Tel Dan

Well, did you have a good lunch? While you were eating I was riding the bus towards the northern border of Israel.  Oh you are so clever! Yes, to a place called Tel Dan. Tel Dan marks the northern frontier of the Kingdom of Israel and double YUP, this city belonged to the Tribe of Dan. 

 This is the Dan River that runs through the Tel Dan Nature Reserve. The Dan River is one of the three water sources of the Jordan River.

The Dan River emanates from this spring. The vegetation around this spring include a forest of oak, oleander and plane trees intertwined with a thick growth of  vegetation.  I just loved this area, the water, the trees, so lush and cool. I could have spent the whole day here for sure!!

Now this is so cool! Do you know how old these walls are? These are Canaanite walls that are, now wait for it, wait for it.... 1800 yrs BC, now that means over 4000 yrs old. So, so cool!  The Tribe of Dan brutally defeated the Canaanite town of Laish and became the town of Dan. This town became a sanctuary filled with Idols.

Our guide, John Lund, is telling us something interesting. I remember some but not all that he had to share. (Guess, I'll just have to go back!) Did you know that Abraham traveled to Dan to rescue his nephew Lot?

This is what John is pointing at, a bench that could be the type mentioned in the bible as the "Seat of the Elders."  Some of the things I wonder as I look at these old, old, formations is: "What was the workman thinking the day he built this so long ago?" Was his wife mad at him for missing Valentines Day? Was he thrilled with the birth of his first son? Was he waiting for the day to end to visit with the boys? Fun to think about.

This represents the 4 horned altar. A way to visualize the cult center founded by King Jeroboam of Israel. He also erected two golden calves as Gods in Dan.

Look closely at the brick work on this wall of the temple. The top rocks are "framed" while the bottom ones are hewn rock. The "framed" rocks, or the rocks with the border were built, by King Herod. He wanted to impress the Romans so he built temples and other lavish buildings all over Israel. King Herod the Great, as he was a great builder, but a wicked, wicked King. It's easy to see when King Herod was calling the shots in any of the areas that have nice buildings due to the style of brick used in the building.

The mountain in the distance is Mount Hermon located on the border between Lebanon and Syria. The summit of Mount Hermon is under control of Syria, however, the southern (to the right) and the western (face on) slopes are under control of Israel and is part of the Golan Heights. This mountain is referred to as the "eyes of the nation" in Israel as its elevation makes it Israel's primary strategic early warning system. (We did see a tank in this area).

This is a picture taken to the left of Mount Hermon and is Syria. I think the white buildings on the top have military purposes.

This is even more left (west) of the two previous pictures. This is looking into Lebanon. Our Israeli guide told us that there is a city up there that is half in Israel and half in Lebanon. This is an area that has seen actual conflict.



Interesting tidbits to finish off:

Mount Hermon was part of the division of land for inheritance by the nine tribes.
Half the Tribe of Manassah was given the Mount as part of their inheritance to possess.
Caesarea Philippi, at the southern base of Mount Hermon,(to the right) is where Christ asked his disciples "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?"
Christ also reveals the fact that he will go to Jerusalem to die and be resurrected.
Finally, Mount Hermon, is a possible site for the transfiguration of Christ. Where God the Father declares:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him."

Caesarea Philippi is the final stop for Wednesday 10 November 2010. I hope you enjoyed the day. So much history, so little time.