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You are here: Home / Archives for King David

King David

The Temple Mount In Jerusalem

December 14, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

The Temple Mount

The Temple Mount In Jerusalem

The Temple Mount is that walled in area in the Southeastern part of the Ancient City of Jerusalem. It is an area considered Holy by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It was here that Solomon built the Temple of the Most High God. It was described as being on Mount Moriah. It was the place that was provided by his father, King David. We find that described for us in Biblical History:

“Then Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. It was on the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David, his father.”
– 2 Chronicles 3:1

The Temple Mount is surrounded by four walls. The lower part of the walls date all the way back to the time of the Second Temple. The Eastern Wall and part of the Southern Wall form a part of the walls that are surrounding the Ancient City of Jerusalem today. The lower half of these two walls were built under the ground, completely surrounding Mount Moriah. The Temple with it’s walls were built in the First Century BCE. This was the site where both the First and Second Temple were built. The Western Wall continues to be a major place of prayer and worship for Jewish believers. The Temple Mount is the Holiest site in Judaism

This is also the site that is recognized as the place where Abraham offered up his only son, Isaac.  We can find that clearly spelled out for us in Genesis: Chapter 22: 1-18. The Holy Rock inside the Dome of The Rock, is believed by the Jews and Christians to be the very place that this took place. It is a Holy site!  It is the location of the First and Second Temple.

The Dome of the Rock is a major architectural wonder. It is an amazing experience to be on the roof of a nearby building and have close eye contact with the Dome. The architecture of this Shrine is magnificent. The Temple Mount is the third holiest site for Muslims. They believe it is the place where Mohammed took his last journey, the Night Journey to The Throne of God.

The Temple Mount, and the rock which the Dome of the Rock protects is a major pilgrimage site for Christians. They also watch with deep interest as it appears that a Third Temple is to be built. For the Christian believer, this fulfills the prophecies on the end of days.

If you have made the decision to journey to this small country in the Middle East, Jerusalem stands at the center of all else. Many come as pilgrims, some historians or archaeologists, and others come as tourists. However you come, Jerusalem is a major place to visit. The Temple Mount stand tall above all!  For those who love history, it is steeped in history. It is here that we see the beginning of three major faiths. It is almost impossible to walk in the steps of so many great men and women of God and leave the same. It is in Jerusalem that you will see and feel all the stories of the Bible come alive. It is here that Jesus walked with his followers. This is a sacred site, Holy to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. No adventure to Israel is complete without a journey to The Temple Mount!

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Filed Under: Travel Tips, Uncategorized, World Travel Tagged With: Abraham, Christian, Dome of the rock, Eastern Wall, First Temple, Israel, Jerusalem, Jewish, King David, Mohammed's Journey to the Throne of God, Muslim, Second Temple, Solomon, Southern Wall, The Holy Rock inside the Dome of the Rock, The Temple Mount, Western Wall

Middle East Adventure Week Two

July 24, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com 1 Comment

Middle East Adventure

Middle East Adventure Week Two

Middle East Adventure continues as we now embark on week two. Our guide,  Elinoar Nitzani, arrives and we are off to see the hot and amazing Judean Desert. We pass the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a Bedouin Shepherd. Fragments from over 2oo books were found in these caves. The caves are beautiful and many can be seen from the highway. It is yet another example of natural beauty in the Middle East.

Reaching Masada our team experiences the most amazing beauty dating back to Roman times. Masada is a beautiful fortress built on an isolated rock cliff at the western end of the Judean Desert. This amazing Middle East fortress overlooks the Dead Sea. Josephus Flavius dramatically recounts the sad story of Masada, told to him by the only two survivors in his book, The Jewish War.

Arriving at the Dead Sea we experience the pleasures of the world’s lowest and saltest Sea. The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, is bordered by Israel, Jordan, and The West Bank. The shore of the Dead Sea is 1,388 feet below sea level. It is the world’s lowest point on earth! At 1,237 feet deep, it is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. The saline levels of this lake surpass those found in the ocean by 8.6 %. The salinity of the Dead Sea is 33.7%, making it the saltest body of water in the world. The unusually high levels of salt concentrations makes it possible for people to easily float on the lake. This amazing body of water is too salty for any animal or fish to live in its waters. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea and is its only tributary. Biblically, the Dead Sea was a place of refuge for King David and has always been a place dedicated to health and beauty. What a fantastic place of natural beauty! This is another jewel in the Middle East.

From the Dead Sea we make a seamless transfer at the Taba Border Station. We say good bye to our Israeli guide, Elinoar Nitzani, and with the help of several drivers make the transfer into Jordan where we meet our new guide, Ahmad Hussein. After entering Jordan, we travel to Aqaba where we spend the night at the Intercontinental Aqaba Hotel. This quality 5 star resort hotel has all the amenities that one would expect in a quality resort. The service was excellent, and they serve a fantastic breakfast and dinner buffet.  From our room,  we have a treasured view of the Red Sea and the resorts own private beach.  The Red Sea has dazzling and spectacular coral beds and is a major destination for divers and snorkelers. 

Intercontinental Aqaba Hotel
AQABA RESORT ON JORDAN’S RED SEA
http://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/aqaba/aqjha/hoteldetail

Our first day in Jordan and we are able to relax and enjoy the Red Sea. Can you imagine all the stories it could tell around the campfire? In the afternoon we take a Jeep ride out into this Middle East desert. Just think, Lawrence of Arabia came this same way! Would you like to join us for tea in the desert? The Bedouins make an excellent pot of tea! What an enjoyable way to end the day! Our second night in Jordan we are spending in the modern city of Petra at the Movenpick Nabatean Castle Hotel. This 5 star hotel is amazing! Service is excellent and the food is marvelous.
http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/en/middle-east/jordan/petra/hotel-petra-nabatean-castle/overview/

Today we get an early start, as we are spending the day at Petra, an ancient city carved into the sandstone of the desert. Petra is surrounded by tall and lofty mountains, filled with passage ways and gorges, riddled with mysterious caves and secret places. Petra has been inhabited since prehistoric times!  This is a Nabataean caravan-city, hidden in the rocks  between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. This amazing rock-cut  city was the capital city of the Nabateans. Can you imagine the secrets it could tell?  Latter during Hellenistic and Roman periods, it became a major caravan center in the Middle East. As a caravan center, it helped Arabia with it’s incense trade, provided a way for China silks to become known world wide,  and the spices of India became a household name. The mysterious Petra is a city lost among the rock. What amazing Middle East architecture!

There are several ways to get to the top of Petra, and most of the team elects to  walk. The first leg of this amazing journey can be done with a cart and a donkey. Guests of a Bedouin driver, you can elect to take a cart for the first half of the journey. The Bedouins are active in providing different types of transportation for a reasonable fee.  Once you get to the hidden city, you can walk to the top or choose to take a camel to the top. The camels are awesome and provide a safe trip to the top. Personally, I am delighted and enjoying my camel and donkey transportation!  What an amazing way to travel in the Middle East!

This is the day that we prepare to see Madaba. Madaba is home to some of the most amazing mosaics on earth. We watch as skilled artisans demonstrate the art of mosaics. What a fascinating art!

From Madaba we prepare to climb to the top of Mount Nebo, like Moses did so many years before us. The view from this mountain seems like we can see whole Middle East. In the words of Moses, see the description of this amazing view of the Holy Land and beyond.
Deuteronomy 34: 1-3  (JPS Tanakh 1917)
“1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, even Gilead as far as Dan; 2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the hinder sea; 3 and the South, and the Plain, even the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, as far as Zoar.”

Our last stop before we leave Jordan is Jerash. Jerash is another ancient Middle East city built by the Romans. The ruins at Jerash are marvelous. We are amazed as we climb and walk this ancient city. This city has been continuously occupied for the last 6,500 years and many consider it a favorite destination in Jordan. Here in Jeresh, we meet antiquity in all it’s splendor. Ahmad Hussein is our excellent guide for this day.  Our guide leaves us at the border crossing. We cross the border at Beit Shean and our driver returns us to The Market House in Tel Aviv.

Today we are up and ready early to visit the West Bank and the towns of Ramallah and Nablus.  Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank. While in Ramallah we are having a very traditional Palestinian lunch. The food is fantastic. All of the food we have had in the Middle East has been terrific! We are enjoying our day in the West Bank very much.  We are so privileged to have Mr. Yossef Barakat and Mrs Silvia Barakat as our guides today.  They are excellent guides and we enjoy our time under their guidance. The day is quickly ending and we return to The Market House in Tel Aviv.

This part of our journey is totally awesome. The Exploretraveler Team are thankful for all our guides and drivers and for Noah Tours and their countless hours of planning in our behalf. We look forward to our next adventure in the Middle East.

Guy/ Sales Department
Noah Tours Ltd.
Communication Centre Neve Ilan,
Harey Yehuda 90850, Israel

Office:  +972-2-6339956
USA:     +1 646 8639666
Fax:      +972-2-6339959
Mobile:+972-54-5304562

guy@noahtours.com

http:www.noahtours.com

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Filed Under: Travel Tips, World Travel Tagged With: Adventure, Aqaba, Bedouins, Dead Sea, Dead Sea Scrolls, Israel, Jerash, Jordan, Jordan River, Judean Desert, King David, Madaba, Masada, Middle East, Moab, Mount Nebo, Nablus, Qumran, Ramallah, Red Sea, Salt Sea, Tel Aviv, West Bank

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