Off-Road Tour in the Shephelah

A great and unique way to reach the less known sites in the Judean Foothills (the “Shephelah”). Best if executed in the early spring (February-March) when everything is green and blooming!

The tour will start by tracking the “Burma Road”. This dirt road enabled providing vital supplies to Jerusalem during the 1948 Israeli-Arab war. Especially challenging will be the steep “serpentines” where to this day only real 4×4 off-road vehicles can pass. We continue along the “Sculptures forest” to the top of Tel Tzora , where we view and review the Legacy of the mighty Biblical figure of Samson. At Tell Beth-Shemesh, we will get off the road to track a new and somewhat sensational discovery – the possible place where the ark of the covenant may have been placed.

Fight like a Red Head!

david goliath battle site qeiyafa 1 After a lunch break we will drive up to Khirbet Qeiyafa. This intriguing site was uncovered in 2008-2012 and proved to bear unique remains from the time of Saul and David. It is also placed right above the valley where the battle between the red headed David and Goliath took place. We will sample some of the pebbles in the brook and check your skills using a sling :-).

Track Hiding Caves

The next stop will be kh. E-rai, a site exposed in 2018-2019 which some say is Biblical Ziklag, the site where David established is kingship. The day can end with a crawl through hiding caves from the time of the Bar-Kokhva rebellion, beneath Tel Goded. Another option is a drive to the Tel Tsafit and learn about Biblical Gath, the hometown of Goliath.

For Latter-day Saints groups it is also possible to end the day with a visit to Khirbet Beit Loya which some suggest to identify with Beit Lehi, the home of priest Lehi.