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Israel Study Tour - Grace Bible Church
April 23 - May 3, 2014
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From the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee
Day 3: Masada, Ein Gedi, and Qumran, From the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee…all in one day.
Masada: A long, winding path led us on a hike up to the top of Masada first thing this morning. A 20 acre isolated plateau (this time, not a tel!), remains of Herod’s fortified palace sit on top of the plateau. From every vantage point atop the plateau was dry, desert land. A Jewish commander of the Zealots, Flavius, was taken captive by Flavius was taken captive by the Romans, eventually becoming the historian of the area leaving record of many of the details of this location. We made the hike up, a tour atop, followed by a cable car ride down.
Masada
The summit of Masada sits 190 feet (59 m) above sea level and about 1,500 feet (470 m) above the level of the Dead Sea. The mountain itself is 1950 feet (610 m) long, 650 feet (200 m) wide, 4,250 feet (1330 m) in circumference, and encompasses 23 acres. The “Snake Path” climbs 900 feet (280 m) in elevation. From the west, the difference in height is 225 feet (70 m).
Ein Gedi: The location of Ein Gedi has significance in the story of Saul searching for David (I Samuel 23:29-chapter 24). At the first waterfall area in Ein Gedi we paused to hear the story of the woman at the well. Not set in Ein Gedi, the connection was a reminder of our need for living water. Wes posed the question, “When you feel as dry as the desert, where do you look for refreshment?” After coming from the desert of the Masada area, it was a poignant reminder visually seeing the life in Ein Gedi with springs of water.
Ein Gedi
En Gedi is the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The springs here have allowed nearly continuous inhabitation of the site since the Chalcolithic period. The area was allotted to the tribe of Judah, and was famous in the time of Solomon (Josh 15:62). Today the Israeli kibbutz of En Gedi sits along the southern bank of the Nahal Arugot.
Qumran: Our final visit of the day was the location of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls. A combination of Old Testament text, non-canonical text, interpretation of these scriptures, and rules of the local sect of Qumran were among the discovery in the clay pottery. The end of Qumran came in 70 AD as the Romans came through.
Qumran
10 miles south of Jericho, Qumran was on a “dead-end street” and provided a perfect location for the isolationist sect of the Essenes to live.
The site was excavated by Catholic priest Roland deVaux from 1953-56. More recent excavations of the site have taken place under the direction of Hanan Eshel.
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