Chapter 7
Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I have taken refuge, my shield and the horn of my deliverance, my stronghold. Psalm 18.2
Upon arriving in Israel on October 6th in Bethlehem, none of us had any idea of what lay ahead for Israel, Palestine and the whole region. Reflecting on these events from last year, I’m drawn back to a particular visit amidst the tumult of October 7th. Despite the unfolding events, we managed to embark on a day trip a few days later to the remarkable historical site of Masada.
Masada from the word Metzuda for fortress – a mountain fortress overlooking the shores of the Dead Sea where Jewish insurgents held out for three years against the Romans after the fall of Jerusalem. In Short, at 70 AC, after the second temple in Jerusalem was demolished by the Romans, the last known fortress for the Jews was Masada. Its location- near the Dead Sea and not so far from Jerusalem made it easy for refugees to escape to Masada. For the Romans to break into this fort, it took them a very long siege using three Roman legions, just to find out that the whole people of Masada committed suicide saying “It is better to die free than live as slaves”.
There are two main gates for the stronghold: the main gate, where one can enter by car-cable or a very organized trail- the snake trail. The minor gate (the ramp gate), is known where the Roman soldiers entered the site. The ramp trail is much shorter than the snake trail, but no car cable on this site. Between those sites, there is a small and sometimes very steep trail. It is known as the runner trail, which was the path of the Legion’s runners.
Though the breadth of the violence was great, and the implications overwhelming, the message conveyed by the Sicarii was undeniable:
We will fight for justice, we will fight for what we believe, and we will not give in.
Perhaps there’s something to be learned from this story. On the surface, the terrible and stark realities are evident. There’s a deeper lesson, though, a lesson of resilience and perseverance.
This story consistently underscores the significance of steadfastly upholding our beliefs and advocating for them without wavering.
Wishing all a good start to this new week!
Philemon