Biblical and Historical Sites

Judean Wilderness

Judean Wilderness

The Judean Desert is in Israel and the West Bank that lies east of Jerusalem and descends to the Dead Sea. It stretches from the northeastern Negev to the east of Beit El, and is marked by terraces with escarpments. It ends in a steep escarpment dropping to the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. […]

Kursi

Kursi

The Decapolis cities (10 cities known for their Hellenistic culture) are a pagan environment — Gentile territory.  Nine were east of the Sea of Galilee and Jordan River; only one – Scythopolis (Beit She’an)— was west of the Jordan River.   The nine were:  Hippos, Gadara, Raphana, Dion (or Dium), Pella, Gerasa, Philadelphia (modern Amman, Jordan), […]

Mamre-Hebron

Mamre-Hebron

Mamre Ramet el-Khalil. Dwelling place of Abraham and Isaac, and the scene of the Lord’s appearance (theophany) to Abraham. Mamre was also the location of the burial-place of the patriarchs (the field at Machpelah) which was nearby; Genesis 13:18; 18:1; 25:9; 35:27; 49:30.  Mamre became a sanctuary. Genesis 13:18 – Then Abram removed [his] tent, […]

Masada

Masada

Herod the Great was one of the most influential kings of Israel. Born in 73 B.C.E., he ruled over a troubled land for 37 years. Herod was known for his incredibly ambitious building projects, including the one called Masada. Between 37 and 31 B.C.E., Herod expanded and renovated the top of the plateau called Masada, […]

Qumran

Qumran

March 1947 – The first three Dead Sea Scrolls were accidentally discovered in a cave near Khirbet Qumran by three Bedouin goatherds: The Great Isaiah Scroll The Habakkuk Commentary The Manual of Discipline June 1947 – More scrolls removed: Second copy of Isaiah The War Scroll The Thanksgiving Scroll The Genesis Apocryphon – retells the […]

Sepphoris

Sepphoris

Sepphoris (Zippori, or “birdy”) was a major Roman and Byzantine city, the capital and heart of the Galilee province. It included a network of colonnaded paved streets, markets, residential houses, public buildings, bathhouses, theater, synagogues and churches. The richness of its mosaic floors, architecture and other findings indicate that the city was wealthy. It was […]

Shechem

Shechem

Shechem first appears in the Bible in Genesis 12:6-8, which records how Abraham reached Moreh at Shechem and offered sacrifice nearby. Genesis, Deuteronomy, the Book of Judges, and Joshua hallow Shechem over all other cities of the land of Israel. At Shechem, Abram built an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him and […]

Shiloh

Shiloh

The site is identified with Khirbet Seilun, about 20 miles north of Jerusalem, 10  miles north of Bethel.   The mound or tel is about 12 acres, and contains many of the remains of the biblical Shiloh. The word “Shiloh” has always been understood in Rabbinic Judaism as referring to the Messiah because of Jacob’s blessing of […]

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