Thursday, Oct. 17, Read Hosea 2:14-23

Let me begin with our “planned” itinerary for the day.  It is one of the longest days in that we have a lengthy drive and have several stops to make.  We actually began with Tel Arad as we had arrived in Arad too late last night.  We had a good hike getting up to the mountain fortress where the “high place” for idolatry/false worship was located (we spoke of this yesterday).

·       Ein Gedi (1 Sam. 23:24-25:1; Psalm 63; Ezek. 47:1).  Wow. Another tough but rewarding hike.  It has been quite hot in the Negev (the South, desert) and Arabah proper (the narrow stretch of desert from Eilat to the Dead Sea).  Normally I would sit one out as I have been there several times.  But I felt a sudden urge of “guide responsibility” (I won’t let it happen again) and went along.  Wow was it hot.  And wow was the trail crowded.  Again, its Feast of Tabernacles.  In other words the Jewish families are out in massive force on camping trips, day trips to great sites, and so forth.  They were enjoying the waters of EnGedi, sitting under the waterfalls and rolling in the pools.  Why not!?

·       Qumran (John the Baptist, Lk. 3:3; Dead Sea Scrolls).  As is our custom, we only stopped here for the movie presentation and for lunch at their shwarma bar.  Good and a good price.  Why not!?

·       Baptism Site of Jesus (Mt. 3:13-17; Jn. 4:28).  We take a brief opportunity to stand in the Jordan River.  We offered people the “Naaman experience” (you know, the Assyrian commander who wondered why he had to dip in the muddy and gross waters of the Jordan rather than the nice rivers he had back home) but no one took us up on it.  But then as we drive away from the place we like to stop on an elevated spot and point out things that happened here, as listed below.

o   Jericho (Josh. 6:26; 1 Ki. 16:24; Lk. 18:35-19:10)

o   Between the Jordan River and Jericho:

§  Josh. 5:3: Hill of Foreskins

§  Josh. 5:9: Gilgal

§  Josh. 5:10: Plains of Jericho

§  Josh. 5:15: Holy Ground

o   The Seven Nations

o   How many times was the Jordan River “divided” around here? (Ans: 3!)

·       Ascent of Adummin (Luke 19:11).  We then begin to climb the ascent into Jerusalem but get off at Ma’ale Adummin.  Don’t tell the group but I missed the turn and took one that got us closer to Jerusalem and Ramalah where the traffic was quite slow.  Made a long day longer.

o   Wadi Qelt, Josh. 15:7

o   Museum of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

·       Rimonim Lookout

o   Valley of Achor/Achan (Josh. 7:10-26; Hos. 2:15).  I love this stop.  The viewing area has a recorded account of the story of Achan (she properly pronounces his name “Ahan”).  In Hosea 2:15 the phrase “door of hope” is Petah Tikvah, the name of a large Israeli city in the Tel Aviv area, one that was NOT built on this location as had been hoped.

o   On a clear day look for: as usual, it was NOT a clear day.  Not being negative.  The agricultural haze as well as the dust that settles over the Jordan Rift are always there.

§  Plains of Moab (Israel’s camp E of Jordan)

§  Acacia Grove (Israel camp IN the plains of Moab)

§  Mt. Nebo/Pisgah (from which Moses saw the land)

·       Ma’ale Efraim (Jn. 11:53-54).  Somewhere in this area Jesus spent time hiding out in a village called Ephraim, after the raising of Lazarus and before His final journey to Jerusalem.  There was a time as well as a place for the crucifixion and thus He waited here until time for Passover.

·       Argaman (Gilgal?).

o   Adam (water of Jordan stopped here, Josh. 3:16)

o   Zeratan & Succoth (Solomon made castings for the temple)1 Ki. 7:46)

o   Brook Cherith (ravens cared for Elijah, 1 Ki. 17:1)

o   Abel Meholah (hometown of Elisha, 1 Ki. 19:16)

·        Tiberias (John 6:1; 21:1) (Yes! After a long day we arrive, Lord willing, at the Sea of Galilee.)