Pictures from Israel
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+Israel © MEA-20180404 (C592) History of Israel -IDF Tanks
History of Israel -IDF Tanks
Remnants of past military battles, abandoned tanks of all shapes and sizes are scattered across the landscapes of many different countries throughout the world, and Israel is no exception. Here we see tourists flocking around this outdated Sherman, an example of an Egyptian tank captured by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) during the 1967 Six-Day War, and now on display at the Latrun Military Museum in Jerusalem.
Israel has had a long history of tank warfare, where they began using British and then American tanks. But even by the early 1960s, they knew they would have to develop and build their own unique style of tank. The Yom Kippur War in 1973 triggered a chain of military decisions, from which IDF Major General Israel Tal initiated a program for Israel to build its own ‘mystery’ tank, called the Merkava -meaning chariot, which entered service in 1979. It was a modest beginning, but this tank was more suitable to meet Israel’s specific needs, with extra protection flanking the outside making it more resistant to damage, and a rear hatch fitted for emergency evacuation by the tank crews.
Over the past three decades, and using their own engineering and technological skills, the IDF have continued to produce even more advanced Merkava tanks, which are commended for their innovative design, mobility and weaponry functions. The Merkava-2 model was the most heavily armed tank in the world. The structural design of the Merkava chassis was also adapted to be used in the manufacture an armoured ambulance (called the ‘Tankbulance’), and the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (called the Namer), amongst other military uses. The latest Merkava tanks are even more sophisticated and very necessary in defending the borders of the sovereign State of Israel and its people.
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Weekly Questions
Aaron’s two sons offered up ‘unauthorized fire’ in their service to God, and this breach of holiness cost them their lives, even though they probably offered it up with the best of intentions.
It would appear that God is very strict and serious about what is holy and how His priests ought to conduct themselves in their lives and in service to Him. Even so, many church assemblies teach from their own understanding of what God says is the holy, pure and right way to honour and obey Him.
So… what might be some things that Believers say and do in their daily ‘walk’ to honour, serve and obey God, but things which God says are ‘unauthorized’ and not to be done?
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Pictures from Israel
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+Israel © MEA-20180328 (FD) History of Israel -Eilat
History of Israel -Eilat
Eilat is Israel’s southernmost city, the ‘window on the Red Sea’ on the northern tip of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba, and surrounded by seven kilometres of Red-Sea coastline bordering Egypt, Jordan and desert landscapes—a popular domestic and international tourist destination. It has a busy port and a popular holiday resort with all the regular tourist attractions including: warm beaches, a coral reef with an aquarium, lots of day and night entertainment, and even desert-based activities. In the 1970s, charter flights to Israel brought foreign tourists to Eilat which greatly increased the popularity of the town.
Originally Eilat was a strategic military outpost, and as a port town, exported mainly potash and copper while also importing a wide variety of goods from Asia and Africa, including oil and vehicles. The ancient Hebrew name for Eilat was ‘Elath’, mentioned in the Book of Exodus from the Bible (meaning ‘Pistacia tree’). Eilat is one of the many places which the people of Israel passed through on their journey to the ‘Promised Land’. When King David conquered Edom, which bordered with Moab, he took over Eilat. Scholars suggest that His father, King Solomon also re-captured this commercial port city and copper based industrial centre from the Egyptians; then went on to develop the neighbouring town of Ezion-Geber cited in I Kings 9:26. And in 2 Kings 14:21-22, Israel’s young king Uzziah rebuilt Elath (Eilat). However, during this turbulent time, 2 Kings 16:6 records the king of Edom regained control of Eilat for the Edomite nation.
And, in more recent times, after Israel defeated the surrounding Arab nations in the 1948 Six-Day-War, Eilat became Israel’s crucial sea port for communications, commerce and trade when Egypt denied Israeli-registered ships passage through the Suez Canal, including ships carrying cargo to or from Israel. Regardless of Israel’s enemies, it remains a strong and vibrant nation, hailed as one of the best examples of democracy in the world.
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Pictures from Israel
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Israel © MEA-20180321 (FD) History of Israel -Jaffa Port Entrance
History of Israel -Jaffa Port Entrance
Today, the port of Jaffa, (Yafo in Hebrew) stands as a monument to a rich and ancient past that has survived many conquests by invaders and settlers alike. Surrounding the walled city with its high clock tower, are houses, shops, restaurants, parks and gardens, historical churches and a mosque. Jaffa, which is also called Japho or Joppa is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest city, and lays claim to be the city which Yaphet (Jaffet) the son of Noah built after the Great Flood. Its name is derived from the Hebrew yafeh, meaning ‘beauty’.
Archaeological digs and ancient papyrus documents reveal that Jaffa existed as a seaport more than 4,000 years ago, suggesting it is the world’s oldest harbor in continual use. However, over time, Jaffa ceased to function as a major trading harbor because of the port’s narrow entrance, through which only small ships could enter. Today it’s a port for local fishing boats and small yachts. Israel’s main shipping now uses the ports of Ashdod and Haifa. Still, it’s easy to imagine the old days where traders arrived by sea – transferring their goods to camel caravans, destination Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, Yemen, Baghdad and beyond.
Historically, Jaffa has been occupied by the Egyptian, Hebrew, Babylonian, and Hittite Empires from 1700 to 1400 B.C.E., the Median, Chaldean and Lydian Empires during 600 B.C.E., the Persian Empire in 500 B.C.E., Alexander’s Hellenistic Empire beginning 323 B.C.E., the Roman and Parthian Empires from 117 B.C.E.; Persian, Sassanid and Byzantine Empires up to the 7th Century; followed by the Islamic Empire; Crusaders, Egyptians and others, up until the Turkish Empire in the 16th Century. The Ottomans were defeated by Napoleon who, in 1799 captured the city of Jaffa during the Napoleonic Wars. The British Empire occupied the area up until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
The Bible records that the great cedar trees from Lebanon, required for King Solomon’s Temple were transported through Jaffa on their way to Jerusalem; the Apostle Peter performed many miracles in and around Jaffa, and; the story of Jonah records that Jonah fled in a ship from Yoppa (Jaffa) to avoid God’s instruction to go to Nineveh.
Copyright exists in all the material on this website and is owned by Messianic Education Australia Ltd. unless otherwise explicitly stated. This copyright extends to the images, logos, layout and presentation styles as well as the text material.
