Israel Tour Day 5 Part 3 - Lunch in Jericho and the Mount of Temptation

So we drove along the Jordan Valley south along the Kings Highway to Jericho. I never saw the Tel because I was on the wrong side of the bus but some said they did see the ancient Tel. Jericho is totally an Arab city we saw touches of the west, including Coca-Cola,KFC and Popeyes chicken.
We had lunch at Al-Rawdah’s Restaurant and we were greeted warmly by the owner. The food was served promptly and everyone had smiles on their faces. The food was delicious and the coffee hot.
Our view was over a Wadi and the local Mosque. The restaurant and bathrooms very clean. I learned quickly that the infrastructure in Jericho is extremely fragile and toilet paper was not to be flushed but thrown away in the stall garbage cans.
After eating our fill and tipping the waiters and owners generously for their kindness, we left and went to a shop that sold Dead Sea skin products.
Offering a brief presentation of a very popular magnetic infused mud, I volunteered to be the “model”. After a very entertaining and enthusiastic presentation, I bought my share of products, knowing I was helping the local economy.
What people don’t understand is that the War hurts the Arabs in these cities and villages too.
After walking out of the shops to view the Mount of Temptation. We were suddenly surrounded by Street Vendors offering their wares. I bought 6 necklaces and some fresh squeezed orange juice before getting “Yalla’d” back on the bus by Andre.
Biblical Significance of the Mount of Temptation and History of Jericho
It is believed that the Monastery of Temptation is the site where Christ was tempted by the devil during his 40-day fast. The place is also sometimes referred to as Jabal Quruntal or Mount Quarantania in Arabic, which arise from the Latin word quarentena meaning 40.
“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “
Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Jericho is famous in biblical history as the first town attacked by the Israelites under Joshua after they crossed the Jordan River (Joshua 6).
Jericho is described in the Bible as the "city of palm trees". In 2023, the archaeological site in the center of the city, known as Tell es-Sultan / Old Jericho, was inscribed in UNESCO's list as a World Heritage Site in the State of Palestine, and described as the "oldest fortified city in the world".
April 7, 2024

[@Accolaidia777]

Too bad you didn’t get to see the old Tel of Jericho. Still to be able to travel into a city that ancient. That food looks really good too!!!