This journey to Jerusalem has been so much of many things, that I can't describe it in one or a few words. You can look back at all the older post and see that Jesus lived and traveled an amazing journey. Now that we are in Jerusalem, I'm sure you will enjoy the rest of the journey of Jesus footsteps.
The one thing I had to know was what it was like to ride a camel, and what better place than Mt. of Olives, where the Messiah looked out over Jerusalem.
BETH SHEMESH
Beth Shemesh ("house of the sun") sits at the eastern end of the Sorek Valley. The city during the Period of Conquest was on the border between the tribes of Judah and Dan. God alloted Beth Shemesh to the Levites as one of their fortyeight cities of inheritance throughout the land of Israel.
During the Period of the Judges, Beth Shemesh was when the Philisites returned the ark of the covenant to the Israelites, it went by cart to Beth Shemesh. Some Israelites were killed when they looked inside the ark, so the people of Beth Shemesh refused to let the ark stay in their town.
During the Divided Kingdom King Amaziah of Judah was defeated and captured by King Jehoash of Israel at Beth Shemesh. The army of Israel then went to Jerusalem and tore down sections of the city wall.
ELAH VALLEY
THE ELAH VALLEY gets its name from the terebinth tree. This tree can still be found in the Elah Valley. These trees have a root system that is extensive and they can grow very large. The valley itself is one of the five major valleys running east to west through the foothills between the coastal plain and the hill country of Judah. The Elah Valey begins just to the east of Gath and ends at a ridge that leads to Bethlehem. Socoh and Azekah were the principal towns during the biblical period.
One of my favorite stories as a child was the story of David and Goliath. This story took place in the Elah Valley.
The streambed where David paused to pick up his five smooth stones still cuts through the Elah Valley.
I found my friend in the streambed, picking out his stones.
LACHISH
The city of Lachish guarded a major road through Judah's foothills from the coast to the city of Hebron. The city's location and strong natural defenses gave it stategic importance. Ultimately the city of Lachish became second in importance only to Jerusalem during the time of the kingdom of Judah.
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