Last Day in the Desert
Tomorrow, we go up to Jerusalem. The phrase carries with it two significant meanings. We go up to Jerusalem first of all because we are at the lowest point on earth and we are going up into the mountains to reach Jerusalem. Second, we go up because we are traveling to the most holy city in the world. But that is tomorrow. Today, we had a half day of touring and a half day of rest.
First, we left our hotel and headed north toward Qumran. As we have found at other sites everywhere we went today was crowded. We had three targets in mind, so we stopped along the way to Qumran at the Ahava outlet to give opportunity for people to buy Dead Sea products. I found three of the men sitting in the coffee shop the whole time. They were known as the three wise guys.
Following the Ahava store we arrived at Qumran, home to the Essenes. This was one of four religious sects developed during the period between the testaments. They were a simple, isolated group that raised goats and sheep and had a business around dates and date honey. They spent their time away from “the people of darkness” and prayed and copied the Scriptures and wrote other accounts about the final battles to come. We know their writings as the Dead Sea Scrolls. First found by a shepherd boy in 1947, parts of most all the Old Testament books were found, including a complete copy of Isaiah. We will see them in the Israel Museum in a few days.
Leaving Qumran we returned south to the Oasis of En Gedi. In this region, David spent time with his sheep as a shepherd and also used the caves in this area to hide from King Saul when he was trying to kill him. We pictured David writing some of the Psalms here, and were amazed to find water flowing in large amounts here in the middle of the desert. Many took a hike to a large water fall back the canyon. Others waded in the first water fall and pool. It was a refreshing, invigorating stop.
We returned to our hotel for spa treatments, floats in the sea, and rest before we leave in the morning for Jerusalem.
Here are some pics from the day.
First, we left our hotel and headed north toward Qumran. As we have found at other sites everywhere we went today was crowded. We had three targets in mind, so we stopped along the way to Qumran at the Ahava outlet to give opportunity for people to buy Dead Sea products. I found three of the men sitting in the coffee shop the whole time. They were known as the three wise guys.
Following the Ahava store we arrived at Qumran, home to the Essenes. This was one of four religious sects developed during the period between the testaments. They were a simple, isolated group that raised goats and sheep and had a business around dates and date honey. They spent their time away from “the people of darkness” and prayed and copied the Scriptures and wrote other accounts about the final battles to come. We know their writings as the Dead Sea Scrolls. First found by a shepherd boy in 1947, parts of most all the Old Testament books were found, including a complete copy of Isaiah. We will see them in the Israel Museum in a few days.
Leaving Qumran we returned south to the Oasis of En Gedi. In this region, David spent time with his sheep as a shepherd and also used the caves in this area to hide from King Saul when he was trying to kill him. We pictured David writing some of the Psalms here, and were amazed to find water flowing in large amounts here in the middle of the desert. Many took a hike to a large water fall back the canyon. Others waded in the first water fall and pool. It was a refreshing, invigorating stop.
We returned to our hotel for spa treatments, floats in the sea, and rest before we leave in the morning for Jerusalem.
Here are some pics from the day.
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