Every moment I can steal from the late afternoon and evening is used in reading about Israel. All of the travelers were given a list of recommended books and other resources so work through; I eagerly placed everything on hold at our library and received it all at once. Once I found myself out from the piles of books and videos I set to work.
One site which has captured my interest in particular is Masada, Herod’s fortress near the Dead Sea and last holdings of the Sacarii (Jewish Zealots) rebelling against Rome in A.D. 66-73. Realizing only 2 women and 5 children survived the mass suicide/murder of 960 Jews is…sobering. I am currently reading Josephus’s The Jewish War since his is our only source on this event.
Would you like to learn more about the Holy Land? Here are a few good sites.
- For a good overview of the Land of Israel read this.
- The Jerusalem Archeological Park is a fascinating site worth many hours of study!
- Another great site is Bible Places.
- Finally, visit the Christian Friends of Israel.
Oh, ya, Josephus. It is too bad that he is our only source, since he had a vested interest in changing his account of events to suit himself. At least his particular “spin” need not necessarily affect the truth of the basic details.
So I gather that you are visiting Israel? Is this a missionary trip? I must have missed that post.
Yes I’m going to Israel with my dad…I’ve talked a little bit about it.
This is a spiritual pilgrimage…and I think any trip taken can be for the furtherance of God’s kingdom.
Dear Natalie,
I am so excited for you and this trip to Israel! One of my pastors, Richard Ganz (you can easily google him, he’s an author and speaker) is a converted Jew. He relates Judaism and Isreal (ancient and contemporary) in such a way that it warms and breaks my heart all at once.
I pray that the Lord would bless this pilgrimage of yours and that He would reveal Himself to you in such a way that He never has before!! I hope that you feel His hand tightly wrapped around you – comforting and guiding you. That He will be your overflowing portion and that your lips will sing His praise!!!!
God bless you my dear sister!!
-Vanessa Sugar