TOUR DAY TWO

July 2nd – On the next day of the tour we drove the short trip to Bethlehem (approximately five miles).  Before entering the town of Bethlehem we have to cross a checkpoint at the dividing wall where Palestinians cannot cross over into Jerusalem and Israelis cannot cross into Bethlehem.

We stop at the Chapel of the Shepherd’s Field where tradition says that the angels spoke to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of the messiah.

Shepherds hung together.  Shepherds rested in caves with their sheep.  They slept during the day while the sheep grazed and were safe from predators.  Shepherds guarded their sheep at night, when it was most dangerous, by coraling sheep in caves while they guarded the entrance.

As mentioned earlier, these traditional sites have, for centuries upon centuries, been sites of worship and devotion.  Here at there Shepherd’s Field are ruins from 3rd to 5th century monastery.

Now on to the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem–  a Lutheran presence in Bethlehem since 1901.  Me with the Pastor and others from this church and school.

The next stop on our tour is the Milk Grotto where tradition says an angel appeared to Joseph instructing him to take his family to Egypt to escape Herod.  Before they left for Egypt, Mary fed her infant son Jesus in this cave and drops of her milk fell onto the floor.  Many say this is a site of miracles.

Now on to the Church of the Nativity.

The current entrance is from the Crusader period.  Tradition says that it is here that Jesus was born

and laid in the manger

Other areas of this site enshrine the traditional house of Mary.

Now to Herodium located in the Judean desert.  Built by Herod between 24 and 15 BC.  Here he entertained Agrippa, son in law of Augustus in 15 BC.  Herod’s tomb is possibly located here.

Now head back to Jerusalem.  On way are Solomon’s Pools (where King Solomon swam).  This was the major watersource for Jerusalem.  Aqueduct was built by Herod.