Camels, Flowers, Ancient Cities in the Desert

On our July 4th weekend, one of Israel's National Parks that we went to see was Mamshit. Mamshit was the northern most Nabatean city of the ancient Spice Route. Today it is close to the Israeli city of Dimona. Adjacent to Mamshit was the Negev Camel Ranch where you could go on a one or two hour camel safari.

It was very hot July 4th weekend. A desert safari might be better in the fall or even winter.

Many of these camels are saddled and ready to ride. A camel's saddle is where Rachel tried to hide her idols. Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. Genesis 31:34.

And he said, " Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?" Genesis 24:31.

A two-week old baby camel they wanted us to see. He was sitting beneath the legs of his mother.

We stayed at a kibbutz in the Negev called Mashabeh Sade. Israel's kibbutzim in the desert always are beautifully landscaped and complete with flowers. The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Isaiah 35:1.

Our rooms at Mashabeh Sade.


Mamshit from the road as we approached the National Park.

Mamshit.



Mamshit had tiny built-in aquaducts running to many households.

These were the horse stables that are still very much intact. I would not have known that but there was a sign informing me.

At the horse stables, they had built in feeding and watering troughs.

Looking south from Mamshit through the wadi or valley.

West.

This sign was dusty and I wanted to get close enough to see what it said.

My good friend Vern taking a picture of me taking a picture of hm. At the time I was on the structure called the Watchtower which I had managed to climb without breaking a leg.

A chameleon. I did not take the picture upside down but rather he was clinging to the top of the doorway. They move very fast and I was surprised to get a photo. The next day when we went to Shivta, I saw two more that I should be able to post next week.

Ein Avdat & Sde Boker Again

On July 4th weekend, for some reason, we decided to go to the Negev Desert to see places that we have not seen. In the middle of the summer, in the middle of the desert, it was probably also a small test of survival. Since my friends have their gall bladders, the test was really mine. One place we did re-visit was Ein Avdat canyon which is close to Sde Boker. Anytime you are in the middle of the Negev, you have to go by Ein Avdat. The photo below shows where we are going. On the left side, you can see the road that we will descend to.

Following the descent, we approach Ein Avdat.

After parking, an easy hike for old man begins down the white walled canyon.





Ibyx finding something to eat.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. Psalm 42:1.

The waterfall at the end of the canyon is just barely a trickle in the middle of summer. There is no rain in the summer in Israel. It is like the Biblical scriptures of the former and latter rains. So rejoice, O sons of Zion,And be glad in the LORD your God;For He has given you the early rain for your vindication And He has poured down for you the rain,The early and latter rain as before. Joel 2:23.

These little guys swam like ducks among the reeds.

This little guy was not afraid of us. If we got too close he would run into the bushes. But he always returned. Very similar to a chipmunk.

After hiking in Ein Avdat, you can stop at the top of the hill and walk to the grave of David Ben-Gurion and his wife. David Ben-Gurion was the first Prime Minister of Israel and very influential in re-establishing the Nation of Israel. It was his speech on May 14th, 1948, that declared the (old) new Jewish nation would be called Israel. A nation born in one day was foretold by the prophet Isaiah. "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons. Isaiah 66:8.

Even if you could catch this little lizard, it would be unclean to eat him. 'Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the great lizard in its kinds, and the gecko, and the crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand reptile, and the chameleon 'These are to you the unclean among all the swarming things; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening. Leviticus 11:29-31.

There is a very tame herd of Ibyx at Sde Boker.



The graves of David and Paula Ben-Gurion. David Ben-Gurion was God's man to re-establish the nation of Israel. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. Provebs 8:15.