1BL Israel Study Tour

May 25 - June 4, 2015

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Impressive yet empty

Like many who visit Israel for the first time, my wife and I are feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of this wondrous place. But instead of just writing a chronological list of the places we visited today, I’ve decide to just write a brief account of the one experience that has left an indelible mark on me.

Masada, the ‘stronghold’ at the southern end of the Dead Sea, is an absolutely incredible structure of power and opulence. With its vast storerooms, mighty defenses, advanced water gathering system and a palace fit for a king, it is truly a wonder to behold. It took over 30 years to build and just over 3 years to fall. The last of the Jewish rebels, the Zealots, retreated to this mighty fortress and defied the Roman Empire to come and get them. And come they did.

Although the tale of siege and conquest is a good one, the most striking thing for me was about what had happened on that morning of “victory” by the Romans. After the building of eight complete army camps, the three years used on this one campaign and the billion dollars equivalent spent on the effort of moving a literal mountain to build a siege ramp, the reward for all the that Roman effort was….nothing.

The defiant Jews had destroyed all of the food, destroyed all of the weapons and had taken their own lives, leaving the Romans with less a victory than a loss. The Romans were left with nothing after all that they had invested in time, resources and lives. This was very impressive.

I can’t help but ponder about how much time, energy and effort that we sometimes devote in striving for something, and when we finally obtain it, it leaves us empty, possessing nothing. Yes Masada was impressive for what it stood for in grandeur, opulence and apparent security, but it was more impressive in the lesson it taught about emptiness.

Rich and Melanie Gunsolus

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).

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