DAY 4
We set off on our way to Galilee via Haifa. We drove west towards Tel Aviv, and used the by-pass to avoid the traffic as we headed towards Caesarea. We passed through the Shila forest that was completely burnt down 8 years ago. Newly planted trees like pine & Cyprus are now coming up. We went past Gibayon where Joshua stopped the sun for a day and followed the road to Emmaus. The land is very fertile and one can see large agricultural farms. In many places we can also see the 8 meter high wall being built by Israel to separate the West Bank.

Our first halt was at Caesarea. In the year 20 BC Herod the Great rebuilt the town of Caesarea along the Mediterranean coast. Herod named the city Caesarea in honor of his master Augustine Caesar. This city was beautified with splendid palaces, public building, market place, marble temple, amphitheatre and hippodrome. After Herod’s death the city was under Roman procurators. Pontius Pilate lived here and it was from here that he went to Jerusalem for the Passover during which time he condemned Jesus to be crucified on the cross. Apostle Philip lived here (Acts 8:40) and St. Paul was imprisoned for 2 years and testified before King Agrippa (Acts 26). The Romans built the amphitheatre which has now been restored and is used for concerts. This city is on the Mediterranean Sea.
[Slide show - Caesarea]

We drove on to reach Tel Megiddo. It is located on the southern edge of the plain of Jezreel. This place has been a battle field over the ages due to its location at the mouth of a pass that connects the north to the southern plains and the Nile delta. Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, Israelites, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Persians and the British have all fought wars in this area. The book of Revelations tell us that the last and final great battle of the world between the evil and the good will be fought here, (Hebrew -- the war of Armageddon.) Archeological excavations have uncovered Solomon’s stable, remains of walls, houses and the foundation of gates of different period. There used to be a water system which supplied the city with fresh water from a spring outside the city wall. A shaft was dug into the ground to a depth of 37 meters; then a tunnel 66 meters long was cut to the spring outside the city. Both the opening were covered with earth to hide it from the invaders.
[Slide show - Tel Magiddo]

After seeing Megiddo we visited Mount Carmel, Israel valley and Haifa which is the third largest city in Israel. Here there are many industries, a beautiful Bahai Temple with a garden, and the cave in which Elijah hid. We had a sumptuous lunch at ‘Taiwan’ Chinese restaurant very near the Bahai temple. Our next stop was Mount Tabor. It rises 500 meters above the surrounding plains and is 585 meters above sea level. This is considered a very holy place in Israel as is was witness to the glory of God manifested in the important victory of Barak. For Christians Mount Tabor is a holy place as it was chosen by Jesus to be the site of His Transfiguration (Luke 9:28). During 1924 the Franciscans  built a church here. Once on top, you have a splendid view of the entire region. The road being narrow and steep, we had to use local taxis to get to the top while our bus awaited our return. We drove on to the Jordan River.

[Slide show - Haifa, Mount Carmel, Bahai Temple, Mount Tabor]

The banks of the River Jordan are beautiful. Jordan flows from the snow capped Mount Hermon to the Sea of Tiberius (Galilee) and then on to the Dead Sea. Its average width is 31 meters. Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The traditional spot where Jesus was baptized is located some five miles east of Jericho, which is a prohibited military area under the Israel army. This is the same Jordan that Joshua crossed and the Prophet Elijah was taken to heaven is also believed to be nearby. There is a Baptismal site that has been constructed for public use at the place where River Jordan exits the Sea of Tiberius. We were able to see the baptism of few people who came from America. We then went on to stay the night in a hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee!. The view from the hotel was marvellous.

[Slide show - Baptismal Site, Hotel on the shores of Galilee]