Jerusalem to Wilderness

Jerusalem is shockingly close to the Judean Wilderness. Just five miles (8 km) east of the Temple Mount, all signs of habitation cease to exist. The Wilderness is a narrow stretch of desert-like land set in a maze of canyons that drop steadily in elevation until the wilderness region ends at the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. This video could be used to illustrate the path of the scapegoat as it left the Temple on the Day of Atonement each year. Jesus also spent time in the Judean Wilderness preparing for his public ministry. Much of that ministry would be in Jerusalem. Another use of this video comes in the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27). There is almost no sand in Israel, so finding a place to build your house on a sand foundation is surprisingly difficult. But when flash floods race through the Judean Wilderness each year, a bed of sand can be found in the canyon floor, and at the end of the wilderness at the base of the cliffs. This video can help explain how flash floods destroy everything in their path, leaving only sand behind. Building a home on the sand, therefore, is extremely foolish. Be sure to see another video, "Flash flood route to sand". Travelers making their way from the Galilee to Jerusalem would have seen sand like this at the bottom of the flash flood routes as they neared Jericho. They would have understood the utter folly of building a house on the sand.