June 18

This was another day of contrasts. From the lushness of the east to the wilderness and desert of the west.

We left at 7 AM on a tour bus and headed East and saw first hand the strategic problems of armies attacking and defending the eastern side of Israel. There are very few convenient ways to get from the coast to Jerusalem and they are all easily defended.

We stopped at the Beth Shemesh Tell (a tell is an archeological site of an old city) which was the probable site of Samson's home. It was also the town where the Philistines (with the help of two milk cows) sent the Ark of Covenant after it created so many problems for the people and their god, Dagon.

We also stopped at the Gezer Tell. Gezer was one of the cities Solomon fortified to protect central Israel and an important site over the history of the land of Israel.

We then stopped at Nebi Samwil, the traditional burial site of Samuel and just south of his home at Gibeon. From this site we could see for many miles around, including Jerusalem.

Then on to Jericho, both the site that Joshua destroyed and the new Jericho. As we stood on the old site of Jericho, the temperature was 110 degrees at an elevation of about -900 feet.

The a stop at a vista of the Judean wilderness and on home. A fun filled 11 hour day!

This is me, of course, standing at the tope of an ancient cistern which held much water for Gezer.

Standing stones at Gezer - probably got the idea from Moses (twelve tribes represented).

Solomon's Gate at Gezer - a typical arrangement to protect the city.

View northeast - toward Jerusalem - from the top of Nebi Samwil.

A view of the wilderness between Jericho and Jerusalem. Very likely the same terrain Jesus and his disciples pass through several times.