1st Day, 21st May. Jordon-Jericho-Nazareth

Holy Land Tour- Day 1

Day one, would be a journey from Amman, through Madaba, Mt Nebo, across the Allenby bridge, to Jericho for high tea. Thereafter we proceed northbound through the Jordan valley for Nazareth where would spend the night.


Arrival Queen Alia International Airport via Dubai on the 21st May 2006. Hardly had much sleep after departure KLIA at 2am.

Our entry into Israel would be via Amman, Jordon

On the road to Madaba in Jordon.

This is along the same route the Israelites led by Moses took to end up at Mt Nebo. Called the King's Highway.

King's Highway

Our first stop would be Madaba.

Madaba is a moderately-sized city in Jordan located 25km southwest of Amman. Madaba has become known as "the City of the Mosaics" for the many Byzantine mosaics that have been uncovered throughout the city. The most famous of these is the Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land.

The town of Madaba was once a Moabite border city, mentioned in the the Bible in Numbers 21:30 and Joshua 13:9.

Below: Meriam and I in front of the church in Madaba.

The mosaic map of Madaba was discovered in 1896; the findings were published a year later. This discovery attracted the attention of scholars worldwide. It also positively influenced the inhabitants who shared the contagious passion of F. Giuseppe Manfredi, to whose efforts we owe the discovery of most of the mosaics in the city. Madaba became the "City of Mosaics" in Jordan.

These mosaics date back to 5th century.

Seen below is a mosaic that contains the earliest extant representation of Jerusalem, labeled the "Holy City" (Η ΑΓΙΑ ΠΟΛΙC). The map has been a major key in developing scholarly knowledge about the physical layout of Jerusalem after its destruction and rebuilding in 70 AD.

Mosaic showing the Baptism site by the Dead Sea on the right of photo. (See Day 7 for details on this site)

Road direction to Mt Nebo

It was at Mount Nebo that Moses was told that because of disobeying God's instruction to strike the Rock once, (he struck it twice), he would not be able to cross over into the Promised Land. It would be Joshua his deputy who would be leading the Israelites.

Scripture for this:

Deut 32:49-52

"Go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river, and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel as their own possession. 50 Then you must die there on the mountain and join your ancestors, just as Aaron, your brother, died on Mount Hor and joined his ancestors. 51 For both of you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there. 52 So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel." NLT

Memorial to Moses below.

Rising over 700m above the Jordan Valley, Mount Nebo offers spectacular views of the Promised Land as seen by Moses.

Below: Beth Peor now known as Wadi Musa.

Deut 3:29
"So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor. 

Deut 34:5-6

So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.

Both of us standing in front of the symbolic "bronze serpent"

Mt NEBO
The mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land (Deut 32:49; 34:1), and in a ravine of which he was buried (32:50; 34:6). It was the head or summit of Mt. Pisgah (which see), a portion of the general range of the "mountains of Abarim." Josephus says of Abarim (Ant. 4.8.48) that it "is a very high mountain, situated over against Jericho, and one that affords a view of much of the excellent land of Canaan." This is corroborated by Eusebius and Jerome. The mountains of Abarim are a mountain range forming the Moabite tableland, which slope off into the steppes of Moab.(from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary.)

Marble stone, erected at about the spot on which Moses stood to look across at the 'Promised Land' of Caanan.
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land.... Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendents.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it." And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day on one knows where his grave is. --

Deuteronomy 34:1-6

Photo below is in the same direction as the marble above for Jericho. Although a hazy day, what a magnificent view it was of the promised land.
This is the same view that Moses would have seen of the "Promised Land"

View in the direction of the Dead Sea.

Num 21:7-9
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses,"Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

On the platform at the summit of Mt Nebo is a modern sculpture by an Italian artist representing Moses' staff and Jesus' words in John 3: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up."
Below: Sculpture symbolic of the Bronze Serpent that the Israelites looked up to for healing in the wilderness.

Memorial Church of Moses built on the summit of Nebo
Just inside the entrance to the left is the excavated Old Baptistery, which has one of the most interesting ancient mosaics in Jordan. The baptistery and the mosaic can be precisely dated to August 531 thanks to a Greek inscription, which also names the three workers who created it and the bishop at the time.
The mosaic of 531 is a large square divided into four strips of scenes of men and animals, surrounded by a chain-style border. The top two sections depict fierce hunting scenes: a shepherd fighting a lion, a soldier fighting a lioness, and two horseback hunters defeating a bear and wild boar.

Below: Memorial of Moses - a write up

Map of the Mt Nebo area

From Mt Nebo we descended down to the valley; passing over the Jordon river via the Allenby Bridge. Then it was through Israeli Immigration and Customs who were very, very, strict and thorough. Stopover at Jericho for refreshment on the way north to Nazareth.
Below: View of the Mt of Temptation at Jericho. See day 5 for details. Part of the ruins of the walls of Jericho which we will get to see in detail on Day 5.
We are about 2 hours behind schedule and its already evening. After high tea in the restaurant (Ahava which I think also means Temptation) below, we proceed north from Jericho along the Jordon valley heading for Nazareth. We would staying at the Plaza Nazareth for the night

2nd Day, 22nd May; Nazareth, Magdal, Sea of Galilee, Tabgha, Peter's House, Mt Tabor, Cana.

Holy Land Tour - Day 2

Day's schedule:

A drive down from Nazareth, passing through Magdala, to the Sea of Galilee; 11/2 hr boat ride from a Kibutz; Mount of Beatitudes; Tabgha (Miracles of Loaves); Kafer (Nahum the Prophet); Capernaum; Peter's House; Pink Church (Centurion's House); Old synagogue; Modern Church; Church of St Peter's Primacy; Lunch at Restaurant serving Fish from the Sea of Galilee; Mt Tabor; down the Jezreel Valley; up Valley of Doves to Cana; Overnight at Plaza Nazareth.

Below: view from the Plaza Nazareth. As Nazareth is on a mountain we would have to drive down towards Magdala to arrive at the Sea of Galilee.

The hotel is about 1600 ft amsl.

A map showing the area we would be covering today and part of tomorrow.
A closer map view of Mt Tabor area with Nazereth, Magdala, and the Sea.

Below:A typical jewish Kibbutz where was located the jetty for boat trips on the Sea of Galilee - also known as the Sea of Tiberias, or Sea of Kinnereth.

We boarded the boat just north of Tiberias.

On the way to an 'ancient boat' for a sail on the Sea of Galilee.

Just prior to boarding.

Just about to set sail. Below: with Melania, an Indonesian Christian who was part of our group.

An example of 'casting forth' the net as they did in biblical times.

Just me trying to be another Simon Peter; walk on water?

We prayed, sang songs, and were in awe of how vast the Sea was and to feel the presence of the Lord in this place.

Below: On the western shoreline were the towns of Tiberias, Magdala (home of Mary Magdalene), a mountain range in the distance where lay the town of Zefat (home of the Palestine PM Abbas) and the plain of Gennesaret.

Along the northern shoreline lay the Tabgha (site of the miracle of Fish and Loaves), Mount of Beatitudes, and Capernaum with its pink dome cathedral just barely visible in the photo below. This is supposed to be the site where the Roman Centurion lived.

Matt 8:5-8
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,

6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."
7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed."

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

To the North East of us lay the Golan Heights and the range of mountains in the East running southwards.

And of course (below) on the Eastern shoreline was the town of Gergesa

Matt 8:28-32
When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"
30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine."
32 And He said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. 

Jews lived in the cities of Zefat, Bethshani, Yabneh, Tiberias, Sipore after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and prior to their dispersal throughout the world.

Fossil of the hull of a boat dating back to the time of Jesus.

The highway heading towards the Mt of Beatitudes and Tabgha, with the Sea on the right ie. heading North.

The hilly Galilean countryside. Its amazing the long distances, over such terrain, our Lord use to traverse so regularly.


Betweeen Tabgha and Capernaum is the Mt of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. The field where the 'Sermon on the Mount' took place.

Multitudes heard Jesus delivery the sermon.
Matt 5:3-11
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Inside the Church of the Beatitudes - built by the Byzantine empire in 350 AD. The 9 "Blessed's" are displayed on the walls of the church.

The Alter in the church

View of the church standing on the slope of the mount.

Front view of the Church.

Next Tabgha - Distortion of the Greek word Heptapegon, which means "Seven Springs".

It used to be 7 in the past, however today only 5 remain.

Below is the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes

Bougainvilleas!! An abundance of them at the entrance An Olive Mill to grind and press, used in those days to extract the oil from the olive.

Inside the Church of Heptapegon

Heptagon In the courtyard - 5 springs.

The Sanctuary of the Church. Visitors kneel to touch the rock on which it is believed that Jesus blessed the Fish and Loaves.
Luke 9:13-17
13 But He said to them, "You give them something to eat."
And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people."

14 For there were about five thousand men.
Then He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of fifty."

15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them. NKJV

Closer view of the Rock of anointing.
In the foreground is a Byzantine mosaic of the two fish and 5 loaves.

Meriam underneath the alter touching the rock.

Still in Tabgha, our next stop was to visit the place where Jesus met the disciples after His resurrection, and prepared breakfast for them. (Jn21;16) It is also the place where Peter declared that he loved the Lord thrice for the Lord to absolve of Peter's denial of Christ thrice.

John 21:1-3 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

The Church here marks the place where Jesus, after the resurrection, "showed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee', and they ate together.

It is believed that this is the same beach that Jesus stood many a time.

John 21:6-14

6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" — knowing that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. NKJV

Peter do you love me? "Feed my sheep"

John 21:15-17
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.NKJV

Inside the Church of St Peter's Primacy. The rock emerging from the centre of the floor is the "table" at which Jesus and His disciples ate.

Another view of the same "table".

Location at St Peter's Primacy. Meriam standing in the waters of the Sea of Galilee.

Location still at St Peter's Primacy. Standing in the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Felt very blessed
Plaque at St Peter Primacy stating "At thy word I will let down the net"

Now its over to Capernaum. A long walk to the site of Peter's house.

It was the in Roman times a wealthy Jewish town
Here Jesus met his first disciples Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew, all fishermen who worked on the Sea of Galilee. Many miracles were performed here. Namely:

Healing of Peter's mother,

Brought a child back to life,

Cured a leper,

Healed the centurion's servant,

and, cast out the spirits with his word and healed all that were sick

Briefing by the guide prior to the tour of Capernaum.

Remains of a 4th century white limestone synagogue which is as elaborate as the early Galilean synagogues, with soaring columns, ashlars and its inscribed pillars. The original was built on black rock.

Entrance to the synagogue.

Beneath an octagonal modern church lie the ruins of Peter's house. Attested by the graffiti inscriptions on the walls in Aramaic, Greek and Latin. Names of disciples were also found on some stones, as if each one had signed in!

The synagogue with its surroundings and remains of a 1st century synagogue, thought to be that in which Jesus preached (Jn 6). Bread of Life; communion; etc

Relic from the synagogue showing the carriage for carrying the Ark of the Covenant.

Statue of St Peter at the entrance to Peter's house.

Lunch at a restaurant by the shores of Galilee. We had an excellent lunch with fish typically like that prepared during the time of Jesus.


Mt Tabor 1850' a.m.s.l. Is the highest mountain in the region. - The mount where Jesus was transfigured with Peter, James and John as witnesses (Mt17:2)

The Mount was also significant in the times of Judges where Deborah sent Barak with 10,000 men to fight Jabin, King of Hazor.

Some scripture for this:

Judges 4:5-6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, 'Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun
Judg 4:14
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

Jeremiah 46:18
18 "As I live," says the King,Whose name is the LORD of hosts,"Surely as Tabor is among the mountains And as Carmel by the sea, so he shall come. NKJV

What a magnificent sight it was to view the mount both from the plain below, as well as the view of the Jezeerel valley from the summit.

On the way up - The round about where we change vehicles to proceed up to the mountain. Also had some refreshments here.

After transfer from Bus to 4WD we went up the steep hill to the top of the mount.

Mount Tabor - Basilica of Transfiguration a Greek Orthodox Church built on the foundations of the previous churches (the first of which was built around 400 AD) which were destroyed.

Mark 9:2-10

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" —

6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

The dome of the apse features a lovely mosaic depicting the Transfiguration.

Christ Jesus having Moses and Elijah on either side of him and Peter, James and John below.

Interior of the Basillica.

Peacocks I am told represent paradise which is what the Transfiguration is all about.

Below: stone slab where the transfiguration is supposed to have taken place. The Basilica is built over it.

The church had three chapels built to signify one each for Jesus which was the main one, one on the left for for Moses and the right one Elijah - just as Peter had suggested in Luke.
Luke 9:27-36

27 And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God."
The Transfiguration
28 About eight days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain to pray.

29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became dazzling white.

30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.

31 They were glorious to see. And they were speaking of how he was about to fulfill God's plan by dying in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and the others were very drowsy and had fallen asleep. Now they woke up and saw Jesus' glory and the two men standing with him.

33 As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, "Master, this is wonderful! We will make three shrines — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud came over them; and terror gripped them as it covered them.
35 Then a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him."

36 When the voice died away, Jesus was there alone. They didn't tell anyone what they had seen until long after this happened.
NLT

Chapel in the Church for Moses.

One for Elijah

Next Cana, near Nazareth Church of Miracle where the first miracle of Jesus was performed albeit 'before His time'. Jn 2:11

John 2:1-4

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." NKJV

Picture by the alter showing Jesus with His mother at the wedding. 1st Miracle of water being changed to wine.

John 2:6-11

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.

7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.

8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.

10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. NKJV

Note the 6 water pots on the alter depicting the 6 used to convert water to wine.

Both of us by the alter

That completed day 2 of our pilgrimage. Now for a good rest at the Plaza Nazareth hotel.

The next day we would be proceeding to Jerusalem via Haifa and then down the coast to Jerusalem