From the Israel Museum to Abu Ghosh

At the Israel museum in Jerusalem today we visited several permanent and temporary exhibits, notably "Pharaoh in Canaan." The collection of objects from both Israel and Egypt was both fascinating and impressive.

This stele shows at the top the Caananite goddess Qdeshet standing on a lion.
On either side of her are Egyptian gods, and in the lower band. two worshippers kneel
before the goddess. They are identified as the Egyptian scribe Ramose and his wife Mutemuia.
The stele illustrates the adoption of Caananite deities by the Egyptians during this era.

When I get home from Israel, I hope to post several more images of the many beautiful and exciting selection in this exhibit, as well as writing about the other exhibits we saw. According to the museum's description, the Egyptian exhibit:

"tells the highly revelatory and previously untold story of the rich cross-cultural ties between Egypt and Canaan during the second millennium BCE. Most commonly known from the biblical narratives of Joseph and Moses in Egypt, this historical chapter took place during a time of great political flux in both regions, due to two central developments: settlement of the Canaanites in the eastern part of the Egyptian Delta during the Middle Bronze Age (circa 1800–1550 BCE); and the consequent period of Egyptian rule over Canaan that saw the establishment of an Egyptian military and administrative presence in Canaan during the Late Bronze Age (circa 1500–1150 BCE)."

On the way back from Jerusalem, we stopped in the well-known village of Abu Ghosh, just outside the city and had a mid-afternoon meal at one of the many restaurants there.

Falafel.

White cheese, pickles, etc.

Grilled lamb chops and kabobs of chicken and ground lamb.

Rice with lentils (mujedara).