Mt. Hermon
We visited Tel Dan today. This area is approximately five miles south of Lebanon. It was there that Jeroboam built the altar and the Golden Calf in I Kings 12, after the kingdom was divided and he was ruling Israel in the north. There is also a city gate there dating back to the time of Abraham, who likely passed through it around 4000 years ago.
From there we made our way to the Banyas Waterfall. Jesus may have gone there from Caesarea Phillipi to rest and to pray. Off in the distance, the Nimrod Fortress is in sight.
We went from there to Caesarea Phillipi. There was a massive Roman city there. There was also the Pan Temple, where the Greek Mythological god Pan, half man, half goat, was Worshipped. It was in Caesarea Phillipi that Peter made his confession of Christ in Matthew 16. Jesus said He would build His church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it.
We passed through a Druse Village and had a traditional lunch there and then on up into the Golan Heights to the Valley of Tears and Mt Bental.
Tomorrow we will make our way down toward the Dead Sea.
