Day 9 – Sunday, February 23: Masada, Ein Gedi, Jericho, Judean Desert
We checked out of our hotel by 7:45 this morning following a good breakfast. Today was “desert day” here in the Judean Desert. The weather was once again on the cool side (for the desert), with highs around 50, and mostly cloudy skies. We read Psalm 18:1-2 as we left the hotel, focusing on the word the Hebrew word metzada (“fortress”).
Masada
The site of Masada (metzada, in Hebrew) was our first site and only a 15 minute drive from our hotel. This was built in the early 30s BC as a palace-fortress by Herod the Great. We took the cable car to the top and began seeing the ruins from the 1st century. We saw huge cisterns, the western and northern palaces, the Roman Ramp, the synagogue, and the bathhouse. In 70 AD, this was the location where 967 Jews found refuge from the Romans following the destruction of the Temple. The holdout lasted about three years until all by five of these Jews (a few women and children) took their own lives. It is a story of bravery and courage! About half of our group walked down the Snake Path. By the way, we had the entire site to ourselves!
Ein Gedi
From here we drove about 20 minutes north of Masada to get to Ein Gedi, one of only a few oasis here in the edge of the Judean Desert. We read from Song of Songs 1, 2 Chronicles 20 (the “Ascent of Ziz”) and 1 Samuel 24 (David hid from Saul here). Most in the group hiked back to the water falls at the end of the canyon. The view was still spectacular from there! What an incredibly beautiful place! It was amazing to see so much water here in the desert! Beside a 5th grade ultra-orthodox group, we were the only other group here once again.
Jericho
Next, we drove into Jericho where we first had a marvelous lunch. “Walid” served us well! Then we walked to the archaeological site of Old Testament Jericho, Tel es-Sultan. After 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 my Joshua (Joshua 6). A mud brick wall once stood on top of these stone walls. This wall was the wall that came tumblin down.
While still in the area of Jericho, we visited the site of “New Testament” Jericho. Specifically, we look down upon the winter palace of Herod the Great from an older Hasmonean tower. Herod the Great died here in 4 BC (some suggest 1 BC), and his body was transported to Herodoum (9 miles SE of Jerusalem) for burial.
“We explored sites in the desert today! The first site was Masada, followed by Ein Gedi. We were the only non-Israeli group at these sites. We ended the day at Jericho (Old and New Testament locations) and a wonderful view of the Wadi Qelt.”
Wadi Qelt
To end the day, we made a stop overlooking a specific part of the Judean Desert called the Wadi Qelt. We were fortunate to get permission to enter this area (it was blocked off for security reasons). However, Shlomo’s nephew was the soldier on guard this morning. 🙂 The view of the Wadi Qelt was spectacular. Here we heard the “prophet Isaiah” (all dressed up in a new outfit HA) as he shared the powerful words, “Prepare the way for the Lord…” (from Isaiah 40). John the Baptizer would echo the exact same words here int he same place 730 years later (see Matthew 3). Also, Shlomo sang in Hebrew Psalm 23.
We then traveled back to the Qumran area to our “kibbutz/hotel” (Al Mog Kalia) where we enjoyed dinner and a free evening. We travel north to the Sea of Galilee tomorrow!
Day 10 – Monday, February 24: Qumran, Shiloh, Beth Shean, Mt. Gilboa, Tiberias
