Wilderness of Zin

The next morning, the bus was ready for another day trip.

We left Jerusalem.

On the way out, we had our usual morning devotions and singing time.

Location where David met Abigail.  Also Abraham buried Sarah around this area in a cave.

A sheep fold.

The wilderness of Zin (Tzin or Tszeen also)

Terebinth tree - several mentions of this tree in the Bible.  Remember the story of Absolom whose hair got caught in the tree?

Moses and the Israelites would have traveled to this area on the way to the promised land.

Moses strikes the rock to provide water for the people.

God had told him to speak to the rock.

Zin was in a geographic region where any knowledgeable shepherd would know to strike a wisely placed blow that would produce water naturally as the rock is porous.  However, if Moses had spoken to the rock as instructed, God would have been recognized as the One who provided water for His people.  He didn't listen to God or trust Him.

We made it!

Our bus buddies

The bus was waiting for us at the top of the ridge.  

We left the Wilderness of Zin and drove to Arad, an ancient Canaanite ruin.  This city would have been in ruins 1,000 years before the Israelite spies scouted out the land!  That is amazing for me to think about!

Solomon had this "high place" built with its altar close to these ruins.

A living sacrifice!

The original is in the museum in Jerusalem (pictured below)

And here is an overview of the land that the 12 men of Israel spied.  Besides the highway, it probably doesn't look so much different than it did so many years ago.