The importance of water

Today’s Journey took our group mostly around the lower part of the Dead Sea and into the Negev. These regions in particular tend to be dry receiving about 2-4 inches of rain per year. It so happens that today was the day in which those inches decided to fall. Our first stop of the day was to the site of Masada, which is an ancient fortress built on top of a mountain with only one narrow and winding pathway up to it. In order to conquer this site the Romans had to build their own pathway up to the fortress on the backside of the mountain. Many of us were very excited to hike up the path, however, upon arriving at the site we discovered we would not be able to go up due to the rain. This was very disappointing on the one hand, but it was also a very unique experience to see rain come to this part of the land that seems to never have it.

Driving through this region it is impossible to miss the importance of water to the land and life. Our tour guide mentioned that some of this desert region is actually more semi-desert and in the next couple of days the hills and mountains which were so bare would become green because of the rain we saw today. It is easy to imagine why drought would force many biblical characters out of the land as rain is so necessary for life, especially in the Negev region. And while we got to experience rain in the desert today, tomorrow we will again attempt to go up to Masada and see this incredible mountain palace.

Another incredible site we visited today in the Negev, was the site of Arad. Arad was a strategically placed city at the eastern pass from the Negev up to Hebron. There is so much I’d like to say about the site of Arad but for the sake of time I will only hit some of the highlights. At the ancient site of Arad, a Canaanite settlement of houses dating back to the Early Bronze age was found which, for those who don’t know, dates before the time of Abraham, Wow!

There is also a fortress built upon the top of the nearby hill dating to the time of the Israelites, which overlooks the surrounding area making it easy for those in the city to spot any approaching travelers or armies. But what was most astounding was that at the middle of this fortress there was found an area made to the same specifications as the tabernacle in Exodus, complete with altar for sacrifices and even a holy of holies with evidence that two deities may have been worshipped there. This unsanctioned temple brings up a lot of questions such as who built it and for whom was it built? Then there is evidence that this temple was desecrated at least once possibly twice, perhaps under the reformers Hezekiah and Josiah. It is possible that the conquered people in this land began to worship both God and their own deities. Or it is possible the Israelites themselves brought the cultures surrounding them into their own places of worship. Rather than being quick to judge the Israelites for idolatry we should learn from them and see how we ourselves at times compromise our faith with our own idols.

Lastly, Arad is a site that brings up many complications and questions, as the Biblical account announces it as a place that Joshua conquered, however, the archaeological evidence does not support this. There are two extremes we can go to when we take in this data: We can cover it up or do we can alter the Biblical account? We love when archaeology confirms and clarifies Scripture but we tend to hesitate when it seems to complicate it. What is amazing is that there has also been found a record of an Egyptian king who conquered this region but he mentions two different Arad’s. Therefore, it is possible that the site we have today is not necessarily the same Arad that is said to have been conquered by Joshua. So, Christians today should not be scared to interact with archaeological finds when they arise and confirm, clarify, and even complicate our biblical accounts.

Written by Scott G.

Wet. Sopping wet. Dripping from head to toe, our group ran down from the Arad fortress quickly onto the bus. Some remained dry with the help of their rain gear and others stood as wet as if they had jumped into the sea. As you look around this region in the Negev, there is what appears to be rolling desert hills of sand and rock, and rain is not a frequent visitor in this portion of Israel. In fact, Dr. Greer and Yehuda, our guide, informed us that the average rainfall throughout the entire year is only 2-4 inches, and yet it felt as if we got to experience more than the average rainfall on this not so average day in the Negev. Trying to keep our spirits up, we looked at it as a rare opportunity to experience the unusual “Israel storm.” We journeyed onward to our next destination for the Bedouin experience.

The Bedouin Experience
As we arrive to the Bedouin resort, we, the sopping wet strangers wearing our “Frog Toggs”, were invited in with no questions asked to learn about and to experience a traditional Bedouin style of hospitality. The Bedouins are a group of nomadic Arabic people, and the word means “desert dweller.” We all gathered together underneath a large tent to first watch a video about the importance of camels to the Bedouins’ culture. Camels are often referred to as the “ship of the desert” because they help to carry all of the nomadic Bedouin’s possessions as they travel from place to place. The average camel may weigh between 700 and 900 pounds, and typically they can carry their own weight or more. A camel can guzzle up to 26 gallons in just 10 minutes, and it can sprint up to 20 miles an hour. Not only do they help to lug around weight, but their wool is utilized in creating the thick (and rain protectant!!) tents we huddled beneath, and their milk is considered a “super food” that the people can drink. Then, we were all able to ride the camels for a short few minutes because the camels, just like us, are not a fan of the rainy weather and muddy ground.

Afterward, we all gathered again underneath a large tent where there were warm coals burning, coffee brewing, and comfortable, colorful pillows for us each to sit on. As we are seated, we each received a warm cup of sweet tea and were able to partake in what would be similar to a ceremony of coffee. Yehudah explained that tent hospitality was very important to the Bedouin people, and traditionally there are two parts to the tent. 1. Approximately one third of the tent was a portion for the Bedouin to sit with his guests, and 2. The other portion was forbidden for the guests, and only men were allowed. When a guest or stranger would want to enter a Bedouin tent, they must stand 30 feet away the tent and make a peculiar noise that sounds a bit like a cough. If the tent owner is home, he will let you in. If you enter the tent without the Bedouin permission, he may kill you because it is his understanding that you are coming either to steal their food or to hurt his wife. If the owner is home and he invite you in, then he must allow you to stay for 3 days, and they will not ask the guest any questions for three days. As their guests, one would receive 3 small cups of coffee throughout their stay, and this was particularly important because coffee was a very expensive luxury. In a way the first cup of coffee meant, “Welcome to my tent,” the second cup signified “it is my pleasure to have you here,” and the third was considered the sword, as it demonstrated the hosts responsibility to keep the guest safe. Yehudah stressed that the Bedouins saw this as their duty so much so that even if you had killed the host’s son, he would not kill you while you were his guest for those three days. One way the guest would know that you are not welcome is that the host would fill the coffee cup all of the way.

You may be asking, “How can this Bedouin experience relate to the Bible?” Dr. Greer shared with us that we can learn from this experiences as it relates to ethno-archaeology. Meaning, we can use customs of today and recent time periods that were very similar to Biblical times to better understand certain elements and depictions of the BIble. One example Dr. Greer utilized is in Genesis 18, in which Abram is showing hospitality to the three angels despite the harshness of environment, and he also refrained from asking the strangers questions; he simply invited them in.

I think of the parable in Matthew 25 of the sheep and the goats, when Jesus reminds us that whatever you have done for the least of these brothers and sisters, you have done for him. For Matthew 25:35 says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” From this experience, I would challenge us as believers to welcome in not only our friends and our family into our homes, but like the Bedouins invite in the stranger, the person that doesn’t quite look like you, who holds a different faith and culture, who is in need of safety and protection. Will you invite in the stranger? Will you share with them a warm cup of coffee and a meal. Today, we were strangers wet from the storm in need of a warm place to dry off, and in God’s perfect timing, we were invited in. Will we be willing to do the same?
Beersheva

The afternoon rain caused the rocks of Tel Beersheva to become rather slippery, and for safety purposes the site manager made the decision to close the site for tours so we were unable to explore the site, but we continued our learning experience from the bus! Beersheva is most associated with reforms of Hezekiah, as evidenced by full remains of an Israelite sacrificial alter. This cultic, religious, installation has thoroughly been excavated. In this area a water system was discovered, in which a hidden tunnel took water from flash floods into the cistern. The cistern is about 45 feet deep, and there are many rooms that are interconnected.

Dead Sea
When we arrived back to the hotel, the majority of us quickly changed into our bathing suits and bath robes and headed down toward the Dead Sea. As you walk onto the beach, the sand is soft against your feet, but once we hit the edge of the water beneath was hardened salt. The floor beneath our feet suddenly felt like sharp shards of glass, and I quickly realized I should have put on my water shoes! We laid backwards in the cold, cold water and lifted up our legs, and yes, as you have probably heard, your body just floats effortlessly. Every move had to be cautious, as you wanted to avoid getting the salt water in your eyes and mouth. The water is much saltier than the ocean, so much so that animals cannot survive in the harsh environment. There is so much salt that Yehudah even urged us to take some of it home with us! Maybe some of the brave adventurers will even bring some sea salt home for you to enjoy with your meals! As our day came to an end, we also had the opportunity to rest in the hotel Dead Sea Spa that has pools of (much warmer) Dead Sea salt water to float in as well.

We thank you for your prayers as we learn and journey through Israel!

Blessings,
Bailie Rouse