Day Three: The Dead Sea
I have heard stories about the Dead Sea…but no one can accurately describe the feeling of being in the vast open sea bobbing like a cork. It’s surreal…especially for those who can’t swim or who fear the water. Today this new experience was my personal highlight!
But first! We woke up early and drove through the desert wilderness to a place called Masada. Masada, in my opinion, should be listed as one of the seven wonders of the world. It is a magnificant palace location high upon a desert plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. The steep rugged mountain terrain of the wilderness here far exceeded my expectations. Truly, this is a place with striking geographcial features.
Masada was a majestic fortress that Herod built. It was also a place where the Jewish zealots took refuge from the Romans after the fall of Jersualem in 70 AD, Most amazing about the site is the siege ramp that the army spent three years building during their fanatical pursuit of capturing the Jews who were hiding out in Herod’s abandoned fortress. The history here is so rich. I am eager to read some of Josephus’ writings this summer and learn more about the events surrounding this region and time period.
Here are some views of Masada.
From here we traveled to the Dead Sea for a lunch break. We were forewarned that it was not wise to be in the salty water for more than 15 minutes or your body can become overly dehydrated. Many of us were eager to experience the sea water for ourselves and enjoy the feeling of floating. Because the water is 30% minerals, it is denser than our fluid-filled bodies and it makes it impossible for us to sink. It was so odd to be in water that was over 20 feet deep, yet still standing tall with half of my body up in the air.
Unfortunately, the Dead Sea is dying. It has shrunk by tremendous porportions in the past 20 years as more and more water from the Jordan River is being diverted into fields for irrigation. This has posed quite a dilemna for Israel….should they restrict water useage from the Jordan in order to maintain the health of the Dead Sea? The water that flows into the the sea from the river is providing crops and food for the people here. But I wonder what will happen to our planet if the Dead Sea dies. Already we can see how much the water line has retracted from the mountains in just a few years.
Our next stop was the fresh water spring of En-Gedi. Here in this beautiful desert oasis David hid in a cave while his enemy Saul was “relieving” himself. While David had the opportunity to kill Saul, he displayed restraint by only cut a corner of his robe in order to show Saul that he had spared his life. The hike up the canyon was littered with fresh water falls and the sounds of gurgling water. You can’t imagine what a joyful noise water makes when you’re in the desert wilderness.
At the top of the falls, there is a stunning view of the Dead Sea. Again – a beautiful place with a rich history from the Old Testament.
Our last stop for the day was Qumran. This is the place where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1947. Clay pots filled with ancient manuscripts of the scriptures were found in these caves by a young shepherd who was seeking to direct his goats. One day after throwing a stone into a cave, he heard something break. The Dead Sea scrolls were the greatest biblical discovery of our century as they authenticate the accuracy of the words that have been preserved in our modern day Bibles. It was thrilling to visit this location and see the caves up on the cliffs.
After such a full day we boarded our bus for home….Old Jerusalem that is. I have fallen in love with this city. It is a place filled with people from all nations. In just a short walk you hear languages from every country and see clothing representing every religion. There is something sacred about this city. Behind the old walls there is a feeling of safely. People walk to and fro – sharing human fellowship and experiencing a great sense of community. (It’s so different from our life in Oregon where we live in busyness and isolation behind computers and separated from society at large) Despite the divisions that exist among the four quarters of the city, there is commraderie here. Everyone speaks to you. Visitors are not only welcomed – they are the backbone of financial provision for the merchants. It’s not unlike the days when Jesus was here and everyone flooded into the city for the various religious feast and festivals. For the first time… I think I can clearly envision the heavenly city with all the people from all nations coming together to worship the Lord. I can imagine how we will enjoy His Holy Presence in the company and fellowship of believers from all over the planet. It will be Awesome indeed!
Mary Ann Noack 