Joe Yudin owns Touring Israel, a company that specializes in “Lifestyle” tours of Israel.Joe Yudin
became a licensed tour guide in 1999. He completed his Master’s degree
at the University of Haifa in the Land of Israel Studies and is
currently studying toward a PhD.Tel Megiddo is not off the beaten path, as a matter of fact it’s right smack in
the middle of the ancient superhighway, the Via Maris. However the continuous
archaeological dig taking place there every year has changed the way that we
look not only at Megiddo itself, but also at the entire history of the Land of
Israel.
Tel Megiddo is also a central part to the debate between several
schools of archaeology and science i.e. between “biblical archaeology” vs.
“revisionist archaeology” and between “low “and traditional chronology. It is
mired in controversy, but the dig there is one of the oldest archaeological
sites in the world and the treasures that are being found there to this day only
add to our rich historical insight into our collective biblical heritage. The
new finds and renovations make this site a must see every couple of
years.
I had the honor and the pleasure several years ago to be led
through this UNESCO World Heritage site by one of the two Israeli directors of
the site, Israel Finkelstein. Finkelstein is famous for his so called
“minimalist” views, his “low chronology” dating and as a major critic of the
Biblical narrative.
I found him to be extremely informative, insightful and non rejectionist. He
didn’t appear to me to have an agenda and truly seemed to be a student of
history man whose process is to examine and reflect, and only after taking into
account different perspectives to write about his findings.
The new
insights into the site are fascinating. The site is well signed, refurbished and
highly accessible. I suggest doing a bit of reading about the controversy and
the site will give you invaluable insights during your visit.
The most
intriguing argument between various scholars and archaeologists is the debate as
to who built the grandiose buildings during the Israelite period at Megiddo. Was
it during the reign of King Solomon as the Bible suggests and backed by famous
Hebrew University Israeli archaeologist Yigal Yadin from his digs there in the
1960’s and 70’s, or is Tel Aviv University professor Finkelstein and his low
chronology more accurate attributing this level to Kings Omri, Ahab and Jeroboam
II?
Professor Finkelstein does not dispute the existence of Israelites in the
13th and 12th centuries BCE, just the magnitude of their empire and his finds at
Tel Megiddo, he claims, prove this view.
From Tel Aviv or Jerusalem take Highway 6 north to the Iron Exit and then take
Route 65 north east through Wadi Ara to Megiddo Junction. Turn left and after a
kilometer you will see the huge tel which is level upon level of destroyed
civilizations amassing into what looks like a trapezoidal shaped
hill.
Take the first left after the tel and an immediate left up the tel
to the entrance of the nation park.
Inside the visitor’s center there is
a great (albeit dated) movie about Megiddo, its place in history and what it
means to both Jews and Christians. On the opposite side of the building is a
fabulous, informative series of displays (also quite dated) outlining how
Megiddo was an important strategic center exactly at the crossroads of Asia,
Africa and Europe from before the Canaanite period and through the Roman period
and even to this day.
Its history is 7,000 years old and boasts 24, maybe
now 25, different strata of civilizations. During the biblical narrative Megiddo
was almost always influenced or conquered by Egyptian or Mesopotamian forces
throughout its long history.
Its history reads like a who’s who of the
ancient world. Pharaoh Thutmose III fought a battle there in the 15th century
BCE capturing all of Canaan, Deborah and her general Barak defeated the Sisera
and his army there. Sisera was ambushed by Yael and lost his life at the end of
the battle. Josiah, the righteous king and descendant of David was killed there
in battle with Pharaoh Neco II, sparking the messianic connection to Megiddo for
Jews and Christians alike.
From the visitor’s center walk up the hill and check out the Canaanite stairs
and gate. Walk on the ancient road to the Israelite gates and walls which are
attributed to Solomon in the Bible. From there go up and left and see the
stables and palaces previously believed to be Solomon’s handiwork, but was most
probably the work of Ahab or even Jeroboam II.
See the great cut to the
right, dug out in a dig by the University of Chicago in the 20’s and 30’s when
the science was still in its infancy. At the bottom of the pit you can make out
a round Canaanite altar and temples where they made their sacrifices. The view
from beyond the palace of the Jezereel Valley, called the Valley of Armageddon
by evangelical Christians, is truly one of the best views in all of Israel. A
good guide can point out what would seem like half the Hebrew Bible while
standing at this point. Christians can imagine from here what the end time will
look like by reading the book of chapter 16 of the Revelations from
here.
Make your way to the other side of the divide and check out the
interesting mason marks on some large cut stones that have only been found at
one other place in Israel: Tel Jezreel, built by King Ahab. Check out the
stables and place on this side of the site and notice the Assyrian homes built
after the destruction by Senaccreib in 732 BCE. See the wheat silo and then on
the far side of that the water system built by some enterprising Canaanites to
defend the city’s water supply. Walk down into the dark tunnel come out the
other side and start your ten-minute walk back up to the visitor’s center.
Joe Yudin owns Touring Israel, a company that specializes in “Lifestyle” tours of Israel.Joe Yudin
became a licensed tour guide in 1999. He completed his Master’s degree
at the University of Haifa in the Land of Israel Studies and is
currently studying toward a PhD.