En
Gedi is a wilderness area on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, bordering
the Dead Sea. It is the largest oasis
along the western shore of the Dead Sea.
En Gedi literally translates as “spring of the kid (young goat)”. While there are many springs around the Dead
Sea, most have a high salt content. En
Gedi is one of only two fresh water springs along the Dead Sea’s western shore.
En Gedi appears in
the Bible a number of times. In Joshua
15:62, the area is given to the Tribe of Judah as part of their inheritance
when the Promised Land is divided up. In
1 Samuel, chapter 24, David and his men are hiding from King Saul in a cave in
En Gedi when Saul comes into the cave to relieve himself. David’s men think this is his chance to kill
Saul, but David only sneaks up and cuts a corner off of Saul’s robe, believing
it was not his place to lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. As you’re hiking up the trail towards the
waterfall, it is really easy to see why this would be a good place to hide from
your pursuers. You can read the story of
David and Saul here (1 Samuel 24).
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| The trail leads up the canyon, along side a stream with many small waterfalls |
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| Small caves in the hillside |
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| More caves |
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| Time lapse of a larger waterfall. Note the cave in the upper left. |
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| Another time lapse |
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| A better shot of the cave |
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| In the background, upper right corner, is the Dead Sea, and across from that, the Kingdom of Jordan |
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| A better view of the Dead Sea and Jordan |
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| Taking the path less traveled |
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| You've got to be one tough bush to grow in En Gedi |
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