Israel: Day 2, Ein Avdat

Ein (Hebrew): Eye 

I found this desert ravine to be absolutely beautiful.

When a location has the word "Ein" in the name, it means there is (or was at one time) a stream or creek or some form of running water. The word-picture with it is that, just as tears flow from an eye, so does the water flow from the rocks.

Brett

In the parallel itself...

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,  whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green." 

(Biblical reference: Jeremiah 17:7-8)

And thus, we hiked from the bottom of the ravine to the top of the cliff...

Tim

Israel: Day 2, Tel Arad

Tel (Hebrew): Hill

The most significant thing we experienced here was actually nothing to do with the site itself (which was a Cannanite city). No, the thing we saw here was the rain. Rain! In the desert! In Israel! This country receives a total of about two inches of rain a year. And we got to feel some of it.

(Although, some complained about the cold and the wet. But here we had to reflect. A thousand years ago, the people living in this very city would have given everything-- even life-- to experience what we were standing in. Being thankful...)

with Shannon

in the house

out of the house

What remains of the city...
(with Kelly and Kelsey)

"Take a walk..."

Israel: Day 1, Processing

April 4:
"...I guess it doesnt feel real yet. That we are in Israel. The "Holy Land". That everything we have been studying this year, and even everything I had been taught of the Bible all the years prior, took place here. I thought it would feel magical. Maybe I thought we would feel, well, holy. But instead, its like a field trip. A great, big, exciting field trip I am taking along with 53 (+ some) people who know each other really well and are learning to be passionate about similar things. Probably the greatest field trip Ive ever (or will ever) be on. And we will continue to see, because this is day one."

Israel: Day 1, Caves and Bet Guvrin and Caves and the Sea

Caves of Adullam (This was one of my favorite places.)

Made of limestone-type rock. Narrow tunnels. Upward and downward turns. Open into caverns. Mostly crouching size. Used by people in hiding. Mainly from soldiers (because the couldnt crawl through in their armor). David hiding from Saul. (Biblical reference: Psalm 57.)

"April 4: Crawling through the tunnels. Reaching the end. Stepping out of the opening and standing up. Looking to the sky, feeling the breeze. My eyes adjust. I appreciate the sunlight. I had been in the caves for minutes. But they had been in them for days... weeks... months... David and his men had been in and out of them for years..."

Bet Guvrin (Hebrew): House of Power

(Micaela)

Collumbarium
(a postal pigeon storehouse)

We thought we were walking through a small deserted city. (Surprise!) We were, in fact, walking over a large underground city. 

Sunlight

"Work rooms" (for farm animals, olive presses, etc.)

Bell Caves (a quarry)
Sidenote: Acoustics were incredible

 The Dead Sea

from the room window

Israel: Day 1, Azekah and the Creek

Hike to Azekah

(Matt Lindly), Shiloh, Jessica, Jordan

The Valley of Elah behind is now a farm land. 

For the centuries before, it was a battlefield.

The Creek

Israel is dry. There is not much rain. There is not much water. 

Some places that do contain water evaporate seasonally and are left empty.

Like this creek where David collected the stones to sling at Goliath. 

(Biblical reference: 1 Samuel 17.)