ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

Ashkelon stands along the southern Mediterranean coast of modern Israel, positioned between Gaza and Ashdod. In the Bible it is listed as one of the five major Philistine cities along with Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Built on a ridge of hardened coastal sandstone called kurkar, the city overlooked the shoreline and the sea routes that connected Egypt to the northern Levant.

Although the coastal plain does not receive abundant rainfall, Ashkelon averaged enough precipitation to support vineyards and cultivated gardens. Beneath the surface lay a high-water table, which provided the city with a reliable supply of fresh water. Archaeologists have uncovered more than one hundred ancient wells at the site, a testimony to how vital water was for sustaining life and trade in the region.

The landscape surrounding Ashkelon is shaped by sand ridges that run parallel to the Mediterranean. The local kurkar stone provided a practical building material for the city’s walls and structures. Ashkelon’s location made it uniquely suited for commerce. Situated along the coastline and near major overland trade routes, it became an important hub where maritime and land trade intersected.

Ancient ships often followed the coastline as they navigated the Mediterranean, using prevailing winds and currents to travel between ports. Ashkelon therefore served as a key stop along the sea route linking Egypt with the cities of Lebanon. At the same time, the city stood close to the great overland highway that connected Egypt with Damascus and the wider regions of Mesopotamia. Because of this strategic position, Ashkelon flourished as a center of commerce for centuries.

Archaeological discoveries confirm the city’s importance during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. Massive fortifications from the Middle Bronze Age still stand today, including an impressive arched gate that ranks among the earliest known arches in the world. Over time, Ashkelon experienced cultural shifts as new peoples settled in the region.

During the early Iron Age, the material culture of the city changed significantly with the arrival of the Philistines. Excavations reveal distinctive pottery styles and evidence of industries such as textile production. The remains of animal bones also indicate dietary changes, including the consumption of animals avoided by both Israelites and Canaanites.

The importance of Ashkelon as a trading port is further illustrated by two Phoenician shipwrecks discovered just off its coast. These vessels carried hundreds of wine amphorae, showing how goods were transported across the Mediterranean world. Centuries later, in the Byzantine period, wine produced in the region was exported as far away as England.

Like many cities in the ancient Near East, Ashkelon also experienced destruction. Around 600 B.C., the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar conquered and destroyed the city along with other Philistine centers. Yet because of its strategic location, Ashkelon was rebuilt during the Persian period and continued to function as an important commercial hub for many centuries. The city remained active until it was finally destroyed in A.D. 1270.

The Bible mentions Ashkelon only briefly. Prophets such as Amos, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Zechariah pronounced judgment upon the city, but it never occupies the central stage in the biblical narrative. Nevertheless, the archaeological remains remind us that Ashkelon was a vibrant and influential city in the world surrounding ancient Israel.

Standing at the crossroads of land and sea, Ashkelon reflects the dynamic and complex setting in which the biblical story unfolded. Its ruins remind us that cities rise and fall, powers shift, and cultures change. Yet through every era of history, God continues to guide His purposes and work through the lives of His people.

For believers today, places like Ashkelon encourage us to reflect on the larger story of God’s work in the world. While human kingdoms and cities are temporary, the purposes of the Lord endure. Our calling is to live faithfully within our own moment in history, trusting that God continues to shape His story across generations.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

“The word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ And I said, ‘I see a rod of an almond tree.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it’” (Jeremiah 1:11-12).

At first glance, this exchange between God and Jeremiah may seem unusual. Why would an almond branch carry such an important message? The meaning becomes clearer when we understand the Hebrew language and the natural world familiar to the prophet.

In Hebrew, the word for almond is shaqed, while the word translated “watching” is shoqed. The two words sound very similar. Through this wordplay, God connects Jeremiah’s vision with His message: just as Jeremiah sees the almond branch, God is carefully watching over His word to bring it to pass.

The almond tree itself also carries meaning. In the land of Israel, the almond tree is the first to blossom after winter. Its delicate flowers appear while much of the landscape still looks lifeless, signaling that spring is near. Yet although the almond blossoms early, its fruit comes much later. The harvest requires patience.

This pattern becomes a powerful illustration of God’s faithfulness. Like the almond blossom, God’s promises may appear long before their fulfillment. The beginning of His work may be visible, but the completion often takes time.

When Jeremiah received this vision, he faced a difficult calling. He would speak God’s message to a stubborn nation, and the results would not appear quickly. Yet God assured him that His word would not fail. The Lord Himself was watching over it and would bring it to fulfillment.

This truth speaks to our lives as well. Many times we struggle with waiting. We pray, hope, and trust, yet the answers seem slow in coming. In a world built around immediacy, patience can feel like a burden.

But the rhythms of God’s work are more like the seasons of a garden. Seeds take time to grow. Fruit develops slowly. What begins quietly beneath the surface eventually produces a harvest.

The almond branch reminds us that God has not forgotten His promises. Even when fulfillment seems delayed, He is still watching over His word. Our calling is not to rush ahead but to trust His timing and remain faithful in the waiting.

What God has spoken, He will accomplish.

PRAYER

Father, sometimes patience is hard for us. Help us not to get out in front of You, but to trust Your goodness and timing knowing that You watch over Your word. Amen.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20). Read on Shabbat, March 14, 2026 / 24 Adar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do” (Exodus 35:1).

Parashat Vayakhel begins with Moses gathering the entire community of Israel. After the turmoil of the golden calf and the renewal of the covenant, the people are called together again. This time the focus is on building the Tabernacle, the sacred space where God’s presence will dwell among them. The assembly of the people shows that the work of holiness is not carried by individuals alone but by a community united in purpose.

Moses reminds them first of the Sabbath, the rhythm of rest that grounds their work in trust. Even the sacred task of constructing the Tabernacle must pause for the holiness of rest. By placing the Sabbath before the building project, God teaches that devotion is not measured only by activity. True faithfulness includes rest, reflection, and dependence on God’s provision.

The people respond with remarkable generosity. Men and women bring offerings from willing hearts. Craftsmen and artisans contribute their skills. Materials once used in Egypt are now transformed into instruments of worship. The community discovers that every gift has value. Creativity, generosity, and cooperation all become part of building a dwelling place for God.

Vayakhel reminds us that God invites each person to participate in His work. Some bring resources. Others bring skill. Others offer encouragement and service. When these gifts are joined together, something sacred emerges. The Tabernacle is not only a structure of wood and fabric. It is a testimony that God chooses to dwell among people who offer their lives willingly.

Some may feel their contributions are small or unnoticed. This portion reassures us that every offering matters when it is given with sincerity. Others may have been blessed with abundance or ability. Vayakhel encourages using those gifts with humility and gratitude. Together, the community becomes a reflection of God’s presence.

As this Shabbat arrives, consider how your gifts can contribute to the work God is doing around you. Offer your time, kindness, and creativity with a willing heart. Let your actions strengthen the community and honor God’s presence. In doing so, you help build a place where faith, generosity, and devotion come together.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for inviting me to take part in Your work. Help me offer my gifts with a willing heart and serve with humility and joy. May my life contribute to a community that reflects Your presence and Your love. Amen.

On a quiet Shabbat morning, life changed instantly for Yury and Olga and their three young children. As the long-anticipated war with Iran erupted, waves of missiles rained down across Israel. In Beersheva, one ballistic missile struck their residential neighborhood, shattering their home and their sense of security.

“When we got out of the bomb shelter and returned home, we saw that the place was completely destroyed,” Yury said. “The doors were blown out. Not a single window was intact. All the appliances were destroyed. I don’t even know how glass cut into the metal of the refrigerator. Nothing was intact. I don’t know how we are going to live like this.”

Outside, Yury had watched rockets streak across the sky. “I saw seven rockets being knocked down. One got away. The blast threw me down. I ran inside because I didn’t know if my family was alright.” Inside, Olga and the children were covered in dust and trembling from the shock wave that blew their door open.

Now, every siren brings fear. “My daughter grabs onto me,” Yury shared. “She holds her little elephant and shakes, saying, ‘Daddy, daddy.’”

In the middle of this crisis, compassionate friends like you were there.

Thanks to generous CBN Israel partners, our team quickly arrived in Beersheva to assess the damage and stand beside this young immigrant family. Donors provided emergency funds for groceries, clothing, and essential supplies so the children would not have to walk through broken glass. Partners also made it possible to help replace destroyed appliances, giving the family stability in the midst of chaos.

“I felt powerless,” Yury admitted. “But your help came at the perfect time. Now I can take care of my family. I’m so humbled. Thank you.”

Your gifts can bring relief and hope to families like Yury and Olga’s. Thank you for standing with Israel’s families in their darkest hours.

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By Stephen Faircloth

In the central Golan Heights, about six miles east of the northern Sea of Galilee, lie the ruins of the ancient village of Gamla. The town once stood on a narrow ridge between two deep valleys, visible from the Bethsaida Valley below. Although the Gospels never mention Gamla, Jesus and His disciples would have known this village on the horizon.

Gamla offers a remarkable glimpse into Jewish life during the first century. When Roman forces destroyed the town during the First Jewish Revolt in A.D. 67, it was never rebuilt. Because of this, the site preserves a rare snapshot of a Jewish community from the time of Jesus.

The settlement began earlier as a Hellenistic fortress before becoming a Jewish village in the centuries leading up to the New Testament period. Excavations reveal that the people farmed the surrounding land and produced olive oil, an important product in the region.

Archaeologists discovered large olive presses at the site, including one connected to a ritual immersion bath. This suggests the villagers sought to maintain ritual purity even in their daily work. Evidence also indicates the growing of grain and grapes in the nearby fields.

One of the most significant discoveries at Gamla is its synagogue, the largest urban synagogue from the Roman period found in Israel. Benches lined the walls so the community could gather around the center of the hall where the Scriptures were read and explained. A niche in the wall likely stored the sacred scrolls, and a small room nearby may have served for study.

Other discoveries reveal that some residents enjoyed prosperity. Decorative plaster fragments and jewelry such as rings and gemstones point to homes of wealth. Yet alongside this prosperity were ritual baths and stone vessels, showing the people remained committed to observing their faith.

Gamla also bears the marks of a tragic end. Arrowheads, ballista stones, and a breach in the city wall confirm the fierce battle described by the historian Josephus. The destruction of the town preserved it as a kind of time capsule from the first century.

Standing among the ruins today reminds us that earthly cities do not last forever. Communities rise and fall, and even thriving towns can disappear. Yet the devotion of those who worshiped God there still speaks across the centuries.

Gamla invites us to reflect on our own lives. The villagers built homes, worked the land, gathered to hear the Scriptures, and sought to live faithfully before God. Their story reminds us that what matters most is not how long our cities stand, but how faithfully we walk with the Lord while we are here.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

“The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-4).

Psalm 23 begins with a statement that is both simple and bold: “The LORD is my shepherd.” In just a few words, David shows us what the life of faith is meant to be. Not a life powered by self-sufficiency, but a life guided by a faithful Protector who knows exactly what His people need.

Sheep are not built to thrive on their own. They are vulnerable, easily unsettled, and prone to wander. In the hills and valleys of Israel, that vulnerability was obvious. The landscape could be harsh, the weather unpredictable, and danger could come quickly from predators or thieves. A flock’s safety depended on the presence, vigilance, and leadership of the shepherd.

That everyday reality becomes the psalmist’s picture of God. The Lord does not merely watch from a distance. He leads. He provides. He restores. He directs. He stays close enough to guard and steady His people when the path narrows and the shadows deepen.

Notice the movement in the passage. The Shepherd brings His sheep to “green pastures” and “quiet waters” places of nourishment and peace. He also leads along “right paths” the safe way forward, the road that honors His name. Then comes the part we all recognize: the darkest valley. The psalm does not pretend that faith eliminates hard seasons. It promises something better: even there, we are not abandoned.

David’s confidence is not grounded in perfect circumstances. It is grounded in presence. “You are with me.” In the valley, the psalm shifts from talking about God to talking to God. The Shepherd is no longer a concept. He is near.

And with Him come the rod and the staff, tools of protection and guidance. They are a comfort not because the sheep are strong, but because the Shepherd is attentive. His correction keeps us from drifting into danger. His defense keeps the enemy from taking what belongs to Him.

For many of us, this is where the struggle becomes personal. We admire the image of God as Shepherd, but we resist being shepherded. We live in a culture that praises independence and control, so we assume maturity means handling everything alone. Yet much of our worry is born right there, in the exhausting attempt to carry what God never asked us to carry.

Peace begins to grow when we stop striving to be self-made and start living as well-loved. The Lord is a good Shepherd. He is not careless with our lives. He will not lead us where His grace cannot sustain us.

PRAYER

Father, You are our Shepherd. Help us surrender our need to control and learn to follow Your lead. Guide us on right paths, restore our hearts, and keep us steady in the valley. We trust You to care for us for Your name’s sake. Amen.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35). Read on Shabbat, March 7, 2026 / 17 Adar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“The LORD said to Moses, whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you. Behold, My angel shall go before you” (Exodus 32:33-34).

Parashat Ki Tisa contains one of the most dramatic moments in Israel’s wilderness journey. While Moses is on the mountain receiving instruction, the people grow restless and form a golden calf. Fear and impatience lead them to seek a visible substitute for God’s presence. The scene reveals how quickly trust can falter when waiting becomes difficult.

Yet this portion also reveals the depth of God’s mercy. Moses intercedes for the people, pleading that God remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead of abandoning Israel, God responds with compassion. Though discipline comes, the relationship is not destroyed. The covenant endures because God chooses mercy alongside justice.

Later, Moses ascends the mountain again and encounters God in a powerful moment of revelation. God proclaims His own character, declaring that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in steadfast love and truth. This description becomes one of the most important declarations about God’s nature in all of Scripture. Even after failure, God invites His people back into relationship.

Ki Tisa reminds us that spiritual life often includes both failure and restoration. Like Israel, we may struggle with impatience, doubt, or misplaced trust. We may attempt to fill silence with substitutes rather than waiting faithfully. Yet God does not withdraw His mercy when we turn back to Him. His compassion remains stronger than our weakness.

Some may be carrying regret or disappointment in their spiritual journey. This portion offers hope that restoration is possible. Others may be walking in renewed clarity and commitment. Let this reading inspire humility and gratitude, remembering that faith is sustained by God’s grace rather than human perfection.

As this Shabbat begins, reflect on where patience and trust are needed in your life. Bring your failures honestly before God, and receive the mercy He freely gives. Choose one step that renews your devotion, whether through prayer, reconciliation, or renewed obedience. Let your heart rest in the truth that God’s compassion is greater than our mistakes.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your compassion and patience. When I grow weary or lose my way, draw me back to You with mercy. Help me trust Your presence even when the path is uncertain. May my life reflect gratitude for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.

As Israel faced an intense war with Iran and daily missile barrages, her most vulnerable citizens were in grave danger. In cities like Bat Yam, sirens sounded with little warning, giving residents barely a minute to reach a bomb shelter. For elderly Holocaust survivors, that short window of time can mean the difference between life and death.

Ninety-year-old Sonya, a Holocaust survivor from Romania, lives alone in Bat Yam, a coastal city frequently targeted by missiles. When the war erupted on the morning of February 28, Sonya found herself running to the nearest shelter again and again. In one single day, she attempted to reach safety eight times.

But because of serious mobility issues, Sonya could not move fast enough. Each siren left her vulnerable and afraid. The danger was real, and she knew she could not manage alone.

Sonya had been helped by CBN Israel before, so she reached out once more, hoping someone would answer. Because of caring friends like you, help came quickly.

CBN Israel mobilized immediately. Our team arrived in Bat Yam, assessed her situation, and evacuated Sonya to a safer location in Netanya where she could rest without the constant fear of incoming rockets. For a woman who had already survived the horrors of the Holocaust, donor support provided peace of mind during yet another time of war.

Across Israel, elderly survivors and vulnerable residents are facing the same terrifying reality. Many cannot reach shelters in time. Many have no one to help them.

Because of the generosity of compassionate partners, CBN Israel is on the ground, rescuing those at risk and providing tangible hope in life threatening moments.

Please join us in standing with Israel and protecting her most vulnerable in their time of urgent need.

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