We awoke at 6:30 AM and readied ourselves for a trip to Jericho. A series of miscommunications caused us to miss our rendezvous with our driver and guide. We finally were able to make connections at 9:00 and we were off to Jericho. There are at least 3 Jerichos, Ancient Jericho, New Testament Jericho and Modern Jericho. They are each in different locations. Jericho sits close to the Wadi Quilt. It is a valley that finds its origin close to Jerusalem. Close to where the Wadi Quilt opens up on the Jericho plain, an Orthodox Monastery is carved out in the caves of the cliff.
According to the guide, the original portion of the cave was carved in 340 A.D. When we arrived in Jericho, we went straight to a cable car to give us a ride to the Monastery. It is called the Monastery of the Mount of Temptation. It was built to venerate the Temptation of Jesus. In the oldest part of the Monastery we were allowed to choose a plastic cup and drink from the water that comes from the mountain. We did not die, so I guess, “We chose wisely.”
Inside the Monastery the guide showed us a cave where he said that the monks claim that Jesus spent much of His 40 days in the wilderness—uh huh. Anyway, the monastery is down to only one monk now. We could see the foot of the sleeping monk as we walked by his door.
Our guide is a Palestinian Muslim. It is Ramadan, so he is fasting. He was very gracious to walk with us in the oppressive August heat of the Jordan River Valley. We drank plenty of water during the time, but he couldn’t because of the fast. He even bought us some orange juice when we were done touring the Monastery.
After going back down on the cable car, we took a tour through the ruins of Ancient Jericho. It is one of the oldest places of settlement on earth. I think the guide said it has 23 levels of construction, meaning it has been built, destroyed and rebuilt that many times.
The Jericho area gets its water supply from 5 different springs. It is literally an Oasis in the desert. In the Bible it is sometimes called the City of Palms. One of those springs bubbles up at the old tell of Jericho. Recently they have discovered the foundations of an old wall that included the spring into the tell. The spring is dubbed “Elisha’s well.” Our guide said it is the place where Elisha healed the poisonous waters of the spring—Uh-huh. We put our feet in it on the outside and then we were permitted to go inside and see where it bubbles up out of the ground. It reminded me a lot of the springs in the Chickasaw National Park that feeds Little Niagra. Except if this spring dried up it would endanger the lives of many people.
From there we went to the ruins of Hashim Palace, near New Testament Jericho. It was an absolutely beautiful palace built by an Islamic Caliph. It was suddenly destroyed in 740 A.D. by an earthquake. It has the world’s largest floor mosaic, as well as one of the most beautiful—The Tree of Life—showing the duality of life, peace and war, life and death.
Then he took us to an old sycamore tree in New Testament Jericho. I asked him, “How old is this tree?” He responded, “Well Jesus lived 2000 years ago.”
I replied, “You don’t really expect me to believe that this tree is 2000 years old.”
He said, “It is only about 300 years old, but it is its daughter.” Uh-huh.
Our guide had played out from the heat and lack of water, and the tour of Jericho was over. So he took us back to the Kibbutz. We then jumped in the car and drove to Qumran, the settlement of the Essenes who produced and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls. After a short entertaining film about the Essenes, we went out to see the ruins. The Essenes were monastic type group before, during and after Jesus. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary says this about the Essenes:
A religious community that existed in Palestine from the second century B.C. until the Jewish war with Rome (A.D. 66–73). The Essenes were noted for their strict discipline and their isolation from others who did not observe their way of life.
Individual Essenes did not own any private property. Instead, they shared all their possessions with others in their community. They avoided any show of luxury and ate very simple meals. They wore simple clothes.
The Essenes were also known for their careful observance of the laws of Moses as they understood them. They were stricter about keeping the Sabbath than any other Jews, even the PHARISEES. They were concerned about being ritually clean themselves and about eating food that was ritually pure.
The Essenes would arise before sunrise for prayer. Then they would work until about midday, when they would bathe—to make sure they were ritually clean—before eating. Afterwards they would work again until the evening meal.
Anyone who wanted to become an Essene was required to hand over all he owned to the community.
One of the things that the Qumran community of Essenes did was to copy the Scriptures. Before the Romans destroyed their community in the Jewish war (66-73), they hid all of their writings in jars and various caves. The entire Old Testament has been found in those jars. Before finding them, the oldest manuscripts of the O.T. were dated from about 1000 A.D. The result is that we have found that the Old Testament has not changed significantly since before the time of Jesus. It lends great credibility to the O.T.
Across a deep valley is the first cave in which a scroll was found. The cave opening appears to be just below his hand.
One of the many ritual baths found in Qumran. They immersed (baptized) themselves twice each day to retain their ritual purity.
After looking at the community ruins, we walked up closer to some of the other caves. This is facing east. The Dead Sea is clearly visible in the distance. What possesses men to give up a normal lifestyle to live a monastic life in the desert? While I am not advocating a monastic life style, or living in the desert, should not we, who have the Creator’s love in our hearts, have at least an equal passion in sharing His love with a lost world?
After viewing the ruins of Qumran, we drove south to Mineral Beach and floated in the Dead Sea. Yes it is true, it is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea. We watched some girls posing for a picture while floating on their backs holding their newspapers. You can lay on your back and relax and not sink. You can also walk out where the water is neck deep and pull your knees up to your chest with your arms, and your chin will effortlessly stay out of the water. However, any sensitive areas on your skin, cuts or recently shaved areas will begin to burn after a while.
As we were pulling out of Mineral Springs, four young people flagged us down. They had missed their bus and wanted a ride to the next bus stop to catch a bus to Jerusalem. We gave them a ride to highway one which heads straight into Jerusalem. It was fun to talk to them. We prayed a prayer of blessing over them before we let them out. Now we are back at our room.
According to the guide, the original portion of the cave was carved in 340 A.D. When we arrived in Jericho, we went straight to a cable car to give us a ride to the Monastery. It is called the Monastery of the Mount of Temptation. It was built to venerate the Temptation of Jesus. In the oldest part of the Monastery we were allowed to choose a plastic cup and drink from the water that comes from the mountain. We did not die, so I guess, “We chose wisely.”
Inside the Monastery the guide showed us a cave where he said that the monks claim that Jesus spent much of His 40 days in the wilderness—uh huh. Anyway, the monastery is down to only one monk now. We could see the foot of the sleeping monk as we walked by his door.
Our guide is a Palestinian Muslim. It is Ramadan, so he is fasting. He was very gracious to walk with us in the oppressive August heat of the Jordan River Valley. We drank plenty of water during the time, but he couldn’t because of the fast. He even bought us some orange juice when we were done touring the Monastery.
After going back down on the cable car, we took a tour through the ruins of Ancient Jericho. It is one of the oldest places of settlement on earth. I think the guide said it has 23 levels of construction, meaning it has been built, destroyed and rebuilt that many times.
The Jericho area gets its water supply from 5 different springs. It is literally an Oasis in the desert. In the Bible it is sometimes called the City of Palms. One of those springs bubbles up at the old tell of Jericho. Recently they have discovered the foundations of an old wall that included the spring into the tell. The spring is dubbed “Elisha’s well.” Our guide said it is the place where Elisha healed the poisonous waters of the spring—Uh-huh. We put our feet in it on the outside and then we were permitted to go inside and see where it bubbles up out of the ground. It reminded me a lot of the springs in the Chickasaw National Park that feeds Little Niagra. Except if this spring dried up it would endanger the lives of many people.
From there we went to the ruins of Hashim Palace, near New Testament Jericho. It was an absolutely beautiful palace built by an Islamic Caliph. It was suddenly destroyed in 740 A.D. by an earthquake. It has the world’s largest floor mosaic, as well as one of the most beautiful—The Tree of Life—showing the duality of life, peace and war, life and death.
Then he took us to an old sycamore tree in New Testament Jericho. I asked him, “How old is this tree?” He responded, “Well Jesus lived 2000 years ago.”
I replied, “You don’t really expect me to believe that this tree is 2000 years old.”
He said, “It is only about 300 years old, but it is its daughter.” Uh-huh.
Our guide had played out from the heat and lack of water, and the tour of Jericho was over. So he took us back to the Kibbutz. We then jumped in the car and drove to Qumran, the settlement of the Essenes who produced and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls. After a short entertaining film about the Essenes, we went out to see the ruins. The Essenes were monastic type group before, during and after Jesus. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary says this about the Essenes:
A religious community that existed in Palestine from the second century B.C. until the Jewish war with Rome (A.D. 66–73). The Essenes were noted for their strict discipline and their isolation from others who did not observe their way of life.
Individual Essenes did not own any private property. Instead, they shared all their possessions with others in their community. They avoided any show of luxury and ate very simple meals. They wore simple clothes.
The Essenes were also known for their careful observance of the laws of Moses as they understood them. They were stricter about keeping the Sabbath than any other Jews, even the PHARISEES. They were concerned about being ritually clean themselves and about eating food that was ritually pure.
The Essenes would arise before sunrise for prayer. Then they would work until about midday, when they would bathe—to make sure they were ritually clean—before eating. Afterwards they would work again until the evening meal.
Anyone who wanted to become an Essene was required to hand over all he owned to the community.
One of the things that the Qumran community of Essenes did was to copy the Scriptures. Before the Romans destroyed their community in the Jewish war (66-73), they hid all of their writings in jars and various caves. The entire Old Testament has been found in those jars. Before finding them, the oldest manuscripts of the O.T. were dated from about 1000 A.D. The result is that we have found that the Old Testament has not changed significantly since before the time of Jesus. It lends great credibility to the O.T.
Across a deep valley is the first cave in which a scroll was found. The cave opening appears to be just below his hand.
One of the many ritual baths found in Qumran. They immersed (baptized) themselves twice each day to retain their ritual purity.
After looking at the community ruins, we walked up closer to some of the other caves. This is facing east. The Dead Sea is clearly visible in the distance. What possesses men to give up a normal lifestyle to live a monastic life in the desert? While I am not advocating a monastic life style, or living in the desert, should not we, who have the Creator’s love in our hearts, have at least an equal passion in sharing His love with a lost world?
After viewing the ruins of Qumran, we drove south to Mineral Beach and floated in the Dead Sea. Yes it is true, it is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea. We watched some girls posing for a picture while floating on their backs holding their newspapers. You can lay on your back and relax and not sink. You can also walk out where the water is neck deep and pull your knees up to your chest with your arms, and your chin will effortlessly stay out of the water. However, any sensitive areas on your skin, cuts or recently shaved areas will begin to burn after a while.
As we were pulling out of Mineral Springs, four young people flagged us down. They had missed their bus and wanted a ride to the next bus stop to catch a bus to Jerusalem. We gave them a ride to highway one which heads straight into Jerusalem. It was fun to talk to them. We prayed a prayer of blessing over them before we let them out. Now we are back at our room.
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