Day Five

Another day and another Hebrew Phrase, I Love You (Ani Ohev Otach - to woman) אני אוהב אותך.

Today we start our adventure at the Gideon spring, which originates at the base of Mount Gilboa. From here we will be traveling on Highway 90 the longest in Israel to Beit She’an, then continuing through boarder check points through the West Bank passing Jericho and on to Kumron. We will be entering into the desert of temptation where it is said Jesus fasted 40 days and was tempted of the devil. It was interesting to note that both sides of the highway were lined in many portions by olive trees.

As a side note our guide Aaron mentioned that Jordan shared Israel’s longest boarder and that the Gilead mounts created a portion of it. A crusader city called Belvoir was discovered along this boarder and what made this find so special was the condition of the site and that fact that it was one of the best preserved.

It was also discussed that Mount Gilboa was the scene of the last battle of Saul and his son against the Philistines. Gaza, Asklon, Gath, Ikram were the cities on the other side and the reason the Danites of the Old Testament moved. Gath is the city for which the well-known Giant Goliath originated. After the death of Jonathan, King David cursed the mountain. “Never will rain or dew fall on you.” And even until this day the East face remains arid.

Our guide also mentioned that 96 % of all of the land in Israel is owned by the state and that only the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches are foreign owners of land. This restriction ensures that Israel will always remain Israel.

As we arrive at the Gideon spring we are told that it has also been called the Herod springs. As the spring originates from Limestone it is classified as a carstic spring.

From the spring site we continue to journey on to Skitopolous where an Amphitheater was found in the basement of someone’s home. As the excavation continued it was discovered that this tell site had 21 layers of civilizations. This is also where the walls of the Philistine city where Saul and his sons body were displayed after being slain. One layer was a Greek city, which was a Decapolis, which existed at the time of Jesus and was controlled by the Greeks first, and then the Romans.

With the advent of the Roman Pax Romana (Peace) came building in the lower lands and the population grew to 40,000 people by 150 BC. In 749 an earthquake shook the area with an estimated strength of 8 on the Richter scale at which time the city was destroyed and abandoned. Currently only 10% of this city has been uncovered. And the site, which has been preserved, has over 65% of all the original stones. As a side note Aaron did mention that the large ornate columns would have originated from Egypt.

During our drive into the West Bank I learned that most of the inhabitants where of Jordanian descent and that the size of the area was 5000 km squared and one quarter of the size of Israel. According to our guide 2.1 Million people currently reside in this area. One thing I found interesting is that the bank is divided into 3 distinct zones, called A, B and C. Zone A includes 8 major cities of Palestine and falls under the control of the Palestinian government, Israelis are apparently forbidden to enter any Zone A districts. Zone B are areas, which fall under joint governorship, and Zone C are where the newest Jewish settlements are being established. On an unsettling note minefields are employed in order to protect and define the boarders between Palestine and Israel.

From my view out the window I can see the Gilead and Ammon Mountains above the Jordan River. It is common to see here mixed flocks of goats and sheep and Aaron also mentioned that they do this because the sheep follow the more influential goats. As we continue our bus ride we pass by Jericho a city populated by 35,000 Palestinian people. The surrounding desert area was also pointed out as where the temptation of Christ occurred. The Ancient road to Jerusalem also traversed through the city at one time and if you remember is also mentioned in the parable of the Good Samaritan. To recap, traveling from Samaria we entered into the Judean desert journeying to the Dead Sea, which is 420 meters below the Sea Level.

As an interesting side note our guide Aaron making reference to some of the indigenous fruit mentioned that pomegranates have 613 seeds the same number of commandments the Jewish people attain to adhere too.

We disembark in Kumron where the Dead Sea scrolls were found written and preserved by a religious sect called “The sons of light”. The scrolls themselves are dated to be 2200 years old and were confirmed by comparison to the Old Testaments we have today. Aaron mentioned that the language of Hebrew is the same today as it was over 2000 years ago and that he himself can read ancient scripts. When Jerusalem was filled with idolaters this sect broke out and lived separate and apart in the desert 30 km from the city. It was interesting to note that they survived by collecting water during flash floods from heavy rains. These rains happen 3 to 4 times every winter and in order to capture them they created a system of channels to funnel water to cisterns. The sect lived here for over 200 years before the y were pushed out and apparently they were composed of only men and the ranks were replenished by volunteers which came every year. It has been speculated that John the Baptist may have been part of this sect.

Most of the scrolls were written upon animal skin, paper and even copper. Over many years; the Jordanians who once held this area had also found scrolls. They were originally kept in Rockefeller museum until they were eventually reclaimed by Israel after the war.

On a geographical note the Dead Sea, we have been told is quite large and spans 60km in length, 15km wide and the depth is 400 meters. It was also mentioned that the water it self has ten times more saline than a normal ocean and has a rating of 30% percent making it unique and a natural phenomenon. From the Sea Israel exports potash as well as Salts and Minerals. Ahava has the only legal license to take mud, minerals and other materials to make body products like lotions.

We continue to cross the En Gedi Oasis to Masada (Meaning Fortress) and then we will be arriving at our hotel. En Gedi is even mentioned in the Old Testament and if you remember it is where David hid from King Saul. For now I will say good day and leave off writing because I am going floating in the Dead Sea.