Israel Trip

 

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

 

After a bountiful breakfast we boarded the bus to drive through the desert of Judea Æ a wilderness of limestone hills.  Within a few minutes we climbed from 1300 feet below sea level to 2000 feet above sea level.

 

Our first stop was to walk into the desert to see the rotem or broom tree (shrub).  These shrubs are common in the wadi of the Sinai.  They have white cylinder-shaped blossoms in the spring.  The trunks are very slow burning Æ so if you have a campfire at night you can cook coffee on the coals in the morning.  There is a Hebrew saying, ña wagging tongue is like a rotem coalî.  The fire can be hot enough to melt copper.  The rotem secretes bubbles that look like white frost.  When it dries up it looks like popcorn.  In the Old Testament ñmnî was ñmannaî, literally meaning ñwhat is itî.  There are no rotem trees in Canaan or Egypt Æ only in Sinai, where the children of Israel needed it.  Timing and intensity gave manna to them.  Jim reminded us that not every miracle needs to be explained.  God works miracles based on human need, the presence of God and a sense of wonder.

 

As we continued our drive, Jim pointed out the green plants growing on the southern slopes, while the northern slopes were barren.  We passed some acacia trees and were told that the Bedouins use the 1-2 inch needles to sew.  This terrain is similar to where Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days.  What drew Jesus to a desert like this?  It was an unpredictable, barren and hard place.

 

In the 1930Ís many Jews escaped the Nazis and settled in the town of Arad.  It is one of the most organized cities in Israel, based on the German influence.  ñYekiî is a term that means super organized.  Many houses are built on stilts so that children can play in the shade in the heat of the summer.  All homes also have bomb shelters in the basements.

 

Many of the low hills in this region are chalk.  This is a porous material that doesnÍt hold water.  Early settlers found lime stone hills and settled there because water could be stored.  Plaster had not yet been discovered at this time.

 

Our next stop was Tel Arad, the most important Biblical finding in the world, dating to the time of the Judean monarchy, 1000 BC to 500 BC.  In the days of the wandering of the Israelites they were a biodegradable culture because they took everything with them as they moved from place to place.  It is hard to find remnants of the Exodus because of this.  They lived in tents.  Only later, in I and II Kings, we find people living in tents, houses and palaces and were no longer always on the move.  The landless people became ñlandedî and became a ñclassî society.

 

Some information about Tel Arad:

-       It was the first town to have a plan and a segmented society with military personnel, priests, residential, and royalty.

-       During David and SolomonÍs time the outer walls were hollow and used for storage.  Later the walls were filled in.

-       Aba Rohni from the University of Tel Aviv excavated here.

-       Rohni made two important decisions during the excavation

o      He decided not to wash and scrub the pottery found.  They dipped the pottery and found important writings on the shards.

o      Loess soil separated seven layers of findings and was helpful in dating pottery more precisely (relative chronology).

 

As we stood inside the walls of the shrine, Jim told us many interesting things about this place of worship:

-       In the 900Ís BC the literary tradition was passed on and the people built an altar to

the Lord with specific measurements.

-       The altar was made out of field stones

-       There was a large altar for animal sacrifice

-       The Tabernacle was housed in the Holy of Holies.

-       Two incense altars on either side of the entrance had residue of incense and charcoal.

-       There were two standing stones of remembrance.  The left stone had a reddish-brown stain from the blood of an animal sacrifice.

-       These two stones probably represent the two tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain.

-       Two curtains were mounted, one on the north wall and one on the south wall.

-       This is a significant place because God chose to make a covenant with his people.

-       An altar does not have to be large or beautiful.

 

As we pulled up to our next stop, the Bedouin camp where we were to ride camels and eat lunch, we saw the camels resting on the side of the road.  From the back of the bus came CorryÍs voice saying, ñOh, look there!  ItÍs a Camel-lot!î

 

Almost all of us decided to be brave as we mounted the camels, two by two.  Most of us felt a definite pull in our thigh muscles!  The beginning of the ride seemed uneven and even a bit jerky Æ but by the time we came to the end of the ride most of us were more relaxed and followed the camelsÍ movements almost professionally!  One of the Bedouin camel keepers was seen speaking on his cell phone as he led the camels around the desert!

 

We were invited into a large Bedouin tent where Muhammad Abu Ajaj told us about Bedouin life.  They are a hospitable people and will invite strangers into their tents for tea.  The number three has special significance for them.   A stranger will cough three times before entering the tent; heÍll be served three cups of tea or coffee; three logs would be placed on the fire; and a guest may stay for three days. 

 

While Muhammad talked to us, we sat on colorful mats on the floor and were served tea, coffee and flat bread baked on a pan over the open fire.  He played the lute and sang for us.  He used a wooden coffee grinder to keep the beat and Mary Tellis accompanied him on the coffee grinder as Muhammed sang.  He told us that the older generation has difficulty accepting all the changes taking place in todayÍs society.  The young people want to live a more stable and modern life.  Both boys and girls have the opportunity to go to school.  Bedouins are Israeli citizens and need to abide by their laws.

 

Lunch was served in a different tent.  Sitting on the floor at low tables, we were served several small side dishes, flat bread and a large platter with rice, meatballs, cabbage and a drum stick.  As we left we were each given a small green pear.  This was another great culinary experience!

 

So, what would you like to know about camels?  Here are the top 10 pieces of information everyone should know about camels à la David LettermanÍs top ten:

10            A camel has long legs to keep him above the heat of the desert.

9               A camel has padded feet that spread out so he wonÍt sink into the sand.

8               A camel has long eye lashes that serve as a wind foil.

7               A camel has slits for nostrils that can close in storms so he wonÍt lose

moisture.

6               A camel exhales dry air.

5               A camelÍs hump has fat in it.

4               A camelÍs urine is very concentrated; a camelÍs feces is very hard.

3               A camel can drink 120 liters (34 gallons) of water in 10 minutes, and

stores the water all over his body.

2               A camel can go without water for 2 weeks.

1               And, according to Jim, a camel is a horse put together by committee!

 

Back at the Leonardo Hotel several groups of us went down to the Dead Sea to ñbobî in the water.  It is amazing how the concentration of salt keeps bodies of all sizes and shapes up and floating!

 

After dinner Mary invited the group up to her suite for some snacks and fellowship.  Her balcony overlooked the Dead Sea and we could see the twinkling lights of Jordan on the opposite shore.  It was a perfect ending to another wonderful day!

 

                                                                                    Margie Jonell