The Rev. Kim Goddard, Wytheville District Holston Conference
From Dan to Beer-sheba, a 12 Day Biblical Survey, including Israel and Palestine	
23 January—3 February 2018
2 Day elective The Wonders of Petra returning 5 February 2018
Syllabus

Objectives:

•	To gain an overview of the historical, geographical and cultural settings of the Bible
•	To become familiar with Christian Origins and the nature of Christianity in the Holy Land 
•	To gain an overview of modern biblical scholarship, including the rudiments of archaeology, and its importance for clergy and lay people
•	To gain understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its impact on neighboring countries, possibilities for peacemaking

Texts: (All participants would find reading one of the following books to be beneficial.)

1)	Ateek, Naim. Justice and Only Justice. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989.
2)	Braverman, Mark. Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land. Austin, TX: Synergy Books, 2010
3)	Carter, Jimmy. Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2006.
4)	Chacour, Elias. Blood Brothers. Tarrytown, NY: Chosen books, 1984.
5)	Cline, Eric H., Biblical Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
6)	Finnegan, Jack. The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Mediterranean World of the Early Christian Apostles. New York: Routledge, 2016.
7)	Gilbert, Martin. Israel: a History. San Francisco: Harper, 1998.
8)	Herxl, Theodor. Der Judenstaat English. Hamburg: Tredition Classics, 2012.
9)	Magnes, Jodi. The Archaeology of the Holy Land: From the Destruction of Solomon's Temple to the Muslim Conquest. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2012.  
10)	Miano, Peter J. The Word of God and the World of the Bible: An Introduction to the Cultural Backgrounds of the New Testament. London: Melisende, 2001.
11)	Miano, Peter J., Mitchell, Jason C., Phillips, Thomas E., eds. Prophetic Voices on Middle East Peace. Claremont, CA: Claremont School of Theology Press. 2016.
12)	Mitchell, George J. and Sachar, Alon. A Path to Peace: a Brief History of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2016.
13)	Murphy-O'Connor, Jerome. The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
14)	Rousseau, John J. and Arav, Rami. Jesus and His World. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995.

Itinerary:

Day 1		Depart USA
23.1, Tu

Day 2		Arrive Tel Aviv, overnight in Taybeh
24.1, W
		 
Day 3		Theme: Birth & Baptism
25.1, Th	Field Trip: Taybeh, 1st Century house, Qasr el Yehud, Jericho (Joshua 5-7, Judges 1: 27- 36)   
overnight in Taybeh

Day 4	Theme: Samaria 
26.1, F	AM forum: TBD
Field trip: Nablus, Jacob’s Well, Samaria/Sebastia, Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation, Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (Matt 2: 23, Luke 1: 26- 38, 4:16- 30), Sisters of Nazareth Convent (1st Century koch tombs)--subject to confirmation, Mt Precipice  
overnight in Galilee

Day 5		Theme: Jesus' Ministry in Upper Galilee 
27.1, Sa	AM forum: TBD
Field trip: Tel Dan, Banyas (Caesarea Philippi), Migdal Shams, the Golan
overnight in Galilee  
	
Day 6	Theme: Jesus’ Ministry around the Sea of Galilee
28.1, Su	Field trip: boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha, Primacy of Peter (John 21), Mt. of the Beatitudes (Luke 13: 10-21, Matt 5- 7, 11: 20- 24, Mark 4- 6, John 21), Mt. Arbel, Wadi Hammam, Magdala 
	overnight in Galilee

Day 7	Theme: The Lower Galilee and the Coastal Plain
29.1, M	Field trip: Sepphoris, Megiddo (Rev. 16:16), Mishmar ha Emek, Caesarea Maritima (Acts:10)
overnight in Bethlehem

Day 8            	Theme: Bethlehem and The Mt. of Olives
30.1, Tu	Field trip: Mt. of Olives, orientation to Jerusalem, Palm Sunday walk, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, Bethlehem, Old City walking tour, Church of the Nativity (Lk 2; Mt 2), Herodion
overnight in Bethlehem

Day 9	Theme: The Way of the Patriarchs
31.1, W	Field trip: Hebron, Cave of Macphelah, Beer-sheba, Tent of Nations 
PM Forum: Israeli settler
		overnight in Bethlehem
Day 10	Theme: Jerusalem and its Environs at the Time of Jesus
1.2, Th	Field trip: Old City walking tour, Harem esh Sherif/Temple Mount, Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Lithostratos, St. Anne's Church, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden Tomb
	overnight in Bethlehem

Day 11		Theme: Day at Leisure 
2.2, F		Field trip: explore on your own or join the optional excursion to Qumran, 
the Dead Sea & Masada (additional expense, $135, based on 7 enrolled)
		overnight in Jerusalem	

Day 12		return to USA
3.2, Sa	
		 
2 Day Elective: Christian Heritage in Jordan & The Wonders of Petra ($810)

Day 12		Theme: The King’s Highway
3.2, Sa	Field trip: transfer to Allenby Bridge, enter Jordan, Madaba,  Mt. Nebo, the Spring of Moses (Dt. 32:48—49, 34: 1-8, Nm 20, 21:1-22), time permitting—Siq al Barid (Little Petra), Al Beidha (Neolithic settlement)
		Overnight Wadi Musa/Petra

Day 13		Theme: The Rose Red City
4.2, Su		Field trip: Full day in Petra
		overnight in Amman

Day 14	Transfer to Queen Alia Airport and return to USA
5.2, M	 

•	Meetings with indigenous people are subject to change.  Appropriate substitutions will be made in the event a speaker is unavailable.
•	Daily itinerary is subject to local condition.  
•	Morning and evening for a on various topics will be arranged throughout the program