Israel Day 5 - Bet Shean, Qumran, Masada and the Dead Sea

Bet Shean

Bet Shean was a Roman city built up during the 1st century B.C. It was one of the cities known in the NT as the "Decapolis". There are very extensive ruins and we didn't have time to explore them all. It was midday so my pictures look a bit washed out. Otherwise, a beautiful place.

Ruins at Bet Shean

Qumran

Qumran is the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were originally discovered by Bedouins near the time of the establishment of Israel (1948). The site was later thorougly excavated and many more scrolls found. They have found at least one copy of every book of our Old Testemant except for Ruth and Ezra. Other writing of the Essenes where also found. Later in the trip we visited the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem where the actual scrolls are on display.

In the parking lot of the Qumran site there was a guy giving camel rides for $3. It was pretty entertaining and about 10 people went for a ride.

Camel Rides - $3

Masada

Masada was definitely one of those times when wished I was on my own and not with a tour. The tour guides led us to interesting highlights and gave us lots of good information but I wanted to linger more. Also, there is a surpentine trail to the top that I would have loved to climb to say I did it. And the views are quite spectacular. But in a tour such as ours there are schedules to keep.

Anyways, Masada has lots of history. It was orginally built as a palace for Herod the Great (who according to the tour guides was a bit of a nut). During the Roman seige of 70 AD Masada became of last place of refuge for those fleeing Roman rule. Before the Roman's finally broke in, the 900 jews committed mass suicide rather than be ruled by the Romans. Today, when the recruits of the Israel Armored Corps take their oath of allegiance, they do so on Masada to remind each generation of the price their forefathers paid for their nation. They cry: "Masada shall not fall again!"

Roman encampments as seen from the top

The Dead Sea

At the end of the afternoon we were taken to a beach on the Dead Sea. Swimming in the Dead Sea was more a novelty than anything else. You couldn't get water on your face or in your eyes and the shore was soft mud, deep holes and rocks. The water was thick and oily. Now I can say I did it but it was pretty gross. Being so bouyant was fun, however. I've done the Great Salt Lake and the bouyancy is about the same but the Great Salt Lake was not as slimely and the shore was not rocky. However, at the Great Salt Lake you have to walk quite a ways in the water to get in deeper than your knees. Sorry, no pics.

Israel Day 5 Gallery

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Bet Shean
Qumran
Masada
The Dead Sea