Seven Basic Resources to Prepare for Your Israel Trip
by Gordon Govier

There are many reasons to travel to Israel. These tips won't be for everyone. But for those who cherish the opportunity to "walk where Jesus walked," an Israel trip (or pilgrimage) is a great investment in increasing your understanding of Scripture and the biblical world from which Scripture emerged.

The Mind Can Only Digest So Much New Material
A few years ago I was working on a writing project. The preparation for this writing project included a tour of one of the most geologically unique areas of the world by an expert naturalist. As I later reviewed my recording of the interview conducted during this tour, I was embarrassed to hear myself ask a question of my guide about something that he had just explained five minutes earlier. I realized I wasn't able to absorb all of the new information he was giving me. It was all new and I had no frame of reference to hang it on.

So, if you're going to Israel, give yourself a basic understanding to prepare yourself and get the maximum return on your investment in this experience. My friend Andrew Larson has written an article that expands on this idea of preparedness (or avoiding the embarrassment of unpreparedness).

There are a lot of travel books and videos you can read and view in order to get the historical, biblical, archaeological, political, and cultural background of Israel. This list started with just seven items but has expanded a bit since I first offered it. These are resources that I personally have read and viewed, and consider exceptional.

Seven Basic Resources:

  1. The Bible Of course, if you're reading the Bible on a daily or regular basis you've already taken a huge step in preparing for your Israel trip. Some Bibles, such as study Bibles, feature extra resources. I would highly recommend an Archaeology Study Bible: published by Zondervan or published by Crossway.

  2. The Other Best Book Not everything you'll see in Israel is from the biblical periods. My second recommendation will help you understand the great sweep of history in this region, as represented in its archaeology. This book is The Source, by James Michener. Published in 1965, this historical novel is a thick book but an easy read. It will engage your imagination and introduce you to peoples and periods that have shaped this region.
    Book Summary || Book Analysis

  3. Connect With the People Who Live There Today The modern political situation can be very challenging to understand and negotiate. In this video by the distinguished travel writer Rick Steves, he visits and talks with people on both sides.

  4. Connect With Contemporary Issues An acclaimed book on the complicated modern political environment of this region is The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan.
    (For a quicker read, a recent speech by Israeli diplomat George Deek, a Palestinian Christian, deftly describes the political dynamics of modern Israel.)
    There are a multitude of other books. Some that I have read and can recommend:

  5. Connect With the Biblical World I highly recommend the video series called Faith Lessons, and other resources featuring Bible teacher Ray Vander Laan. Ray does a great job of connecting Bible lessons and the biblical world. My travel partner John DeLancey has a well-researched book called Connecting the Dots Between the Bible and the Land of Israel, which I highly recommend. Check out this book and other resources that John offers, including a huge number of free background videos. The Book of Mysteries by Messianic Jewish rabbi Jonathan Cahn is a daily devotional (365 pages) unlike any other, with deep insights into our biblical heritage. Then there are many pilgrimage accounts, starting with the Bordeaux Pilgrim in 333, Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad in 1869, or more recently The Red-Haired Archaeologist in 2021.

  6. Connect with Biblical Archaeology A lot of what we see when we visit Israel involves Biblical Archaeology, which is very important for understanding the context of the Bible. Biblical Archaeology Review is a good introduction to Biblical Archaeology. This quarterly publication has beautiful photography and articles that are written by top archaeologists and Bible scholars. The Zondervan Guide to Biblical Archaeology also introduces the topic of Biblical Archaeology well, connecting the most important discoveries with the relevant biblical passages.

  7. My Connections Finally, a few references that I'm responsible for:

    Looking for more recommendations on Biblical Archaeology books? Here's a list from one scholar.

    Some experts who have much more travel experience than I do have some additional suggestions on preparing for an Israel trip:

    For more information on THE BOOK & THE SPADE HOLYLAND STUDY TOURS contact SCRIBE MEDIA by email.

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