Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses - 1 ª Season

In the holy city of Jerusalem, best-selling author Bruce Feiler begins his epic, 10,000-mile odyssey to explore the greatest stories ever told - in the settings where they occurred. It's a daunting prospect in this strife-torn region of the world, where archaeological evidence is hard to find. He teams up with experienced archaeologist and co-adventurer Avner Goren. By foot, jeep, rowboat and train, Feiler and Goren set out to experience the Bible in its own world. Their quest takes them first to the birthplace of civilization, the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates - the Garden of Eden. Feiler and Goren climb Mt. Ararat in search of Noah's ark and travel to the ancient town where some believe Abraham was born, then to the ancient ruins of Harran, where the Bible says God tells Abraham to "go forth" to the Promised Land. Following Abraham's path back to Jerusalem, Feiler and Goren stop to explore the sulfurous land by the Dead Sea, with its salt pillars called "Lot's wife." Could this be dramatic evidence of Sodom and Gomorrah? The episode ends at Jerusalem's sacred Temple Mount, where it's believed Abraham brought his son Isaac and prepared to follow God's ultimate test of faith. Feiler realizes that his unchartered spiritual landscape now beckons as strongly as his geographic adventure.

Bruce Feiler continues his journey through the greatest stories ever told by retracing Joseph's path to Egypt after his brothers sell him into bondage. When Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams, he rises from slave to the heights of power and even brings his brothers and father, Jacob, to live in Egypt. Feiler travels from the great temple of Karnak in Luxor, formerly ancient Thebes, to the pyramids and sphinx of Giza to the royal burial tombs in the Valley of the Kings. As he treks by camel, boat, horseback and foot, he discovers how the ancient Egyptian culture and religion influenced the Israelites during their centuries-long stay in Egypt. Beginning at the shallow waters of the Nile, Feiler retraces the story of one of the Bible's greatest figures, Moses, and his eventual confrontation with Pharaoh and the command to let his people go. Did the Israelites build the pyramids? What could have caused the 10 plagues? Was it really the Red Sea that Moses crossed?

Feiler experiences the stark reality of the Sinai desert, where it's a struggle simply to survive. He finds the locations said to be where God provided water and food for the Israelites - and discovers the secret of the tamarisk tree, which produces a sweet, honey-like substance called "manna." The desert is also a haven for spiritual pilgrims. Feiler visits St. Catherine's Monastery, the oldest operating church in the world. He attends the service, a powerful, unchanged ritual of 1,500 years, and sees what's claimed to be the real "burning bush" from which God spoke to Moses. One of the monks, Texas-born Father Justin, shows him the monastery's renowned library of priceless religious art and manuscripts. Feiler climbs Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. As he follows the 40-year route of the Israelites, Feiler travels to the "lost city" of Petra, in Jordan, where the Israelites may have lived for many years. Nearing the end of Moses' journey, Feiler climbs Mt. Nebo, where God showed Moses the Promised Land. At the end of his own journey, Feiler realizes that although Moses was denied entrance himself, it was not the land after all that was important for Moses. It was his meeting with God.