Tour of David's Hideout from King Saul | HolyLandSite

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Nestled between the Judean Desert and the shores of the Dead Sea, En Gedi National Park is one of Israel’s most stunning natural oases. With its lush waterfalls, desert canyons, ancient ruins, and rich biblical history — including the caves where David hid from King Saul — En Gedi offers a breathtaking blend of beauty and spiritual significance. It’s a must-visit destination for nature lovers, hikers, and those seeking a deeper connection to the land of the Bible.

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
1:21 - Hike From Visitor Center to First Falls
11:01 - Hike to Upper Falls
22:44 - Hike Down to Lower Falls
27:52 - Hike to Animal Observatory
31:07 - Hike to Visitor Center

Location
1. En Gedi is located on the west side of the lower Dead Sea area, about 11 miles (17 km) north of Masada on Hwy. 90.
2. It’s a beautiful oasis fed by a large spring in a barren, dry place.

Historical Background
1. En Gedi was inhabited by the Canaanites during the time of Abraham and Lot.
2. The Dead Sea basin was once like a Garden of the Lord.
Genesis 13:10–12: Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.
3. Due to the abundant water supply, the village by En Gedi Park has had a long history of habitation from ancient days to the present.
4. Today, this area is extremely dry, and En Gedi is an oasis of living water in the desert.

Places of Interest
1. Park entrance
2. Hiking trail
3. Nahal David Stream
4. Lower pools
5. Upper pools
6. Upper waterfall
7. Synagogue at Tel Goren (Jorn)
8. Ancient and modern En Gedi town
9. Dead Sea

En Gedi in the Bible
1. En Gedi was used in a love poem in the book of Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon 1:14).
2. In the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth, God speaks of how He will change the Dead Sea region again to be like a garden due to a supernatural river flowing from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 47:9–10).
3. En Gedi was one of David’s main hideouts when Saul was pursuing his life (1 Samuel 23:28–29).
4. En Gedi is a perfect example of living water in the desert.
5. God used the desert and living water as examples of judgment upon Israel (Jeremiah 2:12–13).
6. God used desert imagery to show how those who abandon Him are like a parched desert without water (Jeremiah 17:5–8).

Faith Lesson from En Gedi
1. Living Water in the Bible refers to spiritual life and vitality found only in being right with God.
2. Stagnant water is full of sickness and diseases, and refers to the person who lives life without being right with God.
3. Have we received Christ, the source of living water?
4. Do we fellowship regularly with God to receive living water for our souls?
5. Do we read God’s Word, which gives living water to our spirits and nourishes our hearts?
6. Are we seeking to find life and joy in our own pursuits and neglecting our relationship with God?
Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer. 2:12–13).