The WaLls cAmE TUMBLIN.... doWn:.

What an adventure it was stepping back to the time of Joshua and the battle of Jericho... We went on a "field trip" to the Tel Jericho. 

 

Its pretty crazy to see the different strata that have been uncovered. We talked about the Battle of Jericho and how they marched around the entire city once carrying the Arch of the Covenant for six days and on the seventh day they went around seven times, as soon as they finished the walls came tumbling down...

 

This picture shows the different layers of wall that were built up on top of eachother....

 

These are the wonderful MEN in our Old Testament class building an alter :)

 

We also had the privilege of hiking up a mountain to the Quruntul Monastery. It is on the Mt. of Temptation above the river Jordan where Christ was Baptised. I was amazed that it had been built on the middle of the cliff! Monks still live there today! There were caves in the cliffs that we could see from the balcony where hermits used to live too. I cant even imagine being alone all the time! Its a good thing I'll never have to try it! Anyway, so this is the place where Satan tempted Christ after his 40 day fast in the wilderness. 

 

Supposedly this is the rock that Satan tempted Jesus to turn to bread.

Here is the view the monks had of the Judean Wilderness overlooking Jericho.

And this is the deadly but "worth it" hike we took up the mtn to the Monastery.... I was dripping by the time we got to the top. We had to wear scarfs on our heads to be respectful, I'm not sure how those women wear them all the time! It was so hot!

 

 

We stopped at this awesome lookout between Jerusalem and Jericho. Up the canyon you can see Jerusalem and down the canyon you can see Jericho. This is the route that John the Baptist would have taken when he left Jerusalem to the Judean Wilderness in his camel haired suit. Also this is the Scene where the Parable of the Good Samaritan would have taken place. It symbolizes Christ saving us from death and illustrates the question "Who is my neighbor"... Something to think about... who is your neighbor, do they know you love them?