Caesarea Maritima
The Coastal Plain includes Caesarea Maritima, which is particularly helpful to set the stage for Herod’s extraordinary civil engineering accomplishments. Caesarea was an artificial harbor built from scratch on a scale that is surprising even by today’s standards (for similar contemporary extravagances, see Dubai’s Palm Islands). The aqueduct, the theatre and the promontory palace also speak to the significance of the site that took over 10 years to build (22-10 BC). During New Testament times, significant events took place there. In a remarkable and deliberate parallel with Acts 2, the Age of the Spirit was inaugurated for non-Jews at Caesarea, which even included a Roman centurion (Cornelius) – the symbol of oppression in Palestine. Thus, as the gateway to the Gentile world and as the Roman provincial headquarters, Caesarea seemed like the perfect place to illustrate the gospel, which would extend beyond the shores of Israel. In Acts 21, awaiting his trial in Rome, Paul would be incarcerated at Caesarea in Herod’s Praetorium, which was foretold by Agabus the prophet and father of four daughters who plied the same trade. Paul would testify with great skill and courage in the presence of the Roman authorities before sailing to Rome.
- Scripture References: Acts 10; 21:7-15; 23-26
- Text References: AOT p. 80, “The Coastal Plain”, ANT pp. 139-145 (Note: As background to king Herod’s building projects outside of Jerusalem, all of ANT chapter 4 is helpful)
- Pictorial and Map References: CBA maps 243, 246
Mount Carmel
It is difficult to overstate the extent of Israel’s apostasy during the time of the Omride dynasty (i.e., Omri and his descendants who reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel). As a great leader and organizer, he was a mixture of kings David and Solomon. In this regard, the biblical writer concedes Omri’s accomplishment: he built the capital of the northern kingdom, Samaria. Otherwise, his evaluation (based upon Deuteronomy 17, among other legal standards from God’s Law in the Pentateuch) was more like the equivalent of an “F-“: “Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him.” (I Kings 16:25). The only one that would surpass him on the “wickedness” scale would be his son Ahab, “…who did more to provoke the Lord…than all the kings of Israel who were before him.” (I Kings 16:33) The writer adds the matter of Ahab’s wife as a particularly heinous exploit in his reign: Jezebel, the Canaanite princess of Sidon, whose life’s mission was devoted to the eradication of Yahwism in Israel. Both of them would find a violent end as a result of Yahweh’s judgment against them. When Paul reassures his audience in Rome about God’s plan for Israel, he picks this time to demonstrate that even in the worst period of her history, the Lord was not left without a witness: Elijah and 7000 fellow Yahwists.
So, Mount Carmel stands as a witness then and today, that in the contest between the gods of this age and the Living God, there really isn’t any contest at all: the former are literally a “no show” when Yahweh shows up to manifest his power and presence in the midst of his people.
- Scripture References: 1 Kings 9; 16-18; 22; Romans 11
- Pictorial and Map References: CBA maps 138, 139, 141, 146, 150
Megiddo
The mound of Megiddo towers over the Jezreel Valley today as it did in the past. The site holds particular significance because many biblical (and extra-biblical) battles are staged in this strategic area of Israel: the battle of Deborah and Barak (and Jael); the fight against the Philistines in which King Saul died, along with his son and heir, Jonathan. One of the last kings of the monarchy, Josiah, king of Judah (605 BC) also died in this valley at the hand of Neco, the Egyptian pharaoh. Perhaps as a fitting tribute to the historic nature of the area, John, on Patmos, visualizes the final eschatological showdown in a language evoking these historic conflicts between God’s people and their enemies (Rev 16:16).
The rich available textual evidence concerning Megiddo is matched by the immense archaeological value of the site. The place feels overwhelming in its scope. If we didn’t have Megiddo it would be difficult to understand the settlement history of ancient Israel from periods preceding the biblical era down to the end of the northern kingdom. Both figuratively and physically, one can’t avoid this site. From the beginning of the 20th century to this day, large-scale excavations have taken place on the mound, with extraordinary results that continue to provide us with fascinating details concerning life in biblical Israel. Among other things, the famous six-chambered gate represents the Solomonic era. The time of Ahab (yes, the one connected with Elijah) is illustrated well by large monumental structures including what were probably stables, while the water system is equally impressive by virtue of its size and engineering.
Not surprisingly, archaeologists fiercely contest the archaeological sequence of the site. Some would question whether the six-chambered gate actually belonged to the time of Solomon while others are satisfied with the consensus of a 10th century/Solomonic build up of the settlement. (see ASOR Blog)
- Scripture References: Judges 4-5; I Sam 29, 31; I Kings 9:15; II Chron. 34-35
- Text Reference: AOT 277-295
- Pictorial and Map References: CBA maps 71, 72, 73; 107, 108, 109; 175, 176
The Galilee
As we move northward into the Galilee, the vistas of the region create stirring images in the mind and actually provide a peaceful change to the images of wars and contested territories associated with the Jezreel Valley. Here the experience leans toward the impressionistic where we connect biblical events to the landscape such as the “Mount of Precipice” and the Sea of Galilee itself. The devotional dimension of the trip is perhaps most reflected here as we ponder the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. Perhaps a good way to prepare for this part of the journey is to read and meditate on the stories recorded concerning Jesus’s early ministry in the Galilee.
- Scripture References: Luke 4; John 2
- Text Reference: ANT pp. 153-183
- Pictorial and Map References: CBA maps 256, 257 (Note: John McRay provides wonderful images in his Kregel Pictorial Guide to New Testament Archaeology.)
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