This is the valley of Elah
where David killed Goliath.
where David killed Goliath.
We are walking in the dry riverbed of the brook here, up ahead you can see a lot of small stones. I, like many others took home five smooth stones. The hillside you see above to the left of the brook, was the Israelite side of the valley.
Gilla our tour guide had an interesting observation. She had been in the army and commented how some people are naturally gifted as to what to do and what approach to take on a battlefield. Many famous generals like Patton, Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant, Alexander the Great, etc. had this gift naturally. So did David. She made the point that even at this young age David knew he could not use Saul's armor. That he needed to go with a weapon like the sling. That this was the right weapon because in this way he could stay out of range of Goliaths sword.
She also reminded us that in the Biblical story in 1 Samuel 17 the word or name of "God" doesn't show up till around vs. 26 when David asserts that Goliath, in mocking Israel is mocking the God of Israel. No leader of Israel's army had mentioned God up to this point, only David, even at that tender age and limited experience had an incredible understanding of what was going on.
Gilla our tour guide had an interesting observation. She had been in the army and commented how some people are naturally gifted as to what to do and what approach to take on a battlefield. Many famous generals like Patton, Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant, Alexander the Great, etc. had this gift naturally. So did David. She made the point that even at this young age David knew he could not use Saul's armor. That he needed to go with a weapon like the sling. That this was the right weapon because in this way he could stay out of range of Goliaths sword.
She also reminded us that in the Biblical story in 1 Samuel 17 the word or name of "God" doesn't show up till around vs. 26 when David asserts that Goliath, in mocking Israel is mocking the God of Israel. No leader of Israel's army had mentioned God up to this point, only David, even at that tender age and limited experience had an incredible understanding of what was going on.
Artwork in one of the parks in Tel aviv
represents Abraham offering Isaac, Jacob's ladder
and the defeat of Jericho.
represents Abraham offering Isaac, Jacob's ladder
and the defeat of Jericho.
After that we visited the city of Joppa, now known as Tel Avive.
In Joppa, now known as the "Old City" section in Tela vive, was the home of Simon the Tanner where Peter praying on the rooftop got the vision of the ritually unclean animals. Meanwhile the Roman Centurion a gentile who served God with deep devotion, sent messengers for Peter to come and see him in Caesarea. Peter, put his doubts and religious restrictions aside and journeyed to Caesarea. It would have been, like it is now, a beautiful scenic one day walk along the Mediterranean Sea. In the end, these gentiles received the Holy Spirit and thus it was clear they to were to be part of God's family of faith.
In Joppa, now known as the "Old City" section in Tela vive, was the home of Simon the Tanner where Peter praying on the rooftop got the vision of the ritually unclean animals. Meanwhile the Roman Centurion a gentile who served God with deep devotion, sent messengers for Peter to come and see him in Caesarea. Peter, put his doubts and religious restrictions aside and journeyed to Caesarea. It would have been, like it is now, a beautiful scenic one day walk along the Mediterranean Sea. In the end, these gentiles received the Holy Spirit and thus it was clear they to were to be part of God's family of faith.
Skyline of modern Tel Aviv
along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Then, we were on or way north to Caesarea. On the way we passed a new soccer sports stadium which looked very suspiciously like our own new Investor's Group stadium here in Winnipeg. We began speculating as to who was copying who here. Very interesting is it not? I wonder if the Asper's had anything to do with this, using this as an idea for our stadium?
Then, at last, for the first time on the tour we drove "up" to Jerusalem. (2,700 ft. above sea level) It was something we had all come for, to see and to walk on the streets of Jerusalem. It was an emotional moment when, as we approached the city the song "Oh Jerusalem" was played on the bus sound system. I don't think there was a dry eye in the bus.
Jerusalem is the Holiest city of the world. Every stone breaths history and story. Pilgrims have come for centuries from all corners of the world to visit, to this city that promises a spiritual experience, interesting tours and experiences of wonder and spiritual expansion of the soul. It is a place of culture, history, archeology, theater, music, food, architecture and mystery.
But the heart of Jerusalem is the Old City. Surrounded by a medieval wall. Housing the Holy sites of the main religions of the world. But it's main feature being the Western Wall, also known as the "Wailing Wall".
Jerusalem is the Holiest city of the world. Every stone breaths history and story. Pilgrims have come for centuries from all corners of the world to visit, to this city that promises a spiritual experience, interesting tours and experiences of wonder and spiritual expansion of the soul. It is a place of culture, history, archeology, theater, music, food, architecture and mystery.
But the heart of Jerusalem is the Old City. Surrounded by a medieval wall. Housing the Holy sites of the main religions of the world. But it's main feature being the Western Wall, also known as the "Wailing Wall".
This is a photo of the Old City taken from the south. Right in the centre is the Dome of the Rock which is where the temple would have stood. You can see the southern walls of the Old City spreading out before the Dome site.
To the right of the Old City you can see there is a valley coming towards us and veering off the photo to the for-ground right. This is the Kidron Valley. You can see the steep cliff on the left side of the Kidron Valley in front of the walls, or south of the walls. On the top of this cliff, was the site of the original Jebusite city King David seized and called Jerusalem, making it his capital city. When Solomon became king and began building the temple the city simply extended itself towards the north taking in the area where the Dome of the Rock now stands. Solomon then also extending the city walls around the whole temple area, dramatically increasing the size of the city.
That evening after supper Larry, Odia, Wilma and I took the 15 min. walk to the Old City for the first time. It was Larry and Odia's first time walking the streets of Jerusalem. We entered at the Jaffa Gate and just sat down on the benches in the centre of the open area there to take it all in. Sabbath services were just ending and a wide variety of worshipers in their various hats, prayer shawls, robes and dress walked by us on their way out of the Old City and home. What an interesting assortment of the different nationalities and branches of Judaism to see. It was awesome.
It was great to see our kids so excited and enthralled. Larry did his FBI thing, taking photos from some discreet position of some of the folk walking by. Whenever he had the chance he'd greet someone with "Shalom Chabot" and got responses. We were kind of giddy, pinching ourselves over the reality of being there. We were in Jerusalem. Who would have believed it, a dream come true.
Tomorrow, we were going to begin to explore this ancient city, we could hardly wait.
To the right of the Old City you can see there is a valley coming towards us and veering off the photo to the for-ground right. This is the Kidron Valley. You can see the steep cliff on the left side of the Kidron Valley in front of the walls, or south of the walls. On the top of this cliff, was the site of the original Jebusite city King David seized and called Jerusalem, making it his capital city. When Solomon became king and began building the temple the city simply extended itself towards the north taking in the area where the Dome of the Rock now stands. Solomon then also extending the city walls around the whole temple area, dramatically increasing the size of the city.
That evening after supper Larry, Odia, Wilma and I took the 15 min. walk to the Old City for the first time. It was Larry and Odia's first time walking the streets of Jerusalem. We entered at the Jaffa Gate and just sat down on the benches in the centre of the open area there to take it all in. Sabbath services were just ending and a wide variety of worshipers in their various hats, prayer shawls, robes and dress walked by us on their way out of the Old City and home. What an interesting assortment of the different nationalities and branches of Judaism to see. It was awesome.
It was great to see our kids so excited and enthralled. Larry did his FBI thing, taking photos from some discreet position of some of the folk walking by. Whenever he had the chance he'd greet someone with "Shalom Chabot" and got responses. We were kind of giddy, pinching ourselves over the reality of being there. We were in Jerusalem. Who would have believed it, a dream come true.
Tomorrow, we were going to begin to explore this ancient city, we could hardly wait.
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