 Dr.
Langfur introduces the basic features of the Biblical landscape: its strategic
location on the land bridge joining Europe, Asia, and Africa; its mountains,
rivers, and valleys; the patterns of the rainfall; the natural roads. Our
first major site is Mt. Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets
of Baal (I Kings 18).
The event is a re-affirmation of the Israelite covenant faith: "If you
obey these commandments…then I will send rain on your land in its season…so
that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and oil…. But beware, lest
you serve other gods… Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and
He will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain…and you will soon
perish from the good land the Lord is giving you." (Deut.
11: 13-17.)
When Pompey conquered the land eight centuries later, the Jews were no longer worshipping foreign gods. The new Roman might seemed to contradict the old covenant faith: according to its logic, the Jews should have remained sovereign in their land. We go to Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod the Great. From here we survey the geographical basis of Rome’s domination. How to resolve the contradiction? Was the covenant faith merely a fairy tale after all - wishful thinking? For an answer we go to the Sea of Galilee and Jesus’ teaching on the Mount of Beatitudes. That teaching will carry us backwards and forwards: back to the origins of the covenant faith (Part Two), as well as forward into a new covenant (Part Three). (54 minutes) |
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