JERUSALEM JOURNAL: DAY 6 - January 1, 2010
COMMENTARY
Again, there are some issues that I take with Todd’s teaching methods. Last night, Todd told us specifically what to bring on today’s trip. His answer was our red lesson books and our Bibles. However, after we got on the bus and were on our way, Todd told us that we were also supposed to bring our Satellite Map Books and suggested that even though he did not specifically mention that, we should have known anyway. Unfortunately, less than half of the students brought them, and he expected them to be shared while he taught from it. Many of us could not find someone to easily look on with, and so we were unable to benefit from a lot of the information that he was discussing. We also have a test on Sunday, and we really do not have time to study for it with all of the activities going on and the fact that each and every one of us is tired. Todd has so much great information, but his teaching methods are rigid and arbitrary.
NEBI SAMWIL
Certain traditions suggest that the prophet Samuel was buried here. However, the Bible says that he was buried at his home in Ramah. The reason for the stop, therefore, was the view of the Central Benjamin Plateau that it affords. From the rooftop of this place, which is a mosque, one can see the cities along the Central Ridge Route, commonly called the Way of the Patriarchs. Those cities, from North to South are Jerusalem, Gibea, Ramah, and Mitzpah.
Some of the Bible stories associated with those cities were:
- In Mitzpah, Samuel gathered the Hebrews to repent of their sins and, as a result, the Lord allowed them to defeat the Philistines, who retreated and fled down the Beth Horon Ridge Route to Gibeon (El Gib).
- The Gibeonites tricked the Hebrews into a treaty, and when they were attacked, Joshua defended them (Joshua 10) and chased the attackers down the Beth Horon Ridge Route.
- In Judges 19, a Levite’s prostitute was abused by the Benjaminites. Her body was sliced into twelve parts and sent to each of the tribes, asking for their help in punishing the perpetrators. When the tribe of Benjamin refused to cooperate, they were attacked by the other tribes, and were finally defeated after the third try. All but 600 Benjaminite men were killed.
- In 1 Kings 15, Baasha, King of Israel, fortified Ramah to cut off supplies from Asa, King of Judah. By doing so, he was able to exert control over the Way of the Patriarchs. Asa sent silver and gold from the temple to Ben Hadad of Aram so that Ben Hadad would attack Baasha from the North. The plan worked, and Baasha withdrew to Tirza, leaving Ramah alone. Asa then brought the materials used to fortify Ramah to Jerusalem and later used them to fortify other cities around Ramah. Asa had been a good king, but this action showed that he had lost his trust in God, because he went to a pagan to defend is Kingdom instead of asking God for help.
Another reason that Nebi Samwil may be important is because the Tabernacle and Arc of the Covenant may have been moved here to prevent capture. The Crusaders also built a church here, and it is being excavated. In the distance can be seen the Israeli wall, which separates Arab and Israeli territories.
MICHMASH (The Pass):
The pass lies between the cities of Michmash and Geba, and one of the routes runs from Jericho through Michmash to the Way of the Patriarchs at Ramah.
- In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathon attacks the Philistines. He does so by climbing the cliffs that surround the pass, and he and his armor bearer surprise and defeat the Philistine detachment guarding the pass. God causes an earthquake, and the Philistines are chased down the Beth Horon Ridge Route.
- Isaiah 10:28 prophesies that the Assyrians will go over the pass to Geba on their way to Jerusalem but will go down to defeat and will not reach Jerusalem.
SHILOH
The location of this city is given in Judges 21:19. A Middle Bronze Age wall was found here with collared rim jars which confirms that there was an Israelite settlement here. The city may have been burned by the Philistines, after the Ark of the Covenant was lost at Aphek. There is evidence of burning here. Samuel’s mother, Hannah grew up in Shiloh around the Tabernacle.
- 1. The tabernacle was here until it was taken to Aphek by Saul in 1104 BC. 1 Samuel 4 says that the Ark was taken into battle by Saul and was captured. Samuel had prophesied against Eli the priest because of his two wicked sons. They were killed on the same day, and when news was brought to Eli, he fell dead, also.
- Jeremiah, Chapter 7 – the Hebrews thought that Jerusalem was indestructible, but the Bible says that it would be destroyed like God destroyed Shiloh.
- In Judges 21:16, the 600 Benjamintes who remained after the death of the Levite’s prostitute was avenged needed wives so that they could again propagate. They kidnapped wives from the city during a festival, because the other tribes were unable to provide wives for them due to the punishment that Benjamin was under.
MOUNT GERAZIM
This mountain overlooks the City of Nablus, which also includes the town of Shechem. Nablus comes from the Roman name Neopolis. Located directly across and above is Mt. Ebal. Between the two mountains is where Joshua read the blessings and curses. Blessings were read from Mt. Gerazim, and curses were read from Mt. Ebal. There is a Greek Orthodox Church over where Jacob’s well is believed to be. The road through the Michmatah Valley goes past the city of Sychar, which sits at the base of Mt. Ebal, to Tirzah. To the West, the Nahal Shechem is a valley which goes to the city of Samaria. The valley also includes Balata Refugee Camp, as well as Elon Morah, a Jewish settlement.
- In Genesis 12, Abraham comes to Shechem from Adam, up the Wadi Fara (Trans-Samaritan Expressway). At Shechem, God promises Abraham his special inheritance. Jacob visits Shechem by the same route.
- Joshua gathers the twelve tribes together at Shechem, before he dies.
- Reheboam comes to Shechem to get support from the ten tribes of Israel but accepts the wrong counseling and is rejected by them and flees back to Jerusalem. Jeroboam becomes king of Israel and sets up his capital in Tirza.
- There are 600 Samaritans that are left in the world, and half live on the mountain. They make yearly animal sacrifices to God.
JERICHO
Jericho claims to be the oldest city in the world. It is 800 feet below sea level, lower than even Death Valley, and is an oasis in the Judean wilderness. Bryant Wood suggests that the walls that were destroyed by Joshua were mud-brick that were sitting on top of a stone retaining wall and when toppled, formed a ramp for Joshua’s forces to attack. The city is approximately 10 acres. A tower there confirms that the location was fortified. Elisha Spring provides water for the oasis. Archeologists have found storage yards of burnt grain from about 1400 BC which suggests that the city was burned then.
