Sarah’s Day 6
By Sarah Roach
Day 6 was a day full of physical activity. First we took a tour through the Western Wall Tunnels. These tunnels have quite a long history of development, starting with Abraham and Jacob all the way up to 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. They survived the besiegement of Jerusalem 52 times. An aqueduct brought water from Bethlehem’s three springs to service ten ritual baths and up to 3000 people a day. It had an odeon, and they reminded me a bit of a Roman bathhouse, but not as compact and without the luxury.
Our next activity was Masada, a site I’ve wanted to see for many years. Masada means fortress or citadel, and because of its history, has become a symbol of Israeli resistance and independence. Israeli soldiers take their oath of alliance on the top of Masada. Herod the Great found Masada not only a strong fortification but a great place for a palace. Herod died in the year 1. Rebels took over Masada after Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 and the 10th Legion under General Flavius Silva took Masada after a long siege. There is some dispute over the suicide of the rebels, and our only source of information is Flavius Josephus.
Some scholars reject Josephus’ account as he was a Jew and in 66 was the leader of rebels in Galilee. His loyalty could be questioned and therefore his account could be slanted. It was a great tour and some of us walked down the Snake Path.
Our next stop was Ein Gedi, a nature preserve, for a short walk. It lies along the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert, and is described as one of Israel’s premier hiking spots, featuring spectacular beauty, varied landscapes, and botanical gardens. While there we saw a lovely waterfall , a coney (like a hydrax in Africa), and three Nubian ibex.
Qumran was our next visit. This is where in 1947 15000 Dead Sea scrolls were found by a Bedouin shepherd by the name of Mohammed Ahmed el-Hamed when he tossed a stone into a cave and heard pottery jars break. Written and hidden by the Christian sect the Essenes, the scrolls increased scripture knowledge by 1000 years.
Our last diversion was a trip to the Dead Sea. After a few pointers from our guide as to how to enter the water (backward) without getting our faces in the water and tasting salt water, we changed our clothes and found that we would indeed float without effort. The Dead Sea is the lowest surface feature on Earth, sitting roughly 1,300 feet below sea level. It is said to be dying as it is receding at an alarming rate and swimmers are asked not to take its mud which has therapeutic properties.
