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Israel In Depth - Legacy Path Experience
November 26 - December 7, 2017
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Living water
Ein Gedi
Our first stop today was Ein Gedi. We sat under a tree while we read and discussed 1 Samuel 23, where David cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. This happened in Ein Gedi. We moved up the path a bit and came to a waterfall. We talked about how life is a desert, and asked ourselves the question “Do we want to drink from cisterns, or living water? Then most of got under the waterfall as a reminder that we want to drink from living 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
We first learned about the Essenes, and their desire to be ceremonial clean. We saw the ritual baths. We learned that the Essenes were people of the text, and were known for being scribes. In 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in a cave in Qumram. We had an awesome opportunity to climb up the mountain to another teaching location. There we talked about the fact that we serve a God who knows what we need, and that he will make a way for us in the wilderness.
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.
Bethany by the Jordan
Next we travelled where Jesus was baptized. We also learned about Joshua and the Israelites crossing the River on dry land. This is a good reminder for us to trust God before it happens.
Jericho
Our last top of the day was in Jericho. We read a lot of scripture from Joshua here. After Joshua and the Israelites crossed the river they made a memorial here so that all would know what God did. We talked about how important these “milestones” are for us in our lives, and our kids and grandparents.
After Jericho we loaded up in the bus and headed 2 hours north and we are staying on the Sea of Galilee.
Jericho
The “City of Palms” spreads out on the west side of the Jordan River at 825 feet below sea level. In Jesus’ day a new center had been constructed on the wadi banks in the foreground by the Hasmonean rulers and Herod the Great.
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