Embark on a transformative 13-day biblical study tour in Israel, with 10 full days immersed in the rich biblical context of this holy land. This journey will inspire your faith and enrich your biblical knowledge like never before!

This Israel Faith Discovery Tour is organized for Pearl Baptist Church and host pastor Dr. Hugh Whitfield. This tour is a shared journey of faith, learning, and discipleship.

Most tours of Israel focus on information.

Dates.
Ruins.
Historical facts.

Those things matter, but they are not the heart of this journey.

The Bible was never meant to be experienced as a list of locations or historical data points. It is a story. A living story that unfolded in real places, among real people, across real landscapes.

When you walk the land of Israel with the story in mind, something changes.

• The hills of Galilee become the classroom where fishermen learned to follow a Rabbi.

• The desert reveals the path of redemption and the recovery of a people enslaved.

• The wilderness becomes the place where God shaped prophets and prepared the Messiah.

• The streets of Jerusalem become the stage where the mission of Jesus reached its climax.

This tour is designed to help you enter that story.

Instead of simply visiting sites, we explore how geography, culture, and daily life shaped the way Jesus taught and formed His disciples.

Because discipleship was never meant to be learned in a classroom.

It was learned on the road.

And that is exactly where we will walk.

Every location becomes part of a larger narrative that reveals what it means in Being a Disciple of Rabbi Jesus.

All travelers will depart from their nearest International Airport to arrive in Tel Aviv to join the tour.

All travelers will arrive in Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday October 6th at or before 4pm.

Our hotel is next to the Mediterranean beach and can be walked too fairly easily.

Topic: Entering the Promised Land.
What it means to leave Egypt and walk in the Promised Land

We will spend our first evening as a community of believers coming together to relive the Red Sea crossing and entering the Promised Land and how we can journey through the land together.

This day is designed to give a clear grasp of the Shephelah, the lowland region where Israel engaged with the surrounding nations, and the nations that inhabited Israel. These are the places where the people of God lived on the boundary lines, encountered foreign cultures, and learned what it meant to remain faithful while surrounded by competing worldviews.

Here we explore one of the most important and largest cities in ancient Israel during the time of the kings.

We will also look across the Ayalon Valley from a high ridge above the site. It also reveals the line of the Via Maris, the great international highway that carried people, trade, and ideas across the ancient world. Israel stood at the center of that movement.

Our second stop is Beth Shemesh, located just south of Gezer. From here we look toward the lands of the Philistines and the ridge where Samson lived. This is also the location where the Ark of the Covenant, carried on a cart by two cows, came to rest in the fields below. The story becomes vivid when you see the landscape where it happened.

As we continue driving south along the ancient Via Maris, we stop in the Valley of Elah.

Walking out into this valley allows us to explore the story of David and Goliath in its true physical setting. We will stand where the armies of Israel gathered and where the Philistines positioned themselves. Here we discuss what it means to have faith that steps forward, faith that acts with courage, and faith that trusts God when the odds appear impossible.

The final stop of the day is Maresha National Park. This remarkable site includes bell shaped caverns, ancient tombs, and extensive underground dwellings. The primary focus of our visit is the beautifully preserved olive press. Here we explore the meaning of a Gat Shemanim, the place known as Gethsemane. Understanding the process of crushing olives provides essential insight into the events that take place in Jerusalem when Jesus enters His own place of pressing.

In Scripture the desert is a place where God shapes His people. It is a place of testing, refining, revelation, and dependence. Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus all spent defining seasons in the wilderness. As we travel through the Judean Desert, we step into landscapes that formed the faith of the people of God. The quiet, the stark beauty, and the vast empty spaces help us understand why the desert becomes one of the most important locations in the Bible.

The day begins with a gondola ride to the top of Masada, the ancient desert fortress of Herod the Great. On the summit we explore Herod’s palaces, military barracks, storerooms, throne room, personal apartment, and private bath. The ruins reveal the ambition and fear that shaped Herod’s rule.

We also stop at the massive Roman ramp, a remarkable engineering effort that eventually allowed the Roman army to breach the fortress during the First Jewish Revolt.

At Tel Arad we walk through an ancient gate that Abraham would have passed through on his journeys. We explore the Canaanite city, view Bedouin encampments, and see the remains of a four room house that reflects the daily life of the patriarchal world. This gives us a foundation for discussing Abraham’s household and his relationship with Lot.

Our journey brings us to the Nabatean city of Avdat, one of the key strongholds on the Incense Route. Avdat features storerooms, wine storage, workshops, fortifications, and water systems carved into the desert. It shows how the Nabateans transformed harsh landscapes into thriving trade centers.

To end the day, we enter the waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Here we float effortlessly, unable to sink, surrounded by silence, desert, and stillness.

This is a place where nothing grows, yet it powerfully teaches about trust and surrender. The Dead Sea becomes a living metaphor for the end of striving.

There is nothing to accomplish here and nothing to prove. You simply lean back and rest, held up by the water beneath you. After a day tracing the mission of Jesus from prophetic calling to baptism and obedience, this moment invites reflection.

The mission was never carried by human strength alone. It was sustained by trust in the Father. As we float in these ancient waters, the land reminds us that discipleship begins with obedience, but it is sustained by surrender.

Today we step into a landscape that mirrors the world of the Exodus. The Sinai Desert becomes a living picture of the place where the children of Israel learned to trust God for every need.

Here they received the covenant, followed the pillars of cloud and fire, gathered manna each morning, and discovered what it meant to love the Lord with all their heart. As we walk through this wilderness terrain, we enter the setting that shaped their identity as God’s people.

Our first destination is Timna Park, a region whose rugged cliffs and canyons resemble the routes the Israelites traveled after leaving Egypt. The early copper mines scattered throughout the park help us imagine the harsh desert conditions in which they wandered. This is a landscape that teaches dependence and reveals why the wilderness became one of God’s primary places to train His people.

We continue to the full scale Tabernacle Model, one of the most meaningful teaching sites of the day. This model represents the sanctuary God commanded Israel to build so that He might dwell among them. Here we walk through the courtyard, view the altar of burnt offering, and picture the lamp stand, table, and incense altar inside the holy place. At the heart of the structure lies the holy of holies, the place where heaven touched earth.

After Timna Park, we will proceed to the shores of the Red Sea. Here we will have a time of relaxation, eat, shop and fellowship at this amazing place. The opportunity to swim in the Red Sea will be available.

Today we travel through the Judah Wilderness, a rugged and sacred landscape that shaped the stories of David, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. In this region water is life.

Springs are salvation. Wilderness becomes the place where God forms His people and teaches them to trust Him fully. As we move through canyons, cliffs, and ancient pathways, we reflect on what it means to carry living water to the world and to receive the inheritance God gives His people.

Our journey proceeds to Ein Gedi, a desert oasis where fresh water springs flow throughout the year. Its waterfalls and pools stand in dramatic contrast to the barren cliffs around them.

This is the place where Saul pursued David and entered a cave where David and his men were hiding deeper inside. David refused to harm Saul, trusting God’s timing rather than taking vengeance into his own hands.  Getting to our first stop early will allow for the group to experience Ibix, Hyrax, and other desert animals.

From Ein Gedi we continue north to Qumran, a desert settlement of the Essene community overlooking the Dead Sea. This community of priests devoted itself to Scripture, purity, and preparation for the coming Messiah.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the caves above the site, are among the most significant biblical findings in history. Their presence reveals the devotion of a people who preserved the Scriptures with extraordinary care.

We then travel to Jericho, one of the oldest ciLes in the world and the first city Israel encountered after crossing the Jordan River. Archaeology at the site reveals a distinct burn layer, evidence of destruction by intense fire. Excavations also show that the city walls collapsed outward, a rare pattern that aligns with the biblical record of Joshua six, where God caused the walls to fall and allowed Israel to advance straight into the city.

Here in Jericho, the group will be able to visit a very large shopping area with quality souvenirs.

Jericho also becomes a bridge between the stories of Joshua and the ministry of Jesus, who healed Bartimaeus and brought salvation to the home of Zacchaeus in this same region.

If the group is able, we can climb to the lookout that opens to the region of Bethel and Ai, central to the early stories of the patriarchs and the conquest of the land. This lookout is the only place that matches the biblical story of where Abraham and Lot parted ways overlooking the cities of the plains and Bethel and AI.

Bethel is where Jacob dreamed of the ladder reaching to heaven. Ai is where Israel learned the consequences of disobedience and the necessity of seeking God’s direction.

This high vantage point Les together the themes of inheritance, trust, and God’s guiding presence across generations.

Our morning begins with a Galilee Boat Ride across the same waters where Jesus calmed storms, taught from a boat, and called fishermen to follow Him. This a powerful moment to worship God together out on the water. We will discuss the story of Peter walking on the water, and the storms that arise.

As the shoreline comes into view, we gain a sense of how close the villages were to one another and how central the lake was to daily life. The boat ride gives us space to reflect on the mission of Jesus, who began His ministry here proclaiming that the kingdom of God had drawn near.

Today we enter the heartland of Jesus’ ministry. The Galilee is where He called His disciples, taught in synagogues, healed the sick, and revealed what it meant to follow a Rabbi. This region was filled with religious teachers, discipleship schools, and Pharisaic communities, all shaping the spiritual expectations of the first century.

As we move through cliffs, synagogues, villages, and quiet hillsides, we explore what made Jesus’ call so radical and what it truly meant to be a disciple of Jesus.

One of the towns where Jesus taught and performed miracles. The basalt synagogue here stands as a powerful reminder of village life, Torah instruction, and the daily rhythms of learning. Here in the Synagogue, we will explore the importance of a synagogue and its structure.

The home town of Mary of Magdalene (Migdalene). Here we will visit a synagogue that Jesus would have taught in, and the fishing village along the shores of Galilee.

known as the hometown of Jesus. This village served as the base of His ministry in Galilee. Here He healed the paralytic, called Matthew, taught in the synagogue, and lived among the fishermen who became His closest disciples.

Standing among the ruins of homes, courtyards, and the synagogue foundation helps us picture what daily life looked like for those who followed Him.

An impressive Greco Roman city perched high above the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This city, known also as Hippos, was part of the Decapolis. Its culture, architecture, and values stood in contrast with the Jewish villages across the lake.

From this vantage point we see the tension between the world of the Gentiles and the world of Jewish Galilee, the very dynamic Jesus stepped into when He crossed the sea, healed the demoniac, and sent him back to proclaim all that God had done for him.

Our morning begins with a Galilee Boat Ride across the same waters where Jesus calmed storms, taught from a boat, and called fishermen to follow Him. This a powerful moment to worship God together out on the water. We will discuss the story of Peter walking on the water, and the storms that arise. As the shoreline comes into view, we gain a sense of how close the villages were to one another and how central the lake was to daily life. The boat ride gives us space to reflect on the mission of Jesus, who began His ministry here proclaiming that the kingdom of God had drawn near.

This experience shows us how He trained His disciples not only through teachings but through shared experiences. The lake became a place for faith, trust, and dependence.

From the lake we travel up to Qatzrin, a reconstructed first century style village in the Golan Heights. Walking through its basalt homes, courtyards, and olive presses helps us picture daily life during the time of Jesus. This becomes a setting to explore how Jesus taught in homes, village streets, and small community gatherings.

Stories like the 3 parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son are better understood. Also, the story of lowering a person through a roof is able to be better understood.

We then make our way to the Jordan River, a place filled with layers of biblical meaning. We will walk to a secluded natural area north of the Sea of Galilee that some scholars identify as the place called Bethany beyond the Jordan. This is not the location where Jesus was baptized, but it is the place where John the Baptist was baptizing people. Also would be the place where the disciples could have been baptizing.

As we stand along its banks, we reflect on the baptism of Jesus and how this moment marked the public beginning of His mission. The descent into the river, the voice from heaven, and the Spirit descending all point to Jesus as the One who would restore, redeem, and bring the kingdom of God into the world.

We travel down the Jordan Valley as we head to Beth Shean, one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Israel and the only Decapolis city located west of the Jordan. Known in Scripture as the place where the bodies of Saul and his sons were displayed after Israel’s defeat by the Philistines, Beth Shean later developed into a thriving Greco Roman city.

Our final stop of the day is Ma’ayon Harod National Park, the spring where Gideon tested his men in Judges chapter 7. Here God reduced the army from thousands to three hundred, teaching Israel that victory depends on His power rather than human strength.

This quiet spring becomes a meaningful setting to reflect on Jesus’ mission and how He chose disciples who were not impressive by worldly standards, yet through them God changed the world. The spring of Gideon invites us to consider how God uses ordinary people who trust Him fully.

Today we journey through the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, a region marked by dramatic cliffs, lush springs, and ancient borderlands. This area was home to intense movements of faith and resistance, including the Zealots, whose passion for God and the purity of Israel shaped much of the political and spiritual landscape in the days of Jesus.

As we step into their world, we explore what true zeal looks like and how Jesus redirected passion away from violence and toward a life shaped by God’s kingdom.

Our morning begins at the Beit Tziyada Lookout Point, a sweeping vantage above the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. From “the other side” we can see the natural landscape that shaped the ministry of Jesus, the routes He traveled with His disciples, and the northern hills where fishermen, farmers, and freedom fighters lived side by side.

The view prepares us to understand the world of zeal, oppression, and expectation that filled first century Galilee.

From the lookout we travel to Gamla, often called the “Masada of the North.” Built along a narrow, steep ridge, Gamla was a stronghold of the Zealot movement. Its cliffs tell the story of fierce resistance against Rome and the longing for a kingdom free from foreign rule. The ruins of homes, the synagogue, and the dramatic setting help us imagine the intensity of those who believed that zeal for God required defending the land at all costs.

Our journey continues north to Tel Dan, one of the most fertile and beautiful regions in Israel. Here we explore ancient city gates, high places, and water-fed pathways shaded by thick vegetation.

Next, we visit Caesarea Philippi, known in ancient times as Paneas. This region was filled with shrines, idols, and pagan worship—an environment representing spiritual confusion and competing claims of loyalty. It was here that Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

In a place filled with rival gods and displays of Roman power, Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The contrast could not be clearer: earthly zeal sought freedom through force, but Jesus revealed a kingdom established through sacrifice, truth, and divine authority.

Our final location of the day is Omrit, a lesser-known but remarkably important temple complex. Many scholars identify this site as a possible temple dedicated to Caesar built by Herod the Great. The discovery of its foundations reveals the political and religious pressures present during the lifetime of Jesus.  This location can help explain the concept of paying tribute to Ceasar and worship of Ceasar.

Today we follow the early life of Jesus and the world that shaped Him, moving from the agricultural hills of the Galilee through the political centers of Herodian rule and finally into Jerusalem. Each site reveals a different layer: the rural world where Jesus learned, the Roman influenced cities near His home, and the competing powers of kings and empires that framed His message of the kingdom of God. By day’s end we transition into Jerusalem itself, where the ministry of Jesus reached its fulfillment.

Now we enter the city of Tzipori (Sepphoris), a major urban center only a short distance from Jesus’ hometown. Known as “the ornament of Galilee,” Tzipori was filled with mosaics, Roman style villas, theaters, markets, and administrative buildings. Many scholars believe that Joseph and Jesus would have worked here during major construction periods.

Tzipori reveals the world of the Herodians, the political elites who embraced Roman wealth, culture, and luxury. Standing among its mosaics and colonnaded streets gives us a visual contrast between the kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus and the worldly kingdom built by Herod Antipas. This location illuminates Jesus’ many teachings about wealth, power, ambition, and the danger of serving two masters.

We then continue westward to Mt Carmel, the dramatic site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. The mountain offers sweeping views of the Jezreel Valley, the Mediterranean coast, and the surrounding ranges. This becomes a powerful place to reflect on spiritual conflict, divided loyalty, and the call to choose whom we will serve.

Elijah’s challenge, “How long will you waver between two opinions,” echoes the teachings of Jesus, who demanded wholehearted devotion.

Next we visit Megiddo, one of the most strategically important cities in ancient Israel. Its layers reveal centuries of kings, conquests, and international trade. Megiddo stood at a crossroads where Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Mediterranean powers fought for control.

The impressive water system, stables, palace ruins, and commanding views remind us of the cost of kingship, the pursuit of wealth, and the political pressures Israel endured.

The magnificent port city built by Herod the Great. Here we see the theater, palace foundations, hippodrome, and the remains of Herod’s grand harbor.

In the shadow of Herod’s palaces and pagan temples, Jesus’ teachings about the dangers of riches and the fleeting nature of worldly power take on even greater meaning.

From Caesarea Maritima we head up toward Jerusalem. This physical ascent reminds us of Jesus’ own journey as He set His face toward Jerusalem. The mission that began quietly in Galilee now moves steadily toward its fulfillment. As we arrive in the city, we prepare to enter the final chapters of the story, where the mission of Jesus will be completed through obedience, sacrifice, and resurrection.

Today we walk into the heart of Jerusalem, following the same pathways Jesus walked during His final days. This is the world of the Sadducees, the priestly aristocracy who controlled the Temple, aligned with Rome, and held immense religious and political power.

As we trace Jesus’ final week through the Mount of Olives, the Temple precincts, and the streets of the city, we see the growing tension between His mission and the authority structures of His day.

Our morning begins on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. From this ridge Jesus approached the city during the Triumphal Entry as crowds shouted “Hosanna” and waved palm branches. The view reveals the Temple Mount, the old city walls, and the valleys below, bringing Luke nineteen and Zechariah’s prophecy to life.

We will stop at the Church of Dominus Flevit, that includes an ancient tomb structure and the traditional place where Jesus would have wept over the city.

We continue down the traditional path of the entry into the Church of All Nations and the ancient olive trees near Gethsemane. Here Jesus prayed in deep agony, submitting to the will of the Father while His disciples slept. This garden setting allows us to reflect on the weight of His mission and His courage in facing betrayal, arrest, and the Sanhedrin led by the Sadducees.

From the Church of All Nations, we enter the ancient Church of Gethsemane that was an ancient olive press.  This is most likely the place where Christ stayed during his final week in Jerusalem.

Nearby we visit the Garden behind the Tomb of the Virgin, a quieter space that preserves the atmosphere of the ancient olive groves. From here we look toward the Eastern Gate, the symbolic entrance associated with the coming of the Messiah. This location helps us visualize the hope, expectation, and tension that surrounded Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.  This olive grove, is a peaceful, relaxing area to absorb the experience and have a moment of worship together.

If the site is open, we proceed onto the Temple Mount between 12:30 and 1:30. (All depends on if the Israel and Palestine militaries are getting along that day.)  This was the domain of the Sadducees, who oversaw the Temple, controlled sacrifices, and held political authority under Rome. Standing here helps us imagine Jesus teaching in the courts, overturning the tables of money changers, and confronting a system more focused on power and wealth than on righteousness and mercy.

The Temple Mount becomes the central point of conflict between Jesus and the Sadducees, who saw Him as a threat to their authority and stability.  We will explore as much of the Temple Mount as possible.  This includes areas similar to Solomon’s Porch, the backside of the Eastern Gate, the original bedrock of Mt Moriah, The wall of separation, the Steps of Ascent, the Dome of the Rock, and other key locations.

From there we walk to the Church of St Anne, a Crusader era structure with remarkable acoustics. Nearby lie the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the man who had been sick for thirty eight years. This miracle, performed at a site deeply associated with ritual purity, offers insight into Jesus' compassion and His challenge to the religious systems that often excluded the broken.

We will descend to the ancient city of David and experience the House of David, and Hezekiah’s Tunnel walking through ancient passageway and its cool waters.

We then walk the "Pilgim's Road" that has recently opened and follow the path that millions of Jewish worshippers would have ascended to the Temple in the Second Temple Period.

We then travel to Bethlehem, the humble birthplace of Jesus. Here, in the city of David, the Messiah entered the world not in palaces or fortresses but in simplicity and obscurity. Bethlehem provides the perfect counterpoint to Herodium: earthly kings display power, but God reveals His kingdom through vulnerability and grace.

Bethlehem also allows us to reflect on Jesus’ early years, His identity as the Son of David, and the beginning of the journey that led Him to confront the Sadducees and fulfill the messianic mission.

Our morning begins in the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, where ancient streets, homes, and archaeological remains reveal the life of Jerusalem in the days of Jesus. Here we see how families lived, how communities functioned, and how the rhythms of daily life were centered around Scripture, commerce, and Temple worship. This quarter places us inside the living structure of the city Jesus knew.

We then visit the Davidson Center Archaeological Park, located along the southern edge of the Temple Mount. Standing among the original steps that led into the Temple, we imagine Jesus teaching multitudes, confronting religious leaders, and calling people to repentance. The massive stones, ritual baths, and monumental architecture bring into focus the world of the Sadducees and the weight of the religious system Jesus challenged.

Here we begin to sense the tension that will ultimately lead to His arrest.

From there we continue to Mt Zion to visit the traditional Upper Room, the place to remember the Last Supper. Here Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, instituted the new covenant, and commanded them to love one another. This room becomes a symbol of unity, humility, and the mission Jesus entrusted to His closest followers.

It is also traditionally associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the moment when Followers of the Way were empowered to carry the gospel beyond Jerusalem.

Next, we explore the area of Herod’s Palace and the Praetorium, the location where Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate. Here Roman soldiers mocked Him, the crowds shouted for His crucifixion, and Pilate reluctantly handed Him over. Standing among these remains allows us to picture the collision between earthly authority and the kingdom Jesus proclaimed.

This is a place where power, fear, and injustice confronted the innocence and resolve of the Messiah.

We then move to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Within its ancient walls we step into the heart of the Christian story. This church, built over Golgotha and the tomb, invites deep reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus and the hope of resurrection that defines the movement of the Way.  We explore the rock outcropping, stone quarry and burial location in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

We then visit The Garden Tomb, a quiet and contemplative site that provides an alternative setting for remembering the crucifixion and resurrection.

Whether this is the historical location or a symbolic witness, the Garden Tomb offers a peaceful place to reflect on the empty tomb and the victory of Jesus over death.

Leaving Jerusalem, we travel to Khirbet Midras, a meaningful place to offer a final commissioning. This site, connected to ancient Jewish communities and the landscape of discipleship, becomes a fitting setting to send out Followers of the Way.

Here we can sit in an empty tomb and reflect on what we have seen, what we have learned, and how we are called to walk as disciples of Jesus in our own lives and communities.

We will end this tour with a time of communion and final remarks.

We conclude with a farewell dinner, sharing conversation and celebration before departing for the airport and preparing for a late evening flight, carrying the impact of this journey home.

The tour comes to an end after experience the beauty Israel and timeliness stories of the Bible.

The group will be departing Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport around midnight or very early in the morning to arrive back in the states the following afternoon.