Day 5 – Wednesday, January 8: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea
We enjoyed a sunny day once again today as our travels took us up the western coastline of the Dead Sea. The temperatures were a bit warmer, with highs in the low 70s. We read from Psalm 18 (verse 2 refers to metzada) following breakfast after we checked out of our Bedouin camp and began our short drive to Masada.
Masada
We drove east about 8 miles to get to the western side of Masada, a palace-fortress built by King Herod in the 30s BC. Everyone in the group hiked up the Roman ramp. Upon cresting the site we saw the casemate wall, huge cisterns, the synagogue, the western and northern palace, storehouses, and the bathhouse. The courageous story of Masada (with 967 using the site as a place of refuge) is both incredible and inspiring! Leaving the site, about half the group walked down the steep Snake Path while others took the cable car down.
Ein Gedi
From here we drove northward on Rt. 90 along the western shoreline of the Dead Sea to Ein Gedi. As we drove we read from Ezekiel 47 (about how one day the Dead Sea will become fresh). Together we walked into the canyon (Wadi David) where we stopped to read from Song of Songs 1 (mentioning the henna blossoms), 2 Chronicles 20 (mentioning the “Ascent of Ziz”), and 1 Samuel 24 (the David and Saul “cave encounter”). Most in the group walked back to the far water falls while others enjoyed the first falls.
“Today was “desert day” here in Israel. We visited four sites: Masada, Ein Gedi, Jericho, and the Dead Sea.” We were the only non-Israeli group all day (once again since the start of our trip). All is well here in Israel!”
Jericho
We boarded our bus once again to drove to the northern end of the Dead Sea. We arrived at Tel es-Sultan, or Old Testament Jericho. After a wonderful makluba lunch (chicken and rice prepared together), we climbed the site. We looked east and could see the Jordan Valley the Mt. Nebo on the ridge on the horizon (Dt. 34). Elijah was taken to heaven in the area across the river (2 Kings 2). Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River at “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (John 1). Looking south we could see the area of NT Jericho (where Zachaeus and Bartimeaus lived, and where Herod the Great died in 4 BC).
We then turned our attention to the ancient OT site of Jericho. The archaeology of this ancient site of Jericho supports and confirms the Bible’s historicity. Besides seeing the oldest structure (a round tower) in Israel, on the southern end we saw the double retaining walls of this Canaanite city taken by Joshua (Joshua 6). A mud brick wall once stood on top of these stone walls. They came tumblin down.
Before we left Jericho, we drove to the Herodian site to see the Hasmonean & Herodian winter palace. We looked across the Wadi Qelt to see the bathhouse and pool area. Zacheaus (Luke 19) and Bartimaeus (Mark 10) were from this New Testament site. Herod the Great died here (in either 4 or 1 BC).
Dead Sea
Our last experience of the day was to float in the Dead Sea. We enjoy floating in this unique body of water (33% salt and minerals). We drove to our hotel at Qumran close by for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 – Thursday, January 9: Qumran, Shiloh, Beth Shean, Mt. Gilboa
