EIN GEDI


On the western shore of the Dead Sea and located 10 1/2 miles north of Masada, Ein Gedi is a hidden oasis of water and caves which, for thousands of years, has offered the region's only year-round waterfall.

Ein Gedi has always been a fruitful area (Song of Sol 1:14). Ibex and the Biblical coney or rock badger can also be seen here.

It was here among the caves and crevices that make up the Ein Gedi region, that young David took refuge and then boldly cut off the fringe of Saul's shirt, proving to all that he was close enough to the old King to do him harm but chose not to (1 Sam 23:29-24:22).




Ezekial 47:1-10
1: Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
2: Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3: And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
4: Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
5: Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
6: And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
7: Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8: Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9: And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
10: And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

Joshua 15:20, 62
20: This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
62: And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.

I Samuel 23:27 - 24:22
27: But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28: Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
29: And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.

1: And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2: Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3: And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4: And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
5: And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6: And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
7: So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8: David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9: And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10: Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.
11: Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12: The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13: As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14: After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15: The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16: And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17: And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18: And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19: For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20: And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21: Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22: And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

Song of Solomon 1:14
14: My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.

II Chronicles 20:1-2
1: It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2: Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.

Ein Gedi - Thanksgiving

In my Bible, these two Psalms relate to your visit at Ein Gedi. Psalm 57 is captioned in my Bible as being written by David after he had fled from Saul in the cave at Ein Gedi. Psalm 63 was written by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah and surely the oasis of Ein Gedi is still in the wilderness of Judah to this day. Read and meditate on these words in this place.

Psalm 57

1: Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
2: I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3: He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
4: My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
6: They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
7: My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8: Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
9: I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10: For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
11: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 63

1: O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2: To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3: Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4: Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7: Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8: My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
9: But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10: They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
11: But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.