Jordan! Hoorah Hooray!

I've spent 4 glorious days in Jordan which I very much enjoyed. The trip was awesome and our guide excellent. On the Bus the trip through the border happened without event or delay. Our first stop was to Mount Nebo. Our guide instructed well that this is only a possible site of the mount. There were many "pillars" there commemorating the event of Moses' looking onto the promised land but not entering it (a statue of a rod with a snake around it, a monastery, a large Italian piece of art, and a stone memorial of Moses). Many Christians believe Moses died and was buried there or nearby, I learned Muslims believe Moses did die but that his body was taken up into heaven so that was interesting. From the viewpoint there Muhammed showed through the mild hase how a green streak in the distance is the River Jordan and so beyond that was the promised land. On the same day we saw the Madaba Mosaic Map it is in a chapel however the frequent earthquakes have destroyed much of it. That's actually a common theme that an earthquake has damaged all or part of a ruin site. The Map here has a view of Jordan, Jerusalem, and Egypt. The pictures of the prominent cities are quite exact giving the best idea of Jerusalem's streets and buildings of the Byzantine period (Also it has helped find the locations of ancient ruins - imagine how much more of a help it would be if we had the whole and not just this fragment). The Next stop we went to is the fortress, named Machaerus, where John the Baptist was held prior to his being beheaded (likely all the events in this scripture passage happened there Mat 14:3-12). It was situated in a grand vantage point - you could see the Dead Sea and mountainous areas all around you. Brother Huntsman, will be my Professor next week, drew a comparison Elijah = John ; Antipus = Ahab ; Herodias = Jezebel. Which is why Antipus was so upset - that is he could see the comparison plain as day. 

That Night we stayed in a hotel that is an abandoned village whose ruins have been renovated to become a rather suave hotel experience. There was a pool there and I had a grand old time swimming and taking in the atmosphere of the place.

The Next day we began our trip through Petra. Which is a huge site and is amazing to behold. As you approach there is a horse coral to you left. This is a highly secured city. I think it was the Romans who tried to take the city and could not (though they eventually poisoned their water source leading to victory). There is literally no way there except a pass through dual cliffs. Along the way there are pillars to their main god and his three daughters, as well as etched out camels and soldiers in the cliffs themselves. And once you enter you see a famous site from Indiana Jones, this tomb is magnificent and it is not clear whom it held (they are currently digging below it to ascertain that), as an aside it is mistakenly named the Treasury for no apparent reason. As you take a right and left you begin to get a feel for this site. Still with cliffs on both sides there are etched tombs on both sides with Nabotean triangles and/or steps to heaven patterns on the top (the number of these tell how many were buried there). Also while most are sandstone tan, some of these tombs are different colors due to the minerals and oxidation of these minerals. There is a theater here (there are Egyptian and Greek influences in architecture) with no stage due to it's ritual purposes. On your left just here is a stone stairway to the Sacrificial High Place. Nearly here the dual cliffs widen so they actually form a large enclosing circle. In the middle used to be the Nabotean city and residence. However earthquakes throughout time made this more or less unrecognizable it looks now like just a mound of stones. But there are beautiful things to see  on both sides. On the opposite side of the mound we had lunch in a wonderful restaurant. I wanted to be in the first group out to look at the Monastery (about a 20 minute hike up stone stairs). On the way up there are booths of merchandise and many people selling them for 1 dinar and up. I wonder if they have to rent out those spots from each other. Anyway they try and get you to promise that on the way down you will buy something from them (because they KNOW you'll be back that way). Anyway the Monastery was huge it was a little difficult to climb into it. I also saw a vantage point which displayed quite a bit of the city. Then I hiked back down - I saw a group rushing to also climb the Sacrificial High Place walk so I rushed with them. It lead to another vantage point which was cool. On the way back to the buses and bidding a farewell to the site I rode a horse back up. We took that bus on the 4 hour trip back to the Amman area. The hotel was nice that night after such a day of hiking. We did go out that night during which we saw the Rainbow Road shops - which was mostly high class stuff - so I naturally bought something at each shop. There we saw a recreation of Babylons blue and gold gate. Good night to that night. 

The Next day Amman began with a trip to the King Abudulah Mosque where our tour guide Muhammed explained many things about Islamic culture and religion. He explained that the call for prayer five times a day was a helpful reminder to have a prayer in their heart at all times. Also that the first prayer is the hardest as it is   before sunrise - he explained that the devil tries to stop you from praying and this time is usually when he succeeds (he has lead many mormon groups so I expect at this section he was pulling out similarities especially). Also, he explained how Their Prophet Muhammed was reprimanded during a part of his receiving visions because he said to a question "I will tell you tomorrow" after he had asked of God. In that he assumed he could command God and was reprimanded for that by Gabriel (This is in relation to the Cave Question). He was also asked about the beginning of the spirit which he answered with "I don't know" (which was the correct answer as any answer would have proven him to NOT be a prophet in the questioners eyes - a logical hurdle I cannot get over). Next we went to the Citadel - which was a confusing site to me. It was confusing because it had been inhabited for so long I mean a very long time - yet there were no layers from what I could see. Each period built next to each other rather than tearing down and building new it seemed to me. So we would be passing a ruin and explain it's history then jump several periods at the new ruin on the same level. Apparently the Amman Citadel area had been inhabited since the Iron Ages. I quote from Bro Huntsman's blog:

"We then drove to the Citadel, the fortified center of every city on this site since the Iron Age, if not earlier.  It was Rabbath Ammon in the Bible, capital of the Ammonites and frequently fought against by the Israelites.  In the Hellenistic period it became a Greek city known as Philadephia.  It continued as such into the Roman period, when it was one of the Decapolis or "ten cities" mentioned in the New Testament gospels.  In the Byzantine period it became an important Christian site, and in the Arab period it became Amman, by which it is known today.  The Citadel has remains from all these periods.  The most noticeable is the great Temple of Hercules, who was actually a Roman syncretism with Melqart, the chief god of the Ammonites."

There was an amazing museum there which held the first known remains of depictions of humans. It used to hold the metal scroll from the collection of the dead sea scrolls but they have since been moved.

We left Amman and on the way out saw the area where Gen 32 is said to have taken place. A very highly spiritual experience for Jacob (of which we only have a fragment in Genesis).

Next we saw Jerash the ancient city and part of the Decapolis - that experience began with a view of its Hadrainus Arch of mostly original stones we saw to our left while entering the horse stables which would have held ready horses and accepted the tired ones. through those you could enter the smallest known Hippodrome where we saw a presentation of the Roman Legion's formations as well as Gladiator and Chariot section of the show. Come to think of it This site rivals Ephesus as far as awesomeness goes. It may just exceed it in my eyes. Inside the south gate there is an amazing oval plaza surrounded by columns later you can see the center of the city which used to have four Gazebo like structures holding statues. As you continue down the slanted stone road you can see the chariot wheel imprints. On your left you behold a area which used to have a magnificent fountain. We saw a temple to Artemis and were left to wander. I saw a nice theater and loved it. There are columns lining the rows and it's a pretty cool place. We drove on the buses during that trip a large group stopped at the Royal Automobile Museum in Jordan. This Museum featured many of the actual cars that the Monarchy here has driven it was quite interesting and I hope to show you the pictures later. I would describe it but I am not that knowledgeable with cars to tell you much. There were motorcycles, fancy slow cars, slick fast road cars, Jeeps, and racing cars featured among them. We stayed in the same hotel this night as the last. The nights activities were fun as a small group was led by Katie a BYU Jordanian study abroad student to a famous and cheap restaurant via a taxi and afterward a wonderful cheese sweet shop (really good). After a short taxi back we also got this nice Smootie with fruit as well as Ice Cream with fruit dish - we got it at this cool little shop with a fish tank. Then I ended out the night playing never have I ever with some fellow JC students.  

This next day was highlighted by a trip to the Largest theater in Jordan which lies in Amman. I sang "The Spirit of God" with Jared Maxfield and Scott Walker in the center of the amphitheater. Many other performances were had. Directly after this we walked through a market place as a tour so we didn't stop to buy anything. Next a rest stop in a rather random seeming tourist mall thing. Where we also ate KFC then our stop at the Jordan river. Jesus was likely baptized near this site as there are ancient signs that this might be the place. There was an ancient Mikveh there (a Jewish water ritual immersion font which has as one of it's purposes conversion) old enough to have been there at the time of John the Baptist so it's possible that Jesus was baptized in a mikveh and not actually the river Jordan but I digress. There is an early christian chapel with steps down to what must have been a wonderful site - it is now a dry bed as the river no longer allows the small outlet that used to be there. Further along the trail is a wooden deck with a refined jordan "holy water" river there. The opposite bank is Israel and they have set up baptism sites on that side as well. There were several cathedrals there we didn't go inside. Also from a distance we saw there a cathedral commemorating Elijah's ascending into heaven near the river Jordan (2 Kings 2:4-13). 

All that remained was a trip back across the border. So I whipped out a computer and played Jack Johnson while the bus drove back to the Jerusalem Center.

While here I have recently ascertained a cello to borrow. I played my cello for those in the food court named the Oasis and got a pretty good response!  I thought it was really fun.

Unfolding History

Hey so I thought that I'd update my blog a bit. We went on a field trip with a man who is obsessed with maps. Needless to say it gave me added appreciation for the current conflict here in this area, meaning the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Actually in my Modern Near East Classes (we have two - each presented from their own perspective) I have been impressed with that they basically recounting history in a similar way. Both are open and honest so I feel I have a better understanding of the issue as what the issue is doesn't seem to be the thing that is being argued. I'm semi-doing this off the cuff so forgive and correct me if you note something not right.

First off there were always some Jews living in the area although in a very small number. They were farmers and lived their lives in harmony with the people around them. During this time the "Near East" was under Ottoman rule and was contacted by various nations to rise up against that empire basically to help their own political prowess, so Palestine became somewhat of a nation as it was being contacted (Not that it didn't have a local identity - all areas do). The First Aliyah (meaning "ascent" - immigration) of Jews came to do that - that is to farm and till the ground. Their settlements were named with such themes as Hope and Salvation.

Also during this time frame and shortly thereafter Zionist doctrines (Not religious) were being formulated up in Germany. Some secular Jew Students moved, and are called the second Aliyah to the Holy Land, and became very active in working the land. Work was their doctrine and looked down on anyone not pulling their weight. Their want was not a religious one they wanted a state of their own for a purely secular reason. (A map displays this time period). (Not many Jews were Zionist - But to this group was suggested an area by the British in East Africa - which the majority of Zionists rejected solidifying that the land near Jerusalem - which is considered Palestine - is definitely where the Zionists wished to go). There are around 6 other Aliyahs.

Nevertheless the immigration was to such a degree that caused the Arab Revolt of 1936 - it's theme was violet acts against the unwanted immigrants and an attack against British rule. The consensus of this revolt was not absolute and some Palestinians put Jewish families in their homes to protect them in a spirit of "if you want them you must go through me".

Next, WWII was near beginning which forced many Jews seeing the signs of war to wish to leave. But the doors to the countries were already closed. America and other countries (including the British - including their occupied territory of Palestine) already had mandates and rules for immigration and all did not allow a large influx of immigrants. And so Zionism became slightly more popular and the immigration into Palestine despite English regulations (which they did enforce strictly) happened quite a bit this is named Aliyah Bet. The Holocaust occurs, different Jews had different reactions (Generally Ultra Orthodox blame Zionism, and Zionists blame Orthodoxy for God allowing the atrocity). Britain has it's own conflicts so it entirely gives the issue to the UN to deal with.

There was already in place a British mandate for the area (including Palestine and modern day Jordan). Jordan gets split from Palestine and is ruled by Hashemites (descendants of Muhammad's great-grandfather). The UN stops all Jewish settlement of Jordan at that point. The UN's plan for Palestine is best portrayed by this map which it proposes in 1947. Notice the bottlenecks of boundaries both countries would have had to deal with. The Jews accept it however the Palestinians do not. Resulting in war during this war the Palestinians and several other countries come in to fight. The Israelis won and gained ground in the battle. Jordan occupied the resulting West Bank and Egypt occupies Gaza. A cease fire was agreed upon and maintained until 1967. The new boundaries were thought to be temporary in a sense and were drawn first with green pen and so is known as the "Green Line". All surrounding Arab countries do not recognize Israel as a state.

The bad relations between Israel and the surrounding countries continue. In 1967, Egypt blocks international waters (an act of war in itself). This, and Arab armies posted near their borders, prompts Israel to attack first in a very successful surprise campaign in the Six Day War. You'll notice in this map in the upper right hand corner they gained land from Syria I learned there are actually cliffs there and the Syrians were bombing the Israelis from above. Also they gained the Sinai Peninsula (and opened the blocked waters in the process) as well as pushed Jordan out of the West bank and became the new occupiers of all Palestine land in so doing. (It is viewed that Israel occupies the West Bank it is not part of Israel proper, so an accurate picture of the country should be like this in our time.) The Israeli Independence Day is known by Palestinians as the Calamity, which is an interesting note and displays well the feelings on both sides.  Palestinians continued the war through the early 1970's.

In 1973 Egypt and Syria made advances in the Yom Kippur War (so named because it was on a Jewish holy day Yom Kippur). In so doing they regained some military glory. But were pushed back completely and the only part the Jordanians had in the battle as I understand it was to prevent Israel from taking more land from Syria. Then in 1982 an agreement was reached between Egypt and Israel to have the Sinai returned to Egypt (relations with Israel are looked down upon by the other Arab countries - ostracizing Egypt from them a bit). Israel still retained the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Intefadas followed next - which were occupied Gaza and West Banks Palestinians would protest. Some of these were violent resulting in killings others meant to just create chaos by destroying streets.

In 2001 the decision was made to withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip this was carried out over the next while. Also the Separation wall was beginning to be built. Several things about this. The Wall encloses the West Bank. The Jerusalem area actually has several more issues. For instance more Jerusalem land was annexed by Israel into East Jerusalem after the Green Line was drawn. No country has recognized this annexation. Then the Separation wall throughout the area does not follow the Green Line but deviates greatly, not just slightly, from it. Also in relation to Palestinians with Israeli citizenship - they really get the worst of both worlds. They get scorned by other countries of Arabs and to a point looked down on within their own country. The Arab East Jerusalemites who are now within the separation wall have now created their own culture (whereas they just used to belong to the West Bank - they have to decide who are they now) They are not citizens of any place but are given ID cards by Israel. Also Jewish and Arab students in schooling are always separated - complete with separate books. Feelings toward these attitudes and the wall are divided among both groups.

Hamas has garnered lots of support by those in Gaza as well as the West Bank (They won the election there in 2006). Fatah is a major party of the Palestinians in the West Bank. Though many consider Fatah to be corrupt to a degree (especially in regards to receiving money, from America for instance, and doing very strange things with it). Both Hamas and Fatah have extended their agreed upon rule. I learned also that Hamas builds schools and hospitals for it's people and that's generally why they have support from the Palestinian people. Hamas is blamed for quite a bit of things because they are "in control" of Gaza and technically the West Bank - but there are many different movements and divisions other than Hamas in operation. I learned that Jihadists are excommunicated from Islam. Those Terrorists are considered by the general body as not part of their religion.

After all this history I want to inform you that much of this is romanticized - that is it is more a battle of governments than with people. Imagine a normal man and place him on either side of this conflict this man loves his family, laughs etc. And he has relations with and enjoys the company of people who don't agree with him. The civilians on both sides have a substantial group which do not like the idea of the Settlements being build in the West Bank (neither does America) It lessens the chance of a two nation ideal end.

I hope I have displayed everything that happened in a correct way. I am partly doing this from memory. A resolution should be made including a dual state, upon that many agree.

Ahoy! I pressed olives! I'm an olive presser... I press olives now.

There was an optional opportunity (which our entire group took) to go snorkeling down at the most southern city of Israel - a port city on the red sea named Eilat. It was a 4 hour ride there and back. It was quite windy and there were restraints obviously where we could go and where we could not. There were two bridges out to the deep water the wind was very strong so that if you just lay there the current would lead you there. Among the fish I saw were a Parrot Fish, a school of Sergeant Major (a white blacked stripped fish), a Trigger Fish, several Coral Groupers, many Suez fusiliers, and several fish who looked like Dory but I think were actually Yellowtail Surgeonfish (more I can't name after a bit of research). When you are in the deep section there is a coral reef blocking you from the shore of mostly that sandy dull color with the intermittent bright colored coral. Near the further bridge there was an excellent place to see fish around a circular reef further into the sea. Loved it!! I was doing freestyle with that snorkel on and had a grand old time - both on the beach and in the water.

Well here near the old city we had a tour of the City of David (the original settlement which is completely outside of the current walls) I found it very interesting. At the tourist sight there were harp signs everywhere which of course is an icon of David. We went to an outlook and saw how the mostly Arab settlements did have Jewish homes in there as well now which was interesting. We also saw the supposed sight of Solomon's Egyptian wife's tomb (although it's said the dates do not match up). The City of David was situated between two valleys which intersected below it namely the Kidron and Tyropoeon Valleys. It is at that junction that Melchezideck and Abraham are supposed to have met (Melchez. interestingly is mentioned by Josephus apparently as a righteous Canaanite holy man(?) whose people also had a temple on the current temple mount). We watched a 3-D movie there at the tourist site which was actually better than I expected. But as we walked through the City ruins we saw the Glaci which might have held up David's palace and a Nobleman's home there as well. Then we saw the grave area which is said to have held both David and Solomon's bodies for a time (however no visible graves are there as it was later used as a quarry). Also cool is that from the base of the valleys there upward it was considered more and more sacred as you went up culminating in Solomon's Temple area - sort of like steps of holiness as you ascend.

Next was Hezekiah Tunnel which was constructed to bring the Gihon Spring's water to a more secure area within further the city walls (also at a time when there were many Northern Kingdom refugees from when they were carried away coming to Jerusalem and as such an additional wall was created around that area to protect them). Gihon means "Gushing" or sent and that word has relation to that area unto this very day with the Arab community on the other side of the Kidron Valley. The Tunnel's constructors start from both directions tunneling and take a very windy path to do so and met at the middle. At times the ceilings are high and other times I had to crouch over like the hunchback of Notre Dame to get through. There are still water running through and at times it went up to slightly above my knee water level - but mainly it was ankle high. The width is about the same throughout fairly narrow but not uncomfortable. During the trip through Jared Maxfield was behind me and Katherine Redd in front and every now and again we would turn off all of our headlamps to have a blackout which was fun. As we got out after we took pictures where there was a pool that was fun. -- Later we saw the excavated section of the Pool of Siloam (featured in the wonderful healing John 9:6-11) It is here at this pool Lamps and lights everywhere that Jesus declares that I am the light of the world. Also the water was used from this pool to be brought up and sprinkeled on the altar. 

We went up and out of that area through a tunnel (which I later found out was a sewer type of area which was actually used as a hideout for some Jews during the Roman destruction) And then we were picked up by some buses. That was a cool trip and gave me plenty to think about. 

We have been engaged in the Olive Pressing process for a little bit. We picked the olives from the many olive trees in the center all together. We were climbing in the trees and using ladders to get the high hanging olives. There is much symbolism involved with the olive tree and the fruit thereof. The tree is called the tree of light for when the wind blows it you see the interchange between the dark and light sides of the leaf and the whole tree seems to shimmer. The Olive if eaten directly off the tree is very bitter I ate and swallowed a bite so I can attest to you it's true. However the Olive oil one separated is quite sweet showing that the bitterness of sin can be squashed out and what remains is sweet. We were engaged recently in the olive crushing here at the center they have all the necessary parts to crush (with a wheel beam mechanism) and then various forms of pressing oil out of the resulting mush (weighted press, and a screw press). You would fill shallow circular baskets full of the mush and place them under the mechanisms and when applied pressure the baskets bleed the olive oil from all sides. It was said that at the later parts of the construction of this Jerusalem Center that an general authority remarked this plot would not be complete without an olive tree - so one was transplanted here from Bethlehem that tree is 1200 years old. Since then there are many trees which spot the terraces here in the Jerusalem Center. How how I love it here! 

Have a Good one!

Oh Glorious Low Lands: Fortresses included

K! Some background has to be laid here: The Coastal Plains (otherwise known as the plains near the coast) were inhabited by the Philistines which are one of the peoples that could not be expelled when the Israelite peoples were conquering their promised land as they came west.


Beth Shemesh - At this site on top a top too tall hill we overlooked the place of Samson's raising and later strange exploits. From the lookout we looked... out to Samson's birth town. And while reading of his story what struck me most was the story of the vision to his parents actually especially the section in Judges 13:15-23. I think the principle that - the story of the Old Testament is not one of precisely what God wants to have happen rather it is a story of what occurred applies to the rest of the story of Samson. The other wonder of mine is what the writer hopes us to understand or learn from his story. What also struck me is how close the Philistine city from which he gets his wife happens to be.


Azekah - we did not go to the Tel here but used it more as a vantage point to view out where the story of David and Goliath played out which was pretty cool in and of itself. Also from the opposite side we were able to in the distance see the some of the cities of the Philistines most notably Gath. Azekiah along with Lachish feature in scripture most notably Jeremiah 34:7 due to these cities along with Jerusalem being the only ones left from the attacks of the Babylonians. 


Lachish - was under siege and overtaken by the Assyrians and the Bablyonians. Under the Babylonian siege marked in Jeremiah 34:7 an interesting archeological find gives us an additional snapshot of the moment there. Named the 4th letter of the Lachish Letters it went unsent as it was still in Lacish it reads "And may (my lord) be apprised that we are watching for the fire signals of Lachish according to all the signs which my lord has given, because we cannot see Azeqah." So this is after the Biblical account and shows a moment of despair when they cannot see the signal fires of Azekah. We went to the top of the Tel there and walked throughout the remains of the city - I pointed to where the Israelites would have been looking to the fire of Azekah and took a picture (unfortunetly here they won't let us upload pictures - bandwidth issues).


Lachish - Earlier in time is the Assyrian siege where they made the still visible siege ramps (ramps for siege war machines) and the Israelites made a counter siege ramp to make easier attacks against the Assyrians. When the Assyrians won they actually made a mosaic in walls of Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh. However shortly after their victory the Lord struck down their force making it impossible to go up against Jerusalem. However Jerusalem did pay great tribute to Assyria.


Mareshah - Another important Israelite fortress but the real jem is from the Roman period where there are intricate caves which go for quite a ways. I loved this site because it was interesting and the path down one of them particularly was long and you had a feeling like "are we really supposed to be going down this way"? But there really was only one way and it was just really cool - I can't wait to show you the pictures. Also we sang in one of the halls I loved it - Kaleb Valdez lead us in doing a perfect fifth trick which has you hear when in an enclosed cistern like we were an octave above that which you sing. Anyways there was an interesting tomb here where the art on the walls has been recreated - it had animals and was very colorful. After a short drive we were at the bell caves. ENORMOUS open caves we sang many hymns inside and it was very awesome.


So in these rolling hills contained the above fortresses each separated by a valley and each having an important israelite city behind them to protect. That was a fun trip!


Also we had a mock Seder dinner (it's the wrong season for it - it is actually Sukkot right now and it was just recently the Day of Atonement ). Seder goes over the story of Exodus. To give you perhaps the best taste of the theme of the evening "Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever does not explain the following three symbols at the Seder, has not fulfilled the duty of the Haggadah ("Telling" of the Exodus story). The Passover Sacrifice; The Matzah; and The Bitter Herbs"


The Passover Sacrifice: In Jewish additional scripture the Misnah (which are the words whispered to Moses atop mount Horeb) The Lord God is defined as himself executing the final plague of Exodus that is the killing of all the firstborns in the area without lambs blood on the doors. And in the Temple times this was symbolized by a Lamb being sacrificed during the same time as the Passover occurred.


The Matzah: Is both a symbol of Slavery and of Freedom - it is to be the last taste in your mouth at the end of the evening. Slavery because it is the bread they were given during their slavery and freedom because they were thrust so quickly out of Egypt they couldn't have even allowed time for their bread to rise. 


The Bitter Herbs: A variety is eaten and this because they bring remembrance to the bitterness of slavery under the Egyptians (Leafs dipped in salt water, horse radish, an apple mix, a meat containing a bone and a combination of some of these sticks out to me)


Another practice of the nearly full Seder we performed which struck me was taking from our cup of grape juice 10 drops of liquid to show our regret that Egyptian suffering occurred from the 10 plagues. 


Just today I had a lot of fun! We went to the Russian Orthodox Church of Maria Magdalene which had beautiful gardens around it and inside were beautiful paintings. Most Iconic of this site is the several golden roofing domes which are simply stunning. As we went further up the mount of Olives we encountered the Dominus Flevit Church (which commemorates Jesus overlooking Jerusalem and weeping - it is in the shape of a tear) one of the mosaics in there was of a hen gathering her chickens. We saw the Tomb of the Prophets which is said to have laid the last three Jewish prophets in them. We saw then the Chapel of the Ascention which holds a stone which both Traditional Christians and Muslims view as the last stone which Jesus touched before ascending to heaven.


PS Also check out this video as it shows you the center inside and out http://ce.byu.edu/jc/hosting-video.cfm

Modern and Ancient History

Well just this past Monday I went on a field trip to the Negev desert region. Which was very interesting. Our first stop was to a weaving Bedouin woman and their presentation was very interesting. Hagar the woman there showed us how they spin the wool to make thread; how they them double thread it and organize it so it can be spun again to earn the strongest type of thread; She described how they synthetically dye it (so the colors will stay); And finally how they use a loom like method (there was no machinery it was laid on the ground) to put the rug together. They handed out some kind of an herbal tea, and nice sweets in the tent for us. She described generally how in Bedouin culture the woman in the past was a huge part of the family workings but then in modernity that role was significantly lessened. There was a bit of a woman's right to education discussion and how Hagar has been a part of that in encouraging all her children to further their studies on to university level.  That organization is very interesting as they claim a lot of firsts - like the group we met with went to an inter cultural meeting in Phoenix Arizona and in so doing were the first Bedouin women to do anything of the kind. That took place in an accepted city (meaning the State of Israel will provide such services as water and electricity). Our next stop was to a Bedouin Sheik (word meaning "old man") near there in an unrecognized city (in order to become recognized the community of Bedouins would have to agree to certain requirements such as their able would have the obligation of joining the military) a man lead us around there showing us structures such as metal rectangle homes as well as examples of mud and tent homes which some there still use at times. He showed us their generator and some kind of a water pump they use in that town which was interesting. Our director here at the center mostly translated which was cool because we don't get to see him in action too much.

Our next stop was to Tel Arad which has two ancient ruins there. This area is a very important trade route location as a major road comes in from all the major directions. The first we visited was an old Canaanite settlement where they reconstructed one home to what they assumed it must have looked like. This settlement is at the base of the valley because that is where the water was most accessible - in fact there was a well there which was wide it had no water in the bottom though.  There were remnants of the Canaanite wall there as well. Then up there hill was a Israelite fortress in which many letters were discovered of ancient date in the Governors Palace section. One of these letters reffered to the House of Yahweh at Tel Arad which undoubtedly refers to something extremely interesting. That is the thought that there can be temples outside Jerusalem (a concept which the Jews reject today). We got to go around the rooms which would be akin to the courtyard the Holy place and the Holy of Holies there. The Holy of Holies in Tel Arad consists of a small room with two incense pillars and two tomb like standing stones.
((Our professors talked to us and explained that there were many other temples such as the ancient one at Hazor and one at the Island of Elephantine. This contrasts greatly with the prevailing thought that Jews could ever only have one temple and that at Jerusalem. Some of these extra temples were shut down undoubtedly for false practice in them. But the one on the Island was destroyed at one point and a letter from Jerusalem informs them they can rebuild it minus the burnt offering section. However likely during the corrupt kings period they would have wanted to destroy all other temples so that a dependence on Jerusalem would be ensured. Anyway the feelings and way Lehi and Nephi go about building altars and later temples in the New World in the Book of Mormon seems to coincide with this thought that the temple in Jerusalem doesn't need to be the only one))

Our next stop was to Tel Ber Sheva which is called the "oath of well" or the "oath of seven" where Abraham makes an oath with Abimelech involving seven ewes (Gen 21:22-34). Later it's said that Isaac digs seven wells there (and his vision named "Jacobs ladder" happens right near the city). Coming up to the gate you can see a very deep well with water at the bottom - there's only a faint reflection of the water coming up. There are remnants of double gates as you enter and the probable site of where a altar used to be which was definitely cultic due to it's features is on the left. you can go up to an observation tower from which you get a great view of the city. And we took a different way out of the city underground! There is a ancient water reservoir there where you can walk through which is amazing though shorter than I imagined. There you could also see an aqueduct which they would have used to fill the reservoir (The well for outsiders the reservoir for city inhabitants this system provided safety)

Other than that I am in the middle of mid-terms right now in my classes which have all been pretty intensive I guess I better get back to that.