Machaerus

Machaerus

Introduction According to historical records, in the 1st century BC, King Herod of Judea built a military fortress known as Machaerus Castle. The castle sits atop a hill that overlooks the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley, and on clear days, Jerusalem can be seen from there. Machaerus became an important holy site because it was the place where John the Baptist was martyred. Today, only ruins of Machaerus Castle remain. Halfway up the mountain, there is a large cave, believed to be the place where John the Baptist was imprisoned. The entrance to the cave is small, but the interior is spacious — approximately 40 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 10 meters high. There is a hole in the cave ceiling through which items could be hoisted up to the castle on the mountaintop using ropes, so it may have also served as a storage area for the fortress. Background: John the Baptist was a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses. He baptized people by the Jordan River and preached in the Judean wilderness, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is near. Repent!” At that time, many were expecting the coming of the Messiah, and some suspected that John might be the Christ. But John said, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming... I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,” thus foretelling the coming of Jesus. In 28 AD, Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, who called Him “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” King Herod had married Herodias, the wife of his brother, and John the Baptist admonished him, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herod had John arrested and imprisoned in a stone cave halfway up the mountain in Machaerus Castle. Herodias held a grudge against John and eventually took the opportunity to have him killed. Transportation: Machaerus is located 30 kilometers south of Madaba and 10 kilometers from the Ma'in Hot Springs.

Amman, Jordan