The Golan: the ancient synagogue of Afik (Part 2 of 4)

I had never heard of Afik until I still in its ancient synagogue, staring out at the incredible view over the Golan. 

That was an epic day. 

But when I started writing this series, I learned something interesting: somewhere near here is where King Ahab defeated Ben Hadad I of Damascus in 1 Kings 26-30. That's pretty cool!

Okay, back to the synagogue (also cool)!

As I stated in the last post, during the Talmudic era, there were 27 different villages along the Golan, all with a synagogue. Katzrin was one, and Afik was another. This is one of the synagogues. (There's one not too far away that they were able to put back together by numbering the stones and using a computer program, which is JUST INCREDIBLE and I can't stop dorking out about it. I definitely need to go there). 

Anywho, what's interesting about this one is that while synagogues are supposed to be facing Jerusalem when they are built, this one isn't. It faces west instead of south. 

Why? Because the topography of the area, with its many ridges, and the fact that it lies on the longest fault line in the world (think 363 AD, 749 AD, etc). However, despite this anomaly, the Torah room still faces Jerusalem.

Pretty cool, huh?

See the carving on the stone? It's another example of using found materials in building... it was originally used somewhere else.

Seriously, can we talk about this view? INCREDIBLE!

The Golan: Ancient Katzrin (Part 1 of 4)

The Golan Heights is a place of incredible Israel history, filled with conquests, epic battles, and important lessons. 

"Golan" is mentioned in Deuteronomy 4:43, Joshua 20:8, and 1 Chronicles 6:71 as a city of refuge in Bashan. Throughout Biblical times, the Golan was a focus of a power struggle between the Israelites and the ancient Arameans from near Damascus.

King Ahab of Israel defeated Ben Hadad I of Damascus near Afik (pictured above) and years later, Elisha prophesied the victory of King Jehoash of Israel over Ben Hadad III of Damascus.

Jewish exiles from the Babylonia settled here in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, and during the inter-Testamental period, Judah Maccabee and his brothers came to the aid of Jewish settlements there (above info found here). 

By 1st century AD, Gamla was the capital of the Golan, and fell as the last Jewish stronghold to resist the Romans in 67 AD.

Despite the fall of Gamla, Jewish settlement continued to grow in the Golan, and during the Byzantine Era (4th-7th centuries AD), Jewish settlement in the Golan Heights reached its peak. During that time, 27 different towns (with synagogues) were built up along the area. And after the Six Day War in 1967, excavation began. Over the next few weeks, we'll look at a series of locations throughout the Golan that tell part of its incredible story.

First of all, the meaning of the Talmudic Era. The Talmud is a set of teachings and commentaries on the Torah that form the basis for Jewish law. It was written during the time of the Byzantine Era, hence the name

In the city of Katzrin is lies the ancient Talmudic village of Katzrin. It's a really cool interactive park where people can go, learn about things like the olive press, wine press, and threshing grain, while also touring ruins from the Talmudic era. There's a village and the remains of a synagogue!

this isn't the olive press; I didn't get a good picture of it.

I could totally picture Eden from The Chosen smushing grapes in here!

grain sifter

These areas were fun, but I enjoyed most walking through the ruins (of course):

And we got a surprise at the synagogue—a modern day ceremony!

These children were being given their very own copies of the Torah!

the carving of the menorah is interesting here... I'll explain more in a future post.

Walking through the Rabbi's house was also really neat:

can you guess where the refrigerator is?

here it is! keeps out the critters

This was a really cool place. As a BIG fan of HGTV in the States, the house was the most interesting thing to me. What was your favorite part?

Stay tuned for next week—Afik!

King Saul's last battle: the view from Ahab and Jezebel's back porch

I’m actually not sure if there is anything cooler that looking out over the Jezreel Valley while your guide reads from the Bible and says, “So, Saul’s men were camped there at the trees” (bottom right of the below photo)

“and the Philistines were near there” (the town on the left edge) “and then Saul went to the witch of Ein Dor over there” (not pictured) “who foretold his defeat and death.

When Saul and his sons retreated in battle to Mount Gilboa” (the barren mountain below),

they died (Saul fell on his sword)… and then their headless bodies were taken back to Beit She’an, which you visited before lunch!”

😂

Oh, and all of this was told to me while we were sitting from the back porch of Ahab and Jezebel's winter palace in the Jezreel Valley. 😱

I don't really have pictures of the ruins, because they are all covered up and dangerous to wade through. They were behind me, but because of the rise of the mountain, I couldn't really see anything. Apparently, there's nothing there to really see, as it was never built back up into a park.

Just this amazing view, and the ability to see exactly the last battle of Israel's first king.

Oh, and do you remember why Mount Gilboa is barren? 

Rainbows over Megiddo

Of all the things I thought I'd see at Megiddo, rainbows weren't one of them.

Going to Megiddo was a big deal for me, because when I was on my Bible tour in 2017, we only went inside the visitor's center. It was a busy day, and there wasn't time for us to tour it, so he just showed us a model of it and explained it all. NOT THE SAME THING!!! Coupled with some intense jet lag, I honestly didn't care.

Since returning to Israel, Megiddo has been at the top of my list of 'new' places to visit. And finally, the day came. After days of rain, the sky cleared and we headed out to the Jezreel Valley... only for the sky to open up again once we got there. Such a disappointment! We tried to wait it out, but then finally decided to leave. But first, we stopped at the gas station... and then the rain stopped.... a beautiful, vibrant rainbow covered the valley. "Quick! Let's go back to Megiddo!" my friend said.

We were so glad we did!

Megiddo was a significant place in the Jezreel Valley's history, because it guarded the Via Maris, the pass through the valley that was necessary for all trade to travel from Egypt and Asia minor. Its history dates back millennia. In fact, there are more than 26 layers of civilization in the tel that makes the site. WOW!!! That's enough to make this history nerd see stars, haha. 

Its history dates back to the Early Bronze Era (3000-3500 BC), and the remains of an excavated temple are "the most monumental single edifice so far uncovered from the Early Bronze Age" (find out more here).

In the Middle Bronze Age (1000's BC), urban planning came into play. And in the Late Bronze Age, after a war won by King Thutmose III, a massive palace was built.

The city gates from the Canaanite period (above) versus from Solomon's era (below). Can you see the difference? The wood beams denote where the original walls still stand and what is part reconstruction for context.

Around 1150 BC, it was settled by the Israelites. But then a fire moved through. Built back up and fortified by Solomon, it remained in Israel control until the Assyrians moved through in 732 BC, and by 586 BC, when the Babylonians came through, it was abandoned. 

This grain silo dates back to King Jeroboam!

Upon the writing of Revelation in AD 96, Megiddo is mentioned again, this time in Greek. It is incorrectly translated from "Har Megiddo" (Mount Megiddo) to "Armageddon" in Revelation 16:16, talking about a final battle for Jerusalem.

So this place is incredibly important!

Like I said, I want to go back and explore the water system when it isn't raining. So with that in mind, my two favorite things (so far) about Megiddo are:

1. THE VIEW! I mean, #IsraelorIreland, am I right?

and

2. The Stables

There were 2 stables, one in the north and one in the south. I love how these are set up with the images of horses. And you definitely can't beat the view!

So fun! I know I didn't even begin to learn all there is to discover about Megiddo. I can't wait to go back!