Mount Nebo
At the end of his life, Moses is afforded a stunning view of the promised land from Mount Nebo, located in the Jordan Rift. Deuteronomy describes the account as follows:
Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. (Deut. 34:1-3 ESV)
Very few places in the land of the Bible offer vistas like the lookout at Mount Nebo (Kirbat al-Mukhayyat) a few miles from the modern city of Madaba (biblical: Medeba). As we will be traveling during the cooler time of the year, if the skies are clear, we should be able to appreciate the panoramic scope of the vision Moses was allowed to see before his death and burial in an unmarked grave nearby, “opposite Beth-Peor.”
Madaba
Modern Madaba is a great touristic hub to visit in the region where Ruth, the Moabitess, came from. Be sure to watch this video of the town and its surrounding attractions. The site is most famously known for its mosaic map of the holy land in St. George’s church. In addition to several other churches, recent excavations near the Church of John the Baptist on the Acropolis point to the importance of the town in biblical times. In addition, my recent post for the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) blog on the settlement of Madaba during the biblical period has some pictures of the massive Iron Age fortification wall at Madaba, among others.
Jordan Valley
The spectacular depression that constitutes the Jordan Valley separates the hill country of ancient Israel and the hill country of Gilead. Throughout the settlement history of the valley, the area has functioned as both a geological and cultural fault line and a well-travelled passageway between highlanders on both sides of the Jordan River. One of the first biblical images in the narrative involve Abram and his nephew Lot who parted ways, one staying in what would become Israel and the other settling in the Jordan valley. Later on in the narrative, perhaps as a fitting conclusion to the sad fate of Sodom (possibly Tel el- Hammam) and Gomorrah, we are told of the sordid details of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his two daughters. The story forms the backdrop story of the origins of the Ammonites and the Moabites, Israel’s future enemies.
Another important site in the Jordan valley, Succoth, was a gateway settlement by the Jabbok River (Wadi Zarqa). Some have connected Succoth to the modern archaeological site of Tell Deir ‘Alla where an inscription was found that has remarkable parallels to the Balaam oracles of Numbers 22-24. Succoth is also featured in the story of Gideon. Penuel, the location of Jacob’s wrestling match which resulted in a famous change of name to Israel, is tied to the Jabbok/Zarqa region and in close proximity to the Jordan Valley. The traditional site of Jesus’ Baptism is also a popular destination on the modern pilgrim’s trail.
- Scripture References: Gen. 13:10-12; 19:23-38; 32; Judges 8:13-17
- Text References: AOT pp. 78-79
- Pictorial and Map References: CBA map 79
Land of Gilead
At the time of Joshua, Israelite tribes settled the valley, along with the highland region East of the Jordan (the half-tribe of Manasseh in the central and northern regions and the tribe of Reuben in the central Transjordan area). These tribes, although they were Israelites, were often viewed as outsiders in the biblical sources since they settled beyond the boundaries of Canaan. Culturally and geographically the highland region of Transjordan resembles its counterpart west of the Jordan. While it was the ancestral land of the Ammonites and the Moabites, incursions from the north and the south were not uncommon throughout Old Testament (Amorites, Midianites and other interlopers). This contested land made for very crowded conditions for the Israelite settlers. Gilead (see Ramoth Gilead), however, is also portrayed as a place of refuge in times of trouble. When David was on the run from Saul and Absalom, he found protection across the Jordan. It is the thick forests of Gilead that claimed Absalom’s life. Today, the topography still evokes biblical times, with terracing and some wooded areas remaining and relatively little modern interference upon the landscape.
- Scripture References: Josh. 13, 22; Judges 11; I Sam. 22:3-4; 2 Sam. 17:26-29; 18
- Pictorial and Map References: CBA maps 83, 121, 122
