Abraham

Gerar is known today as Tel Haror, and has been excavated repeatedly. Among the finds are a temple dedicated to pagan animal sacrifices. In ancient times Gerar was an important point on the road that ran from Beersheba to Gaza on the coast. Photo by John Buckner. In Genesis 20, Abraham lies in Gerar by saying Sarah was his sister, not his wife. In contrast, the heathen Abimelech behaves with dignity.

Abraham Lies in Gerar 

June 25, 2025
“And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister:...
The ruins at Bethel are located in a field outside of the village of Beitin. Nearby is a nice subdivision and some farms, but the site itself is neglected and vandalized. In the early 2000s a Japanese initiative tried to develop the site for tourists, but the attempt was abandoned. Photo by John Buckner

Bethel

January 21, 2025
Bethel “And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the...
A Bedouin man returning to his tent in Wadi Rum in Southern Jordan. This area was the biblical home of the Midianites. Photo by John Buckner

Tents in the Holy Land

November 22, 2024
 “And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked,...
Flowers growing out of a rock in Israel, Beersheba in the Bible

Beersheba in the Bible

August 29, 2024
Beersheba  “And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? And...
Choosing the right way, making decisions, choices, God's will, finding God's will

Making Decisions and Finding Direction

July 19, 2024
The Right Way: Making Decisions and Finding Direction for Life’s Journey Life is full of decisions. As a young man, I assumed that by a certain age, I would have...