Today we went from 1400 feet below sea level to 3000 feet above sea level. How did we do that? Did we begin in a submarine and end in an airplane? No but we did begin at the Dead Sea (1400 feet below) and drive up to Jerusalem (3000 feet above). Talk about an air pressure and temperature change. Like a hyperbolic chamber, the Dead Sea has intensified air pressure which some say has health benefits.
But the focus of our day was neither the Dead Sea or Jerusalem but 5 significant sites.
Our first stop was Masada, the winter palace of Herod the Great which became the last stand of nearly 1000 jews after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. What a somber account. Surrounded by the Roman legions, the Jews held out until the Romans were ready to breech the walls. Rather than surrender and become slaves, the fathers killed their wives and children. Then the men cast lots and killed each other until the final man committed suicide. To this day, it challenges the Jews to realize they can never feel safe or surrender.
From Masada, we went to En Gedi, the flowing stream in the Judean Wilderness where David went to escape Saul (1 Samuel 24) and were reminded of David's allowing God to deal with his enemy, Saul.
From En Gedi, we went to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 and which reminded us of the amazing accuracy in the preservation of God's Word.
A highlight of the day was a short side trip to a spot overlooking the "Valley of the Shadow of Death".
We ended the day at a living history location called Abraham's tent. Everyone was allowed to take a camel ride (or walk) to a tent in the approximate location the Bible gives for Abraham. Abraham and Eliazar, his servant, spoke with us and offered us tea, coffee and sweet dates, apricots and raisins.
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