In the Bible, the wasteland near the spring where David sought refuge from Saul is called "the wilderness of En-Gedi" and the enclosed camps at the top of the mountains, the "strongholds of En-Gedi." In the area are numerous caves for shelter and the Bible tells us it was here that King David found refuge from Saul (1 Sam 23:29). Engedi was also where David spared Saul’s life, demonstrating his mercy, compassion, and obedience to God’s will (1 Samuel 24; 26).
Ammon, Moab, and Edom invaded Judah through En Gedi at the time of Jehoshaphat’s reign, ascending to the hill country of Judah by way of "the ascent of Ziz" (2 Chr 20:16), a route that passed near En Gedi.
In yet another reference in the Song of Solomon, the speaker uses descriptions of the flora and fauna of En Gedi to depict the beauty of his lover(1:14). At En Gedi we heard the story of David sparing Saul's life from 1 Samuel 24:1-22 and the stories about Jesus in the wilderness and John the Baptist.
The area is also an educational center for Judean field studies.
Off in the background were a large number of children who appeared to be on a field trip. Also look carefully and you will see a waterfall - left side of the picture. There were several caves observed in the mountain and the children have been inside one of them.
An Israeli guard was visible as we walked around this oasis.
En Gedi is also known as the place of the wild goats, the ibex. For me ibex became the place of the elusive goat. When the ibex was on one side of the bus, I was on the other side. As I moved to where they were, they moved to the other side of the bus. When I finally saw one, it moved before I could take a picture. So, here is the picture of a wild goat from the Internet - this one could not elude me!
The view of the mountains and the Dead Sea, the latter being our last stop for the day, is magnificent. The Dead Sea looks so blue and from a distance one would never suspect absolutely nothing lives in this body of water.
As we prepared to leave, I captured a picture of the oasis here at En Gedi against the site we had been previously, the mountainous area near Masada.
Next stop for the day is Qumran where the dead Sea scrolls were found.
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