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Israel Trip Pictures

I had trouble charging my computer in Jerusalem, so I wasn't able to provide updates on our blog. Now that we are back home though, I have loaded pictures for you to check out. They follow the order in which we visited the various sites. To see the pictures CLICK HERE.

Israel Update #2 (Tuesday 6:30 am - Israel Time)

Sorry for taking so long to update our blog. Let me summarize the last few days:

On Saturday we headed north and visited the Golan Heights area. We stopped first at the ancient city of Dan in the very north of ancient Israel (we were a stones throw away from Lebanon on the border - crazy considering everything that took place this past summer). Then we went to Caesarea-Philippi where Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16). Then we drove through some of the foothills of Mount Hermon (the mount of transfiguration, also the highest mountain in Israel...it was beautiful). Next we visited Merom Golan, which is a former Israeli military bunker. We had a great view of the Israel-Syria border. We finished our day driving south through the Golan which was a real treat because of all the beautiful scenery. Before dinner we stopped at a lookout point over the Sea of Galilee...can't wait to show you the pictures. After dinner we spent some a night out on the town in Tiberius. We watched a show called the Galilee Experience and had a chance to pick up some gifts.

Sunday we left the Galilee and headed for Jerusalem. We stopped for morning devotions at our first sight at Gideon's Spring (where God narrowed down Gideon's army before battle - Judges 7). Then we visited the ancient city of Beit Shean. It was the town where King Saul and his sons' bodies were hung on the city wall after they were killed in battle (1 Samuel 31). It was also one of the cities of the decapolis where Jesus preached. Then we drove to the Dead Sea area to Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Finally we ascended into Jerusalem. It was amazing. We stopped at the Nissan Bros. Olive Tree Wood Store and bought some gifts, and then we checked in to our hotel for the night.

Yesterday we went back to the Dead Sea. We visited Masada, which was one of Herod's many palace areas, as well as the place where the Jews had their last stand when they rebelled against the Romans in 66-73 AD. Then we went to En Gedi where David hid from King Saul (1 Samuel 24), and then we went swimming (or floating) in the Dead Sea. We ended the day with a visit to Abraham's Tent, where we enjoyed a meal and hospitality as it would have been several thousand years ago.

Today we are going first to the Mount of Olives, then to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room and David's tomb, then to Yod Vashem (the Holocaust Museum), and then to Bethlehem.

We will keep you posted. Remember to check out pictures from Leor's page. God bless!