After all the happenings of yesterday, it was hard to get up and get moving this morning at 6:30 a.m (10:30 p.m. Abilene time – Monday night!). However, we had lots more to see.
First, we went to Masada. Here is some interesting facts about Masada: “At the beginning of the Revolt of the Jews against the Romans in 66AD, a group of Jewish rebels overcame the Roman garrison of Masada. After the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple (70AD) they were joined by zealots and their families who had fled from Jerusalem. With Masada as their base, they raided and harassed the Romans for two years. Then, in 73AD, the Roman governor Flavius Silva marched against Masada with the Tenth Legion, auxiliary units and thousands of Jewish prisoners-of-war. The Romans established camps at the base of Masada, laid siege to it and built a circumvallation wall. They then constructed a rampart of thousands of tons of stones and beaten earth against the western approaches of the fortress and in the spring of the year 74AD moved a battering ram up the ramp and breached the wall of the fortress. Josephus Flavius dramatically recounts the story told him by two surviving women. The defenders almost one thousand men, women and children led by Eleazar ben Yair, decided to end their own lives, rather than be taken alive.”
Next, we went to Ein Gedi. Ein Gedi is an oasis in the desert. Here is some background on Ein Gedi: “The Bible records that 3,000 years ago David hid from King Saul at Ein Gedi. When David spared the life of King Saul when King Saul went into the cave at Ein Gedi where David and his army were hiding (because Saul was the anointed of God). Located on the Dead Sea’s western shore, Ein Gedi (“spring of the goat”) is a desert oasis with waterfalls, pools of water and two large streams. It is a hiker’s paradise with beautiful foliage, exotic birds and a range of wildlife, including rabbits, deer, and ibex. Ein Gedi served as a water source during biblical times. The spring begins to flow 656 feet above the Dead Sea. About a half-hour’s hike will take you to a waterfall and pool.”
The last stop of the day was the Dead Sea where we went floating – you can’t swim in the Dead Sea, you can only float. It is the wildest feeling that I have ever experienced this was my second time. The Dead Sea is approximately 450 meters below sea level (over 1,470 feet below sea level) – the lowest point on earth.
Again, it was awesome to experience all of this with my kids. What a blessing!