Day 8 – Tuesday, September 10: Arad, Sde Boker/Zin Desert, Beersheba, Lachish, Beit Guvrin, Socoh, Jerusalem (Theme of the Day: Learning to trust God in our battles!)
Today was our last day before arriving in Jerusalem tonight. We continued through the southern Judean Desert into the Negev, another very arid region of the land. We read from 2 Chronicles 34 as we left the hotel along the Dead Sea at 7:35. We also read from Psalm 126:4 about the “watercourses” of the Negev.
Tel Arad
Our first site of the morning was Tel Arad, an early Canaanite and Israelite/Judean site. It’s located on the northeast side of the region of the Negev. 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.
Sde Boker: Gravesite of David and Paula Ben Gurion / Zin Desert
Next, 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. Unfortunately, our plans to drive down into the canyon for a hike to the water falls and back didn’t happen because of a rock avalanche that occurred yesterday. So they closed the hiking path for safety reasons. Bummer! However, we did drive around to the far rim of the canyon for a wonderful view below. We read from Numbers 13 (about the spies coming up through here) and Numbers 20 (about Moses striking the rock for water).
Tel Beersheba
Since the canyon hike could not happen, we drove from here directly to an extra site we were able to see, Tel Beersheba. Located on the northwest side of the Negevn, this is an archaeological site that dates back only to Solomon’s time. However, the Patriarchs are connected with this site (Abraham – Genesis 21, Isaac – Genesis 26, Jacob – Genesis 47). Elijah (1 Kings 19) was also here. Among the ruins we saw the city well and “cup,” the gate, “four-room Israelite houses,” and the deep and quite impressive cistern system.
Lachish
Driving north from Beersheba into the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah, Lachish was our next site. Lachish was a Canaanite city taken by Joshua in two days (Joshua 10). Later, it became an important well-fortified city under the leadership of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11). The Judean city saw two destructions, one at the hands of the Assyrians (2 Kings 20, Isaiah 36), and late by the Babylonians. We saw a replica of the Lachish Letter #4, one of about 18-20 ostraca (pottery with inscriptions). It mentions Azekah and Lachish as two Judean cities holding out. Jeremiah 34:7 says the same thing. Among the ruins we saw the double walls and gates, the Assyrian siege ramp, and the palace.
Beit Guvrin
Time allowed us to visit an additional site here in the Shephelah (lowlands). So we stopped to see the unique columbarium and the Bell Cave of Beit Guvrin. This area is known for all the underground soft limestone caves. Also in this area is the site of Mareshah, the home of Micah, the prophet. We read from Micah 1 and 5, reflecting upon the prophet’s words of mourning and hope.
“We are seeing a LOT of Israel on this trip. We traveled through the Negev today and then up into the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah before ascending to Jerusalem. It was another wonderful day. We even saw two extra sites we didn’t plan for too!”
Socoh
Finally, on our way to Jerusalem we climbed the site of Socoh. This ancient city, not excavated yet, is located along the Elah Valley. Socoh is mentioned in the story of 1 Samuel 17 where the Philistine camp was located. It was in the narrow part of the valley below Socoh where David battled Goliath. THere are two possible locations for this battlefield.
Jerusalem
After our visit here, we continued east as we ascended into the Hill Country of Judah and Jerusalem. After we first dropped off Shlomo in his beautiful community just south of Jerusalem, we drove the rest of the way to our hotel. Following dinner, most in the group walked into the Old City and to the Western Wall, about a 2-hour back and forth walk. We are excited to be in Jerusalem for the next three days!
Day 9 – Wednesday, September 11: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Garden Tomb, Herodium, Bethlehem (Theme of the Day: Re-discovering God’s redemptive plan)
