WAITLIST ONLY – Israel 2023 | Old to New Testament Christian Study Pilgrimage | Matthew Weaver

Depart Cleveland 4:40PM on United Airlines and transfer to Newark. Depart Newark at 9:45PM. You may also take the air credit and arrange your own airfare.

Arrive in Tel Aviv at 4:10PM where you will be met, luggage loaded, and begin your journey of Biblical proportions! The driving route to Be’er Sheva will be an amazing immersion. You will drive via Gezer where 3,000 years of Biblical battles have taken place, come into the valley of Azekah – destroyed by King Sennacherib and where the arena of David and Goliath was located, and Gath – the home of Goliath and the giants. Gath was also important because it was the home where the Ashdodites once conveyed the Ark of the Covenant. This evening you will arrive at precious Be’er Sheva for dinner and overnight. Leonardo Hotel Be’er Sheva.

This morning you will see the unique square of Be’er Sheva and gain an understanding of Abraham’s time here. It is here he sent Hagar into its wilderness, and it is also here that Isaac’s well of Sibah was dug. Next, on to Arad – or the Wilderness of Judah. The Wilderness here will surprise you.  Begin to head north to visit Masada. You will have an opportunity to climb Masada if you wish, and then cable car back or take the cable car round-trip.  Memories of Masada will last a lifetime. It is here that you will explore the mountain fortress that was built by King Herod, with an astonishing history of the Jews. Arrive at the beautiful Herod’s Dead Sea resort on the Dead Sea for an amazing dinner and overnight.

Enjoy your morning on the Dead Sea and a dip in the amazing salt waters! We will depart the hotel and make our way to Ein Gedi, which is where David hid from King Saul.  Next, we visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found – Qumran. Continue our drive along the Dead Sea and come into Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Discuss its proximity to Joshua, Jesus, and the prophets. This evening we come into Jerusalem, the City of Our God!  Spend the next 4 nights at the luxury Mamilla Hotel, located right at Jaffa Gate and the Mamilla Mall. Dinner and overnight.

Sumptuous breakfast and head out to the jewel of Jerusalem, the City of David. The order of the day may change as we will be meeting Eli Shukron for a private tour of Temple Zero while inside the City of David. Meander through the ancient city and its newly opened Pilgrim’s Path. Come out near Davidson Center and visit Archeological Park, one of the finest viewpoints in all of Israel. Next, we approach Temple Mount. It is without a doubt the most important archaeological site in the world. It is the center of monotheism, a place sacred to believing Jews and Muslims, and a focal point of Jesus’ ministry. It has been and will continue to be a focal point in the coming climax of activity.  Walk the corners of it, including the viewpoint of the Eastern Gate. Energy permitting – those up for it will hike to the Mount of Olives this afternoon. Mamilla Hotel and dinner.

Start the morning with a spectacular view of the Old City from the Haas Promenade. Visit the revered and preserved stone pavement called the Bema Seat at Herod’s Palace. Also visiting Bonei Yerushalayim Garden where the crowds yelled for the release of Barabbas. Next, visit a precious church that was built over the house of Caiaphas to document Peter’s 3-time denial of Christ as told throughout the gospels, including Mathew 26:69-75. The name of the church is St. Peter in Gallicantu. Then the Cardo with its important floor and its remnants of the Nea Church. We will visit the Burnt House Museum which is rarely visited, and walk to the site of the miracle of the Pool of Bethesda. After teaching at the pool, we will enjoy a time of worship at an architecturally pleasing church called St. Anne’s. Visit the ancient road, and then we will have a time of praise and worship at the Garden Tomb. Share communion and then walk to the impressive Damascus Gate which is directly opposite the Jaffa Gate where our hotel is. The Damascus Gate is the entrance to the Islamic Quarter of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight.

Early departure from the hotel for sunrise on the Mount of Olives. Visit the Tomb of the Prophets and then the ancient Garden of Gethsemane. Late this morning we drive to the precious town of Bethlehem to visit a simple cave above the sheepfolds. Return to Jerusalem and have a free day inside the Old City. There are so many things to do inside and nearby. For the energetic, you can buy a ticket and walk the ramparts around the Old City with spectacular views of all the quarters, you can haggle and barter with the many shopkeepers, enjoy some of the smaller museums inside the Old City Walls or enjoy the luxurious Mamilla Mall adjacent to your hotel. There is also Yad Vashem Museum and the Israeli Museum that can be taken in this afternoon.  Rejoin the group for dinner at the hotel tonight.

Interesting day today as we depart for Samaria.  Even today, the area is still considered home to the Samaritans, and they stand firmly on their entire genealogy dating back to Adam. Our first stop today is the active archeological site of Shiloh. Today there will be a lot of learning as to the process of modern-day archeology. Shiloh was the central sanctuary of the Israelites during the time prior to Saul and David, and therefore prior to Solomon’s First Temple in Jerusalem being built. Next, our goal is to visit Joshua’s Altar. The altar stone is located in a contested area of Samaria so we will do all we can to visit this site. Next, we visit the mounts of blessings and curses, Gerizim and Ebal. Off to Gilgal. Gilgal is significant in the Bible as serving as a place of memorial for the Israelites, to remind them of what God had done. In Joshua 4:19-20, after miraculously crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the Israelites set up twelve stones taken from the river, representing the twelve tribes, to serve as a reminder to the children of Israel. End this evening in Galilee at the Ramot Resort.

Visit Beit She’an today, which contains 18 levels of occupation over 4,000 years.  It is one of the most impressive sites in all of Israel. Continue our drive to the site of Megiddo, also an impressive site best known for its Tel Megiddo of Joshua 12:21. Also visit Mount Carmel and see the memorial to Elijah where he called fire down. Return to our lovely resort – Ramot for dinner and overnight.

On the shores of the Sea of Galilee is an impressive set of remains of the Synagogue of Magdala. Next, visit the site of Capernaum, where Jesus spent much of his time in ministry. It is also here at Capernaum that many of the stories of his life took place. You will have time to walk the seaside where the disciples spent much of their time, and be able to see the site of Peter’s mother-in-law’s home. Leaving Capernaum, we will pass by the synagogue of Chorazin as mentioned by Christ and Kursi on the Sea of Galilee which is the place of the miracle of the swine jumping into the sea after Jesus commanded them to come out of the demonized man. Return to our lovely resort for dinner.

Morning view from Mount Arbel – great climb for those who are up to it. Come down the mountain and enjoy a time of praise and worship on the sea of Galilee on our own cruise. Those who wish to be baptized today will do so in the Jordan River. Enjoy some quiet time this afternoon before dinner.

Visit Tel Hazor today and be astonished at the preservation of Biblical history! Continue on to Tel Dan. At Tel Dan you will see Abraham’s Gate which is very impressive, you will be able to walk through the quiet waters of Dan and sit in the area of worship that was created against God’s command. We will end our day at Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus spent time with his disciples. It is here at the place of the gods where Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?”, and Peter replied, “You are the Christ”. What an amazing place of beauty and truth is in this place. We will have an incredibly scenic drive as the sun begins to set over the Galilee early this evening.

Sleep in this morning and enjoy some time of fellowship with a great view. After we depart the hotel, we will visit Mount Precipice, with is also called the Nazareth jumping spot to the locals. This site is where Jesus had disappeared in the crowds as they meant to throw him off the cliff outside of Nazareth. The view here of Megiddo, Armageddon, and the Biblical Heights will stir your soul. After lunch, have a visit to Caesarea Maritima – the site where the Apostle Paul was imprisoned prior to his final journey to Rome. We will also walk the streets of Jaffa and learn of Jonah’s time nearby and of course Peter’s visions from this place. Arrive for our final night of rest at the Leonardo Netanya – known for its large Mediterranean views. Dinner and overnight.

After a final breakfast together, we will leave our hotel at around 8:30AM. Feel free to wake up early and take a nice walk along the promenade. Our flight will arrive at Newark at 5:05PM and change aircraft, arriving in Cleveland at 11:45PM.