This morning we ate breakfast at the kibbutz, then set out for Tel Aviv. We’re staying at the Ami Hotel (!), and got here at about 10:30.
Five of us got in the van with Dr. B to do our last day for touring, which we spent on the Philistine plain.
First of all, we went to Joppa, right beside Tel Aviv. There was a nice view of the city and a nifty statue combining Jacob, Abraham, and Jericho stories.
Next was Ashdod, which was pretty disappointing. When Dr. B said “weed-covered tel,” he meant it. But we did see what remains of the gate where the Philistines carried the ark into the city.
We stopped on a whim at Jamnia, where the famous council of rabbis met in 90 AD to debate the canonization of OT books – where Aquiba called Song of Songs the “holy of holies” of the Bible!
Gath was much neater than Ashdod because there were tons of Philistine pottery shards lying around. I’m taking home a 10-pound Philistine mortar!
We stood on Azeqa, which overlooked the Elah valley where David killed Goliath. Then we descended to the stream, which was dry as a bone; still, we all picked up a “David stone.”
On another whim, we stopped at Emmaus. We saw the remains of a Byzantine church with 3 apses, which Crusaders used only the center of later, leaving the two small side apses kind of hanging off. There was also a baptistry and some mosaics.
After that, we went to our last stop, Gezer, which had a bunch of cool stuff. It boasts what might be the most famous balk in Israel, a very well-preserved mudbrick wall, a gate from the time of Solomon, a huge cistern (!), and a display of giant standing stones to Baal. All very nifty.
Back at the hotel, I took a shower, then went out with Will and Matt to walk around the city. Everything was closed, but we still had fun. We stayed out for a couple of hours.
When we got back, we played Uno in their room for an hour or so, trying to pass the time. Now I’m back in my room. It’s 11:30 and I’m beat. 3 1/2 hours from now, we leave for the airport.