Tel Avdat

Tel Avdat are the ruins of the ancient Nabatean City in the Negev Desert of southern Israel. Avdat was a city in Idumea during the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Mark records the extensive outreach of the Lord Jesus's ministry from the northern cities of Tyre and Sidon in current day Lebanon to the far southern portion of the Negev Desert (Idumea). But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. Mark 3:7-8.

Avdat is located on a high hill and was a principle city along the Spice Route from ancient Petra to the Mediterranean Sea port in Gaza. Life size metal sculptures showing the history of the desert trail known as the Spice Route.

Avdat would have been a large city in Idumea. King Herod (the Great) was of Idumean ancestry. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1.

Avdat was conqueored by the Arabs in the 7th century AD.

Avdat's ruins are quite extensive.

The Romans used this location as a stronghold.

Walkways thru the ancient city.

Sitting high on a mountain top, Avdat was in a strategic location.

A dark, cloudy day is described as a wonderful promise in Ezekiel. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. Ezekiel 34:12.

Clouds casting shadows on the earth.

The cloudy day made for some good photos. Here is looks like you can touch them.

Not sure what this means? Directions of some sort?

More low hanging clouds over Tel Avdat.

The IDF on training exercises in the desert two days before the Gaza Conflict began.

Tel Avdat from a distance as we were heading down the mountain.

Beginnings of a 4 x 4 road in the Ramon Crater.

Continued. The road would defintely get rougher.

The deeper you went into the canyon, the quieter it was.

Rougher road beginning to appear.

Reached a point where you could not see any road but the scenery was good.

About here, I began to wonder how many spare tires did the rental company give me?

Beautiful day. The 26th of December.

Road began to climb some.

Three jeeps were behind us driving faster than I was.

Very passable road heading back toward the highway.

Two little gazelles were running from us. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Proverbs 6:5

Sunset approaching in the desert. I was ready to find the highway.

Sunset just below the city of Mitzpe Ramon.

Early morning photos of the Ramon Crater.

From the western side of the Ramon Crater.

Different view from the western side.

Walking up to the edge for a better view.

Looking down into the crater at the highway below and thankful it was not windy. The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; It sweeps him out of his place. Job 27:21.