Megiddo/Armageddon

Next stop Megiddo/Armageddon...
The name Armageddon comes from the Greek corruption/combination of the Hebrew word "har" meaning "hill/mountain" and Megiddo (Har-Megiddo).

Historically

Megiddo was one of the most powerful cities in Canaan and Israel from the 7th to 4th centuries BCE and is the only site in Israel to be mentioned by every significant power in the Ancient Near East (ANE). It is strategically located at the head of the most important pass through the Carmel range (Nahal Iron) and overlooks the bottleneck where traffic emerges from the narrow Aruna Pass into the Jezreel Valley. This situation gave Megiddo control of the Via Mars (Way of the Sea), the ancient trade route between Egypt and the East--Syria, Anatolia (modern day Turkey), and Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq and Iran). As a result, whoever had military control over Megiddo also had control over what is arguably the most important international highway in the ancient world.

View of the Jezreel Valley from the top of Megiddo.

The entrance to the Megiddo spring. Access to water within the city walls is absolutely essential during times of war.

Biblically

Megiddo is mentioned several times in Joshua (12:21; 17:11-12), Judges (1:27; 4:15; 5:19), 1 Kings (4:12; 9:15-19), 2 Kings (9:27; 23:29-30), and Zechariah (12:11), but is more popularly known as Armageddon which is only used in Revelation (16:16). The popularity of Armageddon is a result of its association with Revelation's eschatological prophecies. According to our guide the prophesied battle to end all wars will not take place at Megiddo, but at Jerusalem. Instead, Megiddo will serve as a gathering place for armies.

 

The sacred area at Megiddo. Note the round stone altar.

Reflection

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Pomegranate

Fruits of the Holy Land - Pomegranate

Photos taken at Megiddo/Armageddon

Pomegranate trees are plentiful in Israel and its fruit, the pomegranate berry, represent the Torah (Five Books of Moses) as its 613 seeds parallel the Mitzvot (613 biblical principles or commandments known collectively as the Law of Moses).

Caesarea

Next stop Caesarea...

Historically
The city was founded by Herod the Great (37-4 BCE) on the site of an ancient fortified town known as Strato's Tower and was renowned for the splendour of its buildings. Dedicating "Caesar"ea to his mentor Caesar Augustus, Herod desired the grandeur of the city to shine all the way to Rome. Josephus in his War (1:408-15) and Antiquities (15:331-41) marvels at Herod's constructions which include: its size, a nine mile long limestone aqueduct, a grid street pattern, a temple dedicated to Caesar, a palace, a theatre, and an amphitheatre all completed in 12 years (22-10 BCE). After the Romans assumed direct control of the Levant in 6 CE, Caesarea became the capital.

View from the top corner of the amphitheatre 

Biblically

Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman garrison became the first Gentile convert and was baptized by Peter in Caesarea (Acts 10).

Reflection

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Joppa/Jaffa

The ancient port city of Joppa is where my adventure begins...

Historically

From 1500-1450 BCE Joppa was conquered by the army of Pharaoh Thutmose III and is recorded in the royal list of cities in Karnak, Egypt and in the Harris Papyrus. From 1200-1000 BCE there is an Israelite settlement in Joppa (Joshua 19:46) with the Philistines (The Sea Peoples) also making an appearance in the Joppa region. In subsequent centuries it was passed hand to hand and was occupied in turn by Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and Sidon. Joppa lost much of its importance when Herod built a new port in Ceaesarea.
 

Biblically 

The cedar wood for King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was brought down from Lebanon on great rafts to the shores of Joppa c.960 BCE (2 Chronicles 2:16). Under Persian rule, the return of the Exiles from Babylon and the restoration of the Temple cedar wood was once again brought down from Lebanon to the shores of Joppa 586-332 BCE (Ezra 3:7).

During the time Alexander the Great campaigned in the Levant 332-331 BCE Joppa became a Greek colony and it is around this time that the Book of Jonah was written. It is also probably the period where the prophet/hero Jonah tries to escape from God's command to go to Nineveh by taking a ship from Joppa to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3)

 St. Peter's Church/House of Simon the Tanner (it is questionable if this is the actual site of Simon's house)

After raising Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas) from the dead, Peter stayed in Joppa at the house of Simon the Tanner where he received the vision which showed him that gentiles/pagans should be admitted in the Church (Acts 9:36-10:23)

Reflection
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