DAY 7 of the Tour - Petra

Petra
As we celebrate the Lord’s Day in Jordan, we also happen to spend our time at one of
the true great archaeological sites in the world (think Machu Picchu in Peru).

Petra is the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan and one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.  There is simply nothing quite like it. Petra features preeminently in several movies (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and everyone’s favorite: The Mummy Returns).  A lesser-known appearance is in Tintin (a favorite childhood comic book) and also recently put to film.
 
The scope of this archaeological wonder is so great, we will devote the whole day to it.  Take a look at the Wikipedia entry and peruse the pictures for a sense of the magnitude and the beauty of the site. Most of the material culture at Petra relates to the Roman-Nabatean phases.  The UNESCO webpage on Petra is a highly recommended read for us, with many stunning photographs of Petra’s monumental architecture (including the famous rock-hewn tombs of Nabatean kings).  It also provides a good synopsis of the history of the Nabateans at Petra (AOT pp. 418-21).

From a geographical and biblical standpoint, Petra is located in the territory belonging to Esau/Edom in the patriarchal narratives (Gen. 25 and following). Later on in the conquest narratives, the Israelites passed through Edom on their way north toward central Transjordan and then across into Canaan (Num. 21 and Josh. 1; CBA maps 63, 116, 144).  This south to north movement of Yahweh’s people and Yahweh’s glory (dwelling in their midst via the ark of the covenant) is captured in vivid imagery in the words of Habakkuk: “God came from Teman (CBA map 116), and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.”  (Hab. 3:3 ESV)

In a typical pun that connects the name of Esau and his appearance (Gen 25:25, Hebrew edomî/“red”) to his territorial inheritance “Edom,” the limestone mountainous region of Petra/Edom has an exceptional reddish-brown color, which depending on the sun’s reflection, can turn into a stunning display of soft pink-red pastels.  The Scriptures speak of Edom dwelling in “the cleft of the rock” (Obadiah 1:3), isolated and aloof in the sometimes tumultuous history of the region.  In fact, Obadiah soundly condemns Edom for its complicity in Israel’s downfall (Obadiah 1:10). 

Whereas Lot’s descendants, the “sons of Ammon” (the Ammonite) and “Moab” are viewed as enemies of Israel, Edom is a “brother” that Israel should not abhor (see Deut. 23).  Unfortunately, Israelite history attests to the continued wars between the two nations.  This snapshot of strife between brothers has its beginnings in the story of Jacob and Esau (where Jacob robs Esau of his right as first-born; see Gen. 25:29-34; 27).  As we dig deeper into the theological foundations of family feuding, the book of Genesis traces the origin of this merciless struggle between brothers (how many civil wars have we witnessed in history?) to the original two brothers: Cain and Abel (Gen. 4).  Looking forward to the completed work of Christ on the Cross, Paul formally declares the end of hostility (our theological Appomattox, or Tokyo Bay) when he says: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14 ESV).

• Scripture References: Gen. 4, 25ff, 27, Num. 21, Deut. 23, Josh. 1, Hab. 3:3, Obad. 1,Eph. 2:14
• Text References: AOT pp. 418-21
• Map and Pictorial References: CBA maps 63, 116, 144