Today, Thursday, April 10 2008.
Our wake up call was at 6am for our first full day of hiking. We were on the road at 7am headed to Beth Shemeh, which is located in the Shephelah (low hills). Beth Shemeh is the area that the tribe of Dan was given during the time of Joshua. It was also the region where Samson lived (also from the tribe of Dan). We had the opportunity to go into our very first cistern or giant well. This particular cistern was discovered in 1997, so it was amazing to see that Israel is still uncovering much of its past history. The cistern was down under the ground, so we had to make our way down stares and down a narrow path into a giant black room. A lot of the kids in our class were slipping on the limestone because it was so smooth and clay like.
The second site we visited was Azekah, which is a Tel (city on a hill) and a fortified city. This is also located in the Shephelah and it overlooks the Elah Valley. The Elah Valley is significant because of the fact that this is the very place where David fought Goliath. It was amazing to see the actual lay of the land and how the battle would have looked from where we stood on the Tel.
Our next stop was at Gath. This was a Philistine city, and the hometown of Goliath and his family (from the lineage of Anon). This particular city was dubbed “the city of the giants”. David came to this city to escape from the wrath of Saul who was particularly jealous of David and trying to kill him. The first time David arrived at Gath he was alone and realized that he would more than likely be put to death, so he pretended to be insane and the Philistines released him. The second time David went to Gath he brought with him 600 misfits to battle. David asked the Philistines to give him the city, and they did. This is the last recorded history of the Philistines.
Our forth stop was Merasha; which had a Gethsemane or an “olive press”. Apart from popular beliefs Gethsemane is not the Mount of Olives. The location of a true Gethsemane is under the ground. The olives are brought in at harvest and are put into a giant olive press, once the olives were pressed the oil was gathered and used for lotion, candle oil, food, ect. The technology of that time allowed the workers to regulate the temperature in the Gethsemane so that they could produce the best oil possible.
Lachish was the last site we visited today. Lachish or “fortress” was specifically recognized in the bible because of Hezekiah and Israel’s run-in with the angel the angel of death. 2 Kings 18-19 talks about Lachish and the miracle of the death of 185,000 soldiers. Read the story and discover the miracle that happened at Lachish.
We had an amazing 1st day in Israel and are discovering and uncovering (they rhyme, things like this are funny when you are very tired) awesome new things. Please, please, please, keep us in your prayers.
Adam and Joy

PS click here to see pictures from our trip <