Caesarea
Herod the Great constructed this ancient port. It became the largest in the ancient world. Prior to this port, Rhodes held the record as the largest port city. Herod dedicated it to Caesar Augustus Caesar. This was a Gentile city in a Jewish land. Here we see all the great marvels of Roman architecture. It also is the birthplace of the Gentile church (Acts 10) and the Bar Kokvah Revolution of 135 CE. When there were feasts in Jerusalem, The procurators like Pilate would be there. Most of the time this was their residence and the residence of the Roman Legion. It was not until 70 CE that the 10th Legion took camp in Jerusalem. Prior to this the legion assigned to the festivals were stationed at Caesarea. Here is where Peter witnessed Gentiles filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10). Paul was held for two
years at this location (Acts 23:19-24:1). The Great Revolt of 70 AD began in Caesarea when some Gentiles block Jews access to an ally and mocked their religion by sacrificing doves and leaving them in the ally (Josephus, Jewish Wars). The city was eventually destroyed by a tsunami evidenced by the witness of aquatic marine archaeologists who excavated sections of the bay in the 1990's.
Mt Carmel
Mt Carmel is the last mountain of a range that blocks the Jezreel Valley from the coast where Tel Aviv and Caesarea are located. The mountain became a cultic site for Baal worship in the time of the divided kingdom (Israel and Judah) in the reign of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. It was on this mountain Elijah challenged the Baal Priests to a showdown between the God of Israel and Baal (1 Kings 18). There are a few interesting facts about this story and the location chosen. First, Jezebel was the daughter of a Phoenician king whose father was also a high priest to Baal. Her being this kings daughter made her very high in the cult worship of Baal. She brought that influence into Israel.
In the myth of Baal, he challenges the god of the sea and storms, yam, to a battle. Baal wins but then is challenged by the god Mot (which means death). Baal is taken to the grave but is restored to life when the goddess Ahsteroth encourages the god El to bring him back. Baal returns from death to life and has absorbed the god yam's power of the sea and storm. All of this feeds a myth that explains the agricultural cycle of Israel and Baal worship.
This also plays out in the cycle of the conflict between Jezebel and Elijah (1 Kings 18). The prophet seeks the true God to "answer by fire". That is the Hebrew word for lighting. This makes sense when we see the fire "licks up the water in the ditch". When Elijah triumphs over the Baal priests he orders them to be brought down the mountain and executed at the Kishon River. The reason for this is because decades earlier in the time of the judge Barak, Baal worship threatened to overtake Israel when it was young (Judges 4). By executing the priests there is sending a historic message that says "We defeated you before and this will be no different". It was Elijah summoning the people to rise up against Jezabel. Ironically Jezebel shows no fear despite the defeat of her god Baal. The reason why is that she assumes like the Myth, Baal may suffer a defeat but will ultimately triumph over death. Therefore she says o the Prophet " May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." (1 Ki. 19:2 ).
Megiddo
Megiddo's is one of the more ancient cities of Israel Over 44 layers of civilization exist at Meggido. It became uninhabited by the 4th Century BCE. The city guards a pass between the coastal plain by Caesarea and the great and open Jezreel valley. Tutmose III (1479-1425 BCE) sought to control the area of Israel known as the Levant. One of his chief goals was the city of Meggido for its strategic location. The Pharaoh said, "For the ruler of every northern country is in Megiddo and its capture is as the capture of a thousand cities.”. Solomon noted its significance and fortified the city in his reign (1 Ki. 9:15-20). Near this city, Pharaoh Neco killed King Josiah with an arrow ( 2 Ki. 23:29). ..
Megiddo מְגִדּ֖וֹ is the name of the city in Hebrew. In the New Testament, we read about Armegiddo. This is the Hebrew word for "Mountain of Megiddo" translated from Hebrew into another language, Greek. Revelation 16:16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon." A few important things to note about this city and verse. Many often speak about the "valley of Armageddon" but notice the word "valley" is never used. Second, Armageddon is a phonetic spelling in Greek for the phrase "mountain of Megiddo" har (Mountian) of Megiddo. Israeli Cartographers and Historical Geographists (Like the late Ansen Rainey) believe this location is unsure and not the valley of Jezreel but an unsure place. Perhaps the "Mountian" of Megiddo is an alternative location for Mt. Carmel, but we're just not sure.
Nazareth
Nazareth is located a few miles south of the city Sepphoris. It sits in a geographic bowl surrounded by a ridge that overlooks the Jezreel Valley. The first mention of Nazareth is found in the Gospels. The Angel told Mary she would give birth to the Savior (Luke 1:26-37). It is here that Jesus was raised and educated (Matt. 2:23; Luke 2:39; 2:51). Very few archaeological remains from the time of Jesus have endured through the centuries, however, in 2009, a home dating to the first-century was discovered. 1.1.1 The chief archaeologist of excavation at Nazareth in 2009, concluded Nazareth was “an out of the way hamlet of around 50 houses on a patch of about four acres… populated by Jews of modest means."
Nazareth a Priestly Village: “Jewish sources specify the village to have been priestly in population (Mishmarot 18; Eccles. Rab. 2:8).” This would make sense in light of the priestly heritage of Mary. Her cousin Elizabeth was "from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth." (Lk. 1:5).
Jesus began his ministry preaching in the Synagogue of Nazareth. He was not well received and the offense of the people was so great they sought to stone him (Matt. 13:57-58 cf. Luke 4:16-30). Luke says, “They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built so that they might hurl him off the cliff. ” We learn from early Jewish literature that stoning began by pushing someone off of an elevated cliff. The back side of the city of Nazareth has a very high precipice known as the "Nazareth Ridge". It was here they attempted to kill him. If the victim survived, the crowd would finish the job with rocks. This helps us see when Paul was stoned he not only survived being hit with stones but also, most likely a death plunge.
19 aBut Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (Acts 14:19 ESV)
Jewish Passage on Stoning:
“Mishnah Sanhedrin 6.4 “The stoning-place was two heights of a man. One of the witnesses pushed him on his thighs (that he should fall with the back to the surface), but if he fell face down, he had to be turned over. If he died from the effects of the first fall, nothing more was to be done. If not, the second witness took a stone and thrust it against his heart. If he died, nothing more was to be done; but if not, all who were standing by had to throw stones on him. Thus [Deut. xvii. 7]: "The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him, to put him to death, and the hand of all the people at the last.”
Tiberias
Tiberius is only mentioned in a few sparse verses of the New Testament (John 6:1, 23; 21:1). Both are in relationship to the Son of Herod who reigned in the Galilee, Herod Antipas (See his bio under "Who's Who in the Age of Jesus Christ as a document link under day 1). This was clearly his main castle and its remains still undergo excavation south of the Hotel "The Leonardo" where you will be sleeping while in the Galilee region. This is most likely the place where "John the Baptist" was beheaded. For a detailed explanation of this see the section of "Herod Antipas" under the Chapter on Tiberias.
