Book Review - Eight Days in Israel by E.M. Blaiklock

All believers in the Bible would probably like to visit the Bible Lands. It would be fascinating to walk in the old part of Jerusalem, climb Masada and Mount Carmel, visit the Garden of Gethsemane and Nazareth where Jesus grew up and walk on the shores of the Dead Sea and Galilee - to mention just a few places.

Unfortunately most of us will never be able to do that. Other priorities fill or lives while the ongoing political unrest in that area remains problematic and simply the cost puts it out of our reach. Recently I discovered a wonderful book that, although it was published in 1980, describes an eight day visit to Israel. Written by the well known Professor E. M. Blaiklock, it covers a journey of 8 days in the Holy Land.

With an amazing knowledge of Biblical languages and history, Professor Blaiklock carefully walks the reader though a fascinating visit, often linking Biblical records with places and archaeological discoveries.

Day one. Starting in Lydda he moves on to Joppa, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, the valley of Elah and finishing in Jerusalem. Here we follow the coastline of the Mediterranean towards Egypt and traditionally Philistine country. Then the journey sweeps east from Ashkelon towards Jerusalem through the Valley of Elah. Colourful photographs give the reads a feel for the cities and surrounding areas and as the journey continues Blaiklock interlaces the geographic descriptions of events that took place in this area. One example out of many on day one, would be the events about Samson and Delilah. He also introduces references to more modern events like the 7 Day war in 1947. The Gaza strip helps the reader to get a better historical understanding of what is happening there today.

Day two. Now in Jerusalem, it is possible to visit sites that are reputed to be the Garden Tomb, the Damascus Gate the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. The writes gives interesting information on not only Biblical events but also on the plants and trees of the area. Again it must be said that the colour photos are really good. Visits to Bethesda and the Temple Area close off the day in Jerusalem with difficult choices to be made as there is so much to see and Blaiklock describes many.

Day three. With only eight day available the explorer must move on and on day three go to Bethany, The Dead Sea, Qumran, Ein Fashka, En Gedi, Masada, Beersheba, Hebron and Bethlehem. This completes a loop that ends in Jerusalem. Even reading about a day like that leaves the reader quite exhausted. Each place brings with it interesting facts about not only biblical events, but historical events and the geographic and geological information that shows the writers knowledge and research fully. His main expertise lies in biblical knowledge and archaeology, but he has so much else to share in a much wider field.

Day four. On to Israel’s Historical Museum, the Shrine of the Book, then Mount Herzl, the Knesset, the Holy Land Model and the excavations in Jerusalem. Again beautiful photos are shown to take the reader to so many places that the mind boggles. At all times the writer gives information about Biblical, ancient and more modern history. Jerusalem, the Old City and the New City all have so much to offer.

Day five. Finally leaving Jerusalem it is on to Bethel, the Jordan Valley, Mount of Temptation, Mount of Olives and then back to the last night in the Holy City. The road to Jericho is much travelled and has a rich history in both the Old and New Testaments. Bethel is rich in Biblical history and events in the lives of Abram, Jacob, Deborah, Samuel and Jeroboam are some that are mentioned. Here we are introduced to Zacchaeus and along the way the writer refers to the way certain events have been mistranslated in the early Bibles. His other area of expertise is biblical languages and he makes several interesting suggestions along the way.

Day six. From Jerusalem we move north after a short detour to Emmaus in the west. Then it is on to Sychar, Shechem, Samaria, Bethshean, Gilboa and then to Tiberias. Every now and then the writer explains an event that took place at a particular place on the route. Here he spends some time on Jesus meeting the travellers on the road to Emmaus and makes that event recorded in Luke come alive. Samaria refers to both a province and a city. The route we take passes Sychar where Jesus met the woman at the well and he explains the background to the Israeli/Samaritan conflict. This is also the place of Saul and the Philistine conflict. It is interesting to note the population differences between Arab and Israelis in various areas.

Day seven. Here the writer takes us to the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Safed, Caesarea Philippi, the Golan Heights and Tiberias. All places that are of great interest to the Bible reader as many events took place in this area including the Sermon on the Mount and Paul’s captivity on his way to Rome. The description of and conflict that has taken place in and around this great lake makes reading Blaiklock’s account really worthwhile.

Day eight. The riter now takes you from Tiberias to Hattin, Cana, Nazareth, Haifa, Mount Carmel, Megiddo, Caesarea and Lydda where the journey will end at the Ben Gurion airport to fly out of Israel. At Cana we hear about the wedding feast where Jesus performed his first miracle (John 2) and then to the place where Jesus grew up. One of the things that Blaiklock does well is explaining the places “then and now” with the keen eye trained by years of historical, biblical and archaeological knowledge.

Conclusion. In this little book with its 126 pages of really interesting script and photographs we are taken on a journey that is really worthwhile and needs to be covered again because of the great information given. This is a book for every believer to read and enjoy. It will inspire and challenge your thinking.

Reference: Eight Days in Israel by E. M; Blaiklock. Published by Ark Publishers. London 1980