The Rev. Kim Goddard, New River District Holston Conference
From Dan to Beer-sheba, 11 Day Biblical Survey, including Israel and Palestine	
24 February—5 March 2020
4 Day elective The Wonders of Jordan returning 9 March 2020
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
24.2, M

Day 2		Arrive Tel Aviv, overnight in Taybeh
25.2, Tu
		 
Day 3		Theme: Birth & Baptism
26.2, W	Field Trip: Taybeh, 1st Century house, Qasr el Yehud, Qumran, Jericho (Joshua 5-7, Judges 1: 27- 36), the Dead Sea, Wadi Qelt overview   
overnight in Taybeh

Day 4	Theme: Samaria, the Lower Galilee and the Coastal Plain 
27.2, Th	Field trip: Nablus, Jacob’s Well, Samaria/Sebastia, Megiddo (Rev. 16:16), Caesarea Maritima (Acts:10)
overnight in Galilee

Day 5		Theme: Jesus' Ministry in Upper Galilee 
28.2, F	Field trip: Tel Dan, Banyas/Caesarea Philippi (Mt. 16: 13-20), Migdal Shams, the Golan
overnight in Galilee  
	
Day 6	Theme: Nazareth and its Environs at the Time of Jesus 
29.2, Sa	Field trip: Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation, Sisters of Nazareth Convent (1st Century koch tombs), Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (Matt 2: 23, Luke 1: 26- 38, 4:16- 30), Mt Precipice, Sepphoris   
	overnight in Galilee

Day 7	Theme: Jesus’ Ministry around the Sea of Galilee
1.3, Su	Field trip: 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), boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Wadi Hammam, the Jordan Valley, souvenirs shopping
overnight in Bethlehem

Day 8            	Theme: Bethlehem and The Mt. of Olives
2.3, M		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
		PM forum: TBD
		overnight in Bethlehem

Day 9	Theme: The Way of the Patriarchs
3.3, Tu		Field trip: Hebron, Cave of Macphelah, Beer-sheba
 		overnight in Bethlehem

Day 10	Theme: Jerusalem and its Environs at the Time of Jesus 
4.3, W	Field trip: Harem esh Sherif/Temple Mount,Old City walking tour, Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Lithostratos, St. Anne's Church, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden Tomb
	PM Forum: TBD
	overnight in Bethlehem

Day 11	return to USA		
5.3, Th	

4 Day Elective: The Wonders of Petra & Christian Heritage in Jordan ($1,422 based on 10 enrolled)

Day 11	Theme: Christian Origins in Jordan
5.3. Th	Field trip: Masada, Allenby Bridge crossing into Jordan, baptismal site/al Maghtas, Jerash
                        Overnight Amman.

Day 12	Theme: Christian Origins in Jordan
6.3, F	Field trip: Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Al Beidha (Neolithic settlement), Siq al Barid (Little Petra)
Overnight Wadi Musa

Day 13		Theme: Exploration and Wonder
7.3, Sa		Field trip: Full day exploration of Petra
		Overnight Wadi Musa 

Day 14		Theme: The Desert Highway & the King’s Highway
8.3, Su		Field trip: Shoback Castle (overview), Amman, Jordan Museum
		Overnight Amman

Day 15		Return to USA
9.3, 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
•	Lunch stops will be arranged each day.
•	When requested, a shopping stop will be arranged consistent with The Society for Biblical Studies' statement on socially responsible travel