06/12/10 - Day 4...David and Goliath Battleground and Market

Today was Saturday and we were scheduled for a "free day" but instead we all wanted to go see the battleground of David and Goliath. So for half a day we were off to see the place where this favorite Bible story took place. First of all we stopped on the way to see this mound. The traditional story is that it is the place where Goliath was buried. (Traditional sites were stories handed down through the generations....not facts recorded in the Bible). There were again ruins of a church here, built somewhere in the 6oo BC time period and it also had a mosaic floor still intact. It's just amazing to me that these tiny tiles are still stuck to a floor 2500 years later. And they are just out in the open with a little dirt over them!!

And here is the battle site of the Israelites and the Philistines. The Israelites were camped on the hill on the right and the Philistines were camped on the hill on the left. There was a valley with a stream in between. And in the valley is where the battle happened.

"Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. " I Samuel 17: 1-3


We read the entire story of David and Goliath found in I Samuel 17.

Our guide, Danny, showed us how to use a stone and a sling.

" David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground."

I Samuel 17:45-49

Everyone picked up stones to bring home from this stream bed.

For the rest of the day we shopped at the old city Jerusalem market. It was crowded, colorful, loud, crazy, hot, and filled with all kinds of items for sale, like bread, fruits and vegetables, jewelry, wood carvings, t-shirts, pizza, shoes.......you name it - I think it was there! I was intrigued by the people who live in Jerusalem.