Today we left Jerusalem. We headed south about an hour to the Valley of Elah. It was here that David had his showdown with the Philistine champion Goliath. It was quite surreal to stand in the dry river bed where the contest would have occurred. It was not difficult to visualize the Philistine army on the ridges overlooking the valley where the army of Saul waited, seemingly impotent. I picked up five, small stones as a memento of the
visit. Hope I can get them through customs!
We then headed west and north, traveling for about 90 minutes, leaving the Judean hills for the fertile coastal plain. The contrast is marked. The hills are arid and rocky, the plains green with winter crops. Eventually we wound our way to Caesarea by the sea.
This ancient port was built by King Herod just before the time of Christ. It was an important port for the Romans. It was also the home of Cornelius and his family, the first gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 10). It was from Caesarea that Paul sailed for his trial in Rome. The ruins include an ampitheatre and hippodrome where chariot races and other contests would have been held. Really cool.
We then headed further north for Galilee and the town of Nazareth. I know I am repeating myself, but I was not prepared for how hilly it is. Perched on a mountain overlooking the valley of Jezreel, Nazareth is no small village now. It is a large town of 80000 with a large Christian population, although no longer in the majority as they once were - Muslim Israelis now outnumber them. We visited the Basilica of the Annunciation, built over the ruins of the house where Mary supposedly lived and where the angel visited her with news of her pregnancy. Under the church are ruins of first century homes, perhaps even the one Jesus lived in as a boy. We also visited the site where the village synagogue was thought to be located and where Jesus announced his public ministry.
After a long day in the bus we then returned to the coastal city of Haifa where we at staying on a gorgeous little hotel in what was the German quarter.
Today has been sabbath. At our hotel in Jerusalem the two lifts operated differently. One operated according to sabbath law in that it traveled up and down stopping at every floor so that people did not need to push the button, which is constituted as work. There was no cooked food at breakfast, not even the toaster we normally use. Traffic around the city was almost non existant. However, as we got to the coastal plain where many residents are secular Jews we saw people about normal weekend actvities and the traffic become heavier. Can't help but think of Jesus words that man was not made for the sabbath, but the sabbath for man.