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Israel Study Tour with Todd Schenck
May 11-22, 2015
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Conquering the height
We started the day at Masada (Hebrew for fortress) after a delicious breakfast and an extra half hour of sleep. From a distance I could tell that it was going to be a hard hike, but I knew that it would be worth it. With backpacks full of water and a heart full of determination we started up the snake path to the very top of King Herod's fortress. When I reached the top my heart drummed loudly in my ears and the heat was overwhelming, but I wouldn't have traded that feeling with anything else. We had conquered the Masada, all the way to the top! After we caught our breath and drank some more water, we learned more about King Herod and the events that occurred at Masada and got back on the bus for the next stop.
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).
After a very short bus ride we had arrived at our destination; En Gedi. A beautiful mountain of rock stood in front of us with the bright blue Dead Sea to our sides. Step after step we hiked up the hill until we were told to stop and observe. The sea was even more beautiful from the height but there was also a small stream and a tree with just enough shade to cover us all. We sat and read scripture about David and his men when they hid in the caves of En Gedi, to avoid being killed by Saul. After we finished reading and discussing we climbed further up the hill where we saw the ruins of a Canaanite temple, that overlooked the Dead Sea. We continued on (all while taking pictures) and hiked through rough terrain into a valley. From above I could hear water flowing and I knew a water fall must be near by. At the bottom stood an amazing waterfall that flowed into a soft stream at the bottom. We all got an opportunity to go under the water and cool off before finishing the hike.
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.
Once we had changed into dry clothes and gotten some ice cream, we hopped back on the bus for the last visit of the day. We stopped at Qumran and grabbed some lunch. (Qumran is where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered) With stomachs satisfied, we walked through some small exhibits on the life style of the men who lived there (they lived very similarly to monks). After we had looked around at the exhibits and the caves, we read a passage from 2 Timothy chapter 3, and discussed the importance of knowing and understanding scripture, especially the Torah. To finish the day off we took pictures and then got back on the bus, tired after the days long journey.
Ashleigh Veltman
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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