Bechtel Biblical Scholar Tour

Price Per person double occupancy

Date	Price	Single Supplement
June 4-17, 2024	$5,569*	$1,275
*Includes estimated roundtrip air from Newark. Price subject to change based on number of tour members and final air costs. Reservation Due: Feb. 22, 2024 Final Payment Due: April 5, 2024

Included

Roundtrip airfare from Newark including taxes and fees (air taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change), 11 nights lodging at 4-star hotels, Breakfast & dinner daily at hotels, 1 Bedouin meal lunch, Full time English-speaking tour guide, Services of long-distance deluxe motor coach as appearing on itinerary, All entrances and transportation as appearing on itinerary, Porterage at hotels (1 piece), 1 group arrival transfer and 1 group departure transfer, Whisper/Listening devices, Tips to drivers, guides, and hotel staff, Pilgrim Payment Processing for check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover

Not Included

All lunches and drinks with meals except as noted in itinerary, Optional Travel Insurance – 7.95% or 10.85% of tour cost (OH rates current as of quote date)

Hope Bechtel, Tour Host
MAMS, Grace Theological Seminary
Hope Bechtel has been a music educator and professional performer for 23 years. Besides being a successful middle school music teacher, she hosts Bible studies with students of all ages. In addition, she is a requested speaker for church seminars and women’s conferences. Hope loves to travel, particularly for short-term mission trips overseas. She obtained her MAMS (Master of Arts and Ministry Studies) from Grace Theological Seminary in 2013.

Hope has been involved in eight Biblical scholar tours to Israel. She has a deep love for the Scriptures and in particular, the ancient Hebraic cultural/historical context of the Bible.

“Learning about the ancient cultural roots to our Christian faith has made a profound impact on my own personal growth, witness, and Bible teaching. I find myself constantly talking about these discoveries and new layers of understanding with others in a way that practically and profoundly deepens our faith.”

Don Bechtel, Tour Chaplain
MM, Kent State University
Don Bechtel is an experienced educator having taught band, choir, and Bible classes to high school students for 47 years until his retirement in 2019. He is also the teaching leader of an Adult Bible Fellowship class at his church.

Don has been to the Land 12 times in the role as Chaplain and has participated in archeological digs at Bethsaida and the Temple Mount Sifting Project. It wasn’t until his first trip to the Land that he discovered the Land itself is God’s visual tool to understanding the Scriptures within the context in which they were written. It was after this tour that he has dedicated the rest of his life to passionately studying the Bible’s Hebraic roots in the Christian faith and seeking opportunities to share these insights with others. “I love seeing people discover new spiritual insights and begin making connections between the Old and New Testaments!”

Nothing brings more joy to his life than sharing what the Lord has revealed through His Word and His Land to others, especially while walking in the Land.

Day 1, Tuesday, June 4: Departure

Departure from Newark International Airport today. Meals and in-flight services are per airline policies.

Day 2, Wednesday, June 5: Arrive Tel Aviv

Arriving at Tel Aviv, we proceed through passport control to claim baggage and meet our guide. Boarding a private coach, we will drive to Beersheba (home to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) considered the southern boundary of the Land of Israel in ancient times. Recount the story of the dispute over the well Abraham dug which was seized by the servants of the Philistine King Abimelech (Genesis 21:25-33). After lunch, travel down to the Negev area/Wilderness of Zin where we will overnight at the Inbar Hotel.

Day 3, Thursday, June 6: Negev Desert

Today we will explore the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev Desert by jeep excursion to experience the vastness of the area that Moses and the Israelites were faced with while wandering for 40 years being led by the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. We will enjoy lunch in a Bedouin tent. Following lunch we visit the stunning remains of Tel Arad containing the ruins of an ancient Israelite temple complete with an unhewn altar and Holy of Holies dating to the time of the Judean kings, as well as the much older Bronze Age Arad (remains of a city almost 5000 years old). Finally, we will travel to the Dead Sea where we will experience floating in the Dead Sea before returning to the Inbar Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4, Friday, June 7: Dead Sea Area

Travel along the shore of the Dead Sea to Masada, where we will ascend to the top of the fortress by cable car. Witness the Herodian grandeur and hear the story of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66–70 AD). We visit the beautiful oasis at Ein Gedi (David hid from Saul – I Sam. 23-24), observing wildlife such as ibex and conies while hiking up to its beautiful waterfalls. On to Qumran, home of the Essenes, where we will view remains of their community and see a cave where most of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. After lunch we will continue to Jericho, the world’s lowest and oldest city, for a view of its ancient tower and walls (Joshua 6). We will travel on to Galilee where we will lodge for four nights at the Nof Ginosar Hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Day 5, Saturday, June 8: Sea of Galilee Circle

We begin the day with a visit to the Arbel Cliff. Enjoy a hike to the top providing a panoramic view over the Sea of Galilee, observing the area of Jesus’ ministry. Tracing the sites of Jesus’ earthly ministry, visit the Mt. of Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7). We explore the nearby synagogue and village at Capernaum, the headquarters for Jesus’ public ministry. Stop at Tabgha (“seven springs”) and recount the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Matt. 14) and recall Jesus’ appearance to his disciples after His resurrection (John 21). Enjoy St. Peter’s fish at a restaurant near the lake. Visit Magdala, hometown of Mary Magdalene, viewing the newly discovered 1st century synagogue in which Jesus would have taught (Mark 1:39). Proceed to Kibbutz Ginosar Museum to see an ancient fishing boat from Jesus’ time. Enjoy an afternoon boat ride on the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat replica of the 2000-year-old boat we just viewed. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6, Sunday, June 9: Upper Galilee

We travel north for a visit to Hazor, Canaan’s largest city that was conquered by Joshua. We continue northeast to hike the beautiful nature reserve at Tel Dan and see the rushing headwaters of the Jordan. Here we visit the high place built at Dan by Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who set up the golden calf (I Kings 12). After lunch, proceed to Banias (Caesarea Philippi) at the foot of Mount Hermon, recalling Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ (Matthew 16). Meander through the ruins of Agrippa’s Palace, continuing our hike to view the most powerful waterfalls in this area. Return to our hotel on the Sea of Galilee for free time in the afternoon which includes an opportunity to swim in the very lake where Jesus walked on water. After dinner we will gather for an evening candlelight service on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Day 7, Monday, June 10: Jezreel Plain, Lower Galilee

Today we journey to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. We will visit a church built over the ancient village spring (Mary’s Well). Then we head to Nazareth Village, an open-air museum that reenacts village life in the Galilee during the time of Jesus. Drive to the Nazareth Ridge (Mt. Precipice), recounting stories from both Testaments (Judges 4 & Luke 4). We continue on to visit Harod’s Spring, the site where the story of Gideon’s battle with the Midianites took place (Judges 7). Heading back north we travel to Beit She’an to explore the expansive ruins of the capital of the Roman Decapolis. Here we view the setting for the last days of Saul and recap the Biblical story of the death of Saul and Jonathan (I Samuel 28 – II Samuel 1). We will end our day with a baptismal service at the Jordan River. We return to our lodging for dinner on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Day 8, Tuesday, June 11: Jezreel Plain to the Sea

Leaving the Galilee, we travel to Mt. Carmel at Muhraka (“burnt offering”), the traditional site for the confrontation of Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). After a time of reflection we head west to the Mediterranean Sea to visit the magnificent ruins of Caesarea Maritima, including Pilate’s palace (Acts 23-26), the prison where Paul was held, the Herodian harbor, and the hippodrome for chariot races. This Roman bridgehead to the land became the Christian springboard to the West. Sitting in the grand theater we will recount the story of Cornelius (Acts 10). We drive to our new lodging at Ramada Resort Hadera Beach and end our day with a refreshing swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 9, Wednesday, June 12: City of David

Today we set our faces toward Jerusalem. We will make a brief stop on Mt. Scopus for an overview. We move on to explore the original Jerusalem, the City of David. View the recent excavations of David’s palace and explore the ancient water system supplied by the Gihon Springs. Those who wish may wade through water in Hezekiah’s Tunnel (II Chronicles 32) to reach the Pool of Siloam (John 9) while others who prefer a drier experience may take the 3800-year-old Canaanite Tunnel. We follow this with the Ophel Excavations (2 Chron. 33:14) on the southern edge of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, climbing the Temple steps where Jesus and his disciples would have walked. Time permitting, we may also visit the Western Wall Archaeological Tunnel, showing the outer Temple wall with its Herodian stones in pristine condition. We head to the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 10, Thursday, June 13: Old Jerusalem

Our day begins with a visit to the Western Wall (Judaism’s most holy site) where we may observe Bar Mitzvahs being celebrated. We will ascend Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. We pass by St. Anne’s Church, briefly pausing there to enjoy a time in song. We stop at the nearby remains of the Pools of Bethesda to remember the healing of the paralyzed man (John 5). Walking the traditional Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) we end at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built on the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. After lunch we explore the Jewish Quarter excavations, including the Byzantine main street (Cardo), the Broad Wall of King Hezekiah, and Caiaphas’ House. The rest of the afternoon will include free time to explore the Old City and do some shopping. This evening we will observe a traditional Seder meal in the Upper Room.

Day 11, Friday, June 14: Bethlehem and the Shephelah

This morning we drive to the Shephelah lowlands located between the Judean foothills and the coastal plain to visit a few cities of major importance in the Old Testament: Beth Shemesh (Samson), Elah Valley (David and Goliath), and Tel Lachish (Joshua). We make our way to Bethlehem, the birthplace of David and Jesus. After lunch, walk through Manger Square and visit the Church of the Nativity where the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Drive to Shepherds Fields to see a typical cave and manger, recounting the story of David’s anointing by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1-13) and the story of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 2). Sing Christmas carols in a beautiful church built over a cave. Shopping is available for olive wood carvings, jewelry, and souvenirs. Stop briefly for an orientation of Jerusalem from the south at the Commissioner’s Palace Overlook on the way back to the Ambassador Hotel for dinner.

Day 12 – Thursday, April 4: Jerusalem

After an overview to the city from the Mount of Olives, we descend by foot down the traditional Palm Sunday route, stopping at the Church of Dominus Flevit (“the Lord weeps”) where it is said that Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19). After a time of contemplation continue downhill to the Garden of Gethsemane and have a time of reflection and meditation ending at the Church of All Nations which enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest (Mark 14:32–42). We drive to the Garden Tomb for a private tour and communion service. After lunch we travel to the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book, as well as survey an open-air model of Jerusalem (scale 1:50) representing the city as it looked in 66 AD on the eve of the Jewish revolt against Rome. We will then tour the main archaeological section of the Museum.

Day 13, Sunday, June 16: Jerusalem

Morning: Worship at a place of your choosing or spend time on your own. A list of "Places to Go and Things to Do" will be provided. Spend some time shopping in the Souk.
Afternoon: Meet the bus to go to western Jerusalem where we experience a taste of modern Israel by having lunch and shopping at the Mahane Yehuda Market. Return to the Ambassador Hotel to begin packing and freshen up for a traditional Middle Eastern farewell dinner.

Day 14, Monday, June 17: Arrive Home

After breakfast we depart for the airport. Relax on your return flight home, savoring the experience of having walked the land of the Bible, your new “home.” You will never forget your spiritual home—the WORD will go from black and white to LIVING COLOR! Upon arrival, proceed through customs and then on to board your flights to your final destination.

Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.