Bible study is about to become considerably more adventurous.
Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has launched the Joshua Trail, a new attraction in Samaria that will allow visitors to cross a suspension bridge while overlooking some of the most consequential locations in biblical history.
The NIS 3.2 million project, approximately $850,000, will connect the Elon Moreh Heritage Center with the summit of the Mount Kabir Nature Reserve. The accessible promenade will offer sweeping views of the valley of Shechem, Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal.
In other words, pack comfortable shoes. This is a Bible lesson we can walk through.
The Joshua Trail is the first project in Israel’s new “Biblical Trails in Judea and Samaria” initiative. Officials hope to make the region’s biblical history and natural beauty accessible to families, international travelers and visitors of varying physical abilities.
“In Samaria, the story is found on the ground, in the places where the events that shaped our history took place,” Tourism Minister Haim Katz said at the cornerstone ceremony.
Katz described tourism development as part of strengthening the country and connecting people with its history.
“Samaria can and should become Israel’s Tuscany,” Katz said. “It has landscapes, vineyards, wineries, history and heritage that cannot be found anywhere else.”
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Where God Spoke to Abraham
Elon Moreh is identified in Genesis as Abraham’s first stopping place after entering the land of Canaan. It was there that God made His historic promise concerning the land.
“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said: ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land,’” Genesis 12:7 states.
The name Elon Moreh refers to the “terebinth of Moreh,” a prominent tree near ancient Shechem. From the summit of Mount Kabir, visitors can see Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, where Abraham’s descendants would later gather under Joshua.
The trail’s namesake led Israel to that location after the conquest of Jericho and Ai. Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal and read the Torah before the nation, including “the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that walked among them,” according to Joshua 8:35.
Archaeologist Adam Zertal added another layer of intrigue in the 1980s when he uncovered a large stone structure on Mount Ebal. Zertal identified it as Joshua’s altar, although that conclusion remains debated among archaeologists.
Joshua later gathered Israel at Shechem to renew its covenant with God. The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites carried out of Egypt, were also buried in the area.
Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan called the trail “another moving step in building the country.”
“This place, where the forefathers of the nation walked, will now become accessible and welcoming to large numbers of visitors from across Israel,” Dagan said.
For those of us who have imagined these scenes while reading Scripture, the Joshua Trail promises something special: the chance to trade maps and study notes for mountain views, ancient history and a walk through the land of the Bible.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
