Page 121 - Advanced Bible Geography ebook

Philip, one of the sons of Herod the Great, was given control of this region shortly after Jesus was born.
He renamed Banias after the Roman emperor and himself, calling it Caesarea Philippi. By that time,
there was also a new temple at the cliff, one designed to honor the emperor as god on earth. The
temple was built over the cave opening so that the water flowed through the temple and becoming,
symbolically, a gift from the Roman ruler.

Jesus led his young disciples to the “region of Caesarea Philippi” (Matthew 16:13), which must have
shocked them. There was no synagogue in Banias. There were no faithful Jewish people there. Instead,
there was practically a cafeteria of pagan religions on display!

After asking his disciples what other people were saying about him, he suddenly asked, “But what about
you? Who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to
you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
overcome it. - Matthew 16:16-18

This conversation, in this particular place, is one of the best examples of how
the land of the Bible makes a difference in a familiar Bible passage. Though
Jesus gives Simon a new name (“Peter” means “rock”) and the “keys to the
kingdom,” his lesson at Caesarea Philippi is clearly about bringing his light into
the darkest places of any culture. Jesus was bringing his movement to a place
that desperately needed hope. Indeed, before Jesus left the region, he healed a
young boy who had been possessed by demonic forces (Matthew 17:14-17).

Caesarea Philippi – The Gates of Hell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNMwHUDvYvg

Mt. Hermon (accent on second syllable)

Mt. Hermon rises 9,232 feet above sea level, far higher than any other peak in Israel. Jerusalem, for
instance, is 2,500 feet above sea level.

Today the mountain is a meeting point between Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Covered with snow in the
winter and spring, the mountain provides life-giving water to the land on all sides of it. On the southern
side, Hermon’s springs form the Jordan River. The name Jordan means “to descend.” Indeed, the Jordan
River descends from its lofty heights at the base of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee (700 feet below sea
level) and then to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth at 1,400 feet below sea level.

The proximity of Mt. Hermon to Caesarea Philippi at its base makes Hermon the likely location of the
Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8).

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