The Dead Sea

Israel - The Dead Sea

The Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea, a large body of salt water, about 15 km wide and 75 km long, that is dramatically framed by the rugged mountains of the Judean wilderness on west side and the steep cliffs of the Transjordanian plateau on the east shore. The singular character and stark beauty of the sea and area have fascinated visitors since at least as far back as Aristotle. At over 40om below sea level the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. Because of extreme heat most of the year, rapid evaporation and lack of outlet, the Dead Sea has nine times the salt concentration as the ocean making is uninhabitable for even salt water species of fish or plants. The high salt content of the Dead Sea famously gives an increased buoyancy making objects float higher than usual and also gives the water a glassy surface because it resists rippling in light breezes.

The Hebrew Scriptures refer to the Dead Sea as the Salt Sea (Jos 15:2) and as the sea of the Arabah (Jos 3:16). It is generally thought that ancient Sodom and Gomorrah were located near the southern end of the Salt Sea (Ge 14:3). Other references to the area around the from the Hebrew and Christian Greek scriptures include David’s escape and encounter with King Saul (1Sa 23:29), John the Baptizer’s ministry (Mt 3:1, 2) and Jesus fasting and temptation in the Wilderness (Lu 4:1).

Jerusalem to Jericho - The Good Samaritan Route

Heading East from Jerusalem on Highway 1 begins a long steep descent into the Judean Wilderness roughly following the route of the Good Samaritan parable Jesus told in Lu 10:25-37. Often visible on this route are Bedouin shepherds, tending to their herds on the hills.

The Dead Sea - Qumran

Qumran Park is at the foot of cliffs of the Judean mountains at the north west tip of the Dead Sea. Since the 2nd century B.C.E. it was the site of a small settlement of Jews who many historians believe were Essenes, a sect that led an ascetic life and were rigorous students of the Scriptures. They fled the Roman invasion of 68 C.E. but carefully sealed and hid their manuscripts in the surrounding caves. In 1947 a young Bedouin shepherd discovered a number of clay jars in these caves some containing ancient scrolls that turned out to be the first of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, some of oldest and best preserved Biblical manuscripts ever found. Today parts of the manuscripts are on display at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem in a special structure built specifically for them.

It it thought to be around this area that Jesus spent his 40 days in the wilderness before beginning his ministry. (Mt. 4:1-11)

The Dead Sea - Ein Gedi

Ein Gedi (En Gedi) is the largest Oasis in Israel and is located at the He'etekim Cliff and its foothills on the west side of the Dead Sea and is now protected as a Nature Reserve. The David Stream and larger Arugot Stream flow year round resulting in dramatic falls, pools and lush greenery. The Oasis is home to one of the largest herds of Nubian ibexes in Israel along with the rock hyraxes are readily seen while hiking.

In Biblical times the beauty on Ein Gedi is mentioned in poetry by the Shulammite maiden in Ca 1:14, and was where David hid from King Saul (1Sa 23:29) and later encountered him. (1 Sa 24:1-22)

Caves of Ein Gedi Photo courtesy of Russell Reid

The Dead Sea - Masada

Masada

According to Josephus, Herod developed a fortress on the isolated clifftop known as Masada starting in about 37 BC.E.. He built Masada as an escape for himself in case of a rebellion, and it was the first place he fortified after gaining control of the kingdom of Judea from Rome. Like many of Herod’s structures it was an engineering marvel, the north palace was three tiered, built into the side of the cliffs with terraces and pools, heating pipes, bathhouses and running water. A remarkable rainwater capture system gathered rainwater into massive cisterns to sustain crops, livestock and servants and guests year round. It would become one of his winter palaces to escape the cold in Jerusalem.

Much later, after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. some members of the Sicarii, who according to Josephus were a radical splinter group of the Jewish sect known as Zealots, escaped the city and settled at Masada . In 73 C.E. the Roman governor Silva surrounded Masada with several thousand soldiers and constructed a 114m assault ramp up the cliffs and built a tower with a massive battering ram to breach the fortress walls. Josephus wrote when the Romans entered the fortress under the orders of their leader Eleazar Ben Yaʼir, with the exception of 2 women and 5 children, all 960 men, women and children of the Sicarri had committed suicide. Masada is viewed as the final pocket of resistance and end to the Jewish rebellion.

In Masada National Park has been declared a World Heritage Site and is one of Israel’s most popular attractions.

daniel campbellMarch 29, 2020