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Journeys in Judea - Intro and Preview of What's to Come

Written by Yael Reinhardt-Matsliah

The Judean desert is a majestic, ancient, eternal place - a place where shepherds wander and are transformed into prophets and kings. Six of the seven shepherds of Israel -- Avbraham, Yitzhak, Ya'acov, A'aron, Yoseph, and King David -- sojourned here. They wrestled with themselves and with G-d and, in the process, forged a people that would carry the torch of Torah into the world.

As I walk along the dusty paths, I feel drawn, almost compelled, to journey deeper, to explore, to discover their secrets hidden here. The connection is real, almost tangible, and it surrounds me with a tapestry that has been weaved for eternity.

That tapestry reveals both past and future in a stunning display of poetry, drama, prayer, conquest and defeat. To journey through Judea is to journey into the depths of Jewish consciousness and to engage in the process that formed a people and a nation.

The patriarchs and matriarchs, the prophets and the judges, all emerge and their voices are just as vibrant and strong as they were thousands of years ago. King David wandered in this most holy place. In some mysterious way, his presence remains. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear his footsteps, the sweet sound of his harp, his poignant praises to Hashem that rise for all eternity like a sweet smelling incense.

The Judean desert calls and woos like a rejected lover. The voice of centuries echoes through the hills and ravines. The call emanates from deep within the desert landscape and resounds for those who have ears to hear. It is a call to both discover and to connect, for as we discover the treasures of the Judean desert, we also connect to ourselves, to our history, and to our future.

Over the next several weeks, we will take a journey into the Judean desert. We will visit places, people, and events and watch as Jewish history unfolds in the hearts and minds of those who traveled before us. Here are some of the places we will visit:

Tomb of Ruth and Yishai (Jessie and Ruth) - the father and grandmother of King David.

Tomb of Otniel ben Knaz - Otni’el the son of K’naz, Calev’s younger brother, captured it, so he (Calev) gave him Akhsah his daughter as his wife…Calev gave her (his daughter) the Upper Springs and the Lower Springs.”Shoftim (Judges)1:13,15

Tomb of Rachel - "And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath - the same is Bethlehem. And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; the same is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day."Genesis 35:19-20.

Maarat HaMachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs) - “And afterwards Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre, which is Hevron, in the land of Cana’an. Thus the field with its cave was confirmed as Avraham’s, as an estate for a burial site, from the children of Het,.." B'resheet(Genesis)23:17,18

City of David/Ancient Jerusalem - "David occupied the fortress and called it the City of David" (Samuel II, 5:9). Then David fortified the city: "He built up the surrounding area, from the Millo inward" (ibid) and built his palace here. Within the archaeological excavation that is currently taking place atop the City of David, remnants of a large, very impressive structure that might possibly be identified as David’s Palace have begun to be uncovered. Caves were discovered on the Southern slope of the City of David which some have identified as burial caves for the Kings from the Davidic Dynasty as is stated in the Bible: "Then David slept with his ancestors, and he was buried in the City of David" (Kings I, 2:10).

King David's Journeys in Judea - Follow the footsteps of King David as he wanders through the Judean desert.

Tomb of Avner ben Ner (Abner) - First cousin to Saul and commander-in-chief of his army (1 Samuel 14:50, 20:25).

Elah Valley/Tel Azekah - The place where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19)

Lachish (Tel Lachish) – A Canaanite fortress subsequently conquered by the Israelite warrior-ruler Joshua (Joshua 10:1-32).

Herodian – Desert fortress built by Herod 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem

Amatzia - The headquarters of the Bar-Kochba revolt against the Romans (132-135 C.E.)

There will be other sites interspersed here, and the order may be different than the list above, but this gives you an idea of the journey ahead.
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Yael is a web designer and editor currently living in Otniel, a yeshuv just south of Hevron. You can learn more about her work at Kalanit Design Studio

Copyright © 2008 by Yael Reinhardt-Matsliah

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27 Elul 5770

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