Ein Gedi Nahal Arugot hidden waterfall hike

Ein Gedi is the most beautiful oasis in Israel, if not the entire Middle East. It lies at the base of the Judean Wilderness along the edge of the Dead Sea. Water in Ein Gedi is so pure and refreshing, it is known as “living water.” Jeremiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel and Jesus all used such water as an example of a vibrant relationship with God. The contrast between living water and the Dead Sea is stark. One water refreshes and gives life. The other looks enticing, but consuming it would be a fatal mistake. And while the 40-mile-long Dead Sea is easy to spot, Ein Gedi is hidden inside the canyons of the Judean Wilderness. If you don’t know the way, you’ll not find it. The side-by-side comparison is a great way to understand what Jesus offered the woman at the well (John 4), and to his followers when he insisted that he was the only “way” (John 14:6) to the Father, or that only a few would find the life he was offering (Matthew 7:14).