Day 12 and 13 of the Tour

PETRA, JORDAN – May 24 – Today featured a full day’s journey from the northern portion of Jordan to the southern desert region. Our day began in the modern city of Amman and ended in the quaint village of Petra. Before leaving the modern city of Amman, however, we saw several significant historical sites. The first stop was an outdoor arena at ancient Philadelphia . . . one of the ten cities in the Decapolis. In the cool morning air our entire group stepped into the classically designed amphitheatre and took our places on the ancient terraced seats. The structure pre-dates the time of Christ and was the perfect setting to relive a familiar Old Testament story. Traveling actor, Reg Grant, treated us to a dramatic presentation from the floor of the amphitheatre . . . this time assuming the role of Uriah. In full warrior garb, Uriah spoke in the first person about his devotion to King David. You might remember that it was Uriah who was married to Bathsheba, the woman who was the focus of David’s lust and ultimate moral fall. From Philadelphia, we drove a few more minutes and arrived at the Citadel. This ancient archaeological site overlooks Amman, with sweeping 360-degree views of the modernized city. It also contains a small museum where fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. And then we drove to the other side of the city to see Madaba. At this nearby town, intricate, colorful Byzantine-era mosaics have been found inside homes and churches. The most famous of these is a mosaic of the Holy Land that dates back to the sixth century AD—the earliest map of this area found to date. The “Madaba Map” depicts Byzantine Jerusalem in its heyday, with many recognizable biblical landmarks and structures apparent throughout the detailed rendering. But doubtless the highlight of the day was driving outside the city limits to Mount Nebo, where from 3,000 feet above sea level, we could witness with our own eyes the landscape promised to Moses. It was here on this mountain where God spoke to Moses, showing him the Promised Land. Because it was a clear day, we could see all the way across the Jordan River to Jericho, the Dead Sea, and even a hint of Jerusalem on the horizon. Few of us will ever read the passage in Deuteronomy that describes Moses’ conversation with God in the same way again, with the views from atop Mount Nebo still etched in our memories. The afternoon was spent driving from Mount Nebo to Petra. It took about four hours to navigate the King’s Highway before arriving at our destination. Yes, we saw camels. Lots of camels. And Bedouin shepherds leading their flocks across the vast desert landscape. We spent the evening relaxing and recovering from a full day’s journey. Tomorrow, I’ll describe what promises to be a highly engaging experience—hiking through the natural fortress of Petra. Until then, I remain grateful to be among the travelers, Roger Kemp

DEAD SEA, JORDAN – May 25 – If you could manufacture the perfect morning hike in an exotic location, we found the spot today. Our hotel was located within walking distance from the gate of the famous historical landmark known as Petra (“The Rock”). It was yet another picture perfect blue-sky day. In the shadows of the valley and mountains, the air remained cool and comfortable. We walked into the ancient setting through a narrow passage created by two towering cliffs. It took nearly thirty minutes to navigate the winding path to the main entrance, with jaw-dropping natural beauty accented by multi-colored sandstone. Surely no picture will give justice to the experience, because no single lens could possibly capture the enormity of the dramatic escalating views. Even so, most of us were running down the batteries in our digital cameras, doing our best to bring home a visual keepsake. The hike crescendos at the final breakthrough passage where you get your first view of the signature carving known as “The Treasury”— a huge columnar façade chiseled into the stone centuries before the time of Christ. Made familiar as the site for a blockbuster film, many see this wonder of the world as nothing more than a backdrop for the adventures of Indiana Jones. Here’s a brief synopsis of Petra’s history, provided by the Insight for Living team: The natural fortress of Petra was originally inhabited by the ancient Edomites (2 Kings 14:7). Located in a valley surrounded by mountains, Petra’s main access is through a narrow, winding path between two cliffs known as the Siq. Because its geography created a nearly impenetrable fortress, the people of Edom felt extremely secure. Through the prophet Obadiah, the Lord rebuked the Edomites, saying, “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights. . . . From there I will bring you down” (Obadiah 1:3-4 NIV). Petra was conquered and occupied by the Nabateans in the fourth century BC. Upon their arrival, they began to carve temples, tombs, and dwellings out of the rose, purple, and crimson limestone cliffs. Unfortunately, a devastating earthquake in AD 363 destroyed much of the city. But the ruins that remain still portray a breathtaking marvel of ancient workmanship. From Petra, we made a four hour drive to the seaside resort on the north end of the Dead Sea. At this destination, Mount Nebo is to the east, Jerusalem to the west, and the Dead Sea in between. With spectacular views overlooking this salty body of water, we watched the sun set behind the Mount of Olives, backlighting the skyline of what is now familiar geography to our traveling team. As the intense heat of the day turned cool, the new discoveries from our trip to Israel were permanently sealed in our hearts and minds. Well, it’s finally time to go home. Tomorrow, we will spend our morning relaxing on the shores of the Dead Sea. Around the noon hour, we will board our six buses one final time and cross the border from Jordan to Israel. From a temporary resting place in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, travelers will begin to shuttle to Tel Aviv to catch their respective flights home. It has been a profoundly meaningful trip to the Holy Land. Doubtless we will never read our Bibles the same way. Thanks for traveling along with us. We are eager to return home to be with you! Ever grateful for this experience, Roger Kemp 

Comments

[Sharon Rose]

Just to let you know that the Holy Land Video blogs were a real blessing to me. My daughter, Dusty Rose, was on the trip as part of the Insight staff. It was almost like I was experiencing the trip with her. Thank you so much for making that possible. It was such a thrill to see the alert in my inbox each day.