The Great Sea; Tel Aviv

One Sunday a few weeks ago, we rode the train to Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is one location in Israel where I have spent very little time. The wind was coming in off the Mediterranean Sea that day which allowed the waves to come crashing against the rocks. The LORD on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea. Psalm 93:4.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ..... When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ Job 38::1;11.

It was an overcast day but once in awhile the sun came through the clouds to reflect off the Med.

Biblically the Mediterranean is known as the Great Sea. For some of the tribes of Israel, it was used to describe the western border of their Divinely alloted land. The west border was the coastline of the Great Sea. This is the boundary of the children of Judah all around according to their families. Joshua 15:12.

But I am the LORD your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared—The LORD of hosts is His name. Isaiah 51:15.

The Great Sea.

Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. Jeremiah 5:22.

Just south of Tel Aviv in the distance is Jaffa (Joppa) where Jonah thought he could run away from God Almighty. But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Jonah 1:3.

Zooming in on Jaffa. The similarities are there with Jonah and Peter. Jonah started his journey in Jaffa before God extended his Grace to the gentiles (Ninivites). Peter also started his journey in Jaffa before the gospel was extended to the gentiles (Roman Centurion) in Caesarea. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” Acts 10:5.

Tel Aviv is like any other modern city with tall buildings and lots of traffic. We had an hour wait for the train ride back to Jerusalem and stumbled upon an observatory 49 floors up.

Sunday is a the first day of work in Israel. Evening rush hour was approaching.

Tel Aviv just celebrated its 100th year as a city. Aviv is "spring" and spring is the "new" season. Tel refers to ancient or old. Tel Aviv is the "Old New" city. Theodore Herzl, one the main founding fathers of Zionism, wrote a book called "The Old New Land".

This is a different way to display the winning tickets in a lottery. Men actually rapelling down the side of a building to show the correct numbers.

I presume they must do that everyday?

Dizengoff Street is a popular street for shopping and restaurants.

Looking the other way on Dizengoff while I was enjoying a park bench.

Israel has a lot of fresh fruit stands.

Ben Yehudah Street in Tel Aviv not to be confused with Ben Yehudah Street in Jerusalem.

Pathway to the beach.

Sunset from the train on the way home to Jerusalem.

If your child accidentlally forgets his or her backpack in Jerusalem, it can get labelled as a "suspecious" object. This scenario took place in front of my apartment one day. The police are located in the lower right hand corner just below my front window.

The police robot hard at work.



Curiosity killed the cat?

Can you imagine a young boy or girl telling their teacher "But the police robot destroyed my homework!" In Jerusalem, that may be considered an acceptable excuse!

Ein Gedi

The Dead Sea is located about 12 miles east of Jerusalem. One Biblical site that is still there today is En Gedi, best known as the location where David and his men hid from King Saul. Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. 1st Samuel 23:29. Below is Wadi Arugot at En Gedi as seen from the porch of my room at Kibbutz En Gedi. In the lower right, you can see the parking lot for hikers.

Actually I did not hike Wadi Arugot but Wadi David is close by. This is the first of a few small waterfalls in Wadi David.

This cute little guy is called a Hyrax. He lives among the rocks and actually "hops" or jumps on the rocks if he wants to move faster.

The ascent in Wadi David is not too difficult for an old man but close.

Looking into Wadi David, you can see a few small waterfalls that the hiking trail will pass. This was a good location for David to choose to hide out. Plenty of fresh water and caves.

Here are some of the caves maybe similar to the one Saul choose. So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. 1st Samuel 24:7.

Looking back from the Wadi towards the Dead Sea with the mountains of Jordan on the other side. At this location, Biblically those mountains would be Moab where David's great grandmother Ruth lived. Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Ruth 1:1.

Trying to take a picture of the waterfall without going for a swim.

He sends the springs into the valleys; They flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst. Psalm 104:10-11.

Going up.

This is the waterfall at the end of the canyon.

When you walk to the bottom of the last waterfall, you find there are two. One is called a "hidden waterfall" that was coming out of the rocks. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. Psalm 78:16.

On the way down, this Ibyx was resting in the shade of the rock.

More caves at Ein Gedi.

Kibbutz Ein Gedi also has a Botanical Garden. There are a lot more photos to post later.



Sandy hills between Jerusalem and Jericho on the way to Ein Gedi. The terrain changes almost immediately once you leave Jerusalem going east.

An Arab gentleman trying to sell bracelets.

A young Arab man seeing if any tourists want a camel ride.

Or a donkey ride.

The supervisor.

The mountains down by the Dead Sea.

Highway 90 from Jericho to Ein Gedi.

The sunshine reflecting on the Dead Sea.

When the Lord Jesus reigns in Jerusalem, the living water will flow from His Throne. The highly salt concentrated Dead Sea, which has no fish now, will become a fisherman's haven. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. Ezekiel 47:10.

Ibyx Crossing. Similar to stopping for a train.

He was not in a hurry.

The turnoff to Ein Gedi ahead.

Just outside my room.