Saturday, 25 June 2011 - Gamla, Katzrin, Bannias (Caesarea Phillipi), & Tel Dan

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A full day today - like all days!  We spent our time in the Golan Heights which is one of my favorite geographical areas of Israel.  The Golan covers the northern part of the Israel.  It is high plateau and mountains and is above sea level which is a rarity in Israel.  Even the Galilee is 600 feet below sea level.  Gamla was our first stop and it means 'camel'.  It looks like the hump of a camel.  It is a lovely place with a sad history.  Approximately 5 thousand zealots and their families lived in terraced housing on the side of the mountain.  The Romans hated the zealots for their terrorist tactics and encircled it and laid siege with 3 battalions (18K) of soldiers around 68 AD.  The zealots fought courageously, but the Romans had superior numbers and when the zealots realized they would not prevail, they took their wives and children and went to the west end of the mountain and committed mass suicide by jumping off onto the rocks below.  I won't comment on all we saw today - too much.  One place worth mentioning is Caesarea Phillipi or Bannias as it is called today.  Jesus, in Matthew 16, takes His disciples to CP to teach them some very important things.  CP was very much into perverted pagan worship of the god Pan.  Take Las Vegas and multiply it by about 10 to get a sense of the perversion and debauchery that took place there.  It is the place where Jesus asks His disciples who men say He is.  He also declares that He will build His church upon this rock and the gates of hell won't prevail against it.  We got a whole new perspective and interpretation on what that meant. 

We did much more, but I want to close with commenting on what a great group of individuals that we have on this tour.  41 persons not counting our tour leaders, Israeli guide, and bus driver.  We have doctors, PhDs, teens, young adults, and everything in between.  And all love God.  Usually, in a group this size there is one or two that are hard to get along with but we have no one that falls into that category.  We have bonded as a family and it makes the days so much fun.  More tomorrow as we leave the Galilee and head towards the Med. coast and then down into Jerusalem.  Shalom.

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1 Comment

Brian, we're praying for ya'll as you continue your wonderful and faith-inspiring trip. Thanks for allowing us to travel w/ you 'virtually', and certainly prayerfully, via your blog. And kudos to 'Stan the Photo Man'.

Bob T.

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