The South Pt. 1: The Shephelah, Ashqelon, The Mediterranean Sea

After our first test had finally been finished, we had class to introduce us to the upcoming areas of study: Judah, the Shephelah (the foothills), and Philistia (the coastal plain). Then, we scattered to pack and prepare for our three day trip to the south.

We boarded the bus early in the morning, and began our stops right away. Our first stop was for a wadi hike. Wadis are the names of the water systems which cut through the land, causing deep grooves and valleys, and defining each region with their influence. We unloaded in a park, to venture downwards to the remains of Judean country life in the terraced hills. The limestone type in the hill country is called cenomanian, and is known as a life-giving rock. We explored the settlement of Saraf, which is maintained by the park service, complete with rows of rich green seedlings and vineyards.

However, the most beautiful thing about Saraf were the springs. In Egypt, where the Israelites came from, all of the crops are easily watered by irrigation from the Nile River. But when Moses took his people into the land of Canaan, he warned them in Deuteronomy 11 that the new land was a land which would require God's provision. Instead of a river, water bubbled up from the ground in springs. The Hebrews called this kind of water, "living water."

After finishing our exploration of life in the hills, we continued our journey south and into the Shephelah. The Shephelah are a different and softer limestone, eocene, which form relaxed hills and valleys. Our first stop in the Shephelah was at Beth - Shemesh, a useful vantage point from which the sites of Zorah and Timnah can be viewed. Here, Dr. Wright told the story of Samson, and we stood and swept our eyes across the hills, imagining Samson storming across the hills from his hometown in Zorah to claim his first Philistine bride in Timnah. The towns along the edge between the Shephelah and the cenomanian high hill country of Judah were hot spots for activity between Philistia and Israel. Israel needed the land for farming which could not be done in the hill country, and for access to the abundant coastal plain. Meanwhile, the Philistines fought to keep their land from the Israelites and to push into their land as well; not for economic benefit, but for the benefit of having what someone else wants.

Next, we went to Azekah, a site overlooking the Elah Valley, where David and Goliath battled. We discussed the story under a few sparse trees, comparing the virtues of David and Saul and wondering about the difference between four cubits and six cubits in height. Afterwards, we trekked to Ashqelon, a city right on the edge of the Mediterranean. Wheaton College has a dig there, so we met up with Dr. Masters and listened to the curious layers of stories. We saw the world’s oldest arched gate and looked around at ruins where 24 different cities from the Cannanite to Roman periods were settled. Interestingly, there were two theaters in the city - one large, and one smaller, about the size of Arena Theater. They've even found archaelogical evidence of the actual theater tickets which they had in the ancient days.

I have to admit, this was strangely one of the hardest days for me so far. It was blisteringly hot, and we spent almost our time hiking and standing in the sun, from seven in the morning until we arrived at our hostel in Beersheva at seven at night.

We got to sleep in some the next morning, but then it was off to the desert!