Day 4 – Tuesday January 13: Beersheba, Sde Boker, Wilderness of Zin, Arad, Judean Desert
Today was our second full day as we explored the region of the Negev. After a good night’s rest in Beersheba and breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and began our day at about 7:35. We read from Psalm 126 (about the “watercourses of the Negev”) to begin the day. The weather was nice and partly sunny n the morning, but very very windy. In the afternoon the rains from the western coast reached this region, with occasional sheets of rain, and wind gusts as high as about 60 mph! Very unique for this area!
Tel Beersheba
We arrived at Tel Beersheba at 7:50 a.m. This is a small but interesting archaeological site. We saw a replica of a 4-horned altar found, the city well, walls, gates, and a few Israelite “four-room houses. We read from Genesis 21 about Abraham. Isaac (Gen. 26), Jacob (Gen. 46), and Elijah (1 Kings 19) who were all here as well. We left the site by walking through the impressive cistern water system. The engineering of this was fascinating!
Sde Boker / Gravesite of David & Paula Ben Gurion, Zin Desert
Next, we drove about 50 minutes south to the Zin Desert. The small community of Sde Boker overlooks the beautiful canyon of the Zin. This is where the graves of David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister) are located. His wife Paula is also buried here. We saw a number of ibex here (referred to in Psalm 104). From here we drove down into the Zin canyon for a hike to the water falls and back. Many in the group continued the hike, ascending to the far rim. The 12 spies came through the Zin Desert (Numbers 13) and Moses struck the rock somewhere here as well (Numbers 20). The weather was still partly sunny, but with higher winds.
“Today was a great and unique day at the same time. As we continued to visit sites with biblical connections (i.e. Beersheba, Zin Desert, Arad), the weather was incredibly wild! The winds howled all day, with gusts exceeding 60 mph! The rains came too, even in the desert. Flash floods are all over!”
Tel Arad
We drove about an hour back north to Tel Arad, an early Canaanite (i.e. Early Bronze) and Israelite/Judean (Iron Age) site. By this time the sheets of rain began, blowing sideways with the gusts of 40-60. 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). Because of the weather, we drove to the top (the “citadel”) by bus. Here, we went immediately saw an rainbow before entering the “false worship center/temple,” 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). To get out of the rain and wind, we descended down to the cistern where we reflected upon how we are to be a “living sacrifice” to God by laying ourselves on the altar of His purpose and will for our lives (Romans 12:1-2).
Hanokdim
From here we drove through modern-day Arad to the eastern side of this large modern city. We stopped for a brief view of the Judean Desert. Winds howled here about 60 mph, nearly blowing us over. We boarded back on the bus and drove on a windy road into the Judean Desert and to Hanokdim, our “bedouin-style tent hotel” for the night. Upon arriving we enjoyed (despite the rain showers and wind) a camel ride through the desert. We checked into our private cabins. At 6:45 we gathered in a tent to listen to a bedouin share about his lifestyle. This was followed by a tasty dinner. We retired for the night in this unique place!
(NOTE: Because of flash floods closing the Dead Sea road today due to heavy rains in Jerusalem and in the desert, tomorrow’s program will most likely need to be altered. It is dependent upon the road opening.)
Day 5 – Wednesday, January 14: Masada, Ein Gedi, Jericho, Dead Sea
