In recent weeks alone, jewelry—a ring from the Roman era—was found in an Israeli national reserve while an amazing trove of four remarkably preserved swords, dated to the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt against the Romans, some 1,900 years ago, was found in a cave. Not unusual. It is commonplace for the hand of history to extend greetings into contemporary times in the Middle East.
On September 18 and 19, in 1,000 movie theaters across the USA, a most unusual production will air: Route 60, The Biblical Highway. It is extraordinary for what it is, who presents it, and its apparent mandate to transcend one people’s lock on the historical perspective and religious prerogative.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
Route 60 is the highway running north-south through modern-day Israel and the West Bank, passing through or near a cumulative atlas of ancient locations cited in scriptures while serving as platforms for history’s most compelling and formative scenes Yet, despite the film being a production of iconic Christian broadcaster TBN and Fathom Events, it is presented in historically appropriate segments of Jewish and Christian narrative delivered by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. To be sure, while the film makes no attempt to sidestep its political roots as indicated by the selection of hosts, its inclusive Judeo-Christian chronicling of history along Route 60 is novel.
In what could have become a virtual video version of a singly Christian or Jewish tour of Israel, we are instead treated to Pompeo and Friedman, a pair of glib, well-informed presenters, completely capable of filling the role of host/lecturers. Their ability, coupled with the unordinary packaging and delivery, and places such as Nazareth, Shilo, Mount Ebal, Mount Gerizim, and Shechem, could make Route 60 one of the most traveled destinations in a region so many believe they know so much about.