October 15, 2011 Day 5 Sea of Galilee, Yigal Allon Museum, Korazim (Chorazin), Jordan River Baptism Site, Bet She'an National Park

This is the type of boat that we boarded to go across the Sea of Galilee which is 13 miles long and 7.5 miles wide and about 150' deep and 685' below sea level.  Jesus spent most of his three-year public ministry in town and villages around the Sea of Galilee.  The lake was named Kinneret, which means "lyre", because its shape reminded them of that musical instrument played by King Dave and by the Levites in the Temple.

Marsha and I on the bow of the boat.

This young man showed us how the disciples would have thrown their nets.  He led us in a 5 minute time of contemplation and then in worship.  He sang a beautiful song and then led us in dancing on the boat to Hava Nagila.

In 1986, an ancient boat was pulled from the mud along the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
The boat appeared due to a great drought during which the waters of the lake receded  The brothers who found the boat reported that when they found the boat, a double rainbow appeared in the sky.
The boat has been dated to the 1st century AD  . It is likely that this sort of boat was used by Jesus and his disciples, many of whom were fishermen.The boat is made of 12 different types of wood and measures 25.5 ft. long, 7.5 ft. wide, and 4.1 ft  high. It would have had a crew of five (four rowers and a helmsman) and could carry about 15 additional persons. This seems like a lot for such a humble boat, but men were smaller 2,000 years ago — about 5'5" and 140 pounds.

This museum had a wonderful gift shop.  The one thing Marsha and I wanted to buy was a prayer shawl.  She got one that was blue and gold and I got one that was purple and silver.  I am so glad we bought them there as we never saw any as beautiful as these in the rest of our travels.

This Synagogue in Korazim is dated from the 2nd century.  There are many carved artifacts that were found at this site.

This is a copy of the Moses Seat that was found in the 1920's. Jesus references this position of authority, "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach" (Matt. 23:2-3).
Our guide, Mickey, also said that when Jesus stood and read the passage from Isaiah in Luke 4:17-21 and then said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in our hearing." that he would have then sat down in the Moses seat.





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     We then went to the Jordon River Baptismal Site.  I was baptized by Rev. Michael Appana, a Pastor in our group from South Africa. I'm in the middle.  Marsha and her sister, Judy, said they had little fish nipping at the feet.  I never did!  Saw a tree planted by Glenn Beck at this site.  He had been in  Israel in Sept.

Marsha was baptized by another Pastor in our group, Rev. Russell Huff.
Mickey told us that this is the area of the Jordan River where Israel owns both sides of the river and where it is believed that Jesus was baptized.  It is very commercialized but...it was special to us.

Bet She'an National Park
It is 400 acres. Excavation shows 20 levels of occupation. I Samuel 31:10 tells of Saul's death in battle with the Philistines, who "fastened his body to the walls of Beth-shean".

The theater was built in the 1st century A.D. and seated 7000.  It was renovated at the end of the 2nd century. There was so much to see at this site that we were only able to see part of it.

This is a steam bath.  Hot water was poured over this area and steam was produced.  I thought it was ingenious!

I was fascinated with the many mosaics.  The stones were about 1/2" square.  I can't even imagine making something like this.There were so many beautiful excavations here that it was somewhat overwhelming.  We were supposed to swim in the Dead Sea this evening but we got there too late.