He who walks righteously
Isaiah 33:15-16
and speaks what is right,
who rejects gain from extortion
and keeps his hand from accepting bribes,
who stops his ears against plots of murder
and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil–
this is the man who will dwell on the heights,
whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
His bread will be supplied,
and water will not fail him.
When Herod the Great was given the kingship of Israel by Rome, he still needed to secure it. His Jewish subjects didn’t all like the idea of him being king. One of the resistance points was at the Cliffs of Arbel. Hiding in caves in the cliffs, the rebels thought they were safe from Herod’s soldiers. However, baskets were brought in and lowered by cranes over the edge of the cliff, allowing the soldiers easy access to each small cave. It was only time before all the rebels were dead.
Today the cliffs offer a grand view of the Sea of Galilee. Perched atop this outcropping of rock north of Tiberias, nearly the entire lake is visible. On top of that, there’s some great hiking trails. It’s possible to hike down to the road below (which is handy when you’re with a group with a bus that drops you off up top and then picks you up below). Going at it alone, we didn’t have that luxury. Instead, we made a long loop. Hiking is fun, but trails that involve handholds make it more exciting.
Reaching the base of the main cliff (but still ways up the steeply sloped hillside) is Cave Fortress (Qala’at Ibn Ma’an). Constructed into the cliffs in the 17th century as a military stronghold, it provided a secure view of the Arbel Valley.
An additional stop to see is an ancient synagogue. There’s a small parking lot off the road that enters the park. A short hike brings you to the synagogue, originally built in the fourth century and destroyed in the eighth century by fire.
