Moving South

 Our morning today began by visiting a site we had never gone before with a group:  Mt. Arbel.  Situated above the village of Magdala, this mountain top commands a view of the northern part of the Sea of Galilee.  While the haze prevented us from seeing some of the places we visited, we still captured the idea that the ministry of Jesus was concentrated in a very small 10 mile area.  Only once did He travel across the lake to the region of the Decapolis to cast the demons out of the man who inhabited the tombs.  Through him the Gospel spread among the Gentiles in that region.

Coming south, we traveled the Jordan River valley until we reached the southern end of the Jezreel Valley at Beit She’an.  This is the ancient tel where Saul and his sons’ bodies were hung on the wall of the city following their demise on Mt. Gilboa.  We toured the later Roman city of Scythopolis which lies below the hill of the ancient city.  Some of us climbed the stairs leading up to the ancient city and enjoyed the view from up there.  We visited the public rest room of Scythopolis and then the theater.  Justin and Janelle sang a song for us to demonstrate the acoustics.  It was wonderful.

As we travel further south we made a quick stop across from Jericho at the location where Jesus was baptized by John.  Here Jordan and Israel are only yards apart.  A few quick pictures and we were back on the bus headed to Qumran.  Following lunch we took a tour of the site, learning about the lives of the Essenes, a sect we likened to today’s Amish or conservative Mennonites.  They saw themselves as sons of the light standing against the darkness of their day.  Qumran is where a shepherd boy in 1947 found the first of the Dead Sea scrolls.  

A stop at the Ahava factory and we ended our day at our home for two nights, the Lot Hotel at En Boqeq on the Dead Sea.  It was a fun day.  Several of us took advantage of floating in the Dead Sea prior to supper.  I’ve included a few pictures.  The Dead Sea has a salt content close to 40%, so everyone floats.  It is an amazing experience.  Pics from our day are below.

Mary and Mary in Pink, Beit She’an

Learning about model of Scytopolis, Beit She’an

Roman Bath House, Beit She’an

Justin and Janelle floating in the Dead Sea

Dishes found at Qumran

Area where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River near Jericho. Jordan is across the River

Tracy in the Dead Sea

Bath House Complex, Beit She’an

Pots found at Qumran

Ruins of Qumran

Model of Scytopolis, Beit She’an

Picture atop Mt. Arbel with Sea of Galilee in the background

A look up toward the top of the tel, Beit She’an

A street Mosaic, Scytopolis, Beit She’an

Dan and Debbie at Jesus’ baptismal area with Jordan in the background

Group picture on Scytopolis Street, Beit She’an

Explanation at Qumran

Van easing into the Dead Sea

Group at Beit She’an

Caves across the Valley from Mt. Arbel

Later Christian baptistery, Beit She’an

View of Scytopolis from tel of Beit She’an

Karen in the public toilet, Beit She’an

Going down the stairs from the top of the tel, Beit She’an

Donna and Pam, Dead Sea

John enjoying a float in the Dead Sea

One of the Caves, Qumran

Lowell taking a picture of Karen, Dead Sea


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