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‘En Boqeq

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    • Brad and Mandy PearceJordan, Israel and Turkey
      Day 12

      Out and about around the Dead Sea

      May 16, 2022 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      A very full day doing activities around the Dead Sea (this time Israel side). First stop was Qumran which is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 by a young Bedouin sheepherder after his sheep ventured into a cave and wouldn't come out. There he found 7 jars containing the scrolls recounting Biblical stories. After this discovery, many other scrolls were found hidden in caves throughout the area.

      We continued into Masada which is a fortress set high in the mountains overlooking the Dead Sea. Apparently there was an epic movie (Cecil B de Mil style) about Masada but I had never heard of it. Originally built as a Palace for King Herod it became the last bastion for Jewish freedom fighters against the Romans. It's fall signalled the end of the Kingdom of Judea. Masada is A UNESCO World Heritage site as it is the most complete surviving Roman seige system in the world.

      Next stop was another float in the Dead Sea and even though we had already done it on the Jordan side, this was so much better. The access was easier and the water was warmer - I really enjoyed it this time.

      Finally we returned to Jerusalem, calling into the obligatory factory stop where they make the Dead Sea minerals skin care products. No doubt they are good, but outrageously expensive. Then onto Jericho which is the oldest city in the world and also the place where they believe Jesus was tempted by Satan when he wandered in the wilderness for 40 days fasting. It is also known for the place where Joshua's army marched around the city walls 7 times and the walls came tumbling down. However there was nothing really to see regarding the walls and Jericho as a city was quite grubby, particularly compared to Jerusalem.

      Last day in Jerusalem, off to Bethlehem tomorrow.      Read more

    • TravelerWalking where Jesus walked
      Day 6

      Beth Shean

      April 29, 2023 in Israel ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

      Beth Shean (I Samuel 31), a Decapolis Capital mentioned in the Gospels. We walked on the ancient streets; viewing the Roman steam baths, the theatre, coliseum, market, and temples.
      I took an extra hike with a handful of our group members, and we climbed to the top of the tel to see the Emperors Castle that was recently uncovered.Read more

    • TravelerWalking where Jesus walked
      Day 6

      Dead Sea

      April 29, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      We ended our day with a drive along the Dead Sea and arrived at our hotel, located in the lowest place in the world, 1300 ft, below sea level!

      It's pretty amazing to get into the water and literally SIT DOWN and float around without any raft or floating device! Talk about having SOFT SKIN.....boy do you feel like you have the softest skin EVER after you float around for a bit!Read more

    • TravelerWalking where Jesus walked
      Day 7

      Be Still

      April 30, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      It is morning now here in Israel. I ask you to please pray for God's message to me to be clear.

      This trip has been overwhelming in so many fantastic ways. I have felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me from the moment that we arrived and in deep ways!

      Today, I will stay behind and not go on our tour.

      I feel the Holy Spirit telling me to BE STILL!!! I ask for you to pray that the message be clear,.as I sit here at the dead sea and do some reading and pray.      Read more

    • Paul BernardIsrael 2017
      Day 5

      Choose Life or Choose Death

      November 13, 2017 in Israel ⋅ 🌫 8 °C

      It's a good place to begin. Any trip that starts in a garden seems like it'll be a good trip. Our first stop here in Israel was a Biblical Garden in the hill country of Judah called Yad Hashmona. I took a bunch of photos there, only to discover that I had forgotten to put my memory card back into my camera. I want to go back and recapture them, but those photos are gone now.

      But even with that little mishap, a garden is still a good place to start a journey. Adam and Eve started in a garden. Theirs was a garden with a choice. They were going to choose to obey God or not. One way would lead to life and the other way would lead to death. "I have set before you life and death," God would tell them. "So choose life." (Deut 30:19).

      We ended last night with a dark drive down 3000 feet to find ourselves on the shore of the Dead Sea. This is the lowest place on earth. It actually feels like you're closer to the center of the Earth here. It's dry, the air is heavy and hot. This sea is dead and you can tell.

      One of the reasons this Dead Sea is a dead sea is because it has no outlet. The Sea of Galilee to the north teems with life as the Jordan river flows in and then right back out. It brings nutrients and life in and the Sea of Galilee responds by letting nutrients and life right back out.

      But that same Jordan river only flows into the Dead Sea. Nothing flows out of it. So the water sits.

      All that potential for life sits and stagnates.

      "I have set before you life and death,"

      My devotional this morning reads, "Whether in Eden or Canaan or California, our decision remains the same. The land where we live - be it lush or desolate - is the stage on which we act out God's glory. Regardless of our location or influences, God gives us a choice each day from which tree to eat."

      Paul writes to the Romans in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

      As we walk through our days today, may we see every opportunity to overflow with hope and to bring life.

      Because if hope and life get stuck in us and never flow back out, it rots.      Read more

    • Paul BernardIsrael 2017
      Day 6

      The Dead Sea

      November 14, 2017 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

      Our hotel in Ein Bokek is on the southern part of the Dead Sea. I mentioned yesterday part of the reason this sea is dead, but there is more to the modern story of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a dying sea (figure that one out!). It is facing a modern ecological crisis. Water levels are dropping faster than ever before as the modern Israeli uses a 1000 times more water than an Israelite in Jesus' time. Water use (daily use, crops, irrigation), drought and evaporation are becoming so significant that the dead sea is disappearing and the modern state of Israel is scrambling to find a solution.

      In the mean time, minerals for mud masks and tourism remain at an all time high.      Read more

    • Paul BernardIsrael 2017
      Day 6

      Bedouin Culture

      November 14, 2017 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

      Besides the riding of the camels, we were treated to a cup of hot sweet tea and coffee by a man in the Bedouin community. The Bedouin used to be a nomadic people, but have since largely settled into modern political states. Just like many cultures before them, their way of life is slowly giving way to the pressures of the modern times.

      We were reminded of the importance of "desert hospitality" and how in our modern culture, this is disappearing (don't talk to strangers, lock your doors, etc.). The Bedouin who live in this hard land, depend on the hospitality of others, and there seems to be a sense of community, even among strangers, that should resonate with every Christian who witnesses it.      Read more

    • Matt JensenLACC ISRAEL 2017
      Day 3

      Lessons from day 1

      November 13, 2017 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      This morning I read from Job and was struck by the amazing power of God.
      Job is responding to some really poor counsel from people who are trying to explain his suffering to him. Their main point seems to be that Job has sinned therefore God is punishing him. Could God do that? Would God do that?
      Of course it's possible, but not in Job's case. God was doing something else. Job had neither sinned nor failed God.
      What is striking in Job is his repeated recognition of God's sovereign power. In Job 12:7-10 we read:

      7 "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
      8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
      9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
      10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind."

      Job understood that while we may not understand why thing happen or what is actually happening around us, we can always understand who controls all things.

      As we read and talked about Israel's struggle with faithfulness yesterday, I was reminded of how much we are like Israel as God's people. We forget who we should follow. We often break covenant with God

      We are also like Job's friends. We give bad advice.

      In spite of all of my shortcomings God keeps the covenant.

      Today may we be like the rest of creation saying:

      Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    ‘En Boqeq, `En Boqeq, עין בוקק, Эйн-Бокек

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