Masada: The Long Way Down Israel: Bringing the Bible to Life One photo. One place. One Bible story.

Masada is one of Israel’s most visited tourist attractions. Its ruins have become an enduring symbol of the Jewish fight for freedom. According to the ancient historian Josephus, when it became clear that the end was near, Elazar Ben-Yair gathered the people together. He reminded them that they had resolved to serve God rather than the Romans or any other master and urged them to die free rather than face capture and slavery.

Josephus writes that nearly everyone at Masada died before the expected Roman attack at dawn. They burned many of their belongings but left food behind, showing the Romans that they had acted by choice and not because they were starving.

Today, visitors can reach the cliff-top fortress by cable car or by hiking the winding Snake Path. We took the cable car up and walked the Snake Path down.

Somehow, looking down from the cable car hadn’t prepared me for how long that walk would actually be. Step after step, turn after turn, we made our way down Masada. My legs may have been ready for it to end long before the path did.

But that’s one of the things I love about Israel. I didn’t just read about Masada or look at pictures of it. I stood there. I walked it. And I carried a little piece of its story home with me.