Experiencing The Jesus Dynasty A Special Tenth Anniversary Israel Tour. March 4-13, A Guide to the Sites James D. Tabor

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1 Experiencing The Jesus Dynasty A Special Tenth Anniversary Israel Tour March 4-13, 2016 A Guide to the Sites James D. Tabor

2 2 A Guide to the Sites The following is an annotated guide to the various places and sites we will explore on this tour. You maybe print out the links or keep them in this electronic version for access on our trip via the Internet. Most of the places we will study and visit are highlighted in my book, The Jesus Dynasty so reference to the book will be made throughout the tour. At the end of this guide I have also provided maps that should be consulted often. For a general background on Jesus and his Jewish/Roman world everyone should read carefully the article: The Jewish World of Jesus an Overview. Our tour will assume a basic knowledge of this survey article so that we can all explore in more depth the specific sites and ideas covered in The Jesus Dynasty. You should also read my recent post Tracking Jesus for some personal background: 1) Nazareth ( Branchtown ) Ναζαρέτ or Ναζαρέθ (See Isaiah 11:1 rrx En) The Church of the Nativity We are particularly interested in the archaeological remains in and around the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth that is located near a spring at the foot of the hills surrounding Nazareth. This includes Mary s house, inside the church as well as the recent excavation by Yardenna Alexandre, that discovered for the first time the remains of a house from the 1 st century CE. The Basilica of the Annunciation A residential building from the time of Jesus Nazareth Village An archaeologically informed reconstruction of a 1 st century village including houses, fields and farm, tombs, and a synagogue just 500 meters southwest of the Church of the Annunciation. The official web site of the project

3 3 A collection of photos 2) Sepphoris: (Tzipori little bird ): A City Set on a Hill Sepphoris was the urban capital of Galilee built by Herod Antipas during the first decades of the 1 st century CE. Josephus calls it the Jewel of the Galilee. We will walk through the excavations in an attempt to imagine things in the time of Jesus. General background on the history and excavations of Sepphoris 3) Magdala (Migdal Tower ) The recent excavations at Magdala, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a major port in the time of Jesus and the probable village of Mary Magdalene, including a 1 st century synagogue. It was in this area, south of Capernaum down to Ginosar ( Garden of the Prince ), on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, that resurrection faith was born. Recent excavations at Magdala What Do We Know about Mary Magdalene?--History and Tradition (Four parts) How the Followers of Jesus Recovered their Faith in the Galilee 4) Banias (Caesarea Philippi) The most likely setting of the pivotal scene in Mark 8:22-9:13 that begins in Bethsaida, then Banias, with the transfiguration most likely on Mt Hermon. The Excavations at Bethsaida

4 4 5) Anon-Salim/Wadi el-yabis (Cherith) to Jericho The likely area where John the Baptizer centered his work at the junction of the Jezreel Valley and the Jordan River. The road to Jericho was followed by Jewish pilgrims traveling from the Galilee to Jerusalem. 6) Qumran and the Dead Sea Community The 1 st century apocalyptic, messianic, movement. Our focus is on the possibility to likelihood that either John the Baptizer or Jesus were associated with the Qumran community. Basic Facts Regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls What kind of a Jew was Jesus? Nazarenes and Ebionites Schweitzer got it right 100 years ago The Messiah and Resurrection at Qumran The lifestyle of John the Baptizer

5 5 7) Last Days of Jesus in Jerusalem Mt. of Olives, Bethphage, Gethsemane, Kidron Valley, Pool of Siloam, Temple Mount, Mt. Zion, Cenacle, Pilate s Judgment Seat, and the Talpiot tombs The Pool of Siloam Discovered (Again) The Church of the Apostles on Mt Zion An Essene Community on Mt Zion? Standing Again with Jesus: The Judgment Seat of Pontius Pilate Locating the Site of Jesus Crucifixion Digging Mount Zion: The UNC Charlotte Excavation A Tale of Two Tombs What Really Happened Easter Morning? The Strange Ending of Mark Understanding Resurrection of the Dead Resurrection of the Dead: Old and New Bodies

6 6 The Talpiot Tombs: A Comprehensive Analysis The Jesus Family ) Suba: The Cave of John the Baptizer

7 7 9) Tamar: The Desert Experience from Moses to Jesus Biblical Tamar Park Excavations at Biblical Tamar

8 8 Maps 1. Roman Rule in Palestine

9 2. The Division of Herod s Kingdom 9

10 3. Close-Up of the Galilee: Homeland of Jesus 10

11 4. Oxford Map of the Entire Holy Land 11

12 5. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus (Present Old City Tan Color) 12

13 6. Jerusalem: Sites Related to the Jesus Dynasty 13

14 7. Location of the Talpiot Tombs 14

15 8. Mt Zion Excavation 15

16 9. National Geographic Map of Present Old City 16

17 10. British Aerial Shot of Jerusalem c. 1920s 17