The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. Leviticus 16:2 Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Biblical calendar. When the tabernacle and temple stood, it was the one day each year which the high priest could enter into the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant rested. Unlike […]
Author Archive: Brian Johnson
Baram
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 Located in the remote hills of upper Galilee are the remains of a synagogue at the ancient town of Kefar Baram. Constructed around the third century, the synagogue remained in use for centuries. The word ‘synagogue’ actually comes from Greek. In Hebrew it is beit kenesset, which means ‘house of assembly’. While built centuries after Jesus, the synagogue gives an idea of where he went to teach. He grew up regularly attending the synagogue on […]
Something New
The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.’” Leviticus 25:1-4 Shana Tova! Happy New Year! It’s Rosh Hoshanah again. Another Jewish new year has arrived. The […]
The Cows of Kedesh
Then the Lord said to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.’” Numbers 35:9-12 Kedesh is situated far in the north on the west side of the rift valley. With good farmland, it is obvious to see this being a solid spot to live. There aren’t […]
A Galilean Village
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 Located northeast of the Sea of Galilee in the Golan region, Qazrin is an excellent representation of Galilean towns from the time of Jesus and the centuries that soon followed. The archaeological site is similar to the towns Jesus is recorded as having visited like Capernaum and Korazin. The site gives a good feel of what everyday life was during the Jesus’ time.
The Wings of a Vulture
In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste.He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young,that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him. Deuteronomy 32:10-12 I’ve written about Gamla before, which was a key city during the first Jewish revolt. Situated northeast of the Sea of Galilee, it tragically fell to the Romans early in the war. The […]
Mary’s Seaside Town
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3 The Sea of Galilee is located within the same depression as the Dead Sea to the south with the Jordan River joining them. […]
The Slopes of Tabor
The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. Psalm 89:11-13 The Jezreel Valley is bordered on the east by three mountains: Tabor, Moreh, and Gilboa (from north to south). I’ve been focused on the latter two recently. I finally want to move north to Mount Tabor. Mount Tabor has a very distinctive rounded shape, visible from all angles. It was rather hairy driving up […]
Jezreel
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 1 Kings 16:29-31 Continuing in the same geographic region again, today’s site is Jezreel. The tel is built above the […]
A Drinking Game
Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. Judges 7:1 Gideon was not one most would have picked to lead the battle against the Midianites, but God can use anyone for his purposes. Last time we looked at King Saul’s death, but much more happened in this region. Nearby, generations before Saul’s time, Gideon fought his battle. Near the foot of Mount Gilboa lies the Harod Spring. The Lord had Gideon bring his already […]