Christmas at En Gedi - 2

These are more photos from a couple of days spent at En Gedi during our Christmas break. En Gedi is located right by the Dead Sea. A few kilometers north of En Gedi is Qumran. Below is a photo of Cave #4 at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1948.

While riding to the current water's edge of the Dead Sea, you can see signs like this where the water used to be before receeding.

At the shore of the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea, also known Biblically as the Salt Sea, was one of the borders for the children of Israel. 'And the border shall go down to the Jordan and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders all around.'" Numbers 34:12.

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6

The evaporating shoreline of the Dead Sea.

Wadi Arugot at En Gedi.

Kibbutz En Gedi has an international outdoor botanical garden. Not everything was in bloom in December, but many plants and flowers were thriving.

Sculptures made from salt at an Ahava Products factory by the Dead Sea.

Caves of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Christmas at En Gedi

It is a little late to be posting Christmas photos but it has been a busy schedule since I returned last November. En Gedi, down by the Dead Sea, is a beautiful place to visit. That is especially true in the winter time when it is damp and cold in Jerusalem. En Gedi, complete with caves and springs of running water, was a good place for David to hide from King Saul. Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!" Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape. Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. 1st Samuel 23:26-29.

Looking across Wadi Arugot, that is Kibbutz En Gedi, where we stayed.

Wadi Arugot, a very popular place for hikers at En Gedi.

In addition to a botanical garden, Kibbutz En Gedi has a mini zoo.