galilee { 5 }

We had a different perspective on this field trip from the other ones this week, our Archaeology teacher led us today through Northern Galilee so we focused more on archaeology and its implications to the sites.

 

Our first stop was Hazor, a city that Joshua conquered and King Solomon fortified. This was a huge site because of its location on the main road (you can see in the picture).

Dan was our next stop. This site is huge and many remains have been found here. We saw a Syrian gate from the Middle Bronze Age that is the best preserved gate in the country. It was originally named Laish but when the Danites conquered it they renamed it Dan. At this site the first extra biblical text that speaks of David was found, this is so important because up to this point many scholars thought David to be a heroic myth. 

We then made our way to Caesarea Philippi. We find this site in Matthew 16 when Christ takes his disciples here to privately talk with them and Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is at this point in His life and ministry that He begins to focus on His death.

  Our next stop was Nimrod’s Fortress located on a hill in the foothills of Mt. Hermon. There is a fortress on this site from a later period but this is a possible site for the transfiguration in Matthew 17. When God showed Peter, James and John that Jesus truly was His Son.

To end the day we stopped on the Golan Heights, on the edge of the Syrian border. This is an area around the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1. Saul was on his way to persecute the Jews in Damascus and God speaks to him and changes his name to Paul. It is because of this event that we have many of the great books in the New Testament, and that through his ministry that the gospel spread to the gentiles. This story is so amazing to me, and another example of how God uses all people for His purposes. He took someone that was persecuting Him and His people and changed his heart. He used Paul to communicate His word to the world.

 

This night we went to En-Gev Fish Restaurant. They have three options on their menu; St. Peter's Fish, Pizza and Pasta. I decided to get the fish, after all this was a once in a life time opportunity! I was not expecting what they brought me, on my plate was almost the entire fish, except they had kindly removed the guts. We were told you could eat it all (except for the bones of course), but I choose to just eat the meat on the sides of the fish. I tried not to stare into its eyes as I ate a piece off the side. I must say that it was pretty good, but it still does not compare to my dad's fish!