Enjoy this tour through one of the largest bell caves in Israel. The video is short but shows the wonder of the caves used as quarries thousands of years ago. They got their name from narrow top and wide circular bottom. The bell caves are in the Shephelah, the low rolling hills of Judah, and many of them overlooked the plain of Gaza and Ashkelon, Philistine country. This is the region where Herod the Great was born. Although he was king of the Jews, he was not Jewish but an Edomite. The Edomites descended from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 36:8). Two nations from one womb. Wow!
During Herod’s reign, Christians were tortured in the amphitheater at Caesarea. Some were beheaded. Others survived their torturous wounds and fled in an effort to get to the bell caves to live their last days.
We visited the largest bell cave, 70 feet in diameter and 55 feet high. Carverd into the walls were crosses and Scripture verses. Dying believers wrote words to encourage those who would follow them to this cave. We sang “Amazing Grace.” The acoustics made our voices sound heavenly. I was amazed to think of the beautiful cave as a place of death, but it meant that suffering ended here. No more torture. No more pain.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the hope of Heaven. Our bodies will be glorified. No deformities, disease or disabilities. As a deer pants for streams of water, so we long for the time we can be with you, face to Face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Closer Walk with God 