Wednesday, February 28, 2007-Day 3
Each day started the same way. We had a 6AM wake up call with a buffet breakfast at 6:30AM. The bus left at 7:30AM so we could beat the crowds. Our first stop today was Caesarea by the Sea (Caesarea Maritima). These were fascinating excavations that have been done in the last 40 years. Up until 1960 the whole area was covered by sand. Interestingly our guide Micha was the administrating archaeologist at Caesarea. We took pictures of the amphitheater, the hippodrome, and Herod’s summer palace, which was built in 22 BC. Caesarea served as the seat of the Roman government for over 500 years. It functioned as a great entertainment center with the amphitheater and a place along the shore where gladiators and wild animals fought. It was 4x6 miles in size in Herod's time and then the Byzantines captured it and made it some 4 times larger. Finally, it was a fortress built by the Crusaders and since then has had little significance.
In looking at the columns that represented Herod's home, we saw a small area just behind it that is felt to be where the apostle Paul was imprisoned for 2 years before he was transferred to Rome. There is a small area where Paul was thought to give his defense of the faith to the Roman governor Festus as noted in Acts 25. How humbling it was to walk where the greatest evangelist of our faith lived and taught!!
A few hundred yards down the beach we saw the remains of some of the aqueduct system that was 5 miles long that the Romans had built to carry water from Mount Carmel to the North down the Caesarea by the Sea. For 2000 year old ruins they are impressive.
Next we drove to Mount Carmel where we saw a Carmelite monastery and statue dedicated to Elijah when he asked the Lord to bring fire down on his altar when he challenged 'the 450 priests of Baal (I Kings 18). We also had a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley also known the Valley of Armageddon, where the world is to witness the final battle between good and evil (Revelation 16). We also saw the Kishon River where Elijah executed the 450 prophets of Baal he had just beaten in a fantastic contest. You’ve got to read that account in 1 Kings 18. We sang the song “He Is Lord” while on Mount Carmel. “He is Lord, He is Lord. He is risen from the dead and He is Lord. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Then it was off to Mount Tabor, one possible site for the Transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Elijah & Moses with him. We took taxi’s up the narrow switch back road to the monastery at the summit. From the summit we again saw some magnificent scenery. Nazareth was clearly visible across the valley. The Hebrew Judge Deborah and General Barak commanded the armies of Israel against her enemies from here also.
I can hear the voice of our guide, Micha saying, “Family, come on and get on the bus.” We were heading north to the upper Galilee and Kibbutz Hagoshrim for the night. I imagine most of you have heard of a kibbutz. The term means “gathering”. They are communal communities historically built around agriculture. Everyone shares equally in the work, the produce and the proceeds produced by the kibbutz. That’s the classic model. Now kibbutz’s are organized in various ways. By law each kibbutz has a bomb shelter. Hagoshrim kibbutz is close to the border with Lebanon. During the last bombardment by Hezbolla from Lebanon the residents had to take cover. Otherwise the bomb shelters are used as offices, computer rooms, etc.
After a tour of the kibbutz it was a buffet dinner and a presentation by Micha about the changing borders of Israel over the years. Then it was off to bed again.
And there was evening and there was morning – the third day.
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