Beyond visiting several cities where Jesus walked, there were other significant biblical places that I was able to visit and learn about in my 2015 trip to Israel.

Engedi

  • After Israel took possession of Canaan, Engedi belonged to the territory of Judah (Joshua 15:62).
  • The Judean wilderness to which David took refuge from Saul (1 Samuel 24).
  • In a cave in Engedi, David silently stole a piece of Saul’s garment when he found him in a compromising position.
  • Besides the multiple caves in which to hide, David probably also chose to hide in Engedi because of the freshwater spring it provides.
  • Ammon, Moab, and Edom tried to invade Judah through Engedi during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicle 20:1-2).

Masada

  • Masada was located between the eastern edge of the Judean Desert and the western coast of the Dead Sea.
  • This incredible wilderness fortress rises nearly 1500 feet above sea level!
  • King Herod built a winter palace at Masada.
  • Nearly 1000 Jews took refuge in Herod’s palace following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
  • In 73 or 74 A.D, the Romans (led by Flavius Silva) besieged the Jews hideout in Masada. They built a siege ramp to hurl stones at the rebellious Jews inside the fortress.
  • To keep from being killed and enslaved by the Romans, the leader of the Jewish Rebels (Eleazar Ben Yair) convinced the 960 people in his care that it would be better for them to take their own lives.
  • Once Flavius and his men entered the fortress, they found only a couple of women and a handful of children hidden in the cisterns. They had survived the mass suicide and were able to recount what happened.

The Dead Sea

  • It is an intensely salty lake occupying the southern end of the Jordan Valley. Its content is approximately 29% salt!
  • In the Bible, it is called the Salt Sea (Genesis 14:3), the Sea of Arabah (2 Kings 14:25), and the “eastern sea” (Joel 2:20).
  • It is the lowest place on the earth’s surface (almost 1400 feet below sea level).
  • Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.
  • It is dropping by over three feet a year.

Questions

  • Why would David choose to hide in Engedi when fleeing from Saul?
  • After cutting off a piece of Saul’s robe, how did David feel about his actions (2 Samuel 24:1-7)? What did David then do?
  • What did the Jews use Herod’s winter palace in Masada for after Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 A.D.?
  • After finally being able to get inside the fortress in Masada, what did the Romans find?
  • List some of the things Jesus said would precede Jerusalem’s destruction (Matthew 24:1-35).
  • List some of the other names for the Dead Sea in the Bible.