First Thought

וּמִן־הַגָּדִ֡י נִבְדְּל֣וּ אֶל־דָּוִיד֩ לַמְצַ֨ד מִדְבָּ֜רָה

From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness (1 Chronicles 12:9)

En Gedi, pictured below, is a well-watered oasis in an otherwise dry and dusty part of Israel adjacent to the Dead Sea. Similarly, our walk with Yeshua (and indeed, our study of Hebrew!) can sometimes leave us feeling dry and dehydrated. Just as David had a retreat at En Gedi, we need to remain connected to our source of Living Water as we go through life’s journeys.

Figure 24.1: Ibex drinking from Nahal David at En Gedi. En Gedi is the suggested location of the ‘desert stronghold’ referenced in 1 Chronicles. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands