Israel 2015: Day Fourteen: Galilee Field Study

Walking to Hazor

Today we began with breakfast at the En-Gev Resort – veggies and salads must be quite popular in Israel, though they did have a few cereal and egg options as well. I guess this would be considered more of a "Mediterranean Cuisine." We headed along the north shore of Galilee up and over the north basaltic region to Hazor. This was the largest Canaanite city in the late Bronze Age in its day it was the same size as Nineveh. Up the mountain range of Moreh is where many of the Canaanites armies pulled together go ambush Joshua, but Joshua "came on them suddenly" at Moreh and utter destroyed them. He then proceeded back down to Hazor and burned the city. This was the only other tel besides Jericho that Joshua burned. Inside the palace or temple, one can see the cracked basalt stone from Joshua's fire. I talked to an archeologist on the site and she showed me to the remaining visible burn layer. The layer dates to late Bronze Age, more specifically to the 13th century. This would coincide with a late date for Joshua – however, at Jericho we had evidence for an early date. I personally hold to an early date for the exodus, so my first instinct is to say the archeology is a bit off. This will be a subject that I will want to study into further. Solomon came through later and fortified Hazor. This is the third city that where the Solomonic gate is present. We have now seen each of Solomon's three gates: Gezer, Lachish, and Hazor.

Walls of Dan

Our next stop was at the ancient city of Dan. Today the whole area is a natural reserve and rightly so. It is so green, wet and beautiful. If I had been a Danite, I would want to move up here too. As it is close to Mt. Hermon, there are many springs in the area. The largest spring in the Middle East is located here. The spring puts out about twenty-two liters of water per minute. Literally, a river runs forth from Dan. We began by hiking up to the ancient Laish gate. This is the second oldest gate in the world with 3,800 years of history. To put it into perspective, this is roughly the time Abraham would be traveling down from Haran. We then went down to the Omri and Ahab gate. In the city gate is where most of the city's business would take place as well as judgment from the city elders. The city elders literally acted as the city's father. As this was the weakest point in the city's defenses, sometimes a shrine to the city god would be set up here for protection. We then headed up to the location of an ancient Israelite shrine. Although Jeroboam had built alters from Bethel to Dan, this particular alter was from the Omri Dynasty.

We headed back out and over to Caesarea Philippi. It was here that our Lord came with the disciples into the very heart of paganism. Here he asked the question, "who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God." Why did Jesus bring them way out here? Perhaps there were a few reasons. Jesus had to be careful in how he claimed to be the Messiah. The people of Israel, and even the disciples were expecting someone like Maccabaeus – a warrior to free them from Rome. Had he pronounced himself messiah, the people would rally to fight and He could have case on his hands. Here in the remote upper Golan, Jesus could get alone with his disciples. Here too, his statement takes on new understanding. "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." What are the gates of Hades? This gate is here in Caesarea Philippi. There once was a spring that flowed from the main cave. In Roman mythology, this would be a gate to the underworld, essentially "the gate of Hades." Today, all the pagan temples built at the site have long gone, but the rock (and the church) still remain. We then took a hike through the park to the other side, passing a few remains along the way. We crisscrossed the river making it to the large falls at the end.

Looking toward Mt. Hermon - Syria is to the right. (At Bental Cone in
the Upper Golan)

Our next stop was to Bental Cone, one of the dormant volcanoes in Upper Golan. At the top of the cone or mountain was a deserted Israeli bunker from the 1967 war. From this high location, we could overlook the Israeli-Syrian border. Somewhere in the valley would have been the road to Damascus on which Saul encountered the living Lord. On the Israeli side is Mount Herman. This is the probable location for the transfiguration. This would have been within Jesus' style to find a remote place to get alone. The traditional site is Mount Tabor, but this is in a public location in view of the whole valley. Christian's in previous ages probably selected this location as it is conveniently along the pilgrim's path. After the lecture, we had some time to either explore or grab a cappuccino at the coffee shop and enjoy the view for a few minutes. I explored the bunker with my flashlight and took in the views from all sides. Afterward it was back to En-Gev for the night.

Good Morning, Sea of Galilee

Walking to Breakfast

Passing the Jordan River North of the Sea of Galilee

This Region North of the Sea of Galilee is covered in Basalt - not a good
way to travel on foot or by animal.

The Solomonic Gates at Hazor in the Hula Basin

Hiking up to Hazor Tower

Overlook from Hazor tower (with the Israelites)

Looking down into the valley below

I've decided to join the Israelite Army

Walking to the Canaanite Palace/Temple at Hazor

Lecture in the Hazor Temple - burned by Joshua

Looking out from the temple

The fire by Joshua got so hot it cracked the Basalt foundation!

Here's me in Solomon's Gate at Hazor

Here you can make out the burn layer - it was very thick in the temple when
it was excavated. The archaeologist (she personally has been excavating the
site since the 1990's) said it smelled so fresh when they uncovered it.

The Waters flowing at Dan!

Hiking up to the Ruins of Dan

Here is the ancient gate of Laish - dating in at 3,800 years. Dan conqured
the city and renamed it after themselves.

Walking toward the City Gate built by the Omri/Ahab Dynasty

Those five stones up by the wall are "standing stones" or "rememberance
stones" - something like Jacob would have set up at Bethel when he
dreamed of the staircase to heaven. However with these five stones,
we're not sure what they were trying to remember ;)

Looking toward an altar built for something just outside the city

Walking through the city of Dan

Wow look at that alter! ... actually it wouldn't have been that big. You can
see the foundation within the metal frame toward the back right. The rise to
the right are the stairs leading up to it.

Looking out in the general direction of Lebanon from Dan

Standing at the Northern end of the altar complex - you're looking in the
general direction of Lebanon.

Hiking around Dan

The Largest Spring in the Middle East - puts out 22 liters per minute

There are springs everywhere! The water is flowing from the rocks!

Walking over the springs :)

Well, that's one way to get out ...

The river flowing through Dan - beautiful. Especially after experience
desert life!

Standing over the river through Dan.

Some beautiful trees ...

With some beautiful flowers

Arriving at Caesarea Philippi

Lots of Columns!

And unique stones ...

And Anchors?

Lecture Time!

Looking toward the current mouth of the spring.

The ancient source used to come through this cave, but was closed off
after an earthquake. There used to be a temple standing here too - but
all gone. This would have been "the gate of Hades"

And little gods would be but in those holes ... I totally remember Caesarea
Philippi from a Ray VanDer LAan Series! How cool to actually be here now.

Stairs going up to though the temple sites. (There were
multiple temples here as it was considered a holy site
with water spewing from the cave.)

Ornate Pillars

Looking back over the Temple Site and toward the Gate of Hades

Here I am at Caesarea Philippi!

Gate of Hades from a distance

Lots of little fishies in the stream ...

These are the trail markings at any National Park. Just
follow your color, and change direction when the colors
bend.

Hiking in the vicinity of Caesarea Philippi

On a hike near Caesarea Philippi

Lots of Water!

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That's a scary looking tree!

River running form the falls.

At the Banias Falls near Caesarea Philippi

That is the crusader fortress Nimrod.

Outlook along the Golan Heights

We stopped to buy jams and olive oil from this Druze women in the Golan
Heights.

Crater lake on one of the dormant volcanoes in the Golan Heights

Some Modern Art at the Israeli Bunker on Bental Cone in Upper Golan

Looking out from Bental Cone in Upper Golan - Mt. Hermon in the backround
on the right.

Looking toward the Israeli border - can't see it well in this picture, but
off in the distance you can see the tank barrier - right were the brown/green
splits to the tan/gold field.