establishment in Israel of a national home for the Jewish people” with the commitment not to be prejudiced against the rights of the non-Jewish communities. 1947 – The United Nations approved the partition of Israel into separate Jewish and Arab states on November 29, 1947. State of Israel Period 1948 to Present 1948 – On the day when the British Mandate in Palestine expired, the State of Israel was instituted on May 14, 1948, by the Jewish National Council under the presidency of David Ben Gurion. 1948–1949 – The Arab-Israeli War; the Arabs refused to accept the newly established State of Israel. Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, and Iraq attacked Israel, but within a year, Israel defeated its attackers. 1950 – Western Jerusalem was proclaimed the capital city of Israel on January 23, 1950. 1956 – The Suez Crisis: Israelis invaded Egyptian territory in October 1956. 1956 – After Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the company that administered the Suez Canal, a joint attack by the French and British was launched. Egypt suffered a military disaster on November 2, 1956. Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, but after international condemnation, Israel was forced to withdraw. 1967 – Six-Day War: after Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran on May 22, 1967, Israel launched an attack on Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, and Iraqi airports on June 5, 1967. After six days, Israel conquered Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Sinai, and the West Bank. 1973 – Yom Kippur War: On October 6, 1973, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack against Israel. After the initial success of the attackers, Israel managed to cross the Suez into Egypt and encircle Cairo. Following the intervention of the USA and the Soviet Union, military operations concluded on October 25, 1973. 1978 – The Camp David Accords were signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anvar Sadat in September 1978, at Camp David, USA. Israel agreed to withdraw from the occupied Sinai Peninsula. 1979 – The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty was signed on March 26, 1979, in Washington.