Our day started off with a trip to The Israel Museum where they have a model of the city of Jerusalem to help us get an overview of how the city is set up. The scale was 1:50, so it gives you an idea of how large the city was.
The temple is huge in comparison to the rest of the city.
The finger-like area coming off the temple is the City of David. The small houses to the left were where the common people lived.
The larger houses is where the rich, including the priests, would have lived. There was a walkway connecting their area of the city with the temple so that they could get to the temple without becoming unclean.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are also kept here. The top of this building is kept watered to keep it cooler inside.
Our major "hike" of the day (my definition of hike has changed) was at the Herodium. This is yet another one of Herod's palaces. We have a tendency to not obey all the signs.
This is another one of Herod's swimming pools...in a desert...just because he could. A road would have run past those columns. Mary and Joseph would have probably walked past on their way to Bethlehem. I wonder what thoughts passed through their heads about Herod's extravagance.
When Jesus talks about having a faith that can move mountains, his audience would have had this picture in their mind. Jesus was promising that with faith, we can do more than Herod ever did.
The rounded tower that you see would have gone up eight stories. Herod is buried on this mountain.
Jewish freedom fighters used this fortress later. A synagogue from that time was discovered.
From the top of the Herodium, you can see Bethlehem. Jesus was born within sight of this man-made extravagance. What a juxtaposition: the king of the universe was born in a stable within site of one of the greatest palaces ever made.
This is an example of a shepherds' cave. These were naturally occurring caves in which they kept sick, old, or very young animals. Houses were usually built on top.
The idea of my king being born in a cave, with the roof covered in soot, and the floor covered in manure, is humbling. He should have been born in Herodium. But he chose a cave for me.
Although not Bethlehem itself, this is a settlement that can be seen from the top of the Herodium that is the size that Bethlehem would have been when Jesus was born.
Take away from Herodium/Bethlehem: Who's my king? The guy in the eight story tower or the baby in the cave?
How Christmas go it wrong:
- Jesus was probably born in September or October. Even now, there is tension between the farmers and the shepherds. Shepherds are not allowed in the fields until after harvest. If the shepherds were in the fields nearby, it would have been after the harvest.
- The manger would have been made of stone and would have held water. There's stuff to eat all over; it's the water that's precious.
- The stable would have been a cave.
- The shepherds were not 30 year old men. More likes they were young girls or maybe a family.
Our next stop was the Church of the Nativity. To be honest, it really wasn't my thing. Too many people, too much incense, too many relics, not enough of the true story for me.
On a side note: One day Faith came home from school and told me, "Mommy, while you're in Israel, you need to look for the Arc of the Covenant. It's lost!" Well, Faith, it's not the real Arc, but when we saw it in the gift shop, we thought of you.
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