Section
Holyland

Itinerary

Please enjoy perusing the itinerary of our 2010 journey to the land of Jesus. As you do so, you will want to be aware of the following:

  • The Hotel we will be staying in is yet to be determined but will be one of excellent quality and fairly near (within walking distance of) the Damascus Gate, at the Old City of Jerusalem.  
  • If you bring a friend or family member to share your room (double occupancy is the norm), you will have the most pleasing companionship possible throughout the tour.  If that is not feasible, we will do all we can to find you a suitable roommate. The Single Room Supplement, for those interested, is an additional $795.
  • The itinerary noted is always subject to alteration at the discretion of the tour host or due to prevailing conditions at the time of our visit.  The most tentative portion of the itinerary is on day ten and includes both Samaria and Jacob’s Well.  Both sites are in the West Bank and are subject to current political conditions beyond our control.  
  • Please notice what so few travel programs include: three days of leisure or rest.  You may do side trips to other parts of the country, local sightseeing, shopping or just simple loafing to catch your breath.
  • Much information on our website (www.eastern.edu/holyland) will be of general applicability and interest, though the 2010 program has not yet been entered on that site.
  • Staying abreast of the readings suggested in the daily schedule will maximize your enjoyment of the tour.  Though we will not agree with these volumes on all points (we read, to encounter viewpoints other than our own), they will always provide pertinent information about sites to be visited and good departures for discussion. The two books referenced are available from Dr. Maahs at a cost of $15 each

Day 1: Today we depart from the USA for Tel Aviv.  A hearty dinner and breakfast will be served in flight.

Day 2: Arrival at Tel Aviv Airport, Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 3: THEME: HEBREW LIFE UNDER THE JUDGES, KINGS, AND PROPHETS
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 106,117-118, 131,147-148
A.M. LECTURE: "The Period of the Judges".
FIELD TRIP: The Sorek Valley; Beth Shemesh (The Ark, 1 Samuel 6-7); Elah Valley (David/Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:2, 19, 21:9); Bell Caves; Lachish, Beersheva (2 Kings 18; Jeremiah 34); Ashkelon
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 4: THEME: THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE LAND 
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 19-94 (continued) Jesus and the Land: pages 17-38 
LECTURES: "Orientation" & "The Levant, Its History, Archaeology and Geography" 
FIELD TRIP: City tour of Jerusalem, Israel Museum, Yad-Va-Shem Holocaust Museum; Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 5: THEME: THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD and JEWISH LIFE UNDER THE HERODS.
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 111-114, 140-141, 202-203
LECTURES AT THE HOTEL: "The Impact of Hellenism on the Jewish World" and "The Herodian Dynasty"
FIELD TRIP: Bethlehem (Matthew 2; Luke 2); the Herodian Fortress; Shepherd's Field; Palestinian refugee camp and Bethlehem Bible College. 
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 6: THEME: THE COASTAL PLAIN AND THE JEZREEL VALLEY
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 118-121, 156-57, 159-162, 171 Jesus and the Land: pages 39-70
FIELD TRIP: Caesarea (Acts 10, 12,25); Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-46); Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15; Revelation 15:12); Nazareth (Matthew 2:23; Luke 1:26,4:16, 28-30; John 1:46); Sepphoris; Beit Alpha. 
Arrival and overnight in Tiberias (B/D)

Day 7: THEME: JESUS' MINISTRY IN THE GOLAN AND UPPER GALILEE
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 107-108,126-130132-133,137-138,147; Jesus and the Land: pages 71-109
FIELD TRIP: Kursi (Mark 5); Golan Heights Winery; Mount Hermon (Matthew 17); Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16); Dan (1 Kings 12:29); Hazor.
Overnight in Tiberias (B/D)

Day 8: THEME: LEISURE DAY IN TIBERIAS, ISRAEL
Today is a leisure day to enjoy as you wish; a city tour of Tiberias is delightful. 
Overnight in Tiberias (B/D)

Day 9: THEME: JESUS' MINISTRY AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 122-126, 168-170, 173-175 Jesus and the Land: pages 39-48, 71-109 (continued)
FIELD TRIP: Capernaum (Matthew 4:13, 11:23-24); Tabgha (Mark 6; John 21); Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7); Chorazin; Kibbutz Ginnosar (The Old Boat). 
Overnight in Tiberias (B/D)

Day 10: THEME: JESUS' MINISTRY IN LOWER GALILEE
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 115-116, 142-146, 168-170, Jesus and the Land: pages 39-48, 71-109 (continued)
FIELD TRIP: Jordan River (Baptisms Possible); Beth Shean (John 2:1-11, 4:46-54); En Harod;  Belvoir Castle; Samaria (Sebaste?) (1 Kings 13, 16, 21); Shechem/Sychar-Jacob's Well (?) (John 4); Jericho (Joshua 5-7; Luke 19).
Arrive and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Day 11: THEME: ENTERING THE LAND OF CANNAN
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 142-146, 157-158
FIELD TRIP: St, George's Monastery; Wadi Qelt Nature hike (Matthew 3, Mark 1); Jericho; Nabi Samuel. 
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 12: THEME: LEISURE DAY IN JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
Today will be a leisure day to enjoy as you wish; this might be a great day for sightseeing and shopping in the Holy City. 
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 13: THEME: JESUS' TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 109-110,114,179-186, 201 Jesus and the Land: pages 111-1 39
FIELD TRIP: Bethany and Lazarus’ Tomb (John 11); Bethpage (Matthew 21); Mount of Olives/Pater Noster Church (Acts 1)
MIDDAY LECTURE (following lunch): "Chronology of Holy Week". Mt. Zion and the Upper Room (John 13ff); St. Peter's in Gallicantu (Jesus’ Prison?); Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 14: THEME: AFTERMATH: THE FIRST AND SECOND JEWISH REVOLTS
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 130-132, 149-156, 163-167
FIELD TRIP: Qumran; Masada; Dead Sea; En Gedi nature hike, time permitting (1 Samuel 24). 
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D)

Day 15: THEME: LEISURE DAY IN JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
Today will be a leisure day to enjoy as you wish, but a group excursion including a wonderful service at Christ Church (in the Jaffa Gate) will be offered.  It was the first protestant church in Jerusalem and dates to 1848. My description of its worship style is “slightly pentecostal Anglican.” My previous groups have always enjoyed its deeply moving spirituality.
Overnight in Jerusalem (B/D) 

Day 16: THEME: FROM THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE TO THE RESURRECTION 
READING ASSIGNMENT: The Land and the Book: pages 186-207; Jesus and the Land: pages 140-171
FIELD TRIP: Temple Mount Excavations (Matthew 23).  Temple Mount (Haram-esh-Sharif); Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matthew 27-28; John 20); Garden Tomb
Evening Departure for the USA. (B/D)

Day 17: Arrival in USA
Today we will arrive in the USA, early in the morning, with a lifetime of memories to cherish. 
Overnight in your own bed (B)

All course schedules are subject to minor changes without prior notice to adapt to climate conditions, time limitations, and other circumstances.  While this is an itinerary of the recent past, the current one may include certain minor changes.  Please see the current brochure for this year's scheduled events.