{negev}

The Negev, the southern, wilderness region of Israel, can be divided into two different parts: the biblical Negev and today's Negev. The Biblical  Negev, as you can see from the pictures has at least somewhat livable conditions. However, the entire modern-day Negev, which stretches all the way down to the Red Sea, has a super harsh climate. Really the only living things are special desert creatures like snakes and camels and the Bedouins, an ancient nomadic people group.


Our first stop in the Negev was Beersheba. This site is always in the middle of some missile action so we were required to wear attractive...

 ...red hard hats

she was following us around {Beersheba}

This is Beer Sheva (Beersheba), mentioned several times in the Bible as the southernmost inhabitable part of the land, it is also a site that Abraham is known to have passed through on his way to Egypt.


At Beer Sheva archeologists found some evidence of idol worship mixed in with Yahweh worship...interesting...Mixing the secular with the things of God. How many times do I do that?

camels in the negev :)

nahal zin. border of biblical negev

the ladies race through the desert

Our next day was spent in the lower part of the Negev... a favorite spot was the wilderness of Paran where the Israelites wandered for 40 years and finally entered the Promised Land. We went off by ourselves and read Numbers 8 & 9. What a testimony that was to God's faithfulness!?! How many times do we doubt in His sufficiency for our needs yet here He took care of a nation- in the wilderness. Don't mean to preach but this is same exact God that we serve. Praise Him.

tabernacle model at timnah

eilat

solomon's pillars. yeah. we hiked up there.

proof!

desert fox (he's sleepy)

result of jumping off rock cliffs {masada}

dead sea (mountains of edom)

Qumran- where the dead sea scrolls were found

After four days of touring we were all so tired! But no rest for the weary. We got one day off and then started a four day dig that required us to get up at 5:30 every morning!
 ....But that's another story...

I would say the Negev was one of many highlights. I plan to post more pictures on facebook when I get back to the states and have faster internet. I so appreciate talking/chatting and skyping with many of you. You guys are so great! I love you all! Less than a month until we will see each other again!!!

Until then- Shalom and blessings!