Hidden Cities and Hiding Places . . .

Friday, we started the day with a visit to Beth Shan, the most magnificent archaeological site in Israel, located at the juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. It was a city of the Canaanites and where the Philistines displayed the headless bodies of King Saul, Jonathan, and two other sons of Saul. It was just in the last 18 years that excavation of this site has been done, and the only thing that was visible when they began was the top of a column that was sticking out of the ground. This is a massive excavated site, and it is estimated that only 10% of the city has been uncovered. There is so much of it, that you can easily imagine what life would have been like there. The population at its height was around 20,000. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 749. The huge columns were found toppled over, just as they had fallen in the earthquake.
From there, we crossed into the West Bank and saw Mt. Nebo from a distance, where Moses had stood to see the Promised Land he would never enter and where God Himself buried Moses. We then visited En Gedi, a ruggedly beautiful oasis in the desert with many streams, waterfalls, and wildlife. This was the place where David hid from Saul: "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)
Because we spent a good portion of the day in the bus, Karen and Carole (our tour leaders) encouraged each of us to share our "To God Be the Glory" story of how God brought us to be on this trip. Some were lighthearted, others very moving, but all revealed the sovereignty of God in bringing each one to this place at this time.
Friday evening, we enjoyed a wonderful Shabbat dinner at our hotel. The foods are different here but delicious! We are having so much fun trying the exotic dishes as well as getting to know the others in our group.
Today is Saturday, the Sabbath in Israel, so not many sites are open. We went to Masada and spent about half the day there. Words fail me in trying to describe this place! It is a demonstration of Herod's indulgence with no regard for man or beast in building it (Herod himself never even visited it!), but it also is a monument to the Jews who chose to die at their own hands as free people rather than be slaughtered or enslaved by the Romans.
This afternoon, we floated in the Dead Sea, which is an experience in and of itself! It is very strange to see a huge body of water which is so beautful and yet so desolate. There are no docks or ports, no boats, no fishing piers, nothing that indicates life. Incredible!
In the morning, we will travel to Jerusalem. I can only imagine what it will be like to enter God's Holy City -- "But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there . . . " (II Chronicles 6:6)