Holy Moses! - Mt. Nebo

“Get thee up into this mountain (range) of Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession; and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people.”

--Deuteronomy (Devarim) 32:49-50

I have floated down the Nile River. I have wondered through the Sinai Desert and climbed atop the Holy Mountain there. Now, finally, I have completed my Moses tour with an ascent of Mt. Nebo. And unlike Moses, I live to tell about it.

Mt. Nebo is the single most important religious site in Jordan for Muslims, Christians and Jews. After leading the Israelites on a punishing journey of the Sinai Desert for 40 years, it was from Mt. Nebo that Moses finally viewed the holy land that G-d had set aside for his chosen people. Moses was also commanded to die here at the age of 120. Joshua would complete the Israelites march into Israel.

Christian and Jewish tradition proclaims that Moses was buried in an undisclosed location atop the mountain. However, Muslims who also regard Moses as a prophet, believe that he was carried across the Jordan River and buried in a tomb outside of the city Jericho.

On a clear day you can see as far as Jerusalem. I think the desert winds kicked up enough dust today to prevent me from achieving that view. The Dead Sea and Jordan Valley were certainly easy to see. It was sad for me to see just how much the Dead Sea has receded since I first saw it 12 years ago. It is, unfortunately, starting to look more like the Dead Puddle.

Here is a short video of the panorama. (Click Here)

Unfortunately, the Moses Memorial Church was closed to visitors. This church, which by the year 394 A.D. had become a triapsidal structure floored with mosaics, was visited by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000. Although the church was closed, some of its ancient mosaics were moved temporarily to the exterior for viewing. These particular mosaics date to the year 587 A.D..

Maybe it was the 104 degree heat, but it was really hard not be caught up in the history and spirituality of the place. I was flooded with memories of my religious studies, and I said the mourner's prayer for my mother. It was amazing to see what Moses had been commanded to see from this vantage point – The Promised Land.