June 22

Today we started off on a three day trip from Jerusalem west to the Mediterranean down to the Southern Highlands through the Western Negev, then up to Beersheba, over to Masada and back up to Jerusalem through En-Gedi and Qumran

The change in topography, soil types, vegetation, etc., was amazing.

Probably the most interesting sites the first day was as Azakah where Joshua chased the five kings who attacked him after the Gibeon peace agreement. The site subsequently came under Philistine hands and was used as a philistine base for the famous conflict between David and Goliath. From the top of the city the entire Elah Valley was visible. Thus a surprise attack was not possible.

Also seeing the Mediterranean and the ancient city of Ashqelon was very interesting and beautiful.

Here are people looking for "David" stones in the Elah Valley.

This is a Roman gladiator site that goes back to the 2nd century. This site was part of the "minor leagues" of competition.

This is an active archeological dig at Ashqelon by the Mediterranean Sea.

Here is me standing at the inside entrance to an amazing city gate that goes back to 1850 BC, the early canaanite era and roughly the time of Abraham. It was hot here!

Here is the Mediterranean Sea looking a little north of west. The wind was pretty strong today.

We then went by Gaza (within three miles) and southeast to a hugh depression named Makhtesh Ramon. The canyon was one of several, and the largest, in the Negev. It was formed by geological movements over the eons.

This is a picture of the Makhtesh. One picture cannot do justice to the enormity of the depression.

Don and me at the Makhtesh.