Biblical Israel - With Sergio and Rhoda

"After 7 years of living in the US, we returned to tour our country of origin, Israel. Since we have started reading the Bible our interest in this precious country had increased tremendously, so we have decided to embark on a special journey to visit all the wonderful and biblical places that it has to offer and share them with you."

The following videos were created by Sergio and Rhoda in Israel.  The videos allow us to tour the famous sites of Israel without actually being there, though if you have the opportunity to go, you should definitely do that. The videos are a wonderful resource to anyone who desires to see the amazing biblical sites and learn the significance each place according to the scriptures.  

Visit their website:  Sergio & Rhoda in Israel

Visit their ministry on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, Youtube

SEASON 1

• Mount of Transfiguration, Mt Tabor - Three figures appeared: Jesus, Moses and Elijah, but only one is left standing. Find out why in this 5 minute tour to the Mount Transfiguration in Israel.
• Armageddon Is a Place in Israel (Tel Megiddo) - 26 layers of civilization exposed in a single excavation site of Tel Megiddo, which is mentioned in the Bible as Mount Megiddo, or in Hebrew Har Megiddo (Armageddon).
• Mount Carmel, Where Elijah Slew 450 Prophets of Baal - Evidence found of the location where Elijah slew 450 prophets of Baal. This is the 5-minute tour of the Carmel Mountain in Israel.
• Caesarea Maritima, Where Apostle Paul Was Imprisoned - See the remains of the ancient Roman city, where Apostle Paul spent over two years in prison. This is the 5 minute tour of Caesarea in Israel.
• Tour of Nazareth: Part 1 - The Ancient Synagogue of Nazareth, Mount Precipice, and more. Join us on a tour in Nazareth, Israel.
• Tour of Nazareth: Part 2 - Church of the Annunciation, Marry's Well and the delicious Shawarma in Nazareth, Israel.
• The Bethlehem You Don't Know - A visit to Bethlehem of Galilee for a historical adventure of a lifetime.
• Cana of Galilee, Where Jesus Turned Water Into Wine - A tour in the Cana of Galilee where Jesus began His ministry by turning water into wine.
• Magdala, The Town of Mary Magdalene - Visiting Magdala, the 1st Century Jewish town where Mary Magdalene lived and looking for ruins in the lake of Galilee.
• Simon the Tanner House in Ancient Jaffa - In this video, we explore the streets of the ancient Jaffa, see the place where St. Peter stayed, and visit the memorial of Jonah.
• City of David and Hezekiah’s Tunnel In Jerusalem - The first temple period excavation site in Jerusalem, Hezekiah's Tunnel, and the pool of Siloam.
• The Well of Abraham: Tradition vs Archaeology - In this video, we embark on a journey to solve the mystery of the ancient well believed to be dug by Abraham himself. With competing claims from another tourist site just miles away, we had to dig deep to uncover the truth. But what we found at Tel Beersheba left us absolutely stunned! With the help of a 19th-century explorer's book, we reveal more evidence that points to the true location of Beersheba. Buckle up and join us on this thrilling adventure as we explore this ancient land and unravel the secrets of Abraham's Well.
• 9-Ton Slab of Glass Found in the Cave of Beit Shearim - What is a 9-ton slab of glass doing in the middle of a burial cave in Beit Shearim, Israel? And why does such a small town need a wall, what were they protecting? Beit Shearim is an ancient Jewish necropolis where Yehuda Ha Nasi, the head of the Sanhedrin, was buried. This catacomb cave dates back to the second century AD and is one of the greatest archeological sites in Israel.

SEASON 2

• Beit Shean and Scythopolis — The Ancient Roman City - Archaeologists unearthed an entire Roman city in the land of Israel. The ancient Beit Shean, Scythopolis, is an incredible historical and archaeological site. From Pharaoh to the Roman emperor, this place is full of fascinating architecture and history.
• The City on the Hill Jesus Mentions; Susita/Hippos - This is the city on the hill that Jesus spoke about while giving his sermon by the sea of Galilee. One of the most beautiful archeological spots in the land of Israel. A must see! 
• The Cursed Ancient Village of Chorazin - Remarkable ruins of an ancient Jewish city of Chorazin. We will explore the ancient synagogue, see the seat of Moses, and join archaeologist Achia Cohen Tavor in pursuit of 1st-century artifacts at the dig site in Chorazin.
• The True Location Of Bethsaida - There are two proposed locations for Bethsaida, the city which Jesus cursed. In this episode, we join an exciting archaeological dig with Dr. Steven Notley, a professor of Biblical Studies, who believes this site of El-Araj to be the true location of Bethsaida Julias.
• Capernaum, the town of Jesus - Kefar Nahum is the town which was the center of Jesus’ ministry in northern Galilee and the town of where Peter’s mother-in-law lived. Located on the north-west side of the lake of Galilee, the ruins of Capernaum are divided into two sites: the Franciscan and the Greek Orthodox. Unlike Jerusalem and other touristy ancient places in Israel, Capernaum seems to be untouched, still in its raw form. Just by walking here, and looking at the lake, the hills, the mountains, we felt connected to its history. It is as if we could almost see Jesus walking on these shores, looking at the same hills. And besides the breathtaking nature, Capernaum has fascinating ruins. A 4th-century synagogue built on top of the original one where Jesus taught, a house which is believed to be the house of Simon Peter the apostle, and much more.
• Horns of Hattin (Mt Beatitudes) - We visit the actual location of the battle of the Horns of Hattin (Hittin), where Crusaders fought the armies of Saladin, and we attend the annual re-enactment by the group "Jerusalem Kingdom" that includes marching, horse riding, and fighting. We also interview Dr. Rafael Lewis who shares his findings of this fascinating site and explains how this location was also believed to be the true Mt Beatitudes before the 20th century.
• Fresh Water by the Dead Sea; Prophecy fulfilled? - In the midst of the deadly valley, we find life. Einot Tzukim is the lowest nature reserve in the world and holds many unique species of animals and plants. It is also the largest oasis in Israel! 
• Oasis in the Judean Desert in Israel - We took a turn into an unknown road which took us a beautiful place in the middle of the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea. This place happened to be one of the oldest monasteries in the world. In this episode, we explore the St Gerasimos Monastery in Deir Hajla.
• Lot's Wife Pillar, Mount Sodom, and Zohar Fortress - The Zohar valley is identified by scholars as the Edom Way mentioned in 2 Kings 3. It hosts the ruins of a fortress and an observation tower. Mount Sodom is made of 80% salt and is home to the longest single running salt cave in the world. Lot's Wife Pillar is a salt pillar standing on top of Mount Sodom. In this episode, we will explore all three by land and air. 
• Archaeologists Find a Stone Quarry from the Time of Jesus in Nazareth - In the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine, why were the six jars made of stone and how is it related to the purification laws of the Jews? Find out the fascinating answer explained by Dr. Yonatan Adler from the findings of stone vessels in the Einot Amitai excavation site.

SEASON 3 

• Jericho to Jerusalem, walking the ancient trail of the Good Samaritan - We attempt to walk from Jericho to Jerusalem along the ancient path which the Good Samaritan would have taken. An epic 2-day journey via the Wadi Qelt (River Kelt) and Saint George Monastery! This hike follows a narrow path between the mountains for over 30 miles (50km). And in the midst of the empty wilderness, we found water! Correction at 8 minutes 46 seconds (8:46) — The Monastery was destroyed by the Persians, not the Muslims.
• The Red Canyon of Israel - A stunning gorge, located in the mountains of Eilat. It is carved out by the water that flows from Sinai. The Red Canyon is a 20-minute drive from Eilat and is a must-visit!
• Tabernacle of Moses Replica in Timna Park - Timna Park is home to very unusual stone formations, one of the world's oldest mining copper sites, and a life-size replica of the Tabernacle!
• The Church of the Apostles in Galilee - The lost Church of the Apostles had been found in the new Bethsaida excavation site. We're excited to show the new and significant finds since we last filmed here a year ago! 
• Previous Bethsaida video: • The True Location Of Bethsaida
• The Circle of Giants, A Stonehenge of the Middle East, Gilgal Rephaim - 5 concentric mysterious circles found in the Golan Heights. These circles were built 5,000 years ago and pose one of the greatest mysteries of the Middle East. From the ground, you cannot see the circles, however they can be clearly seen from the sky. Who built them and for what purpose? Many theories have come up, and amongst them is the theory of the Giants, the Rephaim. In the center of the circles, there is also a chamber which has a window that serves as an ancient cosmic calendar. After receiving special permission from the military to visit this site and fly a drone here, we got the chance to finally share this mystery with you. 
• UPDATE #1: The narration should say “because of the axial tilt of the earth” not “achieves its maximum tilt” because the tilt does not change much, but because of the tilt, the same spot-on Earth gets different length of daylight throughout the year.
• 2,000 Year Old Extinct Date Pit Resurrected - Archaeologists found ancient date pits that belong to the extinct Judean date palms. In an incredible attempt to bring them back to life, a few trees sprouted! In this episode, we visit the date farms in the south of Israel, see the ancient date palm, and share a delicious frozen date recipe.
• The Underground Street of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem - The modern streets of Jerusalem are no older than the Middle Ages. So where are the original streets that Jesus would have walked on? Is it possible to find them still today? In this episode, we descend underground, beneath the modern street of Via Dolorosa, to find the original stones that would have witnessed the events.
• Herod's Pagan Temple - Herod the Great is famous for expanding the second temple, but he had also built pagan temples for Augustus. According to the ancient historian, Josephus Flavius, Herod built three temples for the Romans. One in Caesarea Maritima, one in Samaria, but the third one could not be identified for a long time. Where is the missing temple, and did archaeologists finally find it at the site of Horvat Omrit? Why did Herod build it in the first place? And how does this all point to and explain Herod's desire to kill Jesus? Join us in this adventure, as we drive north to the site of Horvat Omrit to find the answers!

Season 4

• Gideon's Cave and the Spring of Harod - We are excited to start Season 4 at Gideon's Spring, a.k.a Spring of Harod and Ma'ayan Harod, as we take a dive into ancient history and explore the fascinating events that took place at these waters. Gideon had only 300 men to defeat an army of 135000 troops, composed of Midianites, Amalekites, and peoples of the east. Could Gideon and his men see the approaching army, if so, how far were they positioned from each other? We go to the location and find the answers to these questions!
• John the Baptist and The Hidden Springs of Salim - An expedition to the hidden springs where John baptized people. While we were mostly familiar with the Jordan River being the baptismal place, the gospels mention that John the Baptist also baptized people in an area called "Aenon near Salim". So we are going on a mission to find out if this place still exists today! 
• In search of the real Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine - We were shocked to find out that today’s modern town of Cana might not be the ancient Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, so we set out for an adventure to find the real location. To our surprise, we did not expect to embark on a journey that would take over one year's time, but we have finally made it and are excited to share it with you. So join us on this journey in search of the town where Jesus turned water into wine.
• The Deadly River: Kishon - The ancient Kishon river is where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera, the captain of the Canaanite army. According to the Biblical account, Sisera’s 900 chariots of iron were swept away by the rushing torrent of the river. This river is believed to be today’s Nahal Tavor (Tabor Stream) which starts in Nazareth and spills into the Jordan River. So join us on this expedition as we journey alongside the ancient river, explore the ruins, and search for the waterfall.
• David & Goliath: The Valley of Elah - Recent discoveries make it possible to pinpoint the location of the Valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath. In this incredible journey, we head to the valley for the first time in our lives. In the episode, we will answer the questions we always had about this story: Why didn’t the armies attack each other and instead resort to a man-on-man battle? How could David sling a stone so accurately and not miss? And how could the Israelites hear Goliath when they were a valley apart? In this episode, we will explore Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fortified city on top of the hill that overlooks the Valley of Elah. This place is believed to be the Shaaraim mentioned in this Biblical account. Then we will go to the river where David possibly picked the 5 smooth stones from, and explore its topology to better understand why neither army attacked each other. We will try slinging the stones with our own DIY slingshot, similar to the shepherd’s slingshot that David would have had. Then we will perform a sound test: One of us will stand on top of the mountain while the other will scream as Goliath would have from the middle of the valley; and we will see if we can hear each other as the Biblical account says they did. And as a bonus, we will share with you a recent theological discovery in this account that was hidden for a thousand years! So join us on this adventure as we seek to find the answers about David and Goliath at the Valley of Elah!
• City of 5 Giants - Goliath's Hometown Found! (Gath / Tell es-Safi) - Today, we are visiting Tell es-Safi, an excavation site of what is believed to be the ancient city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath, and four other giants. Archaeologists found here monumental structures and large building stones that provide a better understanding of the city where giants once lived. They also found a colossal city gate which could be the gate where David pretended to be a mad man when he was running away from Saul. So join us on this expedition as we drive to the excavation site and explore the findings. 
• David and Goliath Battle: • David & Goliath: The Valley of Elah 
• Corrections: at 13:05 1 Samuel 17:5 reference is actually 1 Samuel 17:33 Cubit calculation: The biblical Cubit is measured from the tip of the fingers to the elbow. So it can average anywhere from 16 to 22 inches. For example, Rhoda's cubit is a little short of 17 inches, which means if we take Rhoda's cubit length, then Goliath would have been about 8'7". However, my cubit is 20 inches, and that would make Goliath over 10 feet tall. So in reality, Goliath could have been anywhere from 8.5 to 11 feet in height. In the video, we went with a conservative measurement. But in reality, whether he was 9 or 11 feet, he'd still appear as the "giant" tall warrior to the Israelites.
• Philistine DNA and 4000-year old gate in Tel Ashkelon - In this final episode of the Philistine cities, we go to Tel Ashkelon where scientists performed a DNA test on the bones from recently excavated Philistine cemetery. The results helped solve an ongoing debate of Philistine origins. In this video, we also go to walk inside the world’s oldest arched gate, which is believed to had been built the Caananites in 1850 BC.
• Nabataeans and the Magi Wise Men visiting Jesus | Avdat - The Nabateans are the lost nomad tribe that built a magnificent empire, including the hidden city of Petra. In this video, we visit one of the ruins of Nabataean cities, lying at the heart of the trade route, the ancient city of Avdat. But here’s the problem. The Nabateans appeared only for a few centuries in human history. Shortly after the 4th century, they magically vanished, leaving only ruins behind them. This left historians with many great questions. But some believe they are the very wise men who came to visit Jesus after his birth! So, who were the Nabataeans they? Could they be linked to the birth of Jesus? And what had caused their disappearance? Join us in this adventure to find out a little more about this mysterious tribe!
• Lifting the ancient floor of the cursed city of Chorazin - In the pages of the Bible, Chorazin (a.k.a Korazim) is recorded as being one of the cities where Jesus had preached and performed miracles. Today, there is a national park that preserves the ancient city of Chorazin. But here is the problem — how do we really know that this is the actual Biblical Chorazin? This site had been excavated for over 100 years, but almost nothing substantial was found that dated back to the time of Jesus. The earliest findings were of the late 3rd century. We had been here before, two years ago, and made a video about this place, as we met with the lead archaeologist Achia Cohen Tavor, who was searching for evidence of a 1st-century dwelling, but back at that time, they did not yet find the evidence. So, we left this place with a big question — is this really the Chorazin that’s mentioned in the Bible? But today we are back! We are back because Achia is making a groundbreaking discovery. He was given permission to lift the floor of the ancient synagogue. So, join us today as we come alongside Achia on a once in a lifetime opportunity to excavate an ancient synagogue of Chorazin!
• Untold Archaeology of the Temple Mount — Rare Footage - Archaeology at the Temple Mount is strictly forbidden. However, over the past hundred years, the Temple Mount went through many renovations, during which archaeologists were able to document incredible findings. These findings and much more we reveal in this video. We will enter the Temple Mount through the Moors Gate, walk to the Dome of the Rock and examine where the Ark of the Covenant could have stood, see the Golden Gate, and then peak into the archives of the Al-Aqsa Mosque to find out what lies underneath it. So, join us for this adventure as we explore the Temple Mount.

Season 5

• Prophet Micah Could See Jerusalem From His Hometown - We were stunned to find that from a top of Micah’s hometown, we could see Bethlehem and Jerusalem hills. This brings a whole new light on Micah’s prophecies and Micah’s life. Join us as we journey to the Judean Hills to meet with Prof. Itzhaq Shai, and then explore the ancient ruins of Moreshet-Gath at the site of Tel Goded.
• Giant Ancient Walls Discovered in the Biblical Libnah - There is a place, sitting a top of the Judean foothills, that for past few years had been dug by archaeologists of the Ariel University. At first, this place seemed to be just a simple ancient town, but when they started digging, they found giant fortification walls, massive gates, and a layer of destruction that dates back a whole millennia before Christ. So, what was this place, why did the construct the giant walls and a fortification, and more importantly why was it destroyed? To answer these questions, Rhoda and I are on route to the site to meet with the archaeological team at the Tel Burna excavation site.
• “Yeshua” (Jesus) Inscription Discovered in an Ancient Temple like Synagogue in Susya - A mysterious temple-like synagogue was discovered in the Judean Lowhills. Inside this ancient synagogue, a mosaic. The mosaic has four Hebrew letters spelling out the name of Jesus in Hebrew "Yeshua." In this video, we're going to investigate this ancient village of Susya and see for ourselves if this inscription speaks about Jesus of Nazareth or another person named Jesus from the 5th century AD.
• 1,500 Year Old Mosaic Discovered by the Sea of Galilee - A team of archaeologists discovered an ancient church that was lost for almost a millennia. This church commemorates Andrew and Peter, the Apostles of Jesus. However, this church presents an interesting mystery. After excavating most of the walls of the structure, the archaeologists could not locate the entry way into the church. A true archaeological puzzle by the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee.
• Shocking Discovery at Ancient Temple in Israel - Residue of Cannabis was found at the altar of an ancient temple in the territory of Judah. The Temple was first dated to the time of King David and Solomon, however, upon further examination the archaeologists came to a different conclusion. 
• From Jericho to Jerusalem in Two Days [Unseen Footage] - There's an ancient road that goes from Jericho to Jerusalem, the road that is mentioned in the gospels in the parable told by Jesus about the Good Samaritan. We walked this road three years ago, however, in the original video we have not shown you what really happened to us and the dangers of this road. In this video, we revisit our hike and show you footage we've never shown before. 
• Watch the original video here: • Jericho to Jerusalem, walking the anc...
• Walking from Capernaum to Chorazin: In the Footsteps of Jesus - There's an ancient trail that connects two cursed Biblical cities: Capernaum and Chorazin. An archaeological survey discovered ancient ruins alongside this route, but there are no available pictures or documentation to look at online. So, today we embark on a journey to walk this trail, from Chorazin to Capernaum, and see for ourselves what lies in its path. 
• See the follow-up video at • Follow-up to "The Forgotten Trail to ...
• Follow-up to "The Forgotten Trail to Capernaum” - This is the follow-up video to the "Chorazin to Capernaum: The Forgotten Trail of Jesus" episode. In this video we'll show the footage of the wall that we were looking for and share some exciting information about this ancient route.