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THE LIFE AND LAND OF JESUS CHRIST An Israel Study Tour
February 26 - March 8, 2018
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Masada, En Gedi and the Dead Sea
Today we left the lush greenery of the Galilee region in the North and travelled South to the dry and rocky desert region of the Dead Sea. As we drove it was interesting to see the scenery slowly change to be more desert like with palm trees on the valley floor and shadowed by steep rocky sand colored cliffs. This is the Israel you imagined as a child, the hot, middle eastern type environment that you wrongly assumed to be all of Israel. It is nice to see that Israel does have some of the topography you always imagined, but we now know that it is just not the case all over this country.
Our first stop was the historic location of Masada. The massive outcrop of rock that stands 1,300 ft. above the valley floor and was home to one of Herod’s palaces, but more famously known as the location of the siege by the Roman army against the Zealots. It all ended tragically but the ruins on top of the bluff are impressive and the views across the Dead Sea and into Jordan are amazing.
We were not adventurous enough to take the Snake Path to the top but instead enjoyed an impressive cable car ride that enhances the whole experience, especially when you realize that when the palace at the top was built, everything would have been carried up the path!
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).
From Masada, we journeyed to En Gedi where we enjoyed a short hike to the lower waterfall. This is a National Park and we were fortunate enough to see a Rock Badger (we think), along the walk as it scurried up the cliff edge that borders the park.
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.
Our last stop of the day was the Dead Sea where a few our group enjoyed the experience of floating on the lowest sea on earth. The water is extremely salty and it is impossible to sink so people literally sit in the water with no effort required to stay afloat. It is also home to the world famous mineral mud and a few did experience getting a real mud bath and I am sure their skin feels very smooth and soft at this point.
It was then time to start our ascent to Jerusalem for the night and as we journeyed up the highway, Dr. Noel read a couple of the Psalms that were written specifically for those making the trip up to the Holy City.
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