The pilgrims in the Holy’ Land are on the road again moving toward the north-west from Beersheba, where we left them in our last article. Shortly we were on the coastal highway, the historic route running along the coastal plain. This was the route of caravans from earliest times traveling to and from Egypt. It ‘was along this route that Egyptian armies pushed north into Israel, while the Assyrian and Babylonian armies moved down toward Egypt. Will it be the route of the northern invader of the Last Days when he overflows Israel and moves into Egypt?
Not far south of the point where we junctioned with the coastal highway was the town of Gaza. It was on the Jerusalem-Gaza road that the Ethiopian eunuch was traveling back home when Philip was called unto his chariot. Where along the road would there have been enough water to permit baptism? Could it have been the Mediterranean Sea?
Soon we came to the Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, where our guide had arranged a short tour for us. This was one of the oldest Israeli communities in the Negev. It was named for the leader of the Warsaw ghetto uprising in 1943. The settlement Yad Mordechai played an important role in slowing the advance of the Egyptian Army in 1947 as they pushed north along this plain toward Tel Aviv. As a memorial to the battle which took place here by the staunch defenders of the kibbutz, the battlefield remains much as it was during the fight, with gun emplacements and simulated figures of the advancing Egyptians set up in the field. The settlement has built a museum depicting the tragedy of the Jews in Europe during World War II. It is not always easy to be reminded of the persecution of God’s people, but it is a sobering reminder of Moses’ words in Deut. 28:66, “And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night and shalt have none assurance of thy life.” And we could only echo the words of Paul in Romans 11:22, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God.”
Just a little farther north we arrived at Ashkelon on the coast. Before checking into the King Saul Hotel, we visited the local library where two Roman sarcophagi were on display. These had recently been unearthed at an excavation for a new hotel. The delicate stone carving was magnificently done and depicted scenes of daily life in Roman times on all four sides of each sarcophagus.
It was impressive to realize that the area we were now visiting was the ancient Land of the Philistines and now in the possession of the new nation of Israel. It was at Ashkelon that Samson slew thirty men of the city and took their spoil to pay the men that answered his riddle. Judges 14:19. This city is very picturesque and reminded us of Santa Barbara, California, with its many attractive homes with red-tiled roofs. In the center is an historical park filled with the remains of buildings dating back to the Roman period. There were many good examples of Roman columns and remnants of walls. At the entrance to this display was a sign with the words of David in his lament for Saul and Jonathan, “Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph II Sam. 1:20.
Next morning it was a happy group that left Ashkelon after our customary reading of a Psalm and prayer for the new day. Now we were traveling east again up into the hills of Judah. The bus passed miles of well-kept farms with many crops at various stages of growth. Soon the hills became quite rugged, with less and less cultivation. We made a mid-morning stop at the Valley of Elah. As our bus came down into this v alley, which was about one and one-half miles wide, one could visualize the army of Saul encamped on the far side, and the Philistines on the near side of the brook Elah. It was to this site that Jesse sent David from Bethlehem, fourteen miles to the northeast. Arriving at the Valley of Elah, David found the battle in array, but fear came upon the army of Saul because of the champion of the Philistines, a giant, Goliah of Gath. The account in I Sam. 17:40 relates, “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” How exciting it was for us to get out of the bus and walk down into the now-dry bed of the brook and gather our own five smooth stones.
The bus left the valley by the same route that we entered, but we headed toward the east and the ancient city of Hebron. As we consider it, we are carried back into history to the time of Abraham, since this was one of his dwelling places as noted in Gen. 13:18. “Then Abram removed his tent and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre which is Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.” Genesis 23:2 & 18 records, “And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.” “And after this, Abraham buried Sarah, his wife, in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.” This burial site is very much revered today in Hebron by both Jews and Arabs. It was interesting to us that as our bus came to a stop before the cave of Machpelah that the city appeared to be a strong Arab community. Israeli soldiers in jeeps patrolled the streets, and atop the building opposite the entrance to the cave, Israeli soldiers stood careful watch over the street below, for any possible trouble.
Isaac and Jacob both dwelt in Hebron for a time. The spies who came into the land from the south visited the community and found the Anakims dwelling there. Joshua later cut off the Anakims from Hebron, Debir, Anab and all the hill country. Caleb claimed the district around Hebron as his possession. David reigned here for seven and one half years. What a story this community could tell, but much is told for us in the Word of God.
After visiting the burial sites of the patriarchs, we traveled north along the high road over the Judean hills as we headed tow ard Bethlehem and on to Jerusalem, entering that city from the south.
Bethlehem nestles in the rolling hills. This is the site of Jesus’ birth, recorded in Luke 2:4 & 5, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” It was at the entrance to the town that Rachel is buried, but first and foremost, Bethlehem is of importance as a Christian shrine. Because of its sanctity, it has been preserved through the centuries of invasions and wars in the Holy Land.
Now we all eagerly looked forward to the highlight of our tour, the ascent to Jerusalem. We stopped for lunch before entering the city and afterwards we were able to go on the observation deck of the restaurant for an outstanding view of the city. A full 180 degrees permitted us to view all of Jerusalem. We looked from the southern slope of the Valley of Hinnom down onto the Kidron Valley coming from the north. To the northeast was the Mount of Olives, with Bethany just on its other side. Coming down the west slope of the Mount of Olives was the ancient route into Jerusalem passing through the Garden of Gethsemane in the Kidron. Directly before us rose the Dome of the Rock on the site of Mount Moriah, where Abraham would have offered Isaac as a sacrifice to show his faith to God. It was also the location of Solomon’s Temple as well as Herod’s Temple in Christ’s time. As we looked from east to west we could see modern Jerusalem outside the ancient walls. Here before our eyes lay the site of the future capital of the world! The city of the Great King. In Psalm 122:3,4,6,7 we read “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they-shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One