Holy Land Tour - Day 5
On the Jerusalem-Jericho road heading for our first stop - the Dead Sea. The same route probably taken by Jesus many times.
Luke 10:30-36 "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'Below: Probable site of the Inn where the Good Samaritan looked after the man wounded by thieves.
Below: Probably what the "Valley of the shadow of death" referred to by David in Ps 23, looked like?
Ps 23:4
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Sea Level in the mountains and we still have about 20 miles to go down hill to Jericho which is 800' below m.s.l.
Sea Level on the mountains?
The Dead Sea - 1290 ft below m.s.l! It was really hot. Kalia Beach.
Covering myself with the mud which is said to be rich in mineral content and good for the skin - not that I needed it. And float I did, but no photo taken.
Covering myself with the mud which is said to be rich in mineral content and good for the skin - not that I needed it. And float I did, but no photo taken.
After the dip - refreshment and waiting to proceed to Qumran. 
On the road to the Qumran Caves.
Entrance to the Qumran National Park. We were first shown a video in the cool of the building on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the way of life of the Essenes who lived here.
Long walk in the searing heat to the Caves. Ours was not the only group of tourist present.
Looking South East (towards Jordan) from Qumran to the Dead Sea. 
Below: The Scrolls Cave where two shepherd boys found earthenware jars containing priceless manuscripts dating back to the 7th century BC.
Below: The entrance seen to the right of the plaque.
John the Baptist had spent time here with the Essenes, and lived in this wilderness ("the voice of one crying in the wilderness") .
The Essenes had a monastery here and ruins date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C. They were celibate.
On the road to the Qumran Caves.
Entrance to the Qumran National Park. We were first shown a video in the cool of the building on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the way of life of the Essenes who lived here.
Long walk in the searing heat to the Caves. Ours was not the only group of tourist present.
Looking South East (towards Jordan) from Qumran to the Dead Sea. 
Below: The Scrolls Cave where two shepherd boys found earthenware jars containing priceless manuscripts dating back to the 7th century BC. Below: The entrance seen to the right of the plaque.
John the Baptist had spent time here with the Essenes, and lived in this wilderness ("the voice of one crying in the wilderness") . The Essenes had a monastery here and ruins date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C. They were celibate.
In this particular cave the scrolls that make up the Book of Isaiah were discovered.
We then proceeded for a more detailed tour of Jericho, one of the oldest cities of the world.
Below: View from the base of the Mount, which is also contains part of the ruins of the Walls of Jericho; looking across (east) towards the Jordon river in the background. Part of the city of Jericho is in the mid foreground.
Below: The red roof is where the Spring of Elisha is.Bible reference to this:
Ruins of the Walls of Jericho.
At last Lunch - at the same restaurant we stopped by on the 1st day. The food was great.
We then proceeded for a more detailed tour of Jericho, one of the oldest cities of the world.
First the Mount of Temptation.
Seen below is claimed to be the Mount of Temptation - one of the places where the devil tried to tempt Jesus.
Luke 4:1-2
'Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
In ancient times cities were built on hills whereas in Roman times they were built in the valleys.
Also called 'Quarantel' which (Mons Quarantana), in Latin means - Forty days. Here Jesus fasted 40 days to resist the devil. On the slopes is located a Greek Monastery. A Cable Car takes one there.
'Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
In ancient times cities were built on hills whereas in Roman times they were built in the valleys.
Also called 'Quarantel' which (Mons Quarantana), in Latin means - Forty days. Here Jesus fasted 40 days to resist the devil. On the slopes is located a Greek Monastery. A Cable Car takes one there.
Below: View from the base of the Mount, which is also contains part of the ruins of the Walls of Jericho; looking across (east) towards the Jordon river in the background. Part of the city of Jericho is in the mid foreground.
Below: The red roof is where the Spring of Elisha is.
2 Kings 2:44 Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho."
But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
2 Kings 2:19-22
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren."
20 And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'" 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
It all happened in Jericho!! Including the parting of the Jordon waters by Elijah.But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
2 Kings 2:19-22
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren."
20 And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'" 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
Ruins of the Walls of Jericho.
Remember the song? "Joshua went to Jericho, Jericho, Jericho. Joshua went to Jericho, Jericho, Jericho... And the walls came tumbling down"
Now for some scripture for this:-
Josh 6:6-76 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." 7 And he said to the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD."
Josh 6:15-1715 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!
Josh 6:20-2120 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
This place is called Tel es-Sultan and the remains date back to 8000 BC.Josh 6:15-1715 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!
Josh 6:20-2120 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
At last Lunch - at the same restaurant we stopped by on the 1st day. The food was great.
Remember the sycamore tree? Here's one of them along the streets of Jericho.
Luke 19:1-5Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
Bethany
After lunch we proceed to Bethany on the West Bank and the main residents are Arabs.
Arriving Bethany, the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
John 11:1-3Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." NKJVIn the Garden of the Church of Lazarus
Arriving Bethany, the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.Jesus in the scripture visited and stayed in Bethany on many an occasion. It is also very close to Jerusalem (10 miles) and just SE of the Mt of Olives.
The condition of the town as not to the standard of the other places we visited.
John 11:1-3Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." NKJVIn the Garden of the Church of LazarusThe interior of the Church of Lazarus
Frescoe of Lazarus coming out of the Tomb
External view of the Church.
Courtyard of the Church.
Frescoe of Lazarus coming out of the Tomb
External view of the Church.
Courtyard of the Church.
A wine press!
Inside the Tomb
John 11:40-44
40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." NKJV
John 11:40-44
40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." NKJV
Entrance to the Tomb of Lazarus.
Final stop was a visit to the Israel Museum opened in 1965.
Group Photo outside the white dome - resembling the lid of one of the earthenware jars in which the dead sea scrolls were placed in.
The building we are standing on contains the 'Shrine of the Book' which contains the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Tea at Gabriel Khano's home. His wife Delia presented each of us with her book "By Eastern Shadows". He is a Palestinian Christian with an interesting testimony.
Final stop was a visit to the Israel Museum opened in 1965.
Group Photo outside the white dome - resembling the lid of one of the earthenware jars in which the dead sea scrolls were placed in.
The building we are standing on contains the 'Shrine of the Book' which contains the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Tea at Gabriel Khano's home. His wife Delia presented each of us with her book "By Eastern Shadows". He is a Palestinian Christian with an interesting testimony.
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