We followed the stories of two kings today. One was arrogant, extravagant and greedy. His name was Herod. One of his many building feats involved a fortress built in the middle of a desert, complete with hot bath house, a private pool, a public Olympic sized pool and a three tiered palace hanging on the side of a cliff. This fortress is called Masada. Herod built it out of paranoia and used it to protect his family for two years while he squelched a rebellion. In addition to what I’ve already mentioned, there was a synagogue, enough barracks for a regiment or more of soldiers, food storage areas and several buildings for pigeons to roost for food. Herod used it not only to protect his family but as an outpost to collect taxes on the caravans bringing perfume to the port of Gaza from Yemen.
But the real important story of Masada goes to 70 AD when Jewish rebels came there after Jerusalem fell and they held out against the 10th Legion of Rome for almost three years. At the end they chose death rather than slavery. Their story is compelling and I encourage you to read about it or watch the movie by the same name,
We had five brave souls walk up the Snake Path and their pictures are below.
We then spent the remainder of our morning and into the afternoon at En Gedi. Near this oasis in the desert David hid as he was on the run from King Saul. Saul was motivated by sheer jealousy and yet David acted with respect and godliness. David wrote a few of the psalms in this area. We know because he mentions En Gedi in them.
Returning to the hotel, we ate at area restaurants and then many of us spent considerable time enjoying the Dead Sea floating experience. It was great fun. Others rested and prepared for our transition tomorrow through Beersheva and the Elah Valley to Bethlehem. We end up tomorrow evening in Jerusalem, our home for the remainder of our time.
Here are some pics from our day.
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Private family pool, Western Palace area, Masada |
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Glenda enjoying a float in the Dead Sea |
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Mosaic floor in Western Palace, Masada |
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Mosaic in Western Palace, Masada |
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Ian in the Dead Sea (Bonny in the background) |
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Directional sign on the hiking trail, En Gedi |
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Snake trail pre-climb picture, Masada |
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Snake trail post-climb picture, Masada (43 minutes!) |
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Stantons at first falls area, En Gedi |
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Model of the hanging palace, Masada |
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A view of the Dead Sea from hiking trail, En Gedi |
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Nir giving an explanation on Masada |
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Group picture at En Gedi water fall |
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Lowell and Harvey, Dead Sea |
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Hiking the En Gedi trail |
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John, Lowell, Harvey, Dead Sea |
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Pigeon Columbarium, Masada |
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Synagogue, Masada |
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Part of the palace looking down from the top, Masada |
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Mountains near our hotel, Dead Sea |
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John on Masada, desert in the background |
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Hyrax at En Gedi nature preserve |
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Ian and Traci at En Gedi |
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Park sign at Masada |
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