13 Days of Biblical Discovery
DAY 1 – Depart USA
DAY 2 –Theme: Coastal Plain and the Via Maris
Arrive in Tel Aviv. Meet your instructor and driver and begin your study trip.
Morning: Caesarea, built by Herod the Great; the residence of Pilate, procurator of Judaism, Cornelius, the centurion (Acts 10), Herod Agrippa, who killed James (Acts 12), and Festus to whom the Apostle Paul was taken for questioning (Acts 25).
Afternoon: Megiddo, the battleground of history (1 Kings 9:15; 2 Kings 23:28; Rev 15:12). Mount of Beatitudes (Mt 5‐7). Overnight in Tiberias.
DAY 3 – Theme: Jesus’ Ministry around the Sea of Galilee
Morning: Sepphoris (Zippori), the early capital of Galilee. Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, Church of the Annunciation.
Afternoon: Chorazin (Mt 11:21; Lk 10‐13). Tabgha, where Jesus instructed Peter to “Feed my Sheep” (Jn 21). Eremos Cave of Meditation. Overnight in Tiberias.
DAY 4 – Theme: Jewish Presence in the Golan and Upper Galilee
Morning: Kursi, the area where evil spirits were cast into swine (Mark 5). North through Golan Heights stopping at Gamla, an important city of the First Jewish revolt; region of Mt. Hermon, probably the location of the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1) and Peter’s confession (Mt 16:13), near Caesarea Philippi.
Afternoon: Tel Dan, where Jeroboam set up a cultic worship center (1 Kings 12:29). Overnight in Tiberias.
DAY 5 –Theme: Jesus’ Ministry around the Sea of Galilee and Lower Galilee
Morning: Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. See Ancient Boat at Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar). Capernaum (Mt 4:13; Mk 3:1, 8:5, 1:44), home of Peter and the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Magdala, Mary Magdalene’s first-century village.
Afternoon: Beth Shean, OT Tel and NT Roman city (Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27; 1 Samuel 31:10; 1 Kings 4:12). Overnight at Dead Sea
DAY 6 – Theme: The Patriarchs and the Exodus
Morning: Beersheva, Abraham’s well and where Jacob left for Egypt during the famine (Gen 21, 26, 28, 46; Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3, 8, 15; 1 Kings 19:3); Arad (Numbers 21:1‐3; Joshua 12‐13; 2 Kings 18).
Afternoon: enjoy Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Overnight at Dead Sea.
DAY 7 – Theme: King David at En Gedi
Morning: walk Wadi David to David Falls at En Gedi.
Afternoon: Enjoy the Dead Sea. Overnight at Dead Sea.
DAY 8 – Theme: Aftermath: The First & Second Jewish Revolts
Morning: Jordan Valley, stopping at Masada, last Zealot stronghold against Rome in 70 AD. Qumran, Essene Community who preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Afternoon: Baptisms at Jordan River (Kasr El Yehud). OT Jericho (Joshua 5‐7). Overnight at Jerusalem.
DAY 9 – Theme: Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Morning: Praetorium, place of Jesus’ Trial (Mk 15:16). St. Peter in Gallicantu, House of Caiaphas, the High Priest (Mt 26:57). Israel Museum (Second Temple period Jerusalem Model, Dead Sea Scrolls, Copper Scroll from Jewish Temple, Seat of Moses from Chorazin, and much more).
Afternoon: Jesus’ Birth. Bethlehem: Church of Nativity, cave revered as the birthplace of Jesus (Mt 1:18‐25; Luke 2:1‐7). Haas Promenade, panoramic view from South of Jerusalem (time permitting). Overnight at Jerusalem.
DAY 10 – Theme: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Morning: Walk Jesus’ route through Bethphage toward Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Mt 21). Pater Noster, the cave where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. Mount of Olives and Kidron Valley (Acts 1). Garden of Gethsemane.
Afternoon: The Roman Trial of Jesus. Via Dolorosa: walk through Old City Jerusalem. The Crucifixion and Resurrection. Visit possible sites of Golgotha, Holy Sepulcher Church, and the Garden Tomb (Mt 27:11). Overnight at Jerusalem.
DAY 11 – Theme: Jerusalem during Jesus’ Passion Week
Morning: The Western Wall Tunnel: first-century level of Western Wall. Western Wall. Temple Mount excavations, where Jesus’ taught (Mt 21), Peter gave his sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and Paul learned under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Visit the Davidson Center in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park.
Afternoon: the City of David, King David’s Jerusalem, David’s Palace, Warren’s Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel/Gihon Spring. NT Pool of Siloam. Overnight at Jerusalem.
DAY 12 – Theme: Shephelah – Hebrew Life Under the Judges, Kings, & Prophets
Morning: Visit Beth Shemesh, Elah Valley (David & Goliah), and Ein Karem.
Afternoon: Tomb of the Kings, a cemetery carved in the side of one of Herod’s quarries used to produce stones for the Temple Mount expansion. Free time in the Old City. The group has rooms all day for clean up and packing. Depart for the airport after dinner.
DAY 13 – Friday Arrive Home
NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change per guide due to local conditions