Archaelogical excursion
The students of Ratisbonne made an archaeological excursion to the Valley of Terebinth, Tel Sokho, Azekah, Gat and Beth-Shemesh. These areas highlighted in a particular way the life of David. And also we visited Our Lady of Palestine.
The Valley of Terebinth (1 Sam. 17:2, 19) is best remembered in scripture as then place where David defeated Goliath. The account of this event was read while the students look into the valley itself.
Ela Valley Sokho is the place where the Philistines encamped before the battle described above (1 Samuel 17:1). Later on the location was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:7).
Azekah is a further location of the victories by the Israelites over the Philistines, which is also connected with David and Goliath. But earlier, Azekah had been the place where Joshua defeated the Amorite king (Joshua 10:10, 11).
Gat was the home city of Goliath, and also the city that had protected David from his exile by Absalom and by Saul. It was originally part of the Pentapolis of cities in Palestine, but for reasons still unknown it was razed without mercy in the 9th century never to be rebuilt.
Beth-Shemesh (Joshua 15). It is most significantly mentioned in 1 Samuel 6 as being the first city that the Ark arrived in after being carried away by the Philistines.