Day 7 – Saturday, March 26: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Wilderness of Judah, Jerusalem
Today we enjoyed a fully sunny and warmer day here in the Judean Desert, with perfect temps in the 70s. What a unique region of the Bible this is!
Masada
Following breakfast, we loaded the bus and drove north along the Dead Sea to Masada. We read Psalm 18:1-2 along the way (metzada – “fortress”). We took the cable car up to the top where we saw incredible things from the days of Herod the Great. He established this “palace-fortress” early in his reign (about 30 BC). We saw large cisterns, the southern palace, the Roman ramp, the casemate walls, the synagogue, and the bathhouse. The three-teared palace was built on the north end. in 70 AD, 967 Jews used this place as a refuge against the Romans. After about three years, all but a few women and children took their own lives. The story of Masada is heart-gripping. Following our visit, most took the cable car back down, with 11 in the group walked down the Snake Path.
En Gedi
It took about 15 minutes to get to the next site, En Gedi. We read from Ezekiel 47 and Zachariah 14 on the way, two references to water flowing east into the Dead Sea. At En Gedi, we walked back into the canyon (Wadi David). We stopped to read from Song of Songs 1 (henna blossoms), 2 Chronicles 20 (the “Ascent of Ziz”), and 1 Samuel 24 (David and Saul). Many walked to the highest falls at the end of the canyon. The beauty of this oasis was incredible!
Qumran
Continuing our drive north along the Dead Sea was Qumran. Some ate lunch while others enjoyed a hike along the edge of the cliff. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found here in 1947 in Cave 1, one of a total of 12 caves now where about 930 fragments of texts of Scripture as well as sectarian texts were discovered. We saw many ritual baths and cisterns, as well as the Scriptorium. While in front of “Cave 4,” we saw numerous photos of what these Dead Sea School texts look like. We also read from “Psalm 151” and Psalm 19. Thanks be to God for the preservation of his Word!
“The Judean Desert is a unique and beautiful place. What we saw today was incredible. From the palace-fortress of Masada, to the oasis of En Gedi, to the significance of Qumran, and finally overlooking the Judean Desert, my perspective of the land was enhanced.”
Judean Desert – Wadi Qelt
On our ascent to Jerusalem we made a brief stop over looking the Wadi Qelt (the heart of the Judean Desert). Here we heard from Isaiah 40 by “Isaiah, the prophet.” 🙂 Psalm 23 was also shared in song. The view was spectacular, with the desert still green from the winter rains.
Jerusalem
We completed our ascent to Jerusalem. We checked into our hotel (Dan Panarama), our home for the next four nights. Following dinner, a few walked to the Western Wall. We all are looking forward to seeing and experiencing Jerusalem over the next few days!
Day 8 – Sunday, March 27: Mt. Of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Old City, Pool of Bethesda, Holy Sepulcher Church, Herodium, Bethlehem
