In the middle of the Judean desert, in Israel, there is an immense lake with a high concentration of salt: it is the Dead Sea. Located about 400 meters below sea level, it is at the lowest point of the planet. Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "The term "Dead Sea" does not appear in the Bible: the Bible speaks of the "Sea of Salt" and also of the "Asphalt Lake", and the Muslim tradition speaks of the "Sea of Lot". But the rabbis, based on the geography and topography of Israel, have noted that in the north there is the Lake of Galilee, or Lake of Gennezareth, which is called the "Lake of Life", and in the south we have the "Dead Sea". Despite the name - "Dead" - there are many episodes narrated in the Bible that took place in this region: apparently hidden stories are revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Numerous biblical events took place near the Dead Sea in the town of Ein Gedi. Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "Ein Gedi" means "Source of the Goat," and we have two important texts about it. The first is Samuel 23, which recounts the struggle between Saul - the first king of Israel - and David: Saul was chosen as the first king but God displeased him, so God sent Samuel to anoint King David in Bethlehem. So in the first book of Samuel 23 there were two kings of Israel, and they made war on each other. Then we have Psalm 63, which speaks of when David hid in the desert of Ein Gedi." F DANIEL NASCIMENTO Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "The first book of Samuel, chapter 23: "David, having learned that Saul was coming to kill him, remained in the desert of Zif. First Book of Samuel, chapter 24: "David fled and went to live in the caves of Ein Gedi." To this place are linked analogies and poems from some books of the Bible. Fr DANIEL NASCIMENTO Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "Book of Ezekiel, chapter 47: "Those waters where they come shall heal, and where the torrent shall come, all things shall live again." Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "The most beautiful text that we have is Ezekiel 47, which describes the new city of Jerusalem with the new temple: under the altar of the temple a small spring of water gushes forth, which goes towards the Arava and becomes ever larger, it becomes a river. There are even small fish in this water, which then flows into the saltwater of the Dead Sea. The Song of Songs - which according to tradition is attributed to Solomon - in chapters 1-4 reminds us that there were vines at the time of Solomon: the vines of Ein Gedi, which were very famous at that time. And then the book of Sirach 24,13 speaks of wisdom. Wisdom is compared to different plants, to different flowers. It reads "I am like the palm of Ein Gedi". We also know from other authors that in Ein Gedi there was balm, which was very famous. And then in the south we have the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah." In addition to Ein Gedi, other places around the Dead Sea hold biblical stories. Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "In Jordan, on the other side of the lake, we have two very important places: Macheronte, place of the martyrdom of John the Baptist, and Mount Nebo where Moses died. For this reason, it can be said that the Holy Land continues also in Jordan." Around the dense waters, a biblical richness: stories revealed by the Holy Scripture, preserved by time and the sea. Read More