Connecting Places and Pages!

Joppa?  Caesarea? Mt. Carmel? 

Any of those names ring a bell?  Perhaps these places sound vaguely familiar to you, perhaps not.  No worries.  Our leaders, Dr. Mark Gravrock and Dr. Diane Jacobson have complied a  list of scripture passages connected to our journey.  

Whether these places are familiar or foreign, here's a place to start your journey if you would like to travel with us.  Simply grab your Bible!

Biblical Background for the Holy Land Pilgrimage Feb 14-26, 2011


Feb 15
Tel Aviv – Joppa (Jaffa)
2 Chron 2.11-16 Port city to which the lumber for the temple is floated
Ezra 3.7 Same thing, second temple
Jonah 1.3 Jonah tries to flee from here.
Acts 9.36-43 Peter raises Tabitha/Dorcas.
Acts 10.1-23 Peter, staying in Joppa, gets the call to visit Cornelius.

Feb 16
Region: Plain of Sharon
This long, flat plain stretches along the Mediterranean coast as far as Mt Carmel.
Isaiah 35.1-2 Fertile pastureland serves as a poetic image of abundance.
Isaiah 65.9-10 Another image of promised abundance
Song of Songs 2.1-2 The woman sees herself as a lowly wildflower from here.
Acts 9:35 The location for the early ministry of the apostle Peter

Caesarea (Maritima)
Rome’s headquarters in Israel in NT times.
Acts 8.40 Philip preaches up the coast as far as here.
Acts 9.30 Paul flees the country from here.
Acts 10.1-48 Cornelius is stationed here, when Peter brings him the gospel.
Acts 18.22-23 Paul lands here after his second missionary journey, and launches his third from here.
Acts 21.7-16 Paul stays with Philip and his family: dire warnings.
Acts 23.16-35 Paul is rescued in Jerusalem, and taken to Caesarea.
Acts 24.1-27 Paul appears before governor Felix here.
Acts 25.1-12 Paul appears before governor Festus here.
Acts 25.13 – 26.32 Paul appears before King Agrippa here.

Mt. Carmel (crossing)
1 Kings 18.17-46 Elijah’s contest with the priests of Baal
2 Kings 2.25, 4.25 Associated with his successor Elisha as well
Isaiah 35.1-2 A poetic image of abundance, along with Sharon
Jeremiah 46.18 Mountains as images of powerful conquerors
Jeremiah 50.19 Promise that Israel will again feed in such lush pasturelands
Song of Songs 7.5 Towering height as image of the woman’s head

Region: Jezreel Valley
This open valley was a major communication route. Several battles were fought here.
1 Samuel 29:1 Philistines gather their forces
Judges 4.1-24 Deborah and Barak defeat a Canaanite foe.
1 Kings 18.46 Elijah runs after the Mt Carmel contest.
1 Kings 21: 1-24 Naboth, owner of the coveted vineyard, was a Jezreelite
2 Kings 9.1-37 Jehu’s coup precipitates a bloodbath in Jezreel.
Hosea 1.5,11 The name becomes a symbol of future judgment.
Hosea 2.21-23 After judgment, Jezreel becomes a sign of abundant blessing.
2 Kings 23.28-30 King Josiah dies in battle at Megiddo.
[The hill (“har”) of Megiddo becomes “Harmagedon” in the Revelation, the place of a great final battle: Rev 16.12-16.]

Region: Galilee
This fertile hill-country was never powerful like the two great regions to the south: Israel/Samaria and Judah/Judea. Several of the lesser tribes settled here. When Assyria conquered this region in the 8th century BCE, they formed into a province called “Galil ha-Goyim,” “Circuit of the Nations” (suggesting that it was a culturally mixed region?). From “Galil” comes the name Galilee.
Isaiah 9.1 As this region was the first to feel the Assyrian threat, it will also be the first to see the light.

Nazareth (overlook)
Luke 1.26-38 Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus.
Luke 2.4,39,51 Joseph and Mary come from, and return to, Nazareth.
Matt 2.19-23 Joseph settles his family in Nazareth after Egypt.
Mark 1.9 Jesus comes from Nazareth to be baptized by John.
John 1.45-46 Nathanael doesn’t think much of Nazareth.
Luke 4.16-30 Jesus is rejected at Nazareth.
Matt 4.12-17 Jesus leaves Nazareth and makes his home in Capernaum.
Matt 21.11 Jesus is “the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Acts 10.38 Jesus “of Nazareth”
Jesus is “Nazarene”
Mark 1.24, 10.47, 14.67, 16.6, Luke 4.34, 24.19 (Nazarenos) Matt 2.23, 26.71, Luke 8.37, John 18.5,7, 19.19, Acts 2.22, 3.6, 4.10, 6.14, 22.8, 24.5, 26.9 (Nazoraios)

Sepphoris
Capital of Galilee in the first century. An hour’s walk from Nazareth. Not mentioned in the New Testament! Some have identified Sepphoris as biblical Kitron (Judg 1:30) or Rakkath (Josh 19:35).

Tiberias
An important Hellenized city, deemed unclean by many Jews.
John 6.23 Some in boats from here come looking for Jesus.
John 6.1, 21.1 John calls the Sea of Galilee “the Sea of Tiberias.”

Feb 17
Sea of Galilee
Also called “Sea of Tiberias” (John) and “Sea of Kinnereth” (OT, cf Num 34:11; Josh 12:3; 13:27).
Mark 1.16-20 Jesus calls four disciples.
Mark 4.35-41 Jesus calms the storm.
Mark 5.1-20 Pigs take a plunge.
Mark 6.45-52 Jesus walks on the sea.
Matt 14.28-33 So does Peter, briefly.

Mount of the Beatitudes
Matt 5.1-12 Beatitudes, followed by the rest of the Sermon.

Capernaum
John 2.12 Jesus and family stay here for some days.
Matt 4.12-17 Jesus leaves Nazareth and makes his home in Capernaum.
Mark 1.21-28 Jesus teaches in the Capernaum synagogue.
Mark 1.29-34 Healings at Peter’s house
Mark 2.1-12 Paralytic healed at Jesus’ home (= Peter’s?).
Matt 8.5-13 Jesus heals centurion’s servant here.
Luke 4:31-38, 7:1-10 Lukan versions of teaching and healing at Capernaum
John 4.46-54 Jesus heals official’s son in Capernaum, while he’s in Cana.
John 6.24-59 Bread of Life discourse in Capernaum.
Matt 17.24-27 Tax officials catch up with Peter and Jesus, sort of.
Mark 9.33-37 Discussion about greatness here.
Matt 11.23-24 Capernaum doesn’t believe.

Tabgha In Christian tradition, three events are commemorated in this area: the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:1–11), the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Matt 14:15–21; Mark 6:35–44), and Christ’s apparition to his disciples, his preparing a breakfast for them, and the conferring of the primacy on Peter (John 21).

Feb 18
Safed
Appears not to have been settled until Roman times. Not mentioned in the Bible. Since the sixteenth century, Safed has been considered one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias; since that time, the city has remained a center of Kabbalah, also known as Jewish mysticism.

(Tel) Dan
Josh 19.40-48 Tribe of Dan loses its southern territory, takes Dan in north where it marks the northern most point of Israel, thus “from Dan to Beersheba” (i.e., 1 Sam 3:20).
Judges, ch 17-18 Migration of Dan told in detail.

Banias – Caesarea Philipp
Mark 8.27-30 Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter answers.
Matt 16.13-20 Same story, with Jesus’ longer reply to Peter

Feb 19
Bet Shean
It became the chief city of the DECAPOLIS, even though it was the only one on the W side of the Jordan river.
Josh 17.14-18 Tribe of Joseph has trouble driving Canaanites out of here.
Judges 1.27-28 Same
1 Sam 31.8-13 Philistines hang Saul’s body on the wall. (Also 2 Sam 21.12.) [The Samuel references spell the town’s name differently, but it appears to be the same place.]

Jordan River
Josh ch 3-4 Israel crosses the Jordan miraculously.
2 Kings 2.1-18 Elijah and Elisha cross the Jordan, but only one returns.
2 Kings 5.1-19 Naaman the leper washes in the Jordan.
Mark 1.1-8 John baptizes people in the Jordan.
Mark 1.9-11 Jesus is baptized in the Jordan.
Matt 19.1-2 Jesus goes beyond the Jordan. (Also John 10.40-42.)

Ammon
The territory north of Moab (across the Jordan) was ruled by Kings Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan when Israel came through on the way to the promised land.
Num 21.21-35 Moses defeats Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan
2 Samuel ch 11–12 David waged war against the Ammonites.

Moab
The kingdom of Moab lay directly across the Dead Sea from Judah. The Moabites were distantly related to Israel, and Ruth came from here.
Num ch 22-25 Moab’s encounters with Israel (Balaam, etc.)
Deut. 23:3-6 Moab not well thought of, among the most despised of nations
Ruth ch 1-4 Ruth, ancestress of David and Jesus, comes from Moab.

Mt. Nebo
Deut 32:49–52, 34.1- Moses sees the promised land from this mount, and dies here.

Madaba
Num 21.30 Destroyed with Sihon’s kingdom.
Josh 13.8-23 Becomes part of Reuben’s territory.
1 Chron 19.6-9 One of David’s battles was fought near here.

Edom
The kingdom of Edom lay south of Moab, across the Dead Sea from Judah.
The Edomites were relatives of Israel, descended from Esau.
Num 20.14-21 Edom refuses to let Israel travel through their land.
2 Sam 8:13–14; 1 Kings 11:14–22 David’s campaigns against Edom

Feb 20
Petra
Not developed until the 6th century BCE. The Horites appear to have lived near here. Petra was the capital of the Nabateans. This kingdom flourished during the late Hellenistic and early Roman imperial periods and played an important role in the history of Palestine as early as the 2d century b.c., supporting the Maccabeans Judas and Jonathan (1 Macc 5:24–28; 9:35).
Some suggest that the biblical “Sela” is Petra. (Both words mean “rock.”)
Num 20.22-29 Aaron dies at Mt Hor.
2 Kings 14.7 King Amaziah of Judah takes Sela. (See also Judg 1.36, Isa 16.1.)
2 Cor 11:32–33 The Nabatean king Aretas IV is mentioned

Feb 21
Qumran
Not mentioned in the Bible but discoveries here greatly influence our understanding of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. All the books of the traditional Hebrew canon have been found, with the exception of the Book of Esther -- all in the oldest manuscripts extant.

Dead Sea
Gen 14.1-12 Battle of the kings takes place at the south end. Lot taken.
Gen ch 19 Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed at south end.
Ezek 47.1-12 Visionary river from temple makes Dead Sea alive.

Region: Judean Wilderness
1 Sam ch 24, 26 David hides from Saul.
Matt 4.1-11 Jesus in the wilderness.

Feb 22
Masada
Not mentioned in the Bible. Built by Alexander Jannaeus (103–76 b.c.) and expanded by King Herod (73-4 BCE) of biblical fame.

Region: Hill Country
The central hill country, the backbone of Israel, is where Israel first settled, the hill country of Ephraim and Manasseh in the north-central, and the hill country of Judah in the south.

Jerusalem and the Temple
Gen 14.17-24 Melchizedek, king of Salem, blesses Abraham.
Judg 19.10-11 Jebus is still non-Israelite during the time of judges.
2 Sam 5.6-10 David takes Jerusalem.
1 Kings ch 5-8 Solomon builds the temple.
2 Kings ch 25 Jerusalem and temple destroyed.
Ezra ch 1-6 Jews return and rebuild temple. Neh ch 1-6
Nehemiah rebuilds the city wall.
Mark ch 11-15 Jesus in Jerusalem.

Mount of Olives
From Bethany, one could either travel around the Mt of Olives to Jerusalem, or travel over it, as Jesus did.
2 Samuel 15:32 David ascends, weeping to the Mount of Olives
Luke 22:39 The place where Jesus, customarily, goes to pray
Mark 11.1-10 Jesus enters Jerusalem from here.
Mark 13.3-8 Jesus tells of coming destruction of Jerusalem.
Mark 14.26-31 Jesus heads for Mt of Olives the night before he dies. Gethsemane
Mark 14.32-52 Jesus prays, and is arrested, here.

Feb 23
Western Wall, Temple Mount
The site of the temple, destroyed in 70 CE.

Pools of Bethesda
John 5.1-18 Jesus heals a man by these pools. (Also called Bethzatha.)

Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Golgotha, Jesus’ Tomb)
At the time of the crucifixion, this site was just outside the city. Shortly thereafter, the city walls were extended to enclose this region.
Mark 15, etc. Jesus is crucified at Golgotha.
John 19.17-42 The garden tomb is close by.

Feb 24
Bethlehem
Judges ch 19 The tragically murdered concubine comes from Bethlehem
Ruth ch 1-4 Moabite Ruth comes here with Naomi and settles.
1 Sam 16.1-13 David is anointed king in Bethlehem.
Micah 5.2-4 The Messiah will come from Bethlehem.
Luke 2.1-20 Jesus is born here.
Matt 2.1-12 Baby Jesus gets visitors here.
Matt 2.13-18 Jesus escapes from here, just in time.
John 7.40-44 People debate Jesus’ birthplace.