Day 4 – Thursday, June 16: Be’er Sheva, Sde Boker, Zin Desert, Machtesh Ramon, Arad, Judean Desert/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 sunny, with high temps in the afternoon about 90.
Beersheba
We arrived at Tel Beersheba at 7:50. This is a 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 also here. We left the site by descending down through the impressive water cistern 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 led us to the grave of David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister). His wife Paula is also buried here (she died five years earlier). As we circled back to the bus, we saw a number of ibex (mentioned in Psalm 104). 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.
Machtesh Ramon
After lunch at Avdat, we continued south to the Machtesh Ramon, Israel’s Grand Canyon. A lot of interesting geology is exposed here in this large “crater” most likely formed rapidly as a result of the flood in Genesis. Others would take a more evolutionary view.
“Today was our second full day here in Israel. The southern region of the Negev is quite different than the lowlands. Once again, the biblical connections we made today was remarkable. the Bible is already starting to come alive!”
Arad
From here we drove about an hour and a half 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. From the top of the site we walked down to the Canaanite city to see the reservoir, house structures, and the walls and towers of the city.
Hanokdim
Traveling east now we drove through the modern-day city of Arad en route to descending into the Judean Desert and Hanokdim, our “bedouin-style tent hotel” for the night. Upon arriving we rode camels in the desert. We enjoyed listening to a bedouin share about his lifestyle. Dinner was served in a Bedouin-style way, with plenty to eat. Following dinner, we enjoyed a small bonfire. IT was a unique night here, with the Masada Marathon runners staying here and the wedding of the daughter of the former mayor of Jerusalem and present Kinnesset member. Let’s just say it was loud most of the night. 🙂