The Good Samaritan

One of my all-time favorite snapshots in Old Testament Israel is from Deuteronomy 27 and 28. Moses divides the tribes of Israel, placing half on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses on the people if they do not keep the Lord's commandments and the other half on Mount Gerazim to pronounce blessings if they do. I don't know why this particular scene has always captured me, except that it seems so powerful to have the tribes of Israel shouting across the valley to each other in responsive reading. So, when plans finalized for me to attend the Israel tour, I most anticipated seeing these two mountains with my own eyes.

Very excited about standing atop Mount Gerazim, with Mount Ebal in the background. Most likely the tribes stood further down the mountains facing each other so they could achieve the amphitheater effect.

The valley below

We were lucky to be able to access Mount Gerazim. Usually it's very tightly controlled by the military.

Mount Gerazim is located in Samaria, which was our destination for the day. In fact, whereas Jerusalem is the holy site for Jews, Gerazim is the holy site for Samaritans. So, upon descending, we visited a Samaritan museum, hosted by the next-in-line for the position of Samaritan High Priest.

The Samaritan priest (who also happens to have two cell phones, both of which went off during the course of his lecture--haha), showing us an ancient Samaritan Torah.

The priest explained to us the many complex dynamics of being Samaritan. They are very proud of their heritage, but they are a diminishing population--so much so, that they had to bring in a certain numbers of women from around the world (including Muslim, Jewish, North American, and others) in order to repopulate. The Samaritans also believe in the Torah, which they follow very literally. Apparently, the Torah (which only consists of the first five books of the Christian Bible) also leads them to expect a coming Messiah. However, according to this priest, the Messiah will not come until there is first peace in Jerusalem.

An ancient book of Samaritan astronomy

Solomon found a friend in the museum

A random donkey and a random boy in the streets of Samaria

Our next stop was Shiloh--my parents' favorite spot in Israel--where the Tabernacle was once set up. This was also the site of Saul's one and only great success at the battle at Jabesh-Gilead. The tribe of Benjamin was also almost wiped out at Shiloh. So, in a similar fashion to what the Samaritan priest described, the Benjamites had to catch wives for themselves lest they face extinction.

Lots happened in Shiloh, but for us, the most vivid memory is climbing through briars and thorns in order to find...

...THIS! (A cave. *grin*)

Our final stop for the evening was the Holocaust Museum. I can't quite describe how it made me feel, watching the video interviews of personal stories from the horrors of the Nazi regime. Few men will surpass the evil of Adolf Hilter, but the promises of God are ever faithful as inscribed on gate: "I will put my breath into you and you shall live again, and I will set you upon your own soil..." (Ezekiel 37:14)