Riding north along the Dead Sea, our first stop was Masada. My son Lewis told me the story of this battle to end between Romans and Jews. I honestly had very little knowledge about the story. I'll assume you are like I was and tell you about this epic story and magnificent place.
Masada was the last bastion of Jewish fighters against the Roman army. The fall of this historic location signaled the destruction of the Kingdom of Judea. The story is a Jewish cultural icon and a symbol to its people of humanity's struggle for freedom and oppression. Built by Herod, who was the king of Judea, Masada is a mountain palatial fortification. The amazing fact about this breathtaking place is the elevation difference. The entrance road, beside the Dead Sea is literally at the lowest elevation on earth. The accent to the top of Masada is 1300 + - feet. Recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus, in 73/74 AD, the Romans invested over 8000 troops to remove 960 Jews holding out high above the Rift Valley. Lead by Eleazar Ben Yair, this Jewish leader convinced the entire community that it would be better to take their lives than to live in shame and humiliation as slaves. See Photos....Maybe Google the story.
For years I have heard about the dead sea scrolls; today I saw the actual cave they were retrieved. Found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea,
the name of the location is Khirbet, Qumran. This is located in the West Bank.
Our last stop along the Dead Sea was Ein Gedi. According to the Old Testament, the Bible reads that approximately 3,000 years ago David hid from King Saul at Ein Gedi. In the cave that we saw, David surprised King Saul and spared his life after finding him unarmed. Saul said David would succeed him on the throne. Located within a 1/2 mile of the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, which means "spring of the goat" is teaming with waterfalls, pools of water and two large streams. Ein Gedi served as a water source during biblical times (Joshua 15:62, I Samuel 24:1-2). It was such an incredible thought to know that David, a man after God's own heart, David, the slayer of the Philistine giant had been in the very place we stood.
We ended the day by entering the Holy City of Jerusalem. Our driver took us to the Jewish University overlook. When I saw the Dome of the Rock, for the first time in my life, I really understood what a slam it was on Judaism. Placed directly on top of the Holy of Holy's Place, Jews no longer have their temple. I am excited to follow the footsteps of Christ over the next few days.
By the way...I rode a camel today.
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