Hiking in the Wilderness of Zin

It's not everyday that after you go hiking, you hear, "Yeah, we're currently in the Wilderness of Zin. This is part of where the Israelites wandered for 40 years."

Wow!

The last part of my Christmas/Hanukah 2022 adventure included a close hike from Tamar Park. The desert here is so interesting because it is red (hence "Edom", which means "red" in Hebrew), there are these crazy formations everywhere. I'm not exactly sure what I pictured the Israelites wandering in, but I think I pictured it flatter, definitely.

As for its 'red' nature, that didn't throw me (though it was cool to be in the land of Esau!). As any good Georgia girl knows, dirt is red. What other color would it be?

So, the hike was fun. We went around this hill, into a canyon inside it, and then up.

Did I mention that I'm afraid of heights? And Israel's trails, unlike the ones in the US, do not have handrails or metal lines to break a fall. That's something I haven't gotten used to here yet. Thankfully, I was with kind friends who encouraged me (especially on the way down)!

The view from the top was worth it:

The below tower has 12 stones. It's for the 12 tribes of Israel!

Amazing! What wasn't amazing was the rain that started once we all got there. Actually... any time it rains in the desert it is amazing. It just made the descent more scary, though we went down before it got too slick.

My friend also pointed out something I'd never thought of. I'm a very literal thinking, so when I read that the Israelites followed a cloud, I picture them walking behind one. But it likely covered them, giving shade in the sweltering sun. Can you imagine not only wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, seeing the same places over and over, your clothes and sandals not wearing out, and being blessed in the shade even while being disciplined for lack of faith? I imagine the pillar of fire also kept them warm on cold desert nights. I think even wandering in a desert that had interesting, varied topography and wasn't unendingly straight was also a grace, because a person could go mad plodding on and on without anything new to look at. 

Now that I've had a peek of the Wilderness of Zin, it's so much easier to picture!

And, last night in my devotions, I read Exodus 16, where God first sent the manna and quail. Guess where that was? Yup- you got it right- the wilderness of Zin!

Mount Arbel: Soaring over the Galilee

When I first went to the Galilee in on my Bible tour in 2017, I saw this cliff towering over the north end of the lake and said, "I want to go there". 

When I returned October 2021, I saw the same cliff and said, "Yup... I'm definitely going there... in the spring, when the sky will be the most brilliant of blues and the grass lush and green."

Cue my weekend in the Galilee in March. The time had come!

I was going to hike up the cliff, until I heard nonsense like "steep" and even sillier "handholds". Um... nope. Nope nope nope. Instead, I walked all the trails at the top, stayed at least 5 feet from every edge, and "maaaaahhh'ed" at a mountain goat. 

Wow, talk about breathtaking views!

But also, the history of this cliff is once again, INCREDIBLE. As if history cannot be incredible... I don't think that's possible. 

During the Hasmonean Period (The Inter-Testamental Period, or the "400 years of Silence"), Arbel was known as Mount Nitai. It was conquered by the Selucids (Greeks), as noted in the book of 1 Maccabees.

There was a great battle here between Galilean Zealots, who barricaded themselves at Arbel (there are a ton of caves all along the paths and cliffs) and the Selucids in 38 BC. Marc Antony sent Herod to quell a rebellion in the village of "Arbella"... that's Arbel. 

Herod was only able to win by having men lowered down in cages to the caves from the top of the cliffs. They were then able to kill the rebels that didn't jump to their deaths. 

Then, in 66-67 AD, Mount Arbel once again became a site of a great battle. Josephus, who was Commander of the Galilee, actually fortified the caves for refugees both in Mount Arbel and Mount Nitai nearby. To this day, a wall can be seen that was built to protect the caves. 

There's obviously so much more to the history of Arbel, as well as the histories up above. Maybe one day I'll explore them more. I'd love to see the synagogue and the caves! I just need cooler weather, a better sense of balance, and a SIGNIFICANTLY decreased fear of heights, haha. 

Wow! If you ever go to the Galilee, I 100% recommend Mount Arbel! It's incredible!