Day Two - September 28, 2026

Sep 29

Today we were on a bus (yay for our aching feet!). We drove to a site with importance throughout scripture from the patriarchs to the travels of Jesus - Shechem / Sychar in Samaria. We stood on Mount Gerizim and looked down at the church over Jacob’s well (Sychar), the excavations of Shechem just a few blocks away, and across the valley to Mount Ebal. The Jordan Valley to the east is a misty low line in the distance with the higher mountains of Jordan (biblical mountains of Gilead) beyond that.

Due to Sukkot, he times we are in, much of the West Bank is closed to any outside traffic and we were not allowed into modern Nablus to see Jacob’s well or the Shechem excavation. On Mount Gerizim, site of the Samaritan temple of the Old Testament, there are excavations of a Byzantine church built over the temple ruins.

While driving on to TayBeh, biblical Ephraim, we stopped briefly at a shepherds field with an example of a sheepfold in a low cave - unchanged from shepherding in the 1st century. At Tay Bey there is an example of a typical 1st century Jewish home.

On to the Herodium just south of Jerusalem, a mountain on which Herod built a palace and his mausoleum. Jews turned this place into a fortification and hide out during two Jewish revolts against Rome.

We went through Bethlehem on the way back to see the church of the nativity. Much of it is still undergoing a years long restoration project. Elements of the original church established in the 300s AD by Helena can be seen and parts rebuilt by Theodosius. Hadrian attempted to erase Christian memory here in the 100s AD by planting a grove of trees to Adonis, again what he actually did was mark the spot!

Another full day with a lot of information and inspiration to process! Proof of life photo attached - LOTL group is doing well! Love to you all and God Bless, PB and Margery

Walking on the top of Mount Gerizim, looking down on the ancient sites of Sychar and Shechem in Samaria

An early Byzantine church and fortress were built over the ruins of the Samarian temple

Lower center, red dome church with two pillars - stands over Jacob's well. This West Bank area of Nabulus was closed to outside traffic today so we were unable to visit the well.

The half moon open area in the lower left is the archeological site of Shechem

the apse of the ancient byzantine church on Mnt Gerizim.

Example of a sheep fold in a shepherd's field

Golden mosaics line the upper walls.

Taybeh where there is an early 1st / 2nd c AD home. The family living area is above the area for the animals (often a cave).

Ornate iconostasis screen in front of the altar. The flooring here is from the restoration by Emperor Theodosius

Lower level for the animals

Mikveh built by the Jews during the Jewish revolts, after Herod's death. During the revolts the fortress was used as a hideout and to store weapons.

Looking down into the Herodium, Herod's hilltop palace and fortress south of Jerusalem. The covered area a synagogue

Entrance to the church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Established by Constantine's mother Helena in the 300's AD to preserve the memory of the site of Jesus birth