Israel.
Travel & Tour
Pictures, Photos, Information & Reviews.
Eve & George, DeLange
May 2014.
Google Map To The Area Of Bet Shean, Israel.
View Larger Map
Google Map To Jerusalem, Israel.
View Larger Map
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring In Israel. No Obligation!
This page represents some of the sights that you would see on a typical tour from Bet Shean to Jerusalem, Israel.
For a more detailed tour, please look at my other pages.
Bet Shean is located 17 miles south of the Sea of Galilee. Beth Shean is also located at the strategic junction of the Harod and Jordan Valleys.
Bet Shean is also known as; Scythopolis, Tel Bet Shean/Beth-Shean, Tel/Tell el-Husn, Tell el-Hosn, 'As'annu, Beisan, Bet Shan, Beth Shean, Beth Shan, Beth-shan, Beth-shean, Bethshan, Bethshean, Nysa, Scythopolis Nysa, and Skythopolis.
Because of its fertility and location, the Beit Shean Valley has been inhabited since antiquity and it is mentioned several times in the Bible.
The Beit Shean Valley is a part of the Jordan Valley, and it stretches in a slope towards the Jordan Valley. The Jordan Valley has long been on the trade route to the east and Beit Shean was located where it could control trade. It also has a perennial spring called the Harod River which provided water for the traders.
In Hebrew, the name Tel translates as "Hill." There are many hills or mounds in the valley, which contain several cities buried within them. Beit Shean is probably the most important of these cities. Tel Beit Shean, is also a part of the National Park on the site, which contains 15 subsequent occupation layers within the Tel.
Visitors flock to the National Park of Bet Shean to see the ancient city that represents the best preserved Roman-Byzantine city in the land. Here they can see beautiful white marble pillars lining ancient streets, a magnificent theatre, and some marvellous floor mosaics.
Bet Shean was controlled by the Egyptians for 3 centuries, from the time when Pharaoh Tutmose III (15th Century BCE) made it an Egyptian administrative center. Beit Shean is mentioned in several Egyptian texts, including a list of cities that the Egyptians conquered in Israel under the pharaoh Shishak, who is also mentioned in the Bible.
Later on Bet Shean became a Canaanite city. It was first mentioned as Canaanite in the Bible ( Judges 1:27) as belonging to the conquered area of the Israelite tribe of Manasseh.
This Canaanite city was conquered by the Israelites' enemy, the Philistines, in the 11th Century BCE. In the Israelites battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the dead bodies of King Saul and his son Jonathan were hung on the city walls of Beit Shean (1 Samuel 31:10).
Beit Shean is listed as one of the cities in the kingdom of Solomon (1 Kings 4: 12).
The next that we learn about Beit Shean is in the 3rd Century BCE, when it became a Greek city with the name of "Scythopolis".
Josephus write later on that the Hasmonean kings also ruled Beit Shean, and that it was destroyed once and rebuilt again during several power struggles. Then in 63 BCE the Roman general Pompey during his victorious march in Israel included Scythopolis in his Decapolis.
Bet Shean grew enormously in the second Century CE when the Roman sixth Legion was stationed in Scythopolis. Bet Shean became one of the textile centers of the Roman Empire. The linen from Scythopolis was famous. The linen business attracted Jewish peasants into the city. Later on Christians joined them. This was after the Roman Empire had converted to Christianity.
The tourist usually views Beit Shean Park.
The first place of interest is the huge theater, built around 200 CE. It used to seat over 7000 spectators. The theater stayed in use until the Byzantine era. It also includes a Roman temple and a fountain house.
At the back of the theater, across the street, is the biggest Byzantine bath in Israel.
The main street of the city is paved with basalt slabs and in the middle, flagstones cover a drain. On both sides of the street are sidewalks. Along the western side of the street were shops.
At the Tel, stairs lead up the summit, to the temple of Zeus. At the corner of the street are the remains of the temple of Dionysos, the city's patron god.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: CITY OF DAVID.
The original City of David and the Mount Zion captured by David were on the Eastern Hill of Jerusalem now known as the City of David. The village of Silwan is the site of the original city of David. When David founded Jerusalem as a Jewish city over 2000 years ago, it was completely outside the walled city that we know today.
David established this high place above his city to serve as a temple to be later built by his son, Solomon. The location of both the First and Second Temples is above the original city, and people would have to "go up" (aliyah) to the Temple. During the time of Herod's Temple, there two sets of gates in the Southern wall, the Hulda Gates, which the people used to enter the Temple Mount. They were blocked off after Saladin's conquest of Jerusalem in 1187. Today the Western Hill is known as Mount Zion.
Our sources of this statement come to us from the Bible and from archaeology.
According to I Kings 2:10 the interment of the Davidic line of kings from David through Ahaz was within the city of David on Jerusalem�s eastern hill. The last person reported to know the actual location of the tomb of David was Rabbi Akiva. His testimony places the tomb on the eastern part of the eastern hill. From there the filth from the graves flowed out of the City Of David into the Kidron River.
Outside the Zion Gate of the old city, on the Western Hill of Jerusalem, near the crest of Mount Sion or Mount Zion, lie the partial remains of a small Judeo-Christian synagogue, dating to about CE 75, it is commonly called the Tomb of David. This structure later was called the Holy Church of God. This synagogue is now in the possession of religious Jews, who venerate it as the traditional site of King David�sTomb, however its ancient worked stone was built by the the Judeo-Christians of the ancient Church�the first Christians.
Located above the remains of the ancient synagogue is the Crusader Room of the Last Supper. Within the synagogue's antechamber is a massive Crusader cenotaph, which is draped by a velvet cloth embroidered with stars of David and various inscriptions from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The building that we see today was erected in 1335 by the Franciscans. However, the floor dates back to the second century, when it may have been the "little church of God" mentioned by Epiphanius of Salamis.
Herod the Great, partially looted the tomb of David but, becoming fearful, he built a monument made of white stone at the mouth of David�s Sepulcher.
As we looked up at the wall, behind us and southward down the hill is the village of Silwan. This village is the site of the original city of David. When he founded Jerusalem as a Jewish city over 2000 years ago, it was completely outside the walled city we know today. David established this high place above his city to serve as a place for the temple later built by his son, Solomon. The location of both the First and Second Temples is above the original city, and people would have to "go up" (aliyah) to the Temple. During the time of Herod's Temple, there two sets of gates in the Southern wall, the Hulda Gates, which the people used to enter the Temple Mount. One set is pictured here. They were blocked off after Saladin's conquest of Jerusalem in 1187.
There are two choices for your arrival if you wish to go to Beit Shean. Jerusalem or Haifa. I would probably choose Jerusalem.
The easy way to get to Jerusalem, is to fly into the Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport is close to Jerusalem, which is about 5 miles away.
The Ben Gurion International Airport, (IATA: TLV, ICAO: LLBG), also referred to by its Hebrew acronym Natbag, is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel. It was named the best airport in the Middle East by the ACI organisation.[ The airport is located near the city of Lod, 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv. It is operated by the Israel Airports Authority, a government-owned corporation that manages all public airports and border crossings in the State of Israel. The Ben Gurion International Airport is considered one of the world's most secure airports, with a security force that includes both police officers and IDF soldiers.
The easy way to get to Haifa, is to fly into the Haifa International Airport Haifa.
Haifa International Airport Haifa, also known as U Michaeli Airport) (IATA: HFA, ICAO: LLHA) is the Israeli airport located in Haifa. It is located to the east of the city, close to Kishon Port and Israel Shipyards and mainly serves civilian flights, with some military usage. Most passenger flights passing through the airport are domestic operations to Eilat and Tel Aviv and international flights to Jordan, Cyprus and Turkey.
There are several hotels in or near Tel Aviv or Haifa.
There are several Guided Tour Agencies offering standard city, and historical tours of Jerusalem or Haifa, Beit Shean, and the surrounding areas.
After arranging your flight we would suggest getting your hotel and then letting them arrange tours of the area for you. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you.
I do this all the time. It is safe and it works!!! I have never experienced a problem doing it this way!
I have links to Priceline.Com on our page so that you can arrange your flight and hotel in the Jerusalem or Haifa, Israel area.
Bet Shean on
The Jezreel Plain
Dates to BC4000!
Bet Shean on
The Jezreel Plain
Dates to BC4000!
Bet Shean on
The Jezreel Plain
Dates to BC4000! This Area Was Fertile
And Luxurious In It's Day!
Roman Ruins: Columns,
Baths, Paths Dot The City.
The Roman Theater, Best
Preserved In Israel.
6000 Spectators Watched
The Performances.
Massive Buildings And Vast
Underground, It's Impressive!
On to JERUSALEM!!
The Holy City Lies Ahead. We'll Pass By The Old City!
To See One More Sight!
An Awe-inspiring Stop!
King David's Tomb!
Aside From The Tourists,
People Still Worship Here! Locked Away From Those...
Who Might Desecrate
This Tomb.
Artifacts Remind Us Of This
Great King's Wealth!
The Lord Has Said, His
Soul Will Be Saved!
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring In Israel. No Obligation!
This page represents some of the sights that you would see on a typical tour from Bet Shean to Jerusalem, Israel. For a more detailed tour, please look at my other pages. Bet Shean is located 17 miles south of the Sea of Galilee. Beth Shean is also located at the strategic junction of the Harod and Jordan Valleys. Bet Shean is also known as; Scythopolis, Tel Bet Shean/Beth-Shean, Tel/Tell el-Husn, Tell el-Hosn, 'As'annu, Beisan, Bet Shan, Beth Shean, Beth Shan, Beth-shan, Beth-shean, Bethshan, Bethshean, Nysa, Scythopolis Nysa, and Skythopolis. Because of its fertility and location, the Beit Shean Valley has been inhabited since antiquity and it is mentioned several times in the Bible. The Beit Shean Valley is a part of the Jordan Valley, and it stretches in a slope towards the Jordan Valley. The Jordan Valley has long been on the trade route to the east and Beit Shean was located where it could control trade. It also has a perennial spring called the Harod River which provided water for the traders. In Hebrew, the name Tel translates as "Hill." There are many hills or mounds in the valley, which contain several cities buried within them. Beit Shean is probably the most important of these cities. Tel Beit Shean, is also a part of the National Park on the site, which contains 15 subsequent occupation layers within the Tel. Visitors flock to the National Park of Bet Shean to see the ancient city that represents the best preserved Roman-Byzantine city in the land. Here they can see beautiful white marble pillars lining ancient streets, a magnificent theatre, and some marvellous floor mosaics. Bet Shean was controlled by the Egyptians for 3 centuries, from the time when Pharaoh Tutmose III (15th Century BCE) made it an Egyptian administrative center. Beit Shean is mentioned in several Egyptian texts, including a list of cities that the Egyptians conquered in Israel under the pharaoh Shishak, who is also mentioned in the Bible. Later on Bet Shean became a Canaanite city. It was first mentioned as Canaanite in the Bible ( Judges 1:27) as belonging to the conquered area of the Israelite tribe of Manasseh. This Canaanite city was conquered by the Israelites' enemy, the Philistines, in the 11th Century BCE. In the Israelites battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the dead bodies of King Saul and his son Jonathan were hung on the city walls of Beit Shean (1 Samuel 31:10). Beit Shean is listed as one of the cities in the kingdom of Solomon (1 Kings 4: 12). The next that we learn about Beit Shean is in the 3rd Century BCE, when it became a Greek city with the name of "Scythopolis". Josephus write later on that the Hasmonean kings also ruled Beit Shean, and that it was destroyed once and rebuilt again during several power struggles. Then in 63 BCE the Roman general Pompey during his victorious march in Israel included Scythopolis in his Decapolis. Bet Shean grew enormously in the second Century CE when the Roman sixth Legion was stationed in Scythopolis. Bet Shean became one of the textile centers of the Roman Empire. The linen from Scythopolis was famous. The linen business attracted Jewish peasants into the city. Later on Christians joined them. This was after the Roman Empire had converted to Christianity. The tourist usually views Beit Shean Park. The first place of interest is the huge theater, built around 200 CE. It used to seat over 7000 spectators. The theater stayed in use until the Byzantine era. It also includes a Roman temple and a fountain house. At the back of the theater, across the street, is the biggest Byzantine bath in Israel. The main street of the city is paved with basalt slabs and in the middle, flagstones cover a drain. On both sides of the street are sidewalks. Along the western side of the street were shops. At the Tel, stairs lead up the summit, to the temple of Zeus. At the corner of the street are the remains of the temple of Dionysos, the city's patron god. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: CITY OF DAVID. The original City of David and the Mount Zion captured by David were on the Eastern Hill of Jerusalem now known as the City of David. The village of Silwan is the site of the original city of David. When David founded Jerusalem as a Jewish city over 2000 years ago, it was completely outside the walled city that we know today. David established this high place above his city to serve as a temple to be later built by his son, Solomon. The location of both the First and Second Temples is above the original city, and people would have to "go up" (aliyah) to the Temple. During the time of Herod's Temple, there two sets of gates in the Southern wall, the Hulda Gates, which the people used to enter the Temple Mount. They were blocked off after Saladin's conquest of Jerusalem in 1187. Today the Western Hill is known as Mount Zion. Our sources of this statement come to us from the Bible and from archaeology. According to I Kings 2:10 the interment of the Davidic line of kings from David through Ahaz was within the city of David on Jerusalem�s eastern hill. The last person reported to know the actual location of the tomb of David was Rabbi Akiva. His testimony places the tomb on the eastern part of the eastern hill. From there the filth from the graves flowed out of the City Of David into the Kidron River. Outside the Zion Gate of the old city, on the Western Hill of Jerusalem, near the crest of Mount Sion or Mount Zion, lie the partial remains of a small Judeo-Christian synagogue, dating to about CE 75, it is commonly called the Tomb of David. This structure later was called the Holy Church of God. This synagogue is now in the possession of religious Jews, who venerate it as the traditional site of King David�sTomb, however its ancient worked stone was built by the the Judeo-Christians of the ancient Church�the first Christians. Located above the remains of the ancient synagogue is the Crusader Room of the Last Supper. Within the synagogue's antechamber is a massive Crusader cenotaph, which is draped by a velvet cloth embroidered with stars of David and various inscriptions from the Hebrew Scriptures. The building that we see today was erected in 1335 by the Franciscans. However, the floor dates back to the second century, when it may have been the "little church of God" mentioned by Epiphanius of Salamis. Herod the Great, partially looted the tomb of David but, becoming fearful, he built a monument made of white stone at the mouth of David�s Sepulcher. As we looked up at the wall, behind us and southward down the hill is the village of Silwan. This village is the site of the original city of David. When he founded Jerusalem as a Jewish city over 2000 years ago, it was completely outside the walled city we know today. David established this high place above his city to serve as a place for the temple later built by his son, Solomon. The location of both the First and Second Temples is above the original city, and people would have to "go up" (aliyah) to the Temple. During the time of Herod's Temple, there two sets of gates in the Southern wall, the Hulda Gates, which the people used to enter the Temple Mount. One set is pictured here. They were blocked off after Saladin's conquest of Jerusalem in 1187.
|
There are two choices for your arrival if you wish to go to Beit Shean. Jerusalem or Haifa. I would probably choose Jerusalem. The easy way to get to Jerusalem, is to fly into the Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport is close to Jerusalem, which is about 5 miles away. The Ben Gurion International Airport, (IATA: TLV, ICAO: LLBG), also referred to by its Hebrew acronym Natbag, is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel. It was named the best airport in the Middle East by the ACI organisation.[ The airport is located near the city of Lod, 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv. It is operated by the Israel Airports Authority, a government-owned corporation that manages all public airports and border crossings in the State of Israel. The Ben Gurion International Airport is considered one of the world's most secure airports, with a security force that includes both police officers and IDF soldiers. The easy way to get to Haifa, is to fly into the Haifa International Airport Haifa. Haifa International Airport Haifa, also known as U Michaeli Airport) (IATA: HFA, ICAO: LLHA) is the Israeli airport located in Haifa. It is located to the east of the city, close to Kishon Port and Israel Shipyards and mainly serves civilian flights, with some military usage. Most passenger flights passing through the airport are domestic operations to Eilat and Tel Aviv and international flights to Jordan, Cyprus and Turkey. There are several hotels in or near Tel Aviv or Haifa. There are several Guided Tour Agencies offering standard city, and historical tours of Jerusalem or Haifa, Beit Shean, and the surrounding areas. After arranging your flight we would suggest getting your hotel and then letting them arrange tours of the area for you. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. I do this all the time. It is safe and it works!!! I have never experienced a problem doing it this way! I have links to Priceline.Com on our page so that you can arrange your flight and hotel in the Jerusalem or Haifa, Israel area.
|
| Bet Shean on The Jezreel Plain Dates to BC4000! |
Bet Shean on The Jezreel Plain Dates to BC4000! |
Bet Shean on The Jezreel Plain Dates to BC4000! |
|---|---|---|
| This Area Was Fertile And Luxurious In It's Day! |
Roman Ruins: Columns, Baths, Paths Dot The City. |
The Roman Theater, Best Preserved In Israel. |
| ||
| 6000 Spectators Watched The Performances. |
Massive Buildings And Vast Underground, It's Impressive! |
On to JERUSALEM!! The Holy City Lies Ahead. |
| We'll Pass By The Old City! To See One More Sight! |
An Awe-inspiring Stop! King David's Tomb! |
Aside From The Tourists, People Still Worship Here! |
| Locked Away From Those... Who Might Desecrate This Tomb. |
Artifacts Remind Us Of This Great King's Wealth! |
The Lord Has Said, His Soul Will Be Saved! |
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring In Israel. No Obligation!