“For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden. “But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven.” (Deut. 11:10-11)
Abraham’s well in Beersheva, Israel Photo: Dafna Tal, Permission given by Israel Ministry of Tourism
Notice anything odd about these words from God to Moses? He did promise that the land would get rain from heaven. But what He didn’t promise is that the land would have fertile soil to grow its crops or enough water resources to provide quality of life for its people. It’s all good if rain comes from heaven…but what about the dry times? What then? Well (no pun intended), every generation had to figure it out for themselves.
From the beginning of Israel’s recorded history to present day, water has been a major source of trial. In Beersheba 3,800 years ago, Abraham dug deep wells, through solid limestone, in order to water his flocks and feed his family. Of course, King Abimelech’s servants closed up the wells to discourage Abraham from staying, but that’s another whole story of its own.
During the 1st Temple period, King Ahab dug monumental water systems in three major cities mentioned in the Bible: Megiddo, Hazor and Gezer. All three of these cities have been found; along with those water systems. Archaeologists and water experts have studied these systems in depth in order to glean just how magnificent their technology was at that time.
During the 2nd Temple period, pools were dug in and around Jerusalem and near Bethlehem, to hold runoff and rain water. Then aqueducts, up to 15 km long, were built in order to get water to the Temple in Jerusalem. Those aqueducts were used during the time of the Hasmoneans, the Romans and the Byzantines. The Romans also made drainage channels along the swamplands of the Jezreel Valley to make the ground agriculturally fertile. They built dams to catch water from the many underground aquifers running from the Carmel Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. They used the dams to carry water to the ancient city of Caesarea. The dams are still filled with water today. And the ruins of the ancient aqueducts can still be found towering high above the seashore.
2,000 years later, Israel still faces water challenges, but has found creative ways to solve them. Wells, reservoirs, and water aqueducts are still being used today (albeit a bit more sophisticated than in days gone by). However, in the last 70 years, Israel has developed water technology, from drip irrigation to desalinization. Not only to solve Israel’s water crisis, but to help other nations around the world as well. Israel exports $2.2 billion annually in water-related technology which is being used in over 150 countries. As long as there are water needs, Israel will use its almost 4,000 years of water tech to lead the way. Bottom line…where there’s a “well” there’s a way.
Photo Credit: Remi Network
