Judean Wilderness approach from Bethlehem

When David was growing up in Bethlehem, he was also exploring the Judean Wilderness. As a shepherd, he would have led his sheep through the nearby “Desert of Judah” in the spring or even in other seasons of the year. These videos show the close proximity of the Judean Wilderness to Bethlehem. The reason this is important is that David hid from Saul in the wilderness and that he sometimes used imagery from the desert in his songs. Using these videos will help your audience have the proper perspective of the rocky land David knew so well. The wilderness is also relatively small, though hiking through it could take days. In a straight line, it’s about 10 miles to the Dead Sea from Bethlehem and 20 miles to Ein Gedi. But as these images will show, there are no “straight lines” in the maze of canyons known as the Judean Wilderness. Only someone intimately familiar with the area should even attempt a journey here.