DAY 4 – THURSDAY, JANUARY 20: BEERSHEBA, SDE BOKER, ZIN CANYON, ARAD, HANOKDIM
Today was our second full day as we explored the region of the Negev. After a good nights rest in Beersheba and breakfast , we checked out of our hotel and began our day at about 7:40. We read from Psalm 126 (about the “watercourses of the Negev”) to begin the day. The day would once again be cool, with some occasional sprinkles throughout the day.
Beersheba
We arrived at Tel Beersheba at 8 a.m. This is small but interesting archaeological site. We saw a replica of a 4-horned altar found here, the city well, walls, gates, and a few Israelite “four-room houses. We read from Genesis 21 about Abraham. Isaac (Gen. 26), Jacob (Gen. 47), and Elijah (1 Kings 19) were all here. We left the site by walking through the impressive water system.
Sde Boker / Gravesite of David and Paula Ben Gurion
We drove about 50 minutes south to the Zin Desert. The small town of Sde Boker overlooks the beautiful canyon of the Zin. We walked the pathway that was full with dozens of ibex, a wild goat that is referred to in Psalm 104. This led us to the graves of David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister). His wife Paula is also buried here. From here we drove down into the canyon for a hike to the water falls and back. Some in the group continued the hike, ascending to the far rim.
“Each region of the land of Israel is so very unique. Yesterday we went from the green hills and valleys of the Shephelah (lowlands) to the semi-arid Negev today. We ended the day in the Judean Desert, a place of rocks and cliffs!”
Arad
We drove about an hour back north to Tel Arad, an early Canaanite and Israelite/Judean site. Arad was a city whose king opposed the Israelites at the time of Moses (Number 21). The city would later be conquered by Joshua (Joshua 12). We started our visit on top of there citadel. Here we saw the false worship center here, complete with a courtyard, sacrificial altar, and a “Holy of Holies” inner chamber. King Hezekiah (and later Josiah) brought an end to these high places (2 Chronicles 31 & 34). We also saw an impressive cistern. We also walked down to the Canaanite city to see the reservoir, house structures, and the walls and towers of the city.
Hanokdim
We made a brief stop in modern-day Arad to pick up some snacks before driving into the Judean Desert and Hanokdim, our “bedouin-style tent hotel” for the night. Upon arriving we rode camels in there desert. We enjoyed listening to a bedouin share about his lifestyle, followed with dinner a bonfire.
DAY 5 – FRIDAY JANUARY 21: MASADA, EIN GEDI, JERICHO, DEAD SEA
