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Israel Study Tour with North Coast Church
June 18-29, 2019
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Masada and the Dead Sea
Day two was another great day. First agenda, to the top of Masada - the strong hold perched 1,300 feet above the Dead Sea gave the perfect lookout to spot the enemy coming far in advance. On top, the remains of three palaces built by Herod the great. But more importantly it was the last stand of the Israelite Zealots against the Roman invaders that left the Israelite nation without a home for over 1,900 years! Most of us took the tram to the top, while a group took the challenge and hiked the trail just as many Israelites still do today to remember and shout when they get to the top “Mesada shall not fall again”!
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).
Then it was back on the road and off to ride the camels. It was good to have someone else doing the walking for a bit while we enjoyed the ride. Our time there was concluded with a tasty lunch, music and a tent meeting where we learned about the vital role of hospitality in both the Old and New Testament.
The great conclusion of the day was smearing mud on our bodies and discovering our full body float-ability on the Dead Sea!
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