Tuesday, August 14, 2012
This morning after much deliberation as to mode of transportation, we hired a taxi and left for three different spots, Madeba, Mt. Nebo and Bethany beyond the Jordan. Although it is an ancient city that is even mentioned in the Bible, one hundred fifty years ago Madeba was just desert. Some Christians sought to colonize there. As they were digging for a foundation for a house, they struck the floor of a Byzantine Church. When they began to uncover it they found one of the largest mosaics ever found to that point in history. The map was a mosaic of the holy land from their time. One portion of the map is Jerusalem as it looked in the 6th century. Here is the Jerusalem portion of the map:
The colonnade down the center is the Cardo, which has been partially found and restored and upon which we walked. Several other Byzantine buildings were found in Medeba each with intricate mosaics found on their floors.
Leaving Medeba we drove up to Mt. Nebo. There we read the Scripture concerning Moses’ death and then walked out to the observation point. Here are some pictures from there.
Leaving Nebo, we drove down to Bethany Beyond the Jordan. This site is on the Jordan River in a military zone. From the Six Day War in 1967 until 1993, it was closed to all activity. Only Jordan military was allowed there. In 1994 the military began clearing the fields of land mines. After three years of clearing the fields, it was opened to archeologists. A few years ago archeologists found what they believe is the site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. A few churches have been given permission to build buildings there to venerate the site. To get to the site it is accessible only by private transportation (taxi for us) no public busses go there. Once you get to the parking area, you purchase a ticket and get on a park shuttle bus which will take you back into the park area. Looking out the bus window Jericho is a dark haze in the background. This is the site of the Children of Israel crossing the Jordan, Elijah’s chariot ride and probably Jesus’ baptism.
We exited the bus and walked back to the archeological dig. The archeologist claimed that this was John the Baptist’s baptismal pool, and he gave some positive evidence for the claim. It was all logic based on what was found here and from Scripture and other writings. There was no hard evidence such as an inscription or something. In the foreground is John’s pool.
We were allowed to walk on down to the Jordan River and touch the water. The Israeli park was just across the river from us. The archeologist made sure that we understood that while the Jordan is tiny now, it is because Israel has been diverting the water for its use. He said that in the last 50 years the average depth of the river had dropped 3 meters. He said that a hundred years ago the river could be up to a kilometer wide at it peak.
Note: that is Israel in the background. We are in Jordan.
The archeologist/guide was really rushing us through, partly because it was a military zone, and they had strict rules about how long anyone could stay, and partly because it was extremely HOT, and being Ramadan, he could not drink any water. We stopped enough along the way to take this picture under a tamarisk tree. The Bible mentions Abraham planting a tamarisk tree, and it has other mentions as well.
It was time to head back. On the highway we saw this interesting sign. We didn’t have time to go there.
Back at the New Park Hotel, looking out the balcony window, one can see the corner of the Citadel above. It is top center. We are looking east. Ruins of an old Ammonite palace are at the eastern end of the citadel.
Well, off to sleep now, tomorrow we hope to be in Petra. When we return from Petra, I must head for the airport.
The colonnade down the center is the Cardo, which has been partially found and restored and upon which we walked. Several other Byzantine buildings were found in Medeba each with intricate mosaics found on their floors.
Leaving Medeba we drove up to Mt. Nebo. There we read the Scripture concerning Moses’ death and then walked out to the observation point. Here are some pictures from there.
Leaving Nebo, we drove down to Bethany Beyond the Jordan. This site is on the Jordan River in a military zone. From the Six Day War in 1967 until 1993, it was closed to all activity. Only Jordan military was allowed there. In 1994 the military began clearing the fields of land mines. After three years of clearing the fields, it was opened to archeologists. A few years ago archeologists found what they believe is the site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. A few churches have been given permission to build buildings there to venerate the site. To get to the site it is accessible only by private transportation (taxi for us) no public busses go there. Once you get to the parking area, you purchase a ticket and get on a park shuttle bus which will take you back into the park area. Looking out the bus window Jericho is a dark haze in the background. This is the site of the Children of Israel crossing the Jordan, Elijah’s chariot ride and probably Jesus’ baptism.
We exited the bus and walked back to the archeological dig. The archeologist claimed that this was John the Baptist’s baptismal pool, and he gave some positive evidence for the claim. It was all logic based on what was found here and from Scripture and other writings. There was no hard evidence such as an inscription or something. In the foreground is John’s pool.
We were allowed to walk on down to the Jordan River and touch the water. The Israeli park was just across the river from us. The archeologist made sure that we understood that while the Jordan is tiny now, it is because Israel has been diverting the water for its use. He said that in the last 50 years the average depth of the river had dropped 3 meters. He said that a hundred years ago the river could be up to a kilometer wide at it peak.
Note: that is Israel in the background. We are in Jordan.
The archeologist/guide was really rushing us through, partly because it was a military zone, and they had strict rules about how long anyone could stay, and partly because it was extremely HOT, and being Ramadan, he could not drink any water. We stopped enough along the way to take this picture under a tamarisk tree. The Bible mentions Abraham planting a tamarisk tree, and it has other mentions as well.
It was time to head back. On the highway we saw this interesting sign. We didn’t have time to go there.
Back at the New Park Hotel, looking out the balcony window, one can see the corner of the Citadel above. It is top center. We are looking east. Ruins of an old Ammonite palace are at the eastern end of the citadel.
Well, off to sleep now, tomorrow we hope to be in Petra. When we return from Petra, I must head for the airport.
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