|
Israel is located
in the Middle East along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
It shares borders with Lebanon in the north, Syria to the Northeast, Jordan
in the East and Egypt to the Southwest. The history of Jewish people in
the land of Israel spans 3,500 years. Saul the first King of Israel was
anointed King about 1095 BC. He ruled for 40 years until 1055 BC when
King David ascended the throne. David ruled Israel for the next 40 years
until 1015 BC when his son Solomon took over for another 40 years reign.
After the death of
Solomon in 975 BC, the country was divided into the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). In 722 BC the Assyrians invaded Israel
and put it under captivity. Judah suffered the same fate in 586 BC when
the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and sent the people
into Babylonian exile until 538 BC when the first group of Jews returned
to Jerusalem led by Zerubbabel.
The struggle of the
Jewish people against invaders continued unabated. In 70 AD, Romans legions
under Titus conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple and sent the Jews
into yet another exile. In 673 AD, Caliph Omar Muslim armies captured
Jerusalem. The Crusaders reconquered the city in 1099 AD. Ottoman Turks
took over Jerusalem in 1517 AD and stayed there for 400 years. The British
army dislodged the Turks in 1917 and ruled the country until 1948 when
Israel proclaimed its independence.
TOHL
001:- TOUR OF THE HOLY LAND (7 Days / 6 Nights)
Day
01:- Caesarea / Acre / Haifa
We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv early morning. After immigration
formalities, we board our tour bus and drive northwards to Caesarea, the
seat of the Roman Procurators of Judea, during the 1st Century BC. Caesarea
was built by King Herod between 28-14 BC. Pontius Pilate one of the procurators
stayed in Caesarea before relocating to Jerusalem. We then visit the Jail
where Apostle Paul was kept pending his transfer to Rome where he was
martyred in 67 AD. We visit the magnificent amphitheatre of performing
Arts built by the Romans at Caesarea.
We proceed to Acre,
the capital of crusaders until 1291 AD. We visit the fortresses in Acre,
which resisted Napoleon Bonaparte's Siege in 1799AD. Apostle Paul visited
Acre in 46 AD. We continue to Haifa the home of Prophet Elijah. We ascend
to Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the City. We view Elijah's shrine,
Carmelite Monastery and Persian Gardens. Dinner and overnight at Haifa.
Day
02:- Cana of Galilee / Nazareth
After breakfast, we depart Haifa for Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed
his first miracle turning water to wine. We drive on to Nazareth the home
of Joseph and Mary and the site of Annunciation of Jesus incarnation by
Angel Gabriel. We visit the Grotto of Annunciation, which is inside a
great modern Basillica.
After lunch, we depart for Capernarm arriving in the evening. Dinner and
overnight in Capernaum.
Day
03:- Capernaum / Tiberias / Tabgha / Kursi
After breakfast, we embark on a tour of Capernaum the home of Apostle
Peter on the shores of Lake Tiberias also called the Sea of Galilee. Lake
Tiberias lies 700 feet below sea level in the Jordan valley. It is here
that Jesus rebuked the Sea to calm down, walked on the water, invited
Peter to do the same, and taught the crowd from Peter's boat. It is also
the scene of the miraculous catch of fish. We visit the ruins of the ancient
synagogue in Capernaum and continue to Tabgha site of the miracle of the
multiplication of loaves and fish. We visit the church of Primacy built
on the spot where Jesus conferred primacy on Simon Peter. We ascend to
the Mountain of Beatitudes and thereafter continue to Kursi where Jesus
drove the swine into the Lake. We move on to the town of Tiberias built
by Herod Antipas who named it after the Roman Emperor Tiberias. Tiberias
succeeded Caesar Agustus who reigned for 41 years from 37 BC. Dinner and
overnight at Tiberias.
Day
04:- Jordan Valley / Qumran / Dead Sea / Bethany.
After breakfast, we drive along the Jordan valley. Jesus travelled from
Galilee to Jerusalem, using the Jordan valley through Jericho. We visit
the site where Jesus was baptized by John the baptist. We view the mountain
of Temptation where Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights. Finally, we arrive
in Jericho, the oldest known city in the world. Jericho was the first
city in Canaan conquered by Joshua. We continue to the fountain of Elisha
where prophet Elisha cast salt and cured its foul water. At Jericho, Jesus
cured the blind man. We continue to Qumran on the shores of the Dead.
Qumran was founded in 2nd century BC by Essence. Dead Sea scrolls were
found in caves at Qumran in 1947. We continue to Bethany on the Mountain
of Olives. Bethany is also the site of Jesus ascension. We continue to
Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day
05:- Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the Holy City, has a long and colourful history. King David
made Jerusalem his capital in 1003 BC. His son Solomon built the first
Temple in Jerusalem about 963 BC. The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar
destroyed the city and the temple in 586 BC. The construction of the second
Temple was began under Zerubbabel in 516 BC. In 70 AD Emperor Vespasian
sent Roman legions under the command of his son Titus who conquered the
city and destroyed the second Temple. Jerusalem
is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is the scene of passion,
crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Jerusalem was captured
by the Muslims armies under Caliph Omar in 673 AD. In 691 AD Abdul Malik
built in Jerusalem the Dome of the Rock which is one of the Muslims holiest
shrines.
After breakfast, we
tour Old City. We visit the Garden of Gethsemane, enter the Church of
All Nation to see the Grotto of Agony. We continue to the Tomb of Zachariah
and the Pillar of Absalom. We visit the Tomb of King David and the Cenacle
- the upper room of the last supper. We continue to the home of The High
Priest Caiphas. We pass through Stephen's Gate to see the Church of Saint
Anna and the Pool of Bethsaida. We enter Pilates Judgement Hall in Fort
Antonia. We continue to the Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) and then
follow the via Dolorosa (The way of the Cross). We visit the church of
the Holy Sepulchre built in 335 AD by Emperor Constantine. The Byzantine
Emperor Constantine transformed Jerusalem into a Christian Centre.
After lunch, we visit
the Tower of David also called the Citadel of Zion which is the remains
of the fortification built by King Herod on Mount Zion. We continue to
the Wailing Wall which is the Jews holiest shrine today. We tour the Dome
of the Rock and Aqsa Mosque. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day
06:- Bethlehem / Dead Sea / Massada
After breakfast, we drive to Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David and
Jesus. We enter the Church of Nativity and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We
continue to the Tomb of Rachel, Jacob's wife, and move on to the scene
of the story of Ruth. We pass through the shepherds fields again and descend
through the Judean wilderness below sea level to the shores of Dead Sea,
the lowest point on earth. We continue to Massada to see King Herod's
magnificent Fortress and Palace. Here Jewish zealots committed collective
suicide in 73 AD rather than face Roman capture. We continue to Kibbutz
Ein Gedi where we shall experience the unique buoyancy of the highly therapeutic
Dead Sea Water. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day
07:- Jerusalem / Nairobi
Time set aside for shopping before catching our flight to Nairobi.
|
