Day Seven part Two En Gedi, Masada, Dead Sea

It was very hot here being in the dessert. Today’s temperature was 109. All the places we went today were along the Dead Sea or in the Dead Sea area. The Jordan River is the only major stream flowing into the Dead Sea. There are no outlet streams but because of it’s dehydration rate it is receding 80cm per year, this is alarming both the Israelis and the Jordanians and they are now looking into what they can do about it. Ezekiel 47:7-10, 18 tells us of Ezekiel’s’ prophecy regarding this body of water and the Israeli and Jordanian desire to build a channel from the Red Sea, gulf of Aqaba in order to bring it back to past levels…..
In Numbers 34:3 and Numbers 34:12it is called the Salt Sea.
Deuteronomy 3:17 and Deuteronomy 4:49 call it the Sea of the Plains.
Joel 2:20 call it the East Sea and Zech 14:8 call it the Former Sea.
We then went on to En Gedi. It was quiet a hike up to the upper springs, but on the lower part we enjoyed some of the flora and fauna of the oasis. We saw the ‘Christ-thorn jujube’ it is believed that this is what was used to make the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus Christ. Its Latin name is Z. spina-christi. We also saw many Ibex; these animals live in herds and are famed for their ability to climb steep hills that provide them with refuge form predators. They look similar to a deer. We also saw a lot of Rock Hyrax. They are also called conies; they live in rock crannies or in thickets. They live in groups and are remarkable climbers. They feed on plants some of which are poisonous. Despite the fact that they are mammals, their body temperature is not constant, changing according to the temperature. Therefore on cold mornings it is possible to see them sunbathing on top of rocks before resuming activity. They are pregnant for 7 ½ months. They are small like a big rabbit but look somewhat like a badger. We saw lots of dragonflies and beautiful birds and a little mouse. Thankfully we saw no black vipers or leopards both of which also live there.
This vital oasis was allotted to Judah’s tribe for an inheritance (Joshua 15:62). The area became known for its palms, vineyards, and balsam (Song of Solomon 1:14) In 2 Chronicles 20:2, En Gedi was called Hazazon-tamar and was involved in several Old Testament events. Kedorlaomer conquered the Amorites here (Gen 14:7); when David fled form Saul he found refuge in the many caves of the region (1 Samuel 23:29, 1 Samuel 26); and in Ezekiel’s vision of Israel’s restoration, fishermen would catch fish from the Dead Sea from En Gedi to En Eglaim (Ez 47:10).
The springs were beautiful though filled with people. One group from Birth Right Israel was here at the same time we were. This is a program where the Jews in Israel pay host Jews (ages 18-26) from other countries to come here and have a ten-day visit in the holy land. Sadly, these young people use the trip as a party trip instead of a learning trip. Although I am sure they learn a few things as they visit all the wonderful places, they also dress inappropriately (g-strings and Speedos being normal attire), party and drink (legal drinking age here is 18). We have encountered many while in Israel..
After a big bottle of water to cool us down we got in the car to drive up to Masada.
The heroic though tragic stand of the zealots of Masada in 73 AD is probably the most well known story in the long history of Israel. Herod’s stronghold is set on a wide plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. A few coins minted during the reign of Alexander Jannaeus were found during excavations and are all that remain from this king’s reign. In 40 BC Herod fled from Jerusalem, taking refuge with his wife and family at Masada. Leaving them there he continued on his journey to Egypt, finally reaching Rom. Chosen to be king of Judea in 37 BC Herod returned to Masada together with two Roman legions. He built himself huge palaces with wonderful mosaic floors and magnificently decorated walls. Enormous storehouses and massive fortifications were also added to the complex. When Herod in 4 BC Masada passed to his son, Archelaus, but soon it was taken over by Roman rule. Masada became an armed Jewish encampment when it was take over by zealots in 66AD. Many survivors fled from Jerusalem after its fall in 70 AD Taking refuge atop Masada they banded together holding out against Rome until 72 AD when the Tenth Roman Legion with roman governor of Judea, Lucius Flavius Silva stared to attack this final Jewish stronghold. They laid siege to the fortress. After failed attempts to breach the wall, they built a circumvallation wall and then a rampart against the western face of the plateau, using thousands of tons of stones and beaten earth. The zealots held out for another year until 73AD when they (1,000 men, women and children) chose to commit mass suicide rather than be captured by their enemy. (This part I think was a bad decision, a wrong decision.) But one woman and five children did survive the mass suicide/murder by hiding in the southern cistern. They have found the pieces of pottery that were used to cast lots to see who would be the last ones standing. First the men were to kill their wives and children, then the men drew lots to see who the last ten would be and then of the ten the one who would be last. Each making sure the ones before him did what they had promised to do. Then when the Romans broke in all they found were burning buildings and the dead bodies. They did not destroy the mass storehouses of food because they wanted the Romans to see that they were not starving, they chose dead over slavery. (This they found out from the woman and children who hiding in the cistern.)
We opted to take the cable car to the top of the fortress and spent hours climbing around on top in the 109 heat exploring all the ruins (we also had an audio tour and loved it.)
We enjoyed joking about the dovecotes which is where they kept and trained pigeons, this being their pigeon building. (Only Real Family readers will understand this joke) They did have the high place here at Masada and they also had their pigeon building. ☺
We were all pretty tired when we left here, but we were set on going to the Dead Sea and floating in the refreshing water. The first beach we found was closed. The second beach was opened, but the changing rooms were closed and unlike many others on the beach we were unwilling to change out in the open…. Debbie and I did however get into the water. It was very warm and the beach was all white salt, the rocks near the edge were rock salt rocks and we could see pillars of sand out in the water, they looked like ice bergs. I guess you could call them salt bergs. I got in to above my knees and it felt wonderful. The sand under the water was soft. But the guys were VERY hot being on the beach and not in the water so we did not stay very long (109 degrees on a snow white beach near the water). I didn’t dry off my legs, just got into the back of the car. The salt dried on my legs, my legs felt very…. Oily. 1 ½ hours later when we got to the hotel and I wiped off the dried salt my legs were so very soft and even the next day they looked oily soft. It was a great feeling.
We were really tired when we got back so we opted to shower and then have room service. Everyone’s was good except mine and the meat was raw, but I didn’t mind the potatoes were enough after a full day of hiking and walking in the heat. It was a GREAT day!