Page 34 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition
P. 34

NORTHERN ISRAEL'S

SACRED LANDSCAPES

From ancient testimony to natural wonder

Courtesy of INPA l Photos: INPA

N orthern Israel isn’t just a                       Biblical Waters: Tel Dan and Banias            (Genesis 14:14-15), a journey spanning
                 region - it’s a living, breathing                                                 hundreds of miles that demonstrated both
                 crossroads of history, faith,      Tel Dan                                        his determination and faith.
                 and natural beauty. Here,          At Tel Dan Nature Reserve, history and
                 ancient stories aren't tucked      nature intertwine in perfect harmony.          The reserve surrounds visitors with lush
away in dusty books; they rise from the             This archaeological site contains one of       vegetation fed by the Dan Spring, one of
ground itself, carried by rivers, whispered by      the most significant biblical discoveries of   the Jordan River's primary sources. Walking
mountains, and etched into stones.                  the 20th century - the Tel Dan Stele with      paths lead through dense forest canopy
                                                    its famous "House of David" inscription,       alongside flowing streams, creating a
From the flowing headwaters of the Jordan           providing archaeological evidence for the      refreshing retreat even during the hottest
River to dramatic cliffs that scrape the sky,       Davidic dynasty. The site's massive mud-       summer months. The combination of
northern Israel invites travelers to walk           brick gate, dating back 3,800 years to the     archaeological treasures and natural
through history with the earth underfoot            Canaanite period, stands as one of the         beauty makes Tel Dan an essential stop for
and wonder overhead. This land has                  world's oldest intact arched structures. This  understanding both Israel's biblical past and
witnessed pivotal moments that shaped               area has profound biblical connections -       ecological present.
civilizations, and it still stirs the soul of       it was to Dan that Abraham pursued the
anyone who comes today.                             armies who had captured his nephew Lot

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