SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13


Today's destination is Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba. We'll be crossing ground covered by Moses and the children of Israel during the Exodus and we'll discover one of the sources of Solomon's great wealth.


0:00 - 0:40
Heading south we pass Mt. Sdom. The guide should be able to point out the pillar of salt that is called "Lot's Wife."


0:41 - 1:00
We'll pass the industrial area where the minerals are extracted from the salt pans. While the site is within Israel, it is, I believe, operated jointly with Jordan for both country's benefit.


1:00 - 1:22
As we climb out of the Dead Sea basin, you can see the Negev Desert in the distance. It begins in the north on the southern rump of the Hill Country and extends to Eilat, with its eastern border the Arabah through which we're traveling and the Sinai Desert on the west. The northern part of the Negev includes Biblical sites such as Beersheba associated with Abraham and Isaac. Further south is Kadesh Barnea, a central location for the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negev


1:22 - 2:20
Among the interesting features of the Negev are the makteshim -- "mortars." There are three large features here that, at first glance, appear to be craters due to their mortar shape. They are quiet the opposite. They were at one time elevated area -- small mountains -- that were hollowed out by the erosion of their primary streaml leaving their sides still standing. We'll take a quick sidetrip to see Maktesh Qatan, Maktesh Gadol and Maktesh Ramon, the largest.


2:20 - 2:43
We'll also jump over to Kadesh Barnea where the Israelites stayed during much of their 40 years in the wilderness. The oasis is a good source of water. This is where Moses sent the spies out to explore the Promised Land. It was here Moses' sister Miriam died. As deep as we are into the desert and as unlike the hill country around Jerusalem as this area is, it still was included in the allocation given to the tribe of Judah. NOTE: Kadesh means "sanctuary" and is part of the name of other places in the Bible. So, everytime you read kadesh it doesn't mean this spot.

As we sweep back to the Arabah highway, we'll cross what is believed to be the site of Mt. Hor, where Aaron died. When we arrive at Petra tomorrow, you will be told that a local mountain there is where Aaron died. Unlikely, but we'll explore the question further.


2:45 - 3:19

We reach Biblical Tamar, which means "Palm tree." The town is mentioned as the southern border of Israel in his vision (Ezekiel 47:13-19). Today there is a major agricultural site here, making the desert bloom, as Isaiah said (Is 35:1-2).

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.

When we reach Mt. Carmel ("Garden of God") in several days you'll see the contrast between it and the desert here.

Here's a brief video on the agricultural work being done at Tamar:    https://youtu.be/jHLEmAZWyyc


3:20 - 4:43
We're going to take a side trip eastward to the top of the plateau of Edom. While Moses and the Israelites were still at Kadesh Barnea they sought permission to pass through Edom, promising to stay on the Kings Highway and take neither food or water as they passed. The Edomites -- relatives of the Israelites through Esau -- refused, threatening to attack if Moses proceeded. So, we're told, Moses went down to Elath -- Eilat, where we're headed -- and from there went to the eastern desert to pass around Edom and Moab.

When we get to Petra, the locals not only claim Aaron died and was buried there on Mt. Aaron, they also claim the local spring is the result of Moses striking the rock. But that site is in the territory they were forbidden to pass through. Further, the judge Jephthah reiterated Israel's skirting the lands of Edom and Moab by passing along their eastern borders (Judges 11).

But that raises the enticing question of through what area Moses hoped to gain passage. His going to Eilat was the result of Edom's rejection -- Plan B -- it doesn't make sense that he always planned to go to Eilat and then count on Edom's good graces to allow passage along the length of the King's Highway.

Our sidetrip takes us across the Arabah to the Wadi Dana -- a deep, straight canyon that leads right to the base of the plateau. Local switchbacks provided access to the top. It is conjecture on my part, but it appears this is the route Moses was hoping to exploit. Had it been allowed, it would greatly have shortened the journey.
https://youtu.be/x5DBaBi312U


At the top, we see the sites of Biblical Bozrah and Sela, the former frequently cursed by the prophets and the later once captured by Judah's King Amaziah who defeated 10,000 Edomites in the Arabah.


4:43 - 6:07
Time to rejoin the Arabah highway ... more agricultural communities. The landscape is pretty bleak -- no McDonald's or Starbucks. Yet in antiquity, controlling this corrider was a pathway to great wealth. At this point we've reached the highest elevation of the Arabah -- about 600 feet. From this point on we'll be descending to sea level at Eilat.


6:07 - 6:38
Continuing south ... note the high mountains of Edom on the east side of the Arabah. They rise as high as 5,000 feet.


6:40 - 8:20
We've reached the copper mines of Timna.

Copper, one of the ingredients needed to make bronze, was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. The mines were exploited by the Egyptians, the Edomites and Israel. Increasingly, the archaeological evidence is pointing to an Israelite presence in the time of Solomon. Here are some interesting articles on what we're learning about Timna:



8:20 - 9:00
We arrive at Eilat -- biblical Elath.

Elath is where Moses brought the Israelites to enter the Edomite plateau from the south.

We're told "King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea (1 Kings 9:26).

He was in an alliance with King of Tyre whose Phoenician seaman joined with the Israelites to exploit the Red Sea, the coast of Africa and perhaps even India. This was a major source of Solomon's wealth. It is behind the visit to Jerusalem of the Queen of Sheba who was affected by this new arrangement.

Later, we're told King Jehoshaphat tried and failed to repeat Solomon's success: "Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, 'Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.' The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade." (2 Chronicles 20:35-37).

Judah's King Amaziah also rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah.