“The Promised Land” As Seen By Moses
This is the view of the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo which is in, what is now, the country of Jordan. After a long and hard forty years of leading the Hebrew Nation through the desert, Moses was told by God that He would not cross over into the land. But God allowed him to climb to the top of Mount Nebo where he viewed this amazing land of promise. As you stand on Mount Nebo today, this is the same panoramic view that Moses would have had. On a clear day, you can look out and see the Dead Sea, the beautiful River Jordan, the small town of Bethlehem, and the faraway hills of the city of Jerusalem. As we recaptured that same panoramic view, it was amazing to even consider the magnificent sight that met the eyes of Moses.
The story of this magnificent view is told to us in the Bible, it reads as follows:
Deuteronomy 34:1-6 (KJV)
34 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
4 And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.
View of the Holy land on Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo has always been a place of importance not only in Judaism but also within the Christian faith. In the early third and fourth centuries monks came from Egypt on a special pilgrimage and later built a monastery to remember the latter years of the life of Moses. Their little church/monastery was called a Siyagha. During these early centuries, Christians were also coming from Jerusalem on a spiritual pilgrimage to this same area. By the latter part of the Fourth Century, an empty tomb was erected to help the pilgrims remember Moses.
This little Siyagha, by the Sixth Century, had grown into a large Basilica. Within the Basilica were magnificent mosaics dating from the Byzantine era. There are almost no remains of the early Basilica, but a shrine now stands at the site. This magnificent collection can be seen within the shrine. Outside the current shrine is a large monument of the Brazen Serpent set up by Moses and recorded in Numbers 21:4-9. There is also a monument of a Great Stone, which is believed to be from the tomb of Jesus.
“The Great Stone”
The Mount Nebo site is administrated by the Franciscans and the shrine is open daily. No trip to the Holy Land is complete without a visit to Mount Nebo. To view the Holy Land as did Moses is breathtaking and a special part of any Holy Land adventure or pilgrimage.
Was published on steemit.com@exploretraveler on April 6, 2017 at:
https://steemit.com/travel/@exploretraveler/the-promised-land
