Our first stop was in Beth-Shan, where a brisk walk brought us to a dig revealing city walls and an Egyptian governor's house. We were amazed at the sophisticated layout of the structure. Pastor Bill reminded us that Beth-Shan was the place that the bodies of King Saul and his sons had been brought after their deaths.
Exploring the ruins of Beth-Shan.
Fran Redder meets an Egyptian.
We moved on to the Roman excavation near that site—the incredible Scythopolis. We viewed the ruins from high above to see the breathtaking view of a meticulously designed and built city. Walking down the marble and stone thoroughfares and observing stately pillars and ornate tiles, we envisioned a city that was the envy of many. However, these homages to man's ingenuity, like many before and after, didn't last. One light-hearted moment was learning about the public latrine system.
The descent into the incredible Roman city of Sycthopolis.
Glenn Kuyers tries out the seating at the innovative Roman public latrines in Sycthopolis.
Driving into Jericho, we saw the inequality of the land use for Israelis and Palestinians, a theme we are beginning to note everywhere in the country. Upon arrival at the world's longest inhabited city, we viewed ancient remnants of Jericho and then at last gave the shoppers of the group something to zero in on: the famous Temptations restaurant and gift shop.
Welcome to Jericho!
Evidence that Jericho is the world's oldest continuously lived-in city.
Just outside of Jericho, we stopped at a site that revealed the palace of Herod the Great, one mean guy going by the body count. At the same time, we could see the Jericho-to-Jerusalem road, the very one Jesus traveled in his obedient journey to the cross. We also reflected on the stories of the blind man at the gate and Zaccheus, both Jericho stories, and how blindness can be both physical and spiritual—and that Jesus is the healer of both.
It was also here that a group of Bedouin boys tracked down our group and pleaded for scarf sales and donkey rides; the scarves did better than the donkey!
Roger Konyndyk makes a Bedouin friend.
Now it was finally time to head to Jerusalem. The contour of the wilderness region in-between Jericho and Jerusalem is truly remarkable, unlike any we've seen. We stopped on a back-road hillside and had a Sunday "wilderness service" featuring reflections on Psalm 23, singing and stories from our own faith journeys. It was windy there and chilly; our service culminated with Irene Konyndyk singing Rutter's "Alleluia," and when she finished, brilliant rays of sunshine broke through the clouds. Inspiring!
A reflective time for Sunday worship in the wilderness between Jericho and Jerusalem.
We can see Jerusalem at last!
The drive into Jerusalem had necks craning left and right. We did jump out of the bus while high on a hill to get a quick survey of the key landmarks of the city from Khalil, but we knew the actual exploration was to come another day. We're now checked into the stately Notre Dame Guest House, just outside the New Gate to the old city. An unforgettable five days await.
~ Mike Van Denend
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