Jordan and Petra: Simply Amazing May 25.08

I am now at the Dead Sea on the Jordanian side after spending the last few days in Amman and in Jerash and Petra.

We heard a report on Jordan Evangelical Seminary. It continues to do well and grow.

Jerash is a site that rivals Ephesus for size and spectacular views of an early second century Greco-Roman city. It is the site of Gergasa, as well as the area where Uriah the Hittite was slain in the time of David.

Amman is a city of 2 million and the capital of Jordan. It has a big city feel, but also has a nice museum where 4Q175 and the Copper Scroll of Qumran reside, for the caves were in Jordanian hands during the days of the discovery. I also saw fragments of 1Q 17,18, 19, 20.

Petra is simply spectacular. It is tucked away in a vast gorge and has some of the best preserved ancient facades in the world. It is a testament to Bedouin creativity. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was filmed here.

Petra Treasury (1st century AD)