Timblin Israel Trip

Today (Friday) we started the day at Tel Dan at the farthest northern border of Israel. This is the place where Jeraboam set up the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel after dividing Israel from the southern tribes after Solomon's death. The city gates and Jeraboam's palace were both found here, as well as the alter he set up for worship so the people would not want to go back to Jerusalem to worship. This is also adjacent to Mt Horeb, where Abraham received the promise from God to make a great nation from his offspring. In more recent history, we stood near Jeraboam's alter and looked north into Lebanon and east into Syria. We learned a lot from our guide about the 6 day war and the details of their long conflict with Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan.

Then we went down to Caesarea Philippi where Jesus ask his disciples who men thought he was, and Peter gave the great confession. This is also the probable place of the mount of Transfiguration.

After lunch we went up to the Golan Heights and learned a lot about their struggle with Syria. We went to the overlook on the mountain where the Jesus did the miracle of casting demons out of Legion into the pigs took place.

Finally we took a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. The entire group was on 8 boats, which we tied together in the middle of the Sea and had a worship service for about an hour. It was really cool.

(Double click on the pictures below to enlarge them)

This is the gate to the city built by Abraham after arriving in Canaan. This is at Tel Dan near the site of Jeraboam's palace.

This is the cave at Caesarea Philippi where water used to flow from, making the head waters of the Jordan river. The cave roof collapsed a number of years ago and now the water flows from springs through the rocks. There were remains of many pagan temples here.