ISRAEL DIARY
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1998
Down to the Dead Sea and Back

Masada is located on the eastern slopes of the Judean Desert between En Gedi and Sdom.  It is in an isolated area of the Dead Sea, immediately east of its steep slopes.  The top of Masada is approximately 1,300 feet above the Dead Sea and is about 50 acres in area.  Herod chose Masada as a refuge from potential enemies.  Herod built beautiful palaces for himself and visitors to his wilderness refuge.  A Roman garrison occupied the fortress after Herod's death.  

The cable car currently stops 80 steps short of the top.  It is still a bit of a challenge when it is wet to navigate the steps to the top.

If you choose not to use the cable car there is an ascent called the Snake Path that one can use to climb the slopes.  It takes about an hour if you are in good shape.  Take water whatever shape you are in.   Remember this is desert.

When you get to the top, the large land area is a bit shocking.  We generally take the short route that gets to all the major structures on the top but you may want to take the long route which adds about an hour to the tour.  

Masada is important because of its importance to the nation of Israel.   It is a symbol of their commitment to stay.  They are here and here they will stay. 

The residence structure above is located in the center of the area.

John is holding up a wall while he listens to our guide share about Masada.

Western Palace mosaic.

Steve and the group are approaching a small church built by monks during the Byzantine period.

This is Clay posing in the Byzantine Period church.

The look down toward the Roman ramp built during the siege of Masada by the Romans is a bit dramatic.  It is a long way down.

A short break for questions and conversation. 

Good view of the group that walked down to the Northern Palace area.

We bid Masada fond adieu.  We had to go down in separate cable cars so some of us took pictures of the first bunch going down. 

When we left Masada, we headed down to Ein Bokek for lunch.  It is located on the shore of the Dead Sea and is a growing Dead Sea tourist center.  Lunch was good.

The journey up from the Dead Sea to Arad is spectacular.  The views to the east and the change in the mountain is dramatic.  The road is literally cut out of the mountain and is a hard climb for a vehicle. 

Tel Arad is located about 5 miles west of modern Arad.  It has a commanding view of the northern Negev and the Southern hills of Judea.  The king of Arad would not let Moses and the Children of Israel pass through here (Numbers 21:1, 33:40).  Joshua conquered the king of Arad (Joshua 12:14).

There are actually two settlement locations at Tel Arad.  The lower settlement is from the Canaanite city (3150-2200 BC) and the upper settlement pictured below which was established about 1200 BC.

The temple shown below is located in the northwestern corner of the citadel.  It is important for what it reveals about the temple worship in Jerusalem, and syncretism in the Hebrew society.

The group is assembled on the upper level within the citadel and looking south into the Negev. 

I always find myself impressed with Tel Arad.  This is a place that has a long history and this area has been reborn in modern times.  I enjoy walking through the citadel and thinking of the events of the Old Testament that were played out here.  This was an important place in ancient Israel.

The group gathered at the temple.

We were heading back toward Jerusalem.  The short winter days were causing us to hustle across the southern Judean desert.  We waved at Beersheba on the horizon as we passed.  Hurrying, we turned north to Kiryat Gat and then journeyed southeast to Lakhish.

Lakhish is a critical location for the Israelite Kingdom of Judah.   It is in the rolling hills of the Shephelah and is a strategic city for defense.   Everybody that warred with Israel traveled by here. 

The king of Lakhish had joined the 5 king coalition that marched against Gibeon and Joshua detoured southwest to defeat the city in two days (Joshua 10:1-32).   The city wasn't fortified when Joshua attacked it in 1220 BC. 

Rehoboam built the first fortifications here in 928 BC.  Lakhish was the southern most of the line of forts protecting the western flank of the kingdom of Judah (2 Chr. 11:5-12).  During the reign of King Amaziah, Lakhish was the most important city in Judea next to Jerusalem. 

An earthquake occurred here about 760 BC (Amos 1:1; Zech. 14:5).   Sennacherib made Lakhish his base in the invasion of Judah in 701 BC (2 Kings 18:13-17).

We really wanted to stop by Maresha and Bet Guvrin but couldn't stop.   We were heading toward the battle of David and Goliath in the Elah Valley.   Highway 38 was a much traveled road for the armies and peoples of old.

The day was long.  The walks and ride were tiring.  We picked up some rocks from the river bed and headed to Jerusalem.  We have now traveled from Dan to Beersheva.  Another good day.