Beit Shean

Our first stop for the day. Also called Decapolis/Skitapolis during the roman times. the busiest area, containting 10 major cities/settlements. Moshe likened it to Singapore's orchard road. haha.. or maybe raffles city? or combination of lah haha..



imagine the roman orchard road



only the pillars that are left



anyhows, it was a hugely important city at that time, crucial in the trade route..

It used to be controlled by the Egyptians -> Philistines -> David -> Greek (300BC) -> Romans -> Christian Romans (Constantine)

There is a water source nearby this place, and it goes through a tunnel thingy which makes a whistling noise, and that's why it's called Beit Shean. According to Moshe.

it was here that we also saw the bathing house. reminds me of the Mark of the Lion series. haha.. :)



a model of the bathing house



the floor of the place where they heat the water into steam




Imagine this street was once super crowded.. and now, it's so.. dilapitated. wow huh..



more ruins..



our family along the streets of "orchard road"



our newly made friend, wanru, aka tworu and/or jennifer HAHA. cute gal.



King Saul was hung near Mount Gilboa, which is very near this place. We went up there..



from up viewing down



the wooden steps that brings us higher. just had to take some scenic pictures..



tighter shots



with orchard road behind me. i have overcome!



with yellow flowers surrounding me



close ups



this is NOT where saul was hung, but it sure looked like a possible place



and this is where michelle was slaughtered. KIDDING.




Moshe taught us a bit of bible. Read 1 Samuel's last chapter and 2 Samuel's first chapter. they are talking about the same incident, but they give very different accounts about how it happened. How King Saul died.

In one, it was King Saul who plunged himself into his sword. In the other, it was the Amalekite who did King Saul the favour. So who killed him? Moshe pointed out that the Amalekite was probably lying to gain David's favour, knowing that there was great rivalry between the two kings. THat's why realise that the account came from the Amalekite's mouth? aha!

There was such political tension at that time already. can you imagine.. corrupt soldiers and all. hahaha.. so drama lah!

So back to Saul's death. He was the only body that was cremated. Jews don't believe in cremation coz of after life, but don't know why Saul did it.. ??



and who can forget the public toilets?!!



our entire group on serious business



the indian guru and the china man