Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Scrolls, Scribes, Zealots, & Wow!

Today was a long day for our travelers with special treats and sometimes heat. We said goodbye to the Dona Gracia Hotel that had been our home for 4 nights in the Galilee, loaded the luggage on the bus and struck out toward the south. Not long after passing the southern end of the Lake we stopped for baptismal ceremonies in the Jordan River. Nine members of our group chose to renew their baptismal commitments and entered the waters at Yardinit. Glenn and David baptized. When our group finished, a group of French tourists asked if Glenn would continue and baptize them! So, another 12 souls later, our joyful crew found its way back to the bus.

We came to Beth Shean, a site that features remains from both the biblical period and the later Roman world. The large Roman city was destroyed by an earthquake in 749. the ruins lay in the shadow of Tel Beth Shean, a former Canaanite and Philistine stronghold where the bodies of King Saul and Jonathan were once hung upon the walls as war trophies. We heard Tammy and Sherman sing a beautiful song from the stage of the Roman theatre, its perfect acoustics bringing their voices up to our seats high above with ringing clarity.

Cave 4, Qumran

We wound our way down the Jordan Valley, the river to our left, Mount Nebo rising  above the northern edge of the Dead Sea. Just a few miles further on we came tto the archaeological park at Qumran. Here lie the remains of a settlement of the ancient Essenes, a sect of Judaism during the days of Jesus. From their community of radical ascetic believers came many of the scrolls found hidden away in caves during the first Jewish Revolt (AD 67-70). Beginning in 1947 these scrolls came to light and now comprise the earliest copies of biblical books we possess.

Traveling south we arrived at Masada, a focus of early Israeli patriotism honouring the deaths of the Zealots who held out several years against the Roman army and committed mass suicide rather than be captured as slave. Here the remains of one of King Herod's palaces still stands as a reminder of their acts. 

After our long day, we stopped for a swim in the Dead Sea. And  what an interesting time: floating in the super-salty water with your hands and feet OUT of the water! Some enjoyed covering themselves with the mineral-rich mud, said by many to be one of earth's greatest beauty treatments.

Showering off the oily residue and minerals, we loaded on the bus and climbed UP the road to Jerusalem. Entering the city from the ancient Wilderness along the Jericho Road, we are now in our lovely hotel, the Jerusalem Park Hotel (not originally on the itinerary). A wide array of choices awaited us at dinner. Now to rest before conquering the Holy City tomorrow.