Day 7 - Friday: Wilderness around Jerusalem

Friday and Saturday were so packed with wonderful adventures that there was no time left to write about them! So, although this post is a few days late, we wanted you to know about the wonderful ending of our trip.

We started the day with a light breakfast at the hotel. When we got on the bus, Jacob and Mufeed (our guide and driver) had brought us a traditional Israeli breakfast of begala bread with falafel from the Old City. It was delicious! We munched on these treats while we made our way south to Masada. Along the way we stopped for camel rides.

Evan and Ryan

John

Connie

Chris

We finally arrived in Masada, a fortress built by Herod the Great on the top of a barren mountain in the middle of the Judaean desert. Although King Herod built the fortress for himself in case of a Jewish revolt, it was used by the Jews in an attempt to evade the Romans. When a Roman victory became imminent, the Jews in Masada decided death was better than slavery.

Matthew, Emma and Logan sitting in the synagogue of Masada

Jacob and Philippe

This desert region is of important Biblical significance as well. It was in this region that David fled from King Saul. Long before Herod built a fortress at Masada, David and his mighty men used the high mountains and hidden caves around the wilderness as natural fortresses. Unlike Herod, however, David knew that God was his rock and salvation. As we drove through the very region where David wrote many of the Psalms, we read portions of Psalm 57, 61, 62, and 63. We continued as David did to the springs of Engedi. A waterfall bursts through the dusty land bringing life and refreshment. This is where David cut off the hem of Saul's robe to show that he did not mean to harm the Lord's anointed king (1 Samuel 24).

Chandelle and Logan show the waterfall at Engedi 

Behind Emma, you can see the caves of Engedi.

We made a brief visit to the Ahava Factory to purchase wonderful skin care products from the dead sea. Then, it was off to Qumran for lunch and a tour of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Over Debbie's shoulder, you can see the caves where the most Biblical scrolls were found.

Next, we enjoyed floating in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. The ground sometimes collapses below you, but the strange sensation of floating effortlessly is worth the difficulties.

Philippe

Emma

We then made a quick tour of Jericho. We saw a sycamore tree similar to the one Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus. We made a brief visit to Tel Jericho where archeologists have found 23 different civilizations built upon this spot. We saw the Mount of Temptation where Jesus went after he was baptized in the nearby Jordan River. Then, we indulged in some shopping: dates, sweets, and Phoenician glass.

Ryan and Kendale enjoy fresh pomegranate juice

We returned to the hotel around 8 pm ready for dinner, a quick meeting, packing for travel, and then to bed. We could not have squeezed another drop of adventure into this day!