Passover week is nearly past. It is Wednesday, 15 April, 3PM in Jaffa (Yafo in Hebrew).
This is the third Pessah (the eight day celebration of the Jewish Exodus) we have spent in Israel. For me, it has been the most difficult. Later, after I process some of it I’ll tell you why. For now, I am tossed in a storm of sadness, elation and confusion. No, not confused about my own firm convictions, but “why all around me are losing their heads,” when the answers are so obvious. It is like being Jonah in the storm, accepting the responsibility for peril, willing to pay the price, dreading the consequences but with faith in the outcome. Or like those fishermen in a boat on the stormy waters of Kinneret when He said, “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” So, please bear with me and I’ll share Passover with you later.
For now, come with me to an area where David achieved much of his fame.
Yesterday we explored the valley of Elah. This is a strange word. The geography is easy. The valley is between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I
t is accessible from modern freeway #1 at the exit to Beit Shemesh, leading south on Highway 38. A circuitous descent with a winding road leads past the ruins of Beit Shemesh to highway 383, Turn west, then south up that steep one way incline labeled “British Park” (don’t ask me why) to Tel Azeka (Azekah). Climb the hot, dusty, stony path to the top of the Tel. Before you is the Elah Valley stretching north and south with a range of mountains hiding Hobat Sokho (Socoh) to the east!
The word? One meaning of “Elah” in Aramaic (the language of Jesus) is “God.” It also translates as “awesome, fearful One.” The origin of the word is obscure. But this meaning in our present context is powerful.
Elah is the place where David showed the awesome, fearful power of his God by slaying Goliath, the giant from Gath, and putting the Philistine horde to flight. To stand here is to replay the drama from I Samuel 17. Listen! Goliath is stomping up and down right there in that rocky gorge, shouting to that boy, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” And that boy confidently replied, “…I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts … I will strike you down and cut off your head.” And he did!
Beit Shemesh and Abu Ghosh (Kiriath Jearim) - other places in the Elah valley significant in the life of David. Read about the exciting journey of the Ark of the Covenant in I Samuel 5, 6 and II Samuel 6. The Philistines gave it up at Beit Shemesh and David took it from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem in a fantastic parade.
We returned to Yafo. Jerusalem comes later.
This is the third Pessah (the eight day celebration of the Jewish Exodus) we have spent in Israel. For me, it has been the most difficult. Later, after I process some of it I’ll tell you why. For now, I am tossed in a storm of sadness, elation and confusion. No, not confused about my own firm convictions, but “why all around me are losing their heads,” when the answers are so obvious. It is like being Jonah in the storm, accepting the responsibility for peril, willing to pay the price, dreading the consequences but with faith in the outcome. Or like those fishermen in a boat on the stormy waters of Kinneret when He said, “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” So, please bear with me and I’ll share Passover with you later.
For now, come with me to an area where David achieved much of his fame.
Yesterday we explored the valley of Elah. This is a strange word. The geography is easy. The valley is between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I
t is accessible from modern freeway #1 at the exit to Beit Shemesh, leading south on Highway 38. A circuitous descent with a winding road leads past the ruins of Beit Shemesh to highway 383, Turn west, then south up that steep one way incline labeled “British Park” (don’t ask me why) to Tel Azeka (Azekah). Climb the hot, dusty, stony path to the top of the Tel. Before you is the Elah Valley stretching north and south with a range of mountains hiding Hobat Sokho (Socoh) to the east!The word? One meaning of “Elah” in Aramaic (the language of Jesus) is “God.” It also translates as “awesome, fearful One.” The origin of the word is obscure. But this meaning in our present context is powerful.
Elah is the place where David showed the awesome, fearful power of his God by slaying Goliath, the giant from Gath, and putting the Philistine horde to flight. To stand here is to replay the drama from I Samuel 17. Listen! Goliath is stomping up and down right there in that rocky gorge, shouting to that boy, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” And that boy confidently replied, “…I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts … I will strike you down and cut off your head.” And he did!
Beit Shemesh and Abu Ghosh (Kiriath Jearim) - other places in the Elah valley significant in the life of David. Read about the exciting journey of the Ark of the Covenant in I Samuel 5, 6 and II Samuel 6. The Philistines gave it up at Beit Shemesh and David took it from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem in a fantastic parade.
We returned to Yafo. Jerusalem comes later.
Testing. We have not been able to communicate with you via this blog but want you to know we have been trying. We have really been enjoying your trip and the history you are sharing! Louisa and Frank
ReplyDelete