The Dead Sea and the Judean Desert

Wednesday morning, we left the hotel after breakfast, and traveled through the Judean desert to Jerico and the Dead Sea. There wasn't as much walking today, so we were able to rest some on the bus trip. The Dead Sea is much bigger than I thought-- and muddier and oilier. The salt content is 33%, and includes magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium chloride, and magnesium bromide. These chemicals are refined and processed and used for both industrial and agricultural purposes. Evidently, the mud is a key ingredient in skin creams and soaps as well, since some of the others went head to heels in that mud -- spread it all over them. Lyle and I only waded a bit. The Dead Sea is the lowest point in the world. It is 1290 feet below sea level, is 48 miles in length, and 11 miles across. It is much the same as it was in the days of Jesus, but the water line has decreased due to over-exploitation. It is not a sea at all, but a lake. The scenery was beautiful, not at all what one would expect from the name: The Dead Sea. As we passed through the Judean desert, our local guide told us that early monasticism developed here. The monasteries were destroyed in 480 AD by the Persians and thousands of monks were killed. It is not a desert of sand, but of rocks. Rain falls here, but cannot be absorbed because of the rocks, and nothing takes root here. John the Baptist started his ministry here. Encampments along the way recall the Beduin tribes -- nomads who moved from place to place herding sheep on the mountains, but unable to find other resources. Luke's gospel related the story of the Samaritan who was robbed and almost murdered in this area. The desert is desolate and anyone traveling here in those days could easily have been robbed and killed by desert marauders. The Hebrews wandered forty years in this desert, not because they were lost, but because God wanted them to be dependent on Him, and to cleanse them of their ways. The Twelve Commandments were given to Moses in this desert. When the Hebrews complained for food, God furnished manna for them each day until they reached Canaan.