Day 6 - October 2, 2026

Oct 3

Back on the bus today and over to the Dead Sea! The way to Masada along the Dead Sea is beautiful in a stark kind of way. Along the highway there are a couple of water markers that illustrate how severely the sea has been losing volume, at a rate of 3-4 feet per year. The level of the Dead Sea is now -441 meters (below sea level). Some historical beaches and hotels are now miles from the water’s edge. Along the shore there are large groves of Date Palms, and some of these have also fallen into sink holes. This is the lowest land on earth.

Masada is at the southwestern end of the natural Dead Sea (there has been an extension of the surface of the sea due to mineral extraction industry). Masada was a Judean wilderness fort back to the 1st century BC, with Herod the Great transforming it into what we are able to see today. There are massive underground cisterns and a complex water management system. There are mikvehs, bath houses, an amazing three tiered palace carved right into the northern cliff face, store houses, and of course living quarters and look out forts along the fortress walls. Sicarii Jews took over the fortress during the Jewish revolt and lasted until the Roman siege of 73 - 74 AD. They grew food and were self sustaining on this mountaintop for over 4 years. The roman siege ramp and army encampments around Masada are still visible. Eventually Roman victory was upon them and they took each other’s lives rather than fall into the hands of the Roman army.

Next we hiked up to the waterfalls at the National Park of En Gedi to get a feel for the types of places David was hiding out in while being hunted by Saul. While hiking in En Gedi, you can see the traditional travel route called the Ascent of Ziz - a very likely route for Ruth and Naomi from Moab (on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea) through the Judean wilderness and to Bethlehem. Those were some tough ladies!! Lots of families bathing in the pools under the waterfalls today.

Qumran, an excavation of the working area of the Essenes and site of the Dead Sea Scroll finds, is also on the west side of the Dead Sea. We looked at their workshops and mikvehs and up at the caves where the scrolls were found. Across the Dead Sea from here is Mount Nebo, where Moses looked down at the promised land that he would never enter.

Our last stop was a float in the Dead Sea for those wanted to try it, and then back to Jerusalem. We have one more day in Jerusalem and then Sunday we move up to the Galilee to visit sites related to Jesus ministry there. Have a blessed day! PB and Margery