Mt Carmel was rainy, cold and overcast. We couldn't see much from the outlook.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel split from the Southern Kingdom of Judah after the death of Solomon. Jeroboam set up centers of false worship in the Northern Kingdom. After a few generations, Baal worship became the official religion of the Northern Kingdom. The government was corrupt. For example, King Ahab coveted a private vineyard owned by Naboth, so Ahab's wife Jezebel helped him acquire it by calling false witnesses to appear in Ahab's court.
The prophets Elijah, Elisha, and Amos became political enemies of the government because they preached against social, religious, and political corruption. Amos condemned those "who store up violence and robbery in their palaces", as Ahab had done. Elijah confronted Ahab's court by challenging the priests of Baal to a sacrifice contest (1 Kings 18). The relief shows the priests of Baal on the left, unsuccessfully calling on their god to start the sacrificial fire, while on the right Elijah and his priests successfully call on their god.
Haifa is a seaport city along the northern coast of Israel, home of the Baha'i Gardens and the Templer Cemetery. The Baha'i faith has 7 million members and was started in 1844. They believe in one god, all humans are of one race, and all world religions have been progressive stages for the ultimate revelation of God's will through the Baha'i leader, or Ullah. The Baha'i world headquarters is here.
.
A view of Haifa and the Mediterranean Ocean.
A view of Haifa, at the upper gate to the Baha'i Gardens.
It rained the day we were in Haifa. The Baha'i Gardens were closed due to slippery conditions on the stone stairs and paths. The Baha'i Gardens are lush and immaculately maintained.
Several Mormon missionaries served in Palestine before Israel was formed and banned missionary work. A few missionaries and members died in Palestine and were buried in the Templer cemetery in Haifa.
Jacob Spori was sent from the European Mission to Haifa in 1886. Before he left, he saw a blacksmith in a dream. After arriving in Haifa, he went to the street in his dream. Johan Georg Grau came out to meet him and said he saw Jacob Spori in a dream the night before. Georg was baptized and tried to get his wife to join with him but she refused. He immigrated to Utah without his wife. Later he returned to Palestine, taught his wife and she was baptized.
Sorry - I don't know how to put Sister Grau's marker upright
In 1894 John A. Clark left his studies at BYU to serve a mission. After one year in Haifa, he died of small pox, shortly before turning 24 years old.
 |
| Adolph Haag accepted a call in 1892 to serve a mission. He was a 27 year old husband and father. After one month in Haifa, he died of typhus fever. |
Caesarea Maritima is south of Haifa along the Mediterranean coast. Herod wanted to court favor with his Greco-Roman subjects, so he built a modern Greco-Roman city with an amphitheater, cardo, royal palace, and a pagan temple to the goddess Roma. He wanted the city to compete with Alexandria as a commercial port, so he created an artificial harbor. His engineers designed walls of massive stones to create a harbor. They cemented the stones together in the ocean with concrete that dried under water. He also built an aqueduct to bring water from Mt Carmel, 12 miles away. The city was laid out in a grid pattern with paved streets. A sewage system below the streets was flushed out by the tides. Archaeologists discovered a Latin inscription indicating Pilate dedicated a local temple to the emperor Tiberius in Caesarea.
Phillip taught here. Peter baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius here. Paul appeared before Roman governors Felis and Festus in Caesarea and was kept here for 2 years before being sent to Rome. It was the home of the historian Eusebius. It was conquered by the Muslims, then the Crusaders who destroyed and rebuilt parts of it.
Phillip taught here. Peter baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius here. Paul appeared before Roman governors Felis and Festus in Caesarea and was kept here for 2 years before being sent to Rome. It was the home of the historian Eusebius. It was conquered by the Muslims, then the Crusaders who destroyed and rebuilt parts of it.
Remains of the Roman aqueduct run from Mt Carmel to Caesarea.
Herod's amphitheater overlooks the ocean.
The ocean from near the amphiteather
The starting gate for chariot races around an oval track.
Thanks for sharing so much of your experience in Israel, Blaine & Linda. I admire what you are doing. The chariot racetrack in Caesaria is perhaps my favorite place in Israel. Best wishes for your success, safety, and continued happiness.
ReplyDelete