Masada

Thursday 16 April

Driving Tour of South East Region. Jericho, Qumran, Masada, Dead Sea.

Jericho. Saw the supposed site of Elisha’s healed spring, and the ancient site of Jericho, The place is still a ruin as foretold by Joshua. As far as an archeological site goes it was quite disappointing. Not quite the same emphasis on history as in Israel. It was helpful to see the mountains to the west where the spies found refuge when they left the city. It was also interesting to imagine the camp of Israel to the North East in Gilgal after crossing the river Jordan as they prepared for the siege.

Qumran. Fascinating site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. (The contrast between the archeological sites of the Israelis and the Palestinians are poles apart) very interesting to see the life of the Essenes (Jewish ascetics who lived like monks. They were scribes that felt it their duty to preserve the ancient manuscripts). These are the ones that hid the Dead Seas Scrolls in caves in about 70-150AD at the time of the demise of the Jewish nation and the scrolls were recently uncovered in 1947-56AD at the rebirth of the nation!

The famous Qumran Caves

Masada. This is a formidable fortress that impressively vaults itself 400m out of the floor of the Dead Sea plain, and is nestled in among the steep ravines of the Judean desert to the west. The plateau top is 550x 275m.

View on the way up to Masada in the Cable Car

View from Masada in an attempt to show the height of the fortress

The views across the Dead Sea and up and down the Aravah Ravine are just breathtaking. You cant really capture it on Camera. This is the scene of the last stand of the Jewish resistance against the Roman Empire in 74AD. The battle that took place here marks the final dying breath of the Jewish state. It remained dead until its miraculous resurrection after the holocaust of WW2 in 1948.

Model of the Palaces as they would have sat on the point of the Plateau looking our across the Dead Sea

Masada is such a sad story, as the Zealots deliberately ‘chose death instead of life’, and defiantly resisted the Roman yoke. So much did they embody the same stubborn spirit of the nation, which received the consequences of their cry about 40 years before “His blood be on us and on our children” . Later in the evening we drove about two hours down the dead sea valley and back around behind onto the Judean desert to see the Masada sound and light show.

Sound and light show Masada

Unfortunately we could not visit Engedi because of the threat of a storm and flash flooding.

Going for a swim in the Dead Sea is something to be experienced. We gingerly made our way down to the waters edge over the salt encrusted stones. The water was a little cool for comfort, but not to be deterred, we soldiered on. As we waded in the water felt quite normal and was nice and clear. It wasn’t until the water gets up to your stomach and you have to take the plunge that the experience changes. You mustn’t get your face wet as the salt content is 30% more than seawater and is quite dangerous if you get it in your eyes. When your feet actually leave the floor you start bobbing up and down like a cork, and when you paddle along you seem to skim along on top of the water and can make quite rapid progress. It was quite a scene as these very white Australians, all over forty (except Susan of course), and slightly over weight, with screams and laughter we caused a bit of a sensation. Then there was the mud! Most of us endured the experience, not sure really what it does but the Israeli’s make a lot of money out of selling it all around the world.

The amazing Dead Sea. Click on the photo and get a closer view of how much they are floating out of the water.

Shrek and Princess Fiona emerging from the swamp?


The pursuit of a good complexion? Or the vanity of man!

Arrived home well after 12:00 am. A great day was had by all.