I finished reading Walking the Bible. It was an amazing account of a man getting (back) in touch with his religion by visiting the real-world geographical locations of the Hebrew Bible – the first 5 chapters of the Christian Bible. Starting in Turkey where Noah’s ark is thought to have landed, he traces a route south through Israel, out to Egypt, across the Sinai and Negev, into Jordan and back to Jerusalem.
I have already completed a similar journey through out Israel and Palestine tracing what I believe to be the major sites in the life and times of the historical Jesus. It was amazing. If there is any kind of a demand, I will write about those experiences later.
What this book- once reconciled with my own Israel trip – brought to life was a desire to have an Epic journey out of Egypt like Moses did. Here’s my thoughts on how I could do it in 2 weeks. What do you think?
Highlights.
Part 1 – Cairo, Egypt -(land of the Pharaohs, Jacob, Joseph and Israel during the famine)
-Day 1: Land in Cairo. Acclimate. (Assumes a Day 0 night flight.) Will land shortly afternoon.
-Day 2: Hanging Church (built by the Nile River over the Roman Gate of Babylon.) Acclimate some more.
-Day 3: Day trip to Alexandria.
-Day 4: Day trip to Memphis (aka legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt.)
From a Biblical perspective, Memphis is most likely where Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his wife Sarah being his sister and where Joseph served as second in command.
Part 2 – Nile (Head north to Luxor and cruise back on the Nile to Cairo.
(Floating like baby Moses, except no reeds.)
-Day 5: -Leave Cairo (via route taken by Abraham, Joseph, Moses and the family of Jesus… Debate rail vs air. Trip is 420 miles. Rail is $17 but 10 hours – only 9 hours if we leave at 10pm and go sleeper class!)
-Visit the Valley of the Kings (where many ancient pharaohs were buried) and the Temple of Hatshepsut, the princess who pulled baby Moses out of the Nile River.
-Evening tour of Temple of Luxor, which was founded in the reign of Amenhotep III, grandson of the pharaoh of the Exodus.
-Overnight hotel in Luxor.
-Day 6: Karnak
-Temple of Karnak (temple of the New Kingdom period) and the East Bank of the Nile. It was during this period that the bondage and Exodus occurred.
-Overnight train ride back to Cairo.
Day 7: Back to Cairo (1000+ years before Abraham.)
-Pyramids, Sphinx, King Tut.
Part 3 – Sinai
Day 8: Mt. Sinai (Sight of burning bush. )
-Travel the southward route of the Exodus through the Wilderness of Shur.
-Arriving in the late afternoon at Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb).
-Sleep at St. Catherine’s Monastery.
Day 9: Wake up #@$ing early !!!
-Climb before dawn to the top of Mt Sinai (Dress warmly!!)
-Take bus to the Red Sea.
-A view of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel to the north. Imagine Moses parting of the sea.
-Take ferry to Jordan -> Aqaba (Biblical Ezion Geber) – Solomon’s seaport.
Part 4 – Jordan
Day 10: Petra
-Mountain fortress of Petra (Edomites – the descendents of Esau.)
-Freaking amazing. You have to see the pictures to understand it.
-Stop at the spring claimed to be the place where Moses struck the rock.
-Overnight in Petra to see it @ dark. Hotel in Petra.
Day 11: Petra to Amman, Jordan
-Try to see Fortress of Machaerus, the place where John the Baptist was beheaded on the way back.
-Check in and see Roman Amphitheater, Citadel, Jordan Archaeological Museum
Day 12: Day trip to Mt Nebo, the tomb of Moses.
-Spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.
Related posts: