it just does not seem possible that after 24 years I'm not at Sonshine in Willmar, Minnesota. Sweating in the Minnesota sunshine rocking with FF5 or sweating at Safi? Glad I'm here!
Same routine...as every day...but the experience of walking up the Tell is new every day...trying to imagine what was built here thousands of years ago and how those people lived their lives. Looking over the Valley of Élah. In I Samuel 17 it says..."Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp."
So I overlook that valley where this event happened. Dr. Jeff Chadwick gave us a demonstration of sling throwing and can see that it was a very dangerous weapon even today. Palestinians use it against Israeli police in riots...we were told that they cut the tongue out of old Nike shoes and use the laces for a primo weapon. Imagine getting hit in the forehead with a rock the size of a racquet ball thrown by Nolan Ryan, that would ruin your day..it did Goliath's. Dr. Chadwick mentioned that David was not the underdog, in fact it was Goliath that brought a knife to a gunfight....David knew how to use the sling, as a shepherd he had practiced, had killed a lion and bear according to scripture. What David really had going him was skill and as scripture says, "David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands..." Ah...how the between the lines of scripture comes to life!
Today in our area 26D of Area F we opened up a new locus site and used pick axes and dug down about 6 inches and found the tops of the city wall...it was one of the answers to the questions the team leaders were looking for. So wether these were Late Bronze Age or Iron Age 1 the pottery will tell the story. It is interesting how from lower F to middle F (where I'm working) you can follow the city wall of Gath. cool! so very Cool! I'm glad we "chose rockets" rather than giving up on the dig!
Got back, lunch and pottery washing and got my luggage together for the last day and trip to Tel Aviv. We had our farewell party to tonight with make it yourself Falafel, if you don't know what they are Google!
After supper had our usual Iron Dome viewing party on the lawn in front on our home sweet home and Hamas sent up their usual volley, which was spiked by Iron Done.
Same routine...as every day...but the experience of walking up the Tell is new every day...trying to imagine what was built here thousands of years ago and how those people lived their lives. Looking over the Valley of Élah. In I Samuel 17 it says..."Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp."
So I overlook that valley where this event happened. Dr. Jeff Chadwick gave us a demonstration of sling throwing and can see that it was a very dangerous weapon even today. Palestinians use it against Israeli police in riots...we were told that they cut the tongue out of old Nike shoes and use the laces for a primo weapon. Imagine getting hit in the forehead with a rock the size of a racquet ball thrown by Nolan Ryan, that would ruin your day..it did Goliath's. Dr. Chadwick mentioned that David was not the underdog, in fact it was Goliath that brought a knife to a gunfight....David knew how to use the sling, as a shepherd he had practiced, had killed a lion and bear according to scripture. What David really had going him was skill and as scripture says, "David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands..." Ah...how the between the lines of scripture comes to life!
Today in our area 26D of Area F we opened up a new locus site and used pick axes and dug down about 6 inches and found the tops of the city wall...it was one of the answers to the questions the team leaders were looking for. So wether these were Late Bronze Age or Iron Age 1 the pottery will tell the story. It is interesting how from lower F to middle F (where I'm working) you can follow the city wall of Gath. cool! so very Cool! I'm glad we "chose rockets" rather than giving up on the dig!
Got back, lunch and pottery washing and got my luggage together for the last day and trip to Tel Aviv. We had our farewell party to tonight with make it yourself Falafel, if you don't know what they are Google!
After supper had our usual Iron Dome viewing party on the lawn in front on our home sweet home and Hamas sent up their usual volley, which was spiked by Iron Done.
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