April 23, 2016
In the days of King Ahab (874-853 BC) of Israel, Elijah the prophet dramatically and suddenly came on the scene with the word of the Lord. He said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1). Earlier the text had said of Ahab that he “married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria” (1 Kings 16:31-32).
Baal, the god of rain in Canaanite mythology. Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
In Canaanite mythology, which had invaded the land of Israel and had become the state religion, Baal, the storm god, was the giver of rain, crops and fertility. Elijah’s bold declaration was that there would be no rain or dew until YHWH, the LORD, the God of Israel said so. “In contrast to those who were not gods, whose idols Ahab ignorantly worshiped, the living Lord, who was truly Israel’s God, would withhold both dew and rain for the next several years” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Vol. 4, p. 138).
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Posted by Leon Mauldin
April 12, 2016
Today’s travels took us from the Sea of Galilee down the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea area, then west on back to Jerusalem. Along the way we made some interesting stops, including while still in the north, Gan Hashlosha, in the vicinity of Beth-shan. Beth-shan was the city where the bodies of King Saul and three of his sons were fastened after their deaths (1 Sam. 31). Amal Stream, the spring water that emerges in the western part of the park maintains a constant, year-round temperature of 28 degrees Celsius.
Beautiful Gan Hashlosha, Israel. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Our real interest in stopping here was the Museum of Regional & Mediterranean Archaeology, which has some unique artifacts from the Beth-shan area, as well as rare finds from the Mediterranean region. The displays feature Canaanite, Israelite, Grecian, Etruscan, Persian and Egyptian collections.
We also drove along the top of Mt. Gilboa, where we had some good views of the Plain of Jezreel, where so many biblical events occurred.
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Posted by Leon Mauldin
April 11, 2016
Today’s travels in northern Israel took us to Lake Hula (migratory birds pass through here, to and from Africa-Turkey) and then past Abel-beth-maacah (see 1 Kings 15:20) to the border of Lebanon. We also saw the Senir River and Banias River, two of the main sources that converge to form the Jordan River. The Banias Spring emanates at Caesarea Philippi. Downstream from there are the Banias Falls.
Banias Falls near Caesarea Philippi. One of the major sources of the Jordan River.
Jesus was in this area during His “Retirement Ministry,” in that time-frame when He was trying to spend more private teaching/training time with the apostles for the great evangelistic work for which He had chosen them. Text–Matthew 16:
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
1 Comment | Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Caesarea Philippi, Israel, New Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Banias Falls | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
April 9, 2016
A visit to the biblical site of Gath, Tel es Safi, on Israel’s coastal plain is worthwhile. Gath was the land of giants (Josh. 11:22). Goliath was from Gath: “Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall” (1 Sam. 17:4, Holman’s Christian Standard Bible).
It is sad to read how that David (after killing Goliath) had to flee from Saul. He fled to Gath of the Philistines, but there, fearing for his life, pretended to be insane (1 Sam 21:10-15; cf. Psalms 34 and 56). Later David again fled to Gath and was given refuge (1 Sam. 27); the king of Gath gave David and his 600 men the city of Ziklag.
When David was residing when he heard news of the death of King Saul, and his three sons (1 Sam. 31) he composed a song which included the words “Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon — Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph” (2 Sam. 1:20).
Our photo here gives a view of the large tel.
Tel Gath of the Philistines. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
We were also able to see some of the excavations of the cities lower wall.
Recent Excavations at Gath. Lower wall of city. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
I have previously posted on Gath here (aerial photo).
Dr. Aren Maeir maintains a blog here devoted to news about Gath, Tel es Safi.
Tonight we are at Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee; more photos and info to come. Thanks for following our travels.
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Posted by Leon Mauldin
April 8, 2016
Today Ferrell Jenkins and I visited sites in Jerusalem, but for our post for now I wanted to note a couple of biblical sites we visited yesterday.
One was Kiriath-jearim. This location is of importance because the Ark of the Covenant was there from the days of Samuel (after Eli’s death and the Philistine destruction of Shiloh 1 Sam. 4-5). We read in 1 Samuel 6:21, “So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, ‘The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you.'”
At Kiriath-jearim. Our Lay of the Ark of the Covenant. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Once the ark was returned to Israel by the Philistine enemies, ca. 1100 BC, it would remain there until King David made Jerusalem his capital, ca. 1003 BC, i.e. for 100 years. But first the ark came to Beth-shemesh. The biblical narrative explains how the hand of God was involved as two milk cows, with their calves kept behind, pulled a cart carrying the ark straight from Ekron of the Philistines to the border town of Beth-shemesh of Israel (1 Sam. 6).
Beth-shemesh, where the ark was returned from the Philistines. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Our photo shows the suggested site in Beth-shemesh (in foreground) where the cows pulling the ark were slain as sacrifices. Our view looks toward Philistia in the distance (left from center), the direction from which the ark would have come. As stated above (1 Sam. 6:21), from Beth-shemesh the ark was taken to Kiriath-jearim, where it remained until the days of King David.
We have previously posted here on Kiriath-jearim and here on Beth-shemesh, with aerial photo.
5 Comments | Archaeology, Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged: Beth-shemesh, Kiriath-jearim | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
April 7, 2016
Today was a delightful day in Israel. We were able to see biblical sites from Jerusalem westward all the way to the coastal Philistine city of Gath.
Just north of Jerusalem (OT territory of Benjamin) is Gibeon, (Arabic El-Jib). This was formerly the Canaanite city that deceived Joshua and the men of Israel by pretending to be from a great distance, and thus entered into a covenant with Israel during the days of the Conquest (Joshua 9). There are subsequently several biblical references to this site.
Gibeon at center of photo. Many OT texts refer to this site. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
We have previously posted on Gibeon here and here.
Today we also saw Kiriath-Jeariam and numerous sites in the Shephalah, including the valley of Elah, where David killed Goliath, Lachish, Beth-Shemesh, and the Philistine city of Gath, plus others. More on these later!
2 Comments | Archaeology, Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged: Gibeon | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
April 1, 2016
Ancient Troy has been made famous by Homer’s Iliad. Troy is located within the province of Çanakkale, located in extreme western Turkey. Troy’s extensive remains are the most significant and substantial evidence of the first contact between the civilizations of Anatolia and the Mediterranean world. This past Spring, 2015, we were able to visit Troy. Among the fascinating ruins there was the Roman Odeion, a small theater where concerts, lectures and other events took place.
Roman Odeion at Troy, Turkey. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
The skene, stage building included a larger-than-life statue of the Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138). Also, a sculpted head of Augustus was found at the odeion, causing some to surmise that this may have been erected in honor of his visit here in 20 BC. Beyond the odeion at the back you can see a portion of the fortification wall of Troia VI.
The Roman odeion is in Troy’s Level IX. Over the centuries there were nine levels of occupation.
Cross-section of Troy, showing 9 occupation levels. Istanbul Museum. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Wikipedia has this helpful chart:
Troy I 3000–2600 BC (Western Anatolian EB 1)
Troy II 2600–2250 BC (Western Anatolian EB 2)
Troy III 2250–2100 BC (Western Anatolian EB 3 [early])
Troy IV 2100–1950 BC (Western Anatolian EB 3 [middle])
Troy V: 20th–18th centuries BC (Western Anatolian EB 3 [late])
Troy VI: 17th–15th centuries BC
Troy VIh: late Bronze Age, 14th century BC
Troy VIIa: c. 1300–1190 BC, most likely setting for Homer’s story
Troy VIIb1: 12th century BC
Troy VIIb2: 11th century BC
Troy VIIb3: until c. 950 BC
Troy VIII: c. 700–85 BC
Troy IX: 85 BC–c. AD 500
Biblical significance: It was here at Troy (Ilium) at the temple of Athena that Xerxes (Ahasuerus) of the book of Esther sacrificed 1,000 head of cattle en route on his march through the Hellespontine region towards Greece. This was 480 BC.
We have previously posted on Troy here.
1 Comment | Archaeology, Athena, Bible Study, New Testament, Old Testament, Persian Empire, photography, Roman Empire, Travel, Troy, Turkey | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
February 17, 2016
In preparing for our mid-week Bible study tonight (Life of Christ) I came across a photo of the River Jordan I took back in Sept. 2011.
Jordan River. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
This is where the Jordan continues its flow just south of the Sea of Galilee.
Some of my other posts and photos of the Jordan River may be seen by clicking here and here.
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Posted by Leon Mauldin
February 13, 2016
1 Kings 9:15 reads, “Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
During the time of pre-conquest Canaanite occupation, “Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms” (Josh. 11:10), a reference to the city states of northern Canaan. It was located on the strategic Via Maris. This is a view of the tel:
Tel Hazor, one of the cities Solomon fortified. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
I have previously written on Hazor here.
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Posted by Leon Mauldin
February 10, 2016
John records the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, including this visit to Jerusalem for Passover:
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” (John 2:13-16).
It is noteworthy that Jesus both began (above text) and concluded (Matt. 21:12-13) His ministry by cleansing the temple (hieros), “My Father’s house,” of its abuses–of its being turned into a “house of merchandise.”
I’ve thought of these biblical texts when walking through Old Jerusalem and seeing signs such as this one:
Money-changers in Jerusalem. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Money-changers were:
bankers who exchanged one nation’s currency, or one size of coin, for another. These people provided a convenience, charging a fee (often exorbitant) for their services. Some moneychangers operated in the temple area (the Court of the Gentiles), because all money given to the Temple had to be in the Tyrian silver coin. According to Exodus 30:11–16, every Israelite 20 years old or older was required to pay an annual tax of a half-shekel into the treasury of the sanctuary (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary).
Note the location is the hieros (temple area with its spacious courts, John 2:14-15) and not the naos, or sanctuary, where only the priests could go.
What do you think Jesus might do if He were to walk among “modern churches” today? (I know the church in the biblical sense is not the physical church building/meeting place, but rather is the people of God).
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1 Comment | Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Biblical Interpretation, Israel, Jerusalem, New Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Money-changers, Temple | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
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