Trent and Rebekah are “vagabonding” for forty days in Israel between the close of the Ashkelon excavation and the opening of their fall semester at Jerusalem University College (also known as the American Institute of Holy Land Studies). Last Thursday morning they were at Masada for the sunrise. I didn’t ask if they spent the night there.

This view from Masada to the east at sunrise is one I have not seen. They graciously allowed me to post it here.

There is more to this photo than just the beauty of it. In their photo you see the Lisan (or Tongue) that extends from the east into the Dead Sea. You may also see the canal through which water is pumped to the southern end of the Sea.

The photo below was made near mid-day from Masada.

The same photo below has been enhanced further in Photoshop to reveal the…