Day 11 – Wednesday, March 30: Border Crossing to Jordan, Mt. Nebo, Machaerus, Wadi Rum. (For those retuning home: Free time in Jerusalem, Shephelah/Lowlands biblical sites, Flight Home)
Today was a transitional day. Those in the group who did not choose the Jordan optional tour enjoyed a leisurely morning in Jerusalem following the required Covid test at the hotel. Then they visited a few sites in the Shephelah (lowlands) that connect to various stories in the Old Testament (e.g. David v. Goliath). Following a nice dinner in Jaffa, they drove to the airport and boarded the night flight back home.
For the 23 of us who are doing the Jordan optional trip, we left left the hotel at 7:45. We read from Deuteronomy 31 as we departed the hotel. The sunny ands warm temps (70s) were once again welcome!
Allenby Bridge Border Crossing / Mt. Nebo
We drove east out of Jerusalem to the Jericho area. Slightly north of Jericho is the Allenby Bridge border crossing into the Hashemite country of Jordan. Even though the crossing took about an hour longer than normal, we met our Jordanian driver (Mohammed) and our guide (Sam). Following the usual passport procedures, we ascended from the Plain of Moab to Mt. Nebo, part of the Pisgah Range. The visibility was limited. However, we read from Deuteronomy 34 and Joshua 1 about the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. A Bronze Snake monument is erected here (Numbers 21, John 3). We also saw the newly renovated church here built upon the Byzantine Church from the 4-5th centuries AD.
Machaerus
On the way to Machaerus, we stopped at a mosaic store to begin completing our required Israel Entry Forms for Friday’s return to Israel (this task was completed on the bus later). When we arrived at Machaerus, we read from Matthew 14 (also recorded in Mark 6) about how John the Baptizer was beheaded here (Josephus tells us the location). Some in the group climbed to the top of this palace-fortress built by Herod the Great. We saw the suggested throne area of the palace as well as a few ritual baths and columns. Later, Machaerus fell to the Romans in 71 AD.
“We cross into Jordan today. It looks and feels like a totally different country than Israel. While we endured a slow border crossing, the rest of the day was interesting. Standing on Mt. Nebo where Moses did was surreal to say the least.”
Wadi Rum
Driving back towards Medeba, we accessed the Desert Highway that lead us down to Wadi Rum in southern Jordan. We stopped once on this long drive south at a rest stop. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset as we approached this Wadi Rum. Arriving at Captains, a Bedouin-style tent-hotel, we enjoyed a great dinner and some Bedouin culture.
Day 13 – Friday, April 1: Wadi Rum, Petra
