JORDAN EXTENSIONS

Amman -- Modern capital of this country, the so-called "Hashemite Kingdom." Also the most important city in ancient Ammon, center of the Ammonites, offspring of Lot, Abraham's nephew.

Jerash/Gerasa -- The modern city of Jerash in Jordan preserves the name of the ancient city of Gerasa, one the most important cities in the region of the Decapolis; 25 miles north of Amman, 40 miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee; some of the best preserved Roman ruins in all of the Middle East.

Madaba -- Site of a 6th Byzantine church with a famous tile mosaic of the entire holy land; the oldest extant map of Jerusalem.

Mount Nebo -- Also identified with Pisgah, located NE of the Dead Sea overlooking the Jordan Valley opposite Jericho. The king of Moab took Balaam the prophet to "the top of Pisgah" in an effort to get him to curse Israel. (Num 23:13-14) From here, God allowed Moses to view the Promised Land before he died. (Deut 32:49; 34:1)

Petra -- ("Rock") This Edomite city was once the capital of the Nabateans; located in a semi-landlocked valley on the eastern side of the Aravah Valley, about 50 miles south of the Dead Sea. The normal entrance into the city of Petra is through the "Siq" (cleft), a winding fissure in the eastern ridge. At the end of the Siq, the path opens up to a spectacular canyon, with a view of a temple carved into the face of the rock. Some Bible teachers believe that the Jews will flee here during the End-Times battle that will proceed the return of Jesus. Sometimes also called "Sela." (Isaiah 34:4-6; 63:1 Matt 24:15-16 Rev 12:6)