Biblical Ein Gedi Spring Water & Ancient Synagogue Sand - Dead Sea -
Holy Land
Beautiful for Display, Arts, Crafts, Nice Gift.
Size: 10ml (22mm x 50mm) clear glass bottle with cork.
Ein Gedi is an oasis and nature reserve located in the Judean Desert, near the Dead Sea in Israel.
The site has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient times.
It is mentioned in the Bible as one of the places where David took refuge from Saul (1 Samuel 23 29):
“And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi“.
The ancient city of Ein Gedi was a thriving center of agriculture and commerce
during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The city was known for its production of balsam, a valuable perfume and medicine
that was highly prized in the ancient world.
The balsam (persimmon, Hebrew: afarsemmon)
was grown in the nearby botanical gardens and processed in the city’s factories.
The city was also a center of Jewish scholarship and mysticism.
According to tradition, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, one of the most important figures in Jewish mysticism,
spent time in Ein Gedi studying and teaching.
Ein Gedi is the largest desert oasis in Israel (1,000 dunams – 250 acres). It is watered by four springs.
Its fresh waters made the settlement possible since ancient times,
and was referred several times in the Bible as a fertile place.
Biblical periods (Iron age):
The site was known in the Biblical times as fertile, blessed by the spring it is named after.
This area is where David hid from the pursuing King Saul
(1 Samuel 23 29: “And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi“).
Ancient Ein Gedi is located on Tel Goren, a low hill (size of 2 dunam – 1/4 acre) on the north bank of Nahal Arugot.
It was established as a small village in the 7th century BC, during the Judean Kingdom.
A seal was found bearing the name “Uriyahu son of Azaryahu”,
perhaps belonging to an official Judean clerk around the 6th-7th century BC.
The village thrived during the next 14 centuries,
expanding into a small city which was located around and near the ancient site.
A small harbor was located in Ein Gedi, and wood and stones anchors were found here
on the eastern side of the synagogue.
At some times the water level reached and flooded the houses of Ein Gedi.
Today, visitors can explore the ancient ruins of Ein Gedi, including the remains of the city’s synagogue,
which dates back to the 3rd century AD. They can also hike in the nature reserve,
which is home to a variety of plants and animals, including ibexes, hyraxes, and a wide variety of birds.