– Parashah 12 Vayechi (He lived) –
(All references from The Complete Jewish Bible)
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Avir on his camel in the Negev
One of the highlights for Avir’s stay at the camel range was his camel ride. Here he looks delighted at the prospect of take this little ‘ship of the desert’ out for a spin. These particular camels are all females and have been specially trained to provide a smooth ride for their travellers. The best camels for this are the females who are well fed, pampered, clean, sedate and do not spit! Of course, other camels can be trained for various reasons, such as carrying large heavy packs, for racing or even as breeders. Avir was very interested in learning about camels and the integral part they play in the arid conditions here in the Negev. Generally, camels are released to the wild herd once it reaches thirty five years of age. This camel ranch is remote, quiet and peaceful, with the exception of the occasional camel being agitated by other camels, especially during feeding time.
To the right-hand side of this photograph, you can see the narrow camel track heading up over the hill. The camels will follow this trail for the one-hour ride. On their travels, Avir and his friends stopped along this ancient incense road to look at the ruins of the city of Mamshit (pronounced Mamsheet), which was built in the first century B.C. to become an important ‘station’ stop during the Nabatean Period. The guide described how the camel trains would stop there to rest, trade, or store goods, spices, carts and even animals, which they would return for, once they had finished their trading at the various shipping ports along the Mediterranean. The guide also explained more of its history during the Roman occupation in the second century and what it was like during the Byzantine Period in the fourth to the seventh Century. Avir highly recommends this camel ranch and the desert ride if you’re heading for a stay in Israel!
– Parashah 11 Vayigash (He Approached) –
(All references from The Complete Jewish Bible)
Acts 7:9-16; Acts 6:51-56
Copyright exists in all the material on this website and is owned by Messianic Education Australia Ltd. unless otherwise explicitly stated. This copyright extends to the images, logos, layout and presentation styles as well as the text material.
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Avir resting up at a camel ranch in the Negev
Avir has had a busy day. He set off early for a swim in the Dead Sea and we will see that picture in a couple of weeks. Now he taking the opportunity to relax in this beautiful desert setting. This camel ranch is very popular and visitors come from all over the world to see not only the beautiful camels but also to experience staying overnight in a simple hut in the middle of the desert—the air is so clean and the camel rides are definitely adventurous. So, after a 45 minute drive from the Dead Sea, the hammock looked a great place to unwind.
Next to him is a bronze sculpture called “The Lone Camel Rider”. The date palms pictured here climb high into the sky towering over Avir and offering him a little shade. These palm trees grow close to near desert springs and provide food, shelter and shade. They are even featured in the Bible as metaphors or poetry—one example being in Psalm 92:12 “the righteous himself will blossom forth as a palm tree does”.
This particular area is near the old Incense Trade Route which connected Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea, passing through this region in the Negev, in the south of Israel. This trade route led to the development of ancient towns, forts, many travelling caravans and various agricultural locations. The spices and incense such as frankincense and myrrh became a lucrative trade.
Camels have played an important role as ‘ships in the desert’ throughout the history of the Negev Desert, for they can walk more than 100 kilometres each day, and very soon Avir will experience a camel ride himself.
Avir at Ein Gedi getting very wet in the lower waterfall
Avir has just got out of the strong rush of water from the falls above. The water is quite cold and exhilarating, not always best for the feint-hearted who don’t appreciate swimming in cold water. His friends who have just emerged from a waterfall-bath themselves are enjoying the break and sitting under the overhanging trees adjacent to this lower waterfall.
This living landscape is where David hid from King Saul (1 Sam. 24:1-22) and King Solomon wrote about in his lovely poem Song of Songs. These are also other biblical stories connected to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve on the shore of the Dead Sea, an oasis made all the more entrancing by its contrast with the surrounding desert. The sprightly animals that gave the site its biblical name, the “crags of the wild goats” (1 Sam. 24:2), rest at the cave entrances and walk the reserve.
The water gurgling through the tangled reeds and under shady acacias once nourished the beds of spices mentioned also in the Song of Solomon (1:14). The remains of a town and a synagogue with a mosaic floor tell the dramatic story of Ein Gedi’s people two-thousand years ago and in the following centuries.