Mount Tabor

Mount Tabor is a steep round hill on the north-east side of Yizreel valley. It played an important role in the biblical history, and traditions link it to   transfiguration of Jesus. The hill is strategically located on the main north-south ancient road, and was an important fortress during the First and Second Temple, Greek and Roman times.

Jeremiah 46:18: "...as Tabor is among the mountains..."

Tell Megiddo

The site is situated on the gateway on the road linking North and South of Israel, about 30 Km south-east of Haifa.  The archeologists uncovered 26 layers of ancient cities, starting from the bronze age until the Greeks.

Kings 1: 9:15:"And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer."

Armageddon

This site, according to Revelations, is where the final battle  will be between the forces of good and evil. The name may originate from the Hebrew name "mountain of Megiddo".

Revelations 16 :16: " And he gathered them together at a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon".

Tell Shimron

Shimron is a Tell (mound) near Nahallal and Timrat, at a junction of major ancient crossroads, including the road to Nazareth.

Joshua 11: 1:  "And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard thereof, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,... 

Migdal Haemek

In the lower northern slopes of Migdal Haemek are the ruins of an ancient village, from the Bronze age to the Roman period. This village is located on the old road from Yizrael Valley to Yafia, Nazareth and Sipphoris.

Tell Sarid

Sarid is one of Zebulun cities, and located in the Jezreel valley.  Near the Tell (in Arabic, Sadud, which preserved the name) is the Kibbutz by the same name, Sarid.

Joshua 19:10: And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families; and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid.

Tell Yokneam

Tell (mound) Yokneam stands in the entrance of a mountain pass through Mount Carmel, and was an important city in Biblical times and later periods.

Joshua 12: 22: "...the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

Tell Kassis

Tell (mound)  Kassis is a biblical city on the east of mount carmel. It is identified with Khelkat, the southern city in the region of Asher.

Joshua 21: 31: "Helkath with the open land about it"

Naim (Nain, Nein, Nin)

This village is located south of Mount Tabor, and built on the ruins of a Roman village, where according to Luke Jesus performed a miracle, bringing  the widow's son back to life.

Luke 7:14: "And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise"

Ein Dor

This village is located south of Mount Tabor. EinDor's fame is from the visit of King Saul to the witch from EinDor. There are 2 sites - an ancient Biblical Tell, and a Roman village that was continued until the last century.

Samuel 1- 28: 7:"...And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor".

Beit Shearim (Besara)

Beit Shearim is one of the most famous sites in Israel, due to its remarkable necropolis, where a series of catacombs were excavated in the hill side .

Josephus Flavius (Life : 24): "...and when I was at the city Besara, that lay in the confines of Ptolemais, but twenty furlongs from Gibea..."

Catacombs in Beit Shearim

This web page focuses on the necropolis of Beit Shearim - its maze of underground tunnels, filled with remarkable coffins and tombs.

Bethlehem (Galilee)

A Roman/Byzantine village which was resettled in the 19th C by the Templars and later became a Moshav.

Joshua 19: 14: "And the border turned about ... and Beth-lehem; twelve cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun...".

Tell Yizreel

Yizreel was a major Biblical city, located on the ancient trade route. It was the northern capital of the Kingdom of Israel.  The Bible tells about events around and inside the city.

1 Kings 21:23: "The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel".

Nahalal (Ma'alul)

  Ruins of an Arabic village, which was built over the earlier city of Biblical Nahalal and Roman Mahalul. In modern times the Biblical name was given to Moshav Nahalal, which was built nearby.

 Judges 1: 30: "Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries".

Mount Tabor -

       Franciscan Monastery

The tradition links mount Tabor to the Transfiguration of Jesus. On top of the hill is a Franciscan Monastery with a magnificent basilica.

Matthew 17:1: "...and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them."

Mount Tabor -

Greek Orthodox  Monastery

 On top of Mount Tabor is a Greek Orthodox Monastery- St. Elias.

Matthew 17 1-2: "...there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him"

Mount Tabor - Structures

   On top of Mount Tabor are ruins of the Crusaders/Ayoubi  fortress, ancient chapels and churches,  and other structures.

Beit Shean - at night

   Beit Shean was a major Biblical city, located on the ancient trade route. Adjacent to the its ruins, a new Hellenistic city, Scythopolis,  was established and became a major city until its destruction in the 8th C. A new amazing state of the art multi-sensory night show has  transformed the excavated site into a unique world class experience.

1 Kings 4 7-12: "And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel... Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained ... all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel"

Tell Yifar -Balfouriya

   Tell Yifar, a nature reserve, was a Biblical site located near ancient crossroads. The springs around the site are one of the sources of the Kishon creek. Water buffalos and donkeys graze in the swap.

Judges 5 13: "Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people" (inscription on the monument on the top of the hill)

Beit Shean - Scythopolis

   Beit Shean was a major Biblical city, located on the ancient trade route. Adjacent to the its ruins, the Hellenistic city, Scythopolis,  was established and became a major city until its destruction in the 8th C.

1 Kings 4 7-12: "And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel... Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained ... all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel"

Tell Beit She'an

   This web page focuses on the older section of Beit Shean archaeological park. This was a major Biblical city, located on the ancient trade route.  The ancient city thrived from the third millennium BC until the Hellenistic period in the 3rd C BC.

1 Samuel 31 6-13: "So Saul died, and his three sons,...and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan".