Yesterday we exited Saudi Arabia. Then we were stuck in no man’s land for 3 or 4 hours waiting on paper work. I guess it came by camel caravan. We drove to Suncity Camp, the original desert camp in Wadi Rum.
The dining room
It got pretty chilly in the evening.
We did a sightseeing jeep ride.
Uphill in loose sand
Sand drifts in the wind almost like snow.
The erosion patterns are quite varied and interesting.
Sand ripples
Our hotel room
We did a balloon ride in Wadi Rum.
We ended the Exodus study on Mount Nebo. It was here that Balaam looked at Israel in the plains of Moab. He prophesied of a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre out of Israel.
From here Moses could view the Promised Land. Like Moses, we didn’t go into the Land. That will be another trip.
I’m dreaming of organizing an Arabian Exodus Study Trip for Passover 2027. We would need 22 to 25 participants. We’d fly into Saudi Arabia and spend three days visiting the Exodus sites and learning about the different wildernesses. We’d cross into Jordan, continue in the wilderness, wrap up with Jerash and the Amman Citadel, then fly home from Amman. Let me know if you’re interested. It would cost somewhat more than an Israel study trip.
We do have a few openings for our Israel Study Trip this fall. This is a great time to visit the Middle East. The sites are not crowded, the people are very happy to see visitors. It is very safe.
The dates are October 23 to November 4.
Traveling home, we flew Lufthansa from Amman to Frankfurt, Germany.
We’re at about 1,000 meters elevation, in the Hisma desert. We stayed in a desert camp, off road a couple kilometers. Still another kind of wilderness.
Driving through the wilderness to the highway to get to the bus.
I went out at sunrise for photos.
We saw a lot today. This is Shiprock.
Jabal Maqla
The locals call it Jabal Musa, or mountain of Moses. Maqla can mean quarry in Arabic. Some have said the mountain appears burnt. The peak is formed of basalt, a volcanic rock, not the granite of other peaks in the Lawz range.
The slightly lower peak next to Maqla has a cave. It is known locally as Elijah’s cave.
Petroglyph of dancing people.
These marble pieces are from a tiny quarry on Maqla. The quarry is not large enough to have been a commercial enterprise. It must have been for a few special-purpose pieces. I wonder what kind of stone tablets Moses brought down the mountain.
Next to the marble seats (that’s how we used them) are these stone structures that could have been cattle chutes.
The chutes have a bend so animals entering couldn’t see the other end. They ended at some large boulders.
A broom tree, or bush, makes a hot fire.
It’s wonderful that the area is now accessible. This fence used to block entry.
Saudi’s Acacias are bigger than those in Israel.
The “high place” is officially recognized as an archeological site. That’s why it has a fence.
Petroglyphs with Egyptian influence. Age estimates vary considerably but include late Bronze Age.
Highlight of today, the split rock Horeb. Exodus 17, Psalm 78
We’re across the border. We can see the mountains of the Sinai Peninsula across the water. This isn’t a good place for a large group of people to cross even with the water removed.
Mah-Moon hopes we won’t wander in the wilderness for 40 years. He says we’re the first tour group going into Saudi Arabia
Diesel fuel price is equivalent of about $1.50 a gallon.
Nuweibaa Beach across the Red Sea. Notice the canyon through the mountains, and the expanse of beach. The crossing here would have been a gradual slope for crossing, but also “the depths” that drowned an army.
We have an escort vehicle, apparently.
We’re seeing broad, flat expanses of wilderness punctuated by mountains. There are plenty of Acacia trees, which factor into the biblical story.
The modern road follows the ancient wadis. We’re on the likely Exodus route.
Some of the Acacia trees here are larger than what we see in Israel. I see some big enough to build the ark of the covenant or altar of incense from one tree.
Our first glimpse of Jabal el Lawz. The distant peak with the towers.
Jethro’s caves
Seems like the Nabateans updated the tombs when they came along.
Lawz from the other side
Jeep ride to Elim?
Some of the harshest environment on earth
Free range camels, know where their home is.
On Marah and Elim. Exodus 15
Our chauffeurs
Oasis in the desert
We drove through another wilderness south of Al Bad’a. More flat expanses and fewer mountains. Wilderness of Sin?
Click the following links to see 360 pics from Petra
We spent the night in Wadi Musa, valley of Moses. This mountain is known as the mountain of Aaron, where he was buried. Mount Hor?
Sunset at Aaron’s mountain last evening. There’s a tomb at the top to commemorate Aaron. Tradition says this is Mount Hor where he was buried. Josephus connects Petra to Mount Hor.
Camel ride in Petra 😁
Petra is an amazing place. We saw Nabatean, Roman, and Byzantine stuff. Mohanned, our guide, grew up here. (Apparently I had his name wrong yesterday.)
Mo believes there are several civilizations still uncovered.
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The Edomites took this area from the Horites. You’ll recall that Edom wouldn’t allow Israel to travel through their land. Right now we’re on the King’s Highway with no Edomites to stop us.
The Nabateans were here from about second century BC until Rome took over.
They carved tombs and temples in solid rock.
The walk through the canyon was spectacular. I have 360 footage, maybe I can share it later.
Some Roman road is still here.
Known as the “treasury”, but Mo believes it’s a temple. We didn’t go inside. Apparently that’s available for $1,500.
I took an extra hike for another vantage point.
Roman
This one was used as a church in Byzantine times. Rich said it’s quite cavernous inside with wonderful reverb for singing. We didn’t have time for that today.
Riding out of ancient Petra.
We’re here at Aqaba looking at Exodus 13:17 & 18, and other scriptures. God took Israel by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea. After they crossed, they were still in a wilderness. What is known as the Sinai Peninsula today was under Egyptian control. Israel never saw Egyptians after they crossed.
We’re at the juncture of Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Tomorrow we plan to go into Saudi Arabia. Things become less certain. We didn’t get all the permits we wanted. Your prayers are appreciated.
River Jabbok, where Jacob wrestled with God. Genesis 32. We’re in the northern part of Jordan, on our way to Jerash, a Decapolis city.
The Arch of Hadrian is outside Jerash. It was built in 129 AD.
Greek inscription found near the arch. Greek was the universal language of trade.
Entering the hippodrome, outside the city.
The hippodrome was the place for chariot races.
The souk, or market, inside the city. You could buy things from all over the then-known world.
Our guide’s name is Mohammed. Apparently mispronouncing the name is common. The long em sound has something to do with it. He said we can call him Mo. Here we’re looking at the oval plaza. They were normally a circle, not oval. But Mo said he calls it the square of Jerash.
The cardo is the heart of the city.
Grooves from chariot wheels.
Water fountain
Below are a couple links to view 360 pics from yesterday. Open thelink, tap the pic, and then the circle icon. You can look around in all directions, and up and down.
A Note to the Reader: The author of this post is listed as Linda Martin, but all I’m doing is downloading Andrew’s photos and posts. I am not traveling with them!
Vienna Airport
Leaving Austria
Judean wilderness. Pretty sure Wadi Qelt is in there somewhere.
Jordan countryside near Amman.
Visiting Amman Citadel on our free day. This is believed to be the place where Uriah, husband of Bathsheba, was sent to his death in the battle with the Ammonites.
Temple to Hercules
Iron Age 2 includes the time of the united Kingdom of Israel
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I have 360 pics if I could find a good way of sharing them!
Large Meeting Building – check out the ceiling detail!
Wall of a mosque
Columns of the Herculean Temple were repurposed as pillars in a Byzantine church.
We walked from the Citadel down to the Roman theater. We stopped at an art shop.
God: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness” (Psalm 48:1). Visiting sites in Israel is a good opportunity to worship God, who chose this place to perform unique acts. It is also a time to mourn how His people rejected Him. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37).
Inside the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem, November 11
Stones: Big stones, little stones, square stones, round stones. We saw stones “from Dan even to Beersheba.” Stones to build walls, to build pavements, and to build idols and temples. Empire builders destroyed the stones that others had arranged, and then they built other structures, which in turn others destroyed. After they had crossed the Jordan River, God told Joshua to build a stone memorial, so their children would ask, “What mean these stones?” (Joshua 4:21). As we viewed many ruins, we likewise pondered this question.
“O where are kings and empires now, Of old that went and came?
But Lord, Thy Church is praying yet, A thousand years the same.”
The ruins of Capernaum remind us of Jesus’ lament, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day” (Matthew 11:23). Abraham, in contrast, “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
Ruins in Capernaum, November 9
People: Stones help us understand the past and how it shaped our lives, but contacts with living people are more memorable. People memories begin with the fine group of thirteen fellow travelers. How many times we counted, “1, 2, 3, . . . 13.” This reminded me of the dozens of times I counted students on school trips to be sure everyone was there.
There were some negative experiences, such as aggressive salesmen shoving their wares into our hands and demanding that we give an offer, but the majority were positive. And some were superlative, such as a supper in Bethlehem with Palestinian Christians (and singing “How Great Thou Art” in four languages; see Nov. 11 report), and evening Sabbath worship and supper with a Jewish family two evenings later. The modest dress of conservative Jewish women was commendable.
Not only were we watching people, but people were watching us. “Are you Amish?” “Are you Mennonite?” We heard these questions various times or overheard people discussing us. We hope we gave a good Christian witness.
Friendly family at the Damascus Gate, Jerusalem, November 14
Singing: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). We can worship God anywhere, but it was a blessing to sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and other songs about Christ’s Birth in Bethlehem; to sing “Tis Midnight” and “Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed,” etc. about His suffering and death in the Garden of Gethsemane; and to sing “Lift Your Glad Voices,” “Up from the Grave,” and “Alive Forevermore,” etc. as we visited a possible site of the Resurrection. What shall we sing in Nazareth? Is there any song that uniquely fits there? Yes. “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.” As we looked across the Kidron Valley at the Eastern Gate, we sang, “I will meet you in the morning, just inside the Eastern Gate . . .”
The Jewish family demonstrated that singing is an important part of their Sabbath routine by their songs at the beginning and end of their meal. Later after we visitors had sung the first two stanzas of “How Great Thou Art,” extolling our Creator God, they welcomed us to sing a distinctly Christian stanza. On the last day, Sunday, our guide sang “Our Father” (the Lord’s Prayer) for us in Arabic.
Jewish song book, used on the evening of the Sabbath
Home Again, November 15
With mixed feelings we boarded the B-787 late Sunday evening for our approximately 11 ½ hour flight from Tel-Aviv. We landed in Newark, New Jersey, shortly after 4:00 AM, grateful for a safe and enjoyable trip.
Later that morning, Sarah and I attended the funeral of her uncle. And so, the routines of life and death continue, at home and abroad. A mountaintop experience should renew us for the challenges before us, encourage us to be good Christian stewards of life’s opportunities, and help prepare us for death. Thank you, God, for the blessing of this trip; may You be honored in all things!
(Due to technical difficulties, we weren’t able to post this article earlier when we were at Masada)
A highlight today was ascending the 375 foot high earthen ramp to the top of Masada built by 15,000 Jewish slaves in 73 AD. Masada is an ancient fortress built on a 1300 foot high butte on the eastern edge of the Judean desert and overlooking the Dead Sea.
Jerusalem had fallen to the Romans and Masada was the last Jewish stronghold. On top was the Sicarii remnant of the Jewish nation under siege by the Roman army. They realized that their enslaved Jewish brothers were being forced to build the ramp which, when built, would be their downfall.
According to Josephus,on April 15, 73AD the Roman troops entered the fortress in full armor. They found an eerie silence. The 960 residents of Masada had committed mass suicide. Only two women and five children, who had hidden themselve in the cisterns, were found alive.
What happens in Israel is important to Christianity. The Temple era was over, and from its roots the new shoot of Christianity would flourish.
Friday was a long day, and packed full of interest and inspiration. The first thing this morning we had our PCR Covid tests done in preparation for flying home on Sunday night. We were relieved when within a few hours they all came back negative. Praise the Lord!
Then we went to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. The golden Dome of the Rock was right in front of us across the Kidron valley.
Jerusalem is a city of stone. Above left is a picture of the city wall showing layers of stone as the wall was rebuilt multiple times over the centuries. Next is a picture of the sealed-up Golden Gate on the east wall of the Temple Mount. The picture on the right is a close-up of Herodian stone. Notice the frame chiseled around the edge of the stone. This is typical of Herod’s stonework.
We sat awhile at the Southern Steps. The lower steps are original from the Second Temple era, so we sat and walked where Jesus went up into the temple. We read about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which some theologians believe may have happened somewhere here in the vicinity of the temple. The remains of at least 50 ritual baths in front of us showed that there would have been plenty of room and plenty of water to baptize “about 3000 souls.”
Stonework in the City of David, the oldest part of the city which David captured from the Jebusites. Clay seals were found in this area bearing the names of people mentioned in the Bible as being part of the court of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.
We visited the garden tomb. Whether this tomb or the Holy Sepulchre site are the actual place where Jesus was laid, one thing is the same about them–they’re both empty! It was a beautiful day to sit in the garden and sing about the Resurrection.
A great highlight of the day was walking through Hezekiah’s tunnel. Our guide strongly advised putting our phones safely away, since if we dropped them they would be gone! Since I already dropped my phone at least twice on this trip, I decided to follow this advice, therefore I have no pictures. The water was clear and somewhat cold, and fun to walk through. Some of us found the tunnel uncomfortably narrow and low at spots, but we all made it through. It was amazing to look at the chisel marks in those ancient stone walls and think of the people who formed them long ago.
The evening was the best part of all. We spent the evening with an Orthodox Jewish family, attending prayers with them, eating supper with them, and discussing many things. Our minds and hearts are full, and you might hear more about these things tomorrow…
A young man who came to Israel from Cleveland, Ohio, to study at the yeshiva and serve in the Israeli military. His wife is beside him, and the yeshiva behind him. We were allowed to go in and look at the large room where about 400 students gather to study. Each student has a section of the table, and you can see their vast collection of books, all about the Tanakh, our Old Testament.
The parents and oldest daughter of the family who hosted us. The mother is lighting the candles to bring in the Sabbath.
The back of our hotel in Tiberias, beside the Sea of Galilee, whose modern name is Lake Kinneret
The highest peak in the photo above is Mt. Arbel. The other side of the mountain is full of caves, with a bloody history. These caves were used by Jews as hideouts during a rebellion in 37 BC. Herod the Great (before he was great) crushed the rebellion by lowering soldiers over the cliff in cages to drag the rebels and their families out of the caves and drop them down the cliffs.
A view from the top of Mt. Arbel
The excavated ruins of Kfar Nahum (village of Nahum) now known as Capernaum. This is the village where Jesus lived during most of His ministry
This is a grindstone of black basalt, a rock which is very common in this area. Jesus said, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Quite possibly a millstone and the sea were in sight of the people when He said it.
The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum
The picture above is a recently excavated synagogue at Magdala from the time of Jesus. Notice the pillars, the seating around the inner square, and more seating around the outer edge, with a beautiful mosaic floor in the aisle between. The Bible tells us Jesus taught in all the synagogues in Galilee, so He very likely walked these very stones. In the center is a beautifully carved stone that was likely part of the lectern where the scriptures were read.
A closer look at the mosaic floor
Above is a modern chapel which we also toured. We had a time of singing in the rotunda under the dome, and a prayer service in a chapel in which there is a famous picture of the woman touching Jesus’ hem.
