(Guest post by Seth M. Rodriquez. For an introduction to this series, see last week’s post.)

This week’s photo comes from Volume 2 of the revised and expanded edition of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands.  It is entitled “Cliffs Near Michmash and Geba from Southeast” (photo ID #: tb092706140).  However, the name of the picture does not do justice to the thrilling events that took place here in the time of King Saul.

First Samuel 13 tells us that shortly after Saul was crowned king, the Philistines had penetrated deep into Israelite territory.  Normally the Philistines controlled only the coastal plains, but at this point in history they were attempting to gain control over the hill country as well.  They were encamped at Michmash in the territory of Benjamin, in the heart of Israelite territory (1 Sam 13:5).  Saul mustered his troops but suffered a defeat (1 Sam 13:6-7).  He was in dire straits and his character was put to the test as he waited for Samuel to arrive and offer sacrifice on behalf of the troops (1 Sam 13:8).  Saul cracked  under the strain and offered the sacrifice himself, incurring God’s judgment (1 Sam 13:9-15).  This chain of events only made matters worse and the Philistine army started spreading out from Michmash, gaining control over the heart of Saul’s kingdom (1 Sam 13:16-18).

This was the situation that Jonathan found himself in, yet unlike his father his character blossomed under such difficult circumstances.  First Samuel 14 provides us with the story.  The picture above shows the cliffs that separated the Philistine camp at Michmash and the Israelite camp at Geba.  The modern name for this valley is the Wadi Suweinit.  The cliffs on the left side of the photo led to Geba and the cliffs on the right to Michmash.  The Bible refers to these cliffs in this way:

“Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.” (1 Sam. 14:4-5, ESV.)

The camps were only about a mile apart.  There is a pass between the two sites at the head of the valley (near the top center of the photo) where the main road was and still is today.  That strategic pass through the area was probably the reason the Philistine soldiers chose to camp at Michmash: if they camped close by, they could monitor and control the traffic through the pass.

However, instead of approaching the Philistine garrison on the main road through the pass, Jonathan decided to surprise the Philistines by scaling the cliffs.  Verse 13 tells us that Jonathan climbed up to the Philistine camp “on his hands and his feet.”  Amazingly, he takes only his equipment bearer with him: two soldiers against an entire garrison.  His reasoning for the attack is a testimony to his great faith:

“Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised.  It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” (1 Sam 14:6, ESV.)

In the end, God rewarded Jonathan’s faith by giving him the victory.  He and his equipment bearer killed 20 soldiers and the rest were thrown into a panic (1 Sam 14:14-15), which provided the Israelites with an opportunity to win a great victory.  (You can read the rest of the story here.)  Many things have changed in the land of Saul and Jonathan over the last 3,000 years, but these cliffs still stand today as a silent witness of the faith and heroic deeds of Jonathan.

This photo is included in Volume 2, “Samaria and the Center” of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands can be purchased here.
For more on Michmash, Geba and the pass, go here.

(Post by Seth M. Rodriquez)

With the recent release of the revised and expanded version of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands, I thought it would be helpful to start a series of posts that highlight some pictures from the collection. 

With over 17,000 pictures in 18 volumes, there is an immense amount of material in there.  My purpose will be to feature one photo per week that can be especially useful in the classroom or in the church.  Although the PLBL collection contains many of the typical “postcard” shots of the usual tourist locations, its true value lies in the more unusual pictures that illustrate a particular feature of geography or archaeology that can be easily overlooked or that other photo collections fail to include.  It is these types of pictures that I would like to highlight and discuss.  Preference will be given to photos that were not included in the original edition of the Pictorial Library and that are not posted on the BiblePlaces.com website.

Our first photo comes from Volume 1: Galilee and the North, and is entitled “Mount Hermon and Caesarea Philippi aerial” (photo ID #: bb00140015).

In this photo, the immense size of Mount Hermon can be clearly seen while it dwarfs the remains of the ancient city of Caesarea Philippi (located at the bottom center of the photo).  The ruins of the Crusader period castle of Nimrud can also be seen sitting on the ridge above Caesarea Philippi in the upper right quadrant of the photo.

This shot is helpful for a number of reasons.  First, it gives the viewer an appreciation for the massive size of Mount Hermon.  With its peak reaching an altitude of 9,230 feet (2,814 meters), it is almost three times the height of any other peak in the territory of ancient Israel.  Secondly, it shows the geographical relation between the castle of Nimrud and Caesarea Philippi.  Although I have visited both sites a number of times, the fact that they were both built on the same ridge escaped my notice until I saw this picture.  However, those two reasons are not why I decided to feature this picture in today’s post.

The third and most valuable reason is that it can be used effectively as an illustration when teaching or preaching on the Transfiguration of Jesus.  The Transfiguration occurs in Matthew 16:28-17:9, Mark 9:1-9, and Luke 9:27-36.  In each of those books, the event is immediately preceded by the discussion that Jesus had with his disciples where Peter declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Matthew and Mark tell us that this conversation occurred in the region (or district) of Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:13; Mark 8:27). 

A few days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain where He was transformed in front of them.  Matthew and Mark describe the location as “a high mountain” (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2), and Luke refers to it as “the mountain” with a definite article (Luke 9:28).  Looking at this photograph it is not hard to see which mountain the gospel writers had in mind.  If they were in the region of Caesarea Philippi and they went up a high mountain … indeed the most noteworthy mountain in the area … then it is not difficult to figure out which mountain was intended.  Over the years, some have interpreted the “mountain” in these passages as referring to Mount Tabor on the eastern edge of the Jezreel Valley, but given the geographical indicators provided in the text, Mount Hermon is a more likely candidate.

For a teacher or preacher, a photo such as this could be used as a dramatic backdrop to a discussion of the pivotal conversation Jesus had with His disciples in this region and the Transfiguration on the mountain.  By looking at this photo, the listener can easily picture the entire chain of events: the private conversation somewhere down in the valley, the physical exertion of Jesus and the chosen three as they climb the tall mountain, the glorious transformation of Jesus appearing as a bright spot somewhere on the mountain as His face and clothes shone brightly (Matt. 17:2), and finally the appearance of a shining cloud as God the Father spoke to the disciples (Matt. 17:5).  The use of a photo such as this can draw students and congregations into the story and engage their minds in a way that cannot be done with words alone.  The picture enhances the message.

This photo is included in Volume 1 of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands and can be purchased here.