Faith Bible Church

Cedar Rapids, IA

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Day 13

Day 13. Samaria: Mt Gerazim and Mt Ebal (see Deut. 28-30). Ancient Shechem. The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Samaria.

Wall between Israel and Palestine. So we are traveling on the West Bank side
Standing on Mt Gerizim looking to Ebal. See Deuteronomy 28-30
Ancient Shechem from on top of Gerizim – Jeroboam’s first capital of the northern kingdom
This is the center of Samaritan worship. We are on Mt Gerizim
Olive press of a possible priestly house of a Samaritan on top of Gerizim. Surely, this was a wealthy house. Below is the olive crush area.
Woven baskets of crushed olives are taken into this area and a wooden post presses down on the baskets and you get the extra virgin olive oil.
Then these stones would be attached to the post and do a second press. Then more stones would be attached and press out the oil for lamps
At the site claimed to be where Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman in John 4. This is in the modern day city of Nablus.
At the site claimed to be where Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman in John 4. This is in the modern day city of Nablus.
The water is drinkable
Cyclopean wall of ancient Shechem
Wall is from around 2000 BC.
Site of the tower of Shechem – Judges 9
Standing stone – commemorative objects for the making of treaties
The eastern gate of Shechem – this would have been a sliding door gate – the gate would have been wood sliding between the rocks
Theater in Samaria (OT name) – Sebaste (NT name) – the Samaritan’s welcomed Hellenistic (Greek) influences.
Looking east toward Mt Gerazim (2 towers to the right) and Ebal (1 tower to the left) with the valley in between.
Remains of King Omri (1 Kings 16) and King Ahab’s palace in Samaria. King Omri moved the capital of the Northern Kingdom to here: Samaria (name in the Old Testament)/Sebaste (NT name).
Knafeh at Nablus – supposed to be the best!
Barb wanted a pic with camels. We watched the aftermath of a serious camel accident this afternoon. A woman was getting on to a camel from a stand. The camel got a rope caught on the stand and it scared him. The stand came down on a man and broke his leg and the woman hit her head on a wall. Ambulance crew etc. This is as close as Barb is going to get to a camel this trip!!