Day 14 – Sunday, May 11: Mt. Nebo, Wadi Mujib (Arnon), Machaerus, Madaba
Today was our last full day of the trip. We made the most of it. The weather was perfect, with full sun and temps in the 80s. We read from Deuteronomy 31 (about Moses) as well Numbers 23-24 (about Balaam and the talking donkey) as we left the hotel at 7:45.
Mt. Nebo
Our first stop of the day was up to Mt. Nebo, part of the Pisgah Range. It was only a 20 minute drive from Madaba. The visibility was really good, allowing us to see the west side of the Jordan River and the area of Jericho, as well as the northern tip of the Dead Sea. 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. As we considered the Israelites crossing into unknown territory, we know that God is in control of our unknown journeys of life, and He never leaves us too!
Wadi Mujib (Arnon)
It took us only about 45 minutes to drive west, descending down to the Dead Sea and then south to what the Bible called the Arnon River (Numbers 21:13, 14, 24; 22:36, Judges 11:13, etc…). The Arnon served as a natural boundary between ancient Moabites and the Ammonites. Today is is called the Wadi Mujib. This was an amazingly beautiful place and an incredible experience! Equipped with good water shoes and life jackets, we literally walked up through the water of the wadi (river). The current was swift, with the water over our heads at times. We used ropes and even ladders to ascend further up the wadi. Several in the group made it all the way back to to the highest waterfalls. Wadi Wujib is one of the most beautiful places in all of Jordan!
“Today was our last day here in Jordan. It was incredible to stand where Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mt. Nebo. Also, to see where John the Baptist was beheaded (Machaerus) was surreal. Finally, the fun of the water at Wadi Mujib was a very unique experience!”
Machaerus
Our drive to our next site, Machaerus, was scenic to say the least. We crossed a huge wadi (river bed/gorge) as we ascended back up to the ridge. Originally built by the Hasmoneans and then taken by Pompey in 63 BC, Herod the Great eventually reestablished Machaerus as another “palace-fortress.” It is located on the east side of the Dead Sea. This was where John the Baptist was be-headed (Josephus and Matthew 14). About half of us climbed to the top to see where the head of John the Baptist was offered to Herod Antipas (the “throne room”). On top were a few ritual baths too. Although it was a bit more hazy this afternoon looking westward, we could clearly see the Dead Sea and the vicinity of Ein Gedi on the other side.
Madaba Map
From here we drove back to Madaba. We saw the famous 6th century Madaba Map of the region. This is the oldest map in antiquities. It was discovered in the late 1800s. The map displays not only the region of Israel, Jordan, and the Sinai, but Jerusalem is highly detailed as well. Madaba is Sam’s home town, so we also enjoyed meeting his wife and his store.
We got back to the hotel about 4 p.m., for time to rest before dinner, followed by an early retirement for a few hours sleep before we get up around 11:30. We all fly to Frankfurt on a 3:30 a.m. flight early tomorrow morning, and then back to the States from there. We all had a great time on the Jordan extension!
Day 15 – Monday, May 12: Arrive Home
We plan to arrive back in the States this afternoon after flying to Frankfurt and then a second flight back to the U.S.
