Israel and Jordon Tour: Day 17

Quite a lot of driving today, initially from Amman (1000 metres above sea level) through the Jordan Valley towards the Jordon River and the Dead Sea (400 metres below sea level). Along the way we stopped at Elijah's Hill, near where Elijah was supposed to have been taken to heaven ( "and Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven" ... 2 Kings 2, 1 - 11). Excavations from as recently as 1996 have uncovered the site with a "cave church" and "prayer hall" from the early Christian Era.

On then to the Jordon River, to the site where it is believed that John the Baptist baptised Jesus at "Bethany beyond the Jordon". Archeological evidence in the area shows the remains of five churches built since the 5th century, where pilgrims and travellers have come to see the site where the baptism took place. One of our group read from Matthew 3 ... "But He who is coming after me .... he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire".

The Jordon River forms the border between Jordon and Israel (West Bank), although the river is totally controlled by Israel. We sat on the Jordanian side with a Jordanian soldier and watched the tourists on the Israeli side (with an Israeli soldier) not more than 20 metres away. Some of us washed our feet in the cool water of the Jordon.

Our final visit for the day was to the Fortress at Machaerus (partially built by Herod the Great (just before the time of Jesus) where Salome is reputed to have danced for the head of John the Baptist. We climbed a very steep hill to get to the Fortress which afforded magnificent views across to the Dead Sea.

Outline of the Prayer Hall at Elijah's Hill

The Cave Church at Elijah's Hill

Pilgrims at Elijah's Hill

Depiction of the Baptismal area - it is off to the side of the river proper (at bottom right in the picture) and the actual site is totally dry today.