Judean Wilderness
The Judean Wilderness occupies the area from the eastern slopes of the Judea Mountains down to the Great Rift Valley, and runs along the western shore of the Dead Sea.
Very little rain falls here, so there are very few plants or animals. Many deep wadis, formed by centuries of rain runoff, penetrate this wilderness. Because it borders fertile mountains ridges for more than fifty miles, villages like Bethlehem were able to support both shepherds and farmers. The shepherds lived on the desert’s fringes, while farmers worked the soil of the mountains.
Because the wilderness was so close to settled areas, it became a refuge for those who sought solitude or safety from the authorities. Here David hid from Saul (1 Sam. 24:1), and John the Baptist isolated himself from the religious practices of the day (Matt. 3). It was also here that the Essenes labored over their scrolls, and early Christians built monasteries, some of which still function today.
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Upcoming Tours
We would love to walk with you in the Holy Land. Here are upcoming opportunities:
Sep 28 — Oct 11, 2021 Walking with the PatriarchsLed by George DeJong |
Nov 25 — Dec 04, 2021 Heart Of GodLed by George DeJong |
Jun 18 — Jul 02, 2022 Out of Egypt, Into a Good LandLed by George DeJong |
Jul 03 — Jul 17, 2022 Egypt Nile River Cruise & Jordan Walking TourLed by George DeJong |
Fall 2022 Through the RoofLed by George DeJong |