Page 21 - Holyland Magazine - 2019 Edition
P. 21

Children swimming in an oasis pool with
                                                   waterfall. Photo: Shutterstock

                                                   In the Hebrew language, Ein Gedi means “the        A young ibex
                                                   spring of the kid goat,” and both biblical and
                                                   modern references confirm this narrow hidden
                                                   Kenyon as a popular habitation of young ibex.
                                                   Some of these beautiful creatures show up
                                                   upon the steep rocks high above the gorge as
                                                   hikers pass by, almost as if to show off before
                                                   retreating to their hiding places. Once, while
                                                   chasing David trying to eliminate his “threat” to
                                                   his frail ego and kingdom, King Saul entered a
                                                   cave that tradition locates in this area. David,
                                                   hidden in the depth of that very same cave, cut
                                                   off the corner of Saul’s robe in order to prove

ld of Ein Gedi
       Spring of the baby goat

David chose this remote and rough Kenyon as        - that he meant no harm to the obsessed King       describes a river of living waters flowing from
his hiding place during those early and perilous   (I-Sam 24:4).                                      Jerusalem toward the eastern wilderness of
years, and learn to appreciate how this place                                                         the Dead Sea, healing and reviving the entire
left its own remarkable mark on David’s soul,      Known not only for struggle and for danger, Ein    region. The prophecy promises that as the flora
poetry and rugged faith for the rest of his life.  Gedi also speaks of great beauty and a future      and fauna are transformed and the Dead Sea
                                                   promise of many blessings. In His writings, King   itself comes to life: “It shall be that fishermen will
Past, Present and Future Meet                      Solomon compared his mystic and beloved            stand by it from Ein Gedi to Ein Eglaim; they will
                                                   bride to “a cluster of henna blossoms from the     be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will
Looking deeply into inspired poetry, such as       vineyards of Ein Gedi” (Song of Songs 1:14).       be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great
the 23rd Psalm, the reader can easily recognize    He was referring, no doubt, to the beauty and      Sea, exceedingly many” (Ezekiel 47:10).
the rough terrain, the steep valley walls and      fruitfulness of this desert Oasis, famous for its
the stream of cool water flowing through the       exquisite perfume products. So did Josephus,       The entire Dead Sea district will experience a
burning wilderness in between David’s famous       the 1st century historian, who recorded his        geological and ecological renewal, and the
words when he wrote: “The LORD is my               admiration of Ein Gedi’s rich vegetation and       days of Ein Gedi as an isolated wilderness
shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie     abundance of life. However, the best is left to    oasis will come to their end when the whole
down in green pastures; He leads me beside         the very end of time.                              land is swallowed up in the blessings of God’s
the still waters… Yea, though I walk through                                                          Kingdom.
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no  Ezekiel’s prophecy that speaks of a future
evil; for You are with me…”                        Messianic Kingdom of peace and prosperity          The writer is Director of Ministerial Relations
                                                                                                      Sar-El Tours & Conferences: www.sareltours.com

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