Day 03 - Negev-Galilee: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran

The fortress of Masada was built by Herod the Great around 31 BC. The fortress boasts ingenious architectural advancements to capture the mere 3 inches of annual rainfall. Half our group braved the 700+ steps of steep switchbacks while the rest took the gondola and cheered us on from the top. The fortress at Masada included all the luxuries one might encounter in a palace at that time such as a Roman bathhouse, pool, and storage for a variety of foods. Our knowledgeable and witty guide, Ronen, joked how one would love to live in a house built by Herod, but would not want to be invited to dinner as one might not have made it to dessert! From what we know, King Herod was extremely paranoid, (likely why he built Masada) and even killed one of his wives and sons.

We next headed to En Gedi for a short hike into the hidden oasis where David hid from King Saul when he was trying to kill him. The area was a beautiful and lush with waterfalls and fresh water streams. Pastor Michael read from 1 Samuel 23 about David and Jonathan’s friendship. Jonathan, King Saul’s son and heir to the throne, traveled out into the wilderness to meet David, and encourage and strengthen him. At times, we all lose sight of God’s promises for our future, His blessings in our past, and His presence that is always with us in the present. This is why our friends are so important! God can speak through them too, to lift us up and encourage us during the difficult seasons, and remind us who we are in Christ and what he has done and has promised to do for us. It was a short and sweet reflection time before we kicked off our hiking shoes and jumped in the water.

We concluded our day at Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. The scrolls were largely well-preserved due to the dry and arid desert climate. Prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, the earliest known copy of the Bible was from 900 AD. However, the scrolls found at Qumran are dated over 2000 years ago, which would be around the time of Jesus. Apart from a few Hebrew letters, the scrolls are almost identical to the text of today’s Bible, providing valuable historical significance and validity.

- Serenita Kumar