The first (recorded) battle and where armies will gather for the last (Armageddon!)

The first time I went to Megiddo, it was rainy, cold, and rainbows soared over the green Jezreel Valley. I was alone with my friend and my trusty brochure.

This time, even though it was May and the rainy season was over, storm clouds were rolling in—and I was with a tour guide. Both times were pretty epic. 

This time I also went down to the water system!

Because Megiddo sits at a strategic place on the ancient Via Maris, Megiddo has been a place for people to live dating as far back as the Neolithic period (7th and 6th centuries BC). That's a really long time! 

And, it is actually the place for the 1st recorded battle in history. In the 15th century BC, Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III fought at the foot of Megiddo, which at that point was part of an alliance of Canaanite cities that rebelled against Egypt.

Fast forward several centuries, and it is mentioned in Joshua 12:21 in a list of kings defeated by Joshua, however Manasseh was unable to take it over in Joshua 17:11-13 and Judges 1:27). It's also mentioned in 1 Kings 9:15  as a place built up by Solomon, alongside Hazor and Gezer.

Last time, I also didn't get to go out to the main overlook, so I missed something very important:

the raised platform where the idols were worshiped and sacrifices were made.

Also, on this trip I went down into the water system. It was so cool! Literally—the temperature lowered drastically, haha. And it was amazing to see how they protected their water and made it accessible for the residents. It will be interesting to compare this to the system at Tel Hazor when I got back, and also to Hezekiah's Tunnel one day. 

That's it for Megiddo visit #2! I'm sure it will not be the last! What an amazing place!