Ein Gedi, Israel The Ein Gedi oasis has been described by visitors as one of the most beautiful places in the Holy Land. Close to the Dead Sea and surrounded by the desert, Ein Gedi is an island of life in the wilderness. The oasis was well-known to the Israelites in ancient times, and is famously associated with the life of King David, who took refuge in a nearby cave … [Read more...]
VALLEY OF ELAH
Khirbet Qeiyafa, Palestine The history of the Israelites in ancient Canaan was one of nearly constant warfare. But of the more than one-hundred battles discussed in the Hebrew Bible, none are better known or more proudly remembered than the Battle of Elah. It was in this valley on the road from Bethlehem to Gath where the shepherd boy David challenged the mighty champion … [Read more...]
TOMB OF SAMUEL
Nabi Samwil, Palestine Samuel, the great prophet of Israel during the time of its transition from a confederation of tribes into a kingdom, was arguably the most important figure of the Hebrew Bible since the days of Moses and Joshua. Though he was not a high priest, he was the last of the great Judges and the first of the great Prophets. His life began in a land divided … [Read more...]
VALLEY OF JEZREEL
Tel Megiddo, Israel The Valley of Jezreel, also known as the Plain of Megiddo, is Israel’s most famous battlefield. Countless armies have raged across this vast open and highly strategic valley, as early as the Egyptians and Canaanites in the 15th century BC and as recently as the British and Ottomans during World War I. According to Christian theology, the valley’s most … [Read more...]
TOMB OF JOSHUA
Kifl Hares, Palestine Of all of the major figures of the Exodus period, Joshua was the last survivor. His life and death in the 14th century BC marked the end of Jewish prehistory and the beginning of the Israelite nation. His tomb was the last major shrine associated with the Exodus to be constructed. It has the distinction of being one of the most reliably known tombs … [Read more...]
ANCIENT SHILOH
Beth-El, Palestine Shiloh was the religious and defacto political capital of the Israelites during the first three centuries or so of their occupation of Canaan. Established by Joshua, Shiloh was home to both the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant throughout the era of the Judges. Three times per year, every Israelite was required to visit the Tabernacle to leave … [Read more...]
ANCIENT JERICHO & RUINS OF GILGAL
Jericho, Palestine Jericho may be humanity’s oldest known true city, and its location made it a natural candidate for a prominent role in Biblical history. Indeed, this great fortress-city was center stage for one of the Hebrew Bible’s most famous events. Its destruction by the Israelites in the days of Joshua was nothing short of miraculous, and opened the way to the … [Read more...]
TOMBS OF THE SONS OF AARON
Awarta, Palestine Though Aaron himself never made it to the Promised Land, his sons and grandsons did. These were the first high priests of Israel, and were personally responsible for the care of the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant and other important artifacts. Some of Aaron’s descendents, including Eleazar, Ithamar and Phinehas, were buried here on what is known in … [Read more...]
MOUNT NEBO
Madaba, Jordan Moses, the great leader and prophet of the Israelites, ended his illustrious career on the top of Mount Nebo, a stone’s throw away from the Promised Land. According to the Bible, it is also the last place he was ever seen, for he ascended directly to Heaven, one of the only Biblical figures to be so honored. Despite the fact that the site is considered to be … [Read more...]
MOUNT HOR & TOMB OF AARON
Petra, Jordan The lost city of Petra was one of the great archaeological finds of the early 19th century. This magnificent city, hewn from the rock of the surrounding towering cliffs, is one of the world’s most unique architectural treasures. While it is primarily known for its Nabataean, Roman and Byzantine ruins, its importance as a religious pilgrimage site is … [Read more...]
