Akko

On the north side of Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean Sea is the city of Akko. Akko is also spelled Acco or even Acre. Historically, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Francis of Assisi, and Marco Polo are a few of the names that have visited Akko. The Crusaders fought here and used Akko as their capital in Israel for awhile. Napolean tried to conqueor Akko and failed. Below is the sunset over the Mediterranean.

Along the entrance road to Akko, this looked like a Crusader art object on top of the hill.

A monument by the sea at Akko.

Akko is unique because it is a "walled city" from the days of the Crusaders but built right on the sea. There are not a lot of Biblical references to Akko (Acco). One exception is that the tribe of Asher did not conqueor the city when the Israelites came into the land. Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, aphik, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out. Judges 1:31-32.

The Mediterranean, Biblically known as the Great Sea. Moses declared it as one of the boundaries for the Israelites. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries.... As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border. Numbers 34:1-6.

The "walled city" of Akko sitting on the Great Sea.

Daniel's vision in Chapter 7 begins with "Heaven" stirring up the Great Sea. Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. Daniel 7:2.

After Paul's missionary journeys, Luke records in Acts that they came through Akko. Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem via Caesarea. The Greek name for Akko at that time was Ptolemais. And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Acts 21:7-8. Caesarea is 20-25 miles south of Akko on the Mediterranean.

The lighthouse at Akko.

The contrast of the modern city of Akko just on the other side of the walls.

A better view of Akko behind the wall.

Fisherman on the Great Sea. One day the fish of the Great Sea will also be in the Dead Sea when the living water of the Lord Jesus flows from His Temple in Jerusalem to the east. Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east... There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it ... they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. Ezekiel 47:1-10.

Just before sunset on the Mediterranean Sea.

Another fisherman just below the walls around the lighthouse.

The north side of Haifa Bay. The white building on the left with a small, red steeple is an 18th century structure known as the Church of St. John.

The southern wall of Akko.

Breaking waves of the Mediterranean where God Almighty has pre-set their boundaries. Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. Jeremiah 5:22.

Whether it is Akko, Acco, Acre, or Ptolemais, this ancient city is part of the beauty and history of the land of Israel.

Feast Days in Jerusalem

I arrived back in Israel for my second year with Christian Friends of Israel just before the start of the fall feasts, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succot. These are the common Hebrew names for the feasts in Israel. Each one is described in the Bible in Leviticus 23. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the New Year, but Biblically is known as the Feast of Trumpets. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’" Leviticus 23:23-25.Below is the western wall of The Old City.

Even in October, flowers are in full bloom in Jerusalem. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. Song of Songs 2:12.

These floral photos are from my neighborhood, The German Colony.

Yom Kippur, Biblically known as The Day of Atonement, is the most holiest day of the year. The High Priest of the temple was commanded to go into the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the sins of the nation. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. Leviticus 23:26-28. In modern day Jerusalem, there is no driving of cars, buses, or taxis on Yom Kippur. It is a tradition for Israelis to bicycle, skate, and walk the streets. Below are some young kids enjoying Yom Kippur on Emek Rafaim Street.

The streets that are normally crowded with vehicles are totally empty on Yom Kippur. The Lord Jesus paid the price for our sins. He is our Atonement and High Priest. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17.

Because the Lord Jesus has paid the price for our sins, we have the confidence and assurance of our eternal salvation. Just to go on a walk in His Holy City is very fulfilling.
Succot, or The Feast of Tabernacles, is a seven day feast of joy that begins 5 days after Yom Kippur. ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. Leviticus 23:39. Each year, the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ) hosts thousands of Christians from around the world to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This year the opening night of Succot was held in Ein Gedi down by the Dead Sea.

This was the long line for dinner just at sundown.

On the way to Ein Gedi, a Bedouin gentleman always has his camel by the Sea Level sign in case you want to stop and ride. This sign is about halfway from Jerusalem to Jericho and would be in the area that the Lord Jesus described in His parable about the Good Samariatan. Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. Luke 10:30-33.

Down at Ein Gedi, the buses were coming for The Feast. For nearly 8000 Christians, there had to be 150 or more buses. Fortunately, I had a rental car.

This is a wadi (valley) at Ein Gedi, similar to where David may have hid from King Saul. Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 1st Samuel 24:1

Looking across the Dead Sea, you can see the reflection of the mountains of Jordan.

Walking around The German Colony.

Israelis are to build "booths" during the Feast of Tabernacles also known as the Feast of Booths. While reading the Torah during Nehemiah's day, they re-discovered that fact. And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month... Nehemiah 8:14. Below is a "booth" built by one of the restaurants in The German Colony.

Israelis are to eat and sleep in "booths" to remember how God provided for them in the desert. So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. Nehemiah 8:17.

Some booths are decorated but the main thing is for the roof to be constructed loosely so you can see the stars at night just like in the desert. ... and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written. Nehemiah 8:15.

Photos from the last day of Succot.

This seemed to me to be a very large bloom.

With the blue sky as a background.

These flowers are in front of a historic house on Emek Rafaim Sreet, which means Valley of Rafaim, where King David fought the Philistines. The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 2nd Samuel 5:18-19.

My favorite hamburger place has a Succah (booth) built on the sidewalk. Burgers Bar just means that you place your order at a "bar" then tell them what you like on it. Lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, eggplant, etc. They know I like both bar-b-cue and spicy sauce.

One last restaurant Succah on the sidewalk. Tomorrow they will all be gone until next year's Feast of Tabernacles. The Lord's Feasts do not have an end to them. You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’” So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD. Leviticus 23:41-44.