"Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops."
— Isaiah 42:11

This verse from the book of Isaiah evokes a stark yet vibrant landscape—deserts, nomadic villages, and towering mountains echoing with voices of joy. Among these images appears the name Sela, meaning "rock" in Hebrew. For centuries, many Bible translations have rendered Sela as Petra, the legendary rock-carved city in present-day Jordan, famous for its sandstone cliffs and monumental façades.

But is Petra truly the Sela of the Bible? What connection does this lost city have with ancient scriptures? The answers lie at the crossroads of archaeology, history, and geography.

Petra and the Bible: A Link Beyond the Name

Petra, whose Greek name also means "rock," has long been associated with biblical history, even though it is never explicitly mentioned by that name in the scriptures. Early explorers and biblical scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries identified Petra with the Sela referenced in the Hebrew Bible, drawing on phonetic similarities and the city's dramatic geography—a hidden stronghold nestled within rugged mountains.

However, this identification was challenged in 1994 when Jordanian archaeologist Hani Qatameen uncovered a site in the Tafila region of Jordan that may correspond to the biblical Sela. Excavations revealed defensive structures, storage facilities, and evidence of an Iron Age fortified settlement. These findings align more closely with biblical descriptions of Judah’s battles against Edom (2 Kings 14:7). While this discovery has led scholars to reconsider Petra's biblical role, the debate remains open among historians and archaeologists.

Regardless of whether Petra is the Sela mentioned in Isaiah, the city retains a strong geographical and symbolic link to the Bible, as it lies at the heart of the ancient Edomite kingdom, a region deeply woven into biblical narratives.

The Kingdom of Edom: The Red Land of Esau

Edom, meaning "red," was a kingdom southeast of Judean territory, encompassing parts of modern Jordan, including Petra. According to biblical tradition, the Edomites were descendants of Esau, the brother and rival of Jacob.

(Edom means "red" as the reddish land of Petra; Photo credit: Mat Willder)

Edom’s mountainous terrain, marked by steep rock formations, provided natural fortifications. The Hebrew Bible describes the Edomites as dwelling in strongholds "in the clefts of the rock" (Obadiah 1:3), a description that closely matches Petra’s dramatic landscape.

The Edomite economy thrived on trade and metallurgy, particularly copper mining. Controlling key trade routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean, Edom was a crucial player in the region. While biblical texts often depict Edom as an adversary of the Israelites, archaeological evidence reveals a sophisticated society with advanced political organization and technological expertise.

Edom ultimately fell to Babylonian rule in the 6th century BCE, after which its inhabitants migrated into southern Judea, becoming known as Idumeans during Hellenistic and Roman times. One of the most famous Idumeans was Herod the Great, the ruler of Judea during the time of Jesus.

("Jacob and Esau" by Johann Heinrich Schönfeld - Kunsthistorisches Museum, Public Domain)

The Area Around Petra: Wadi Musa and the Legacy of Moses

Beyond Petra itself, the surrounding landscape is rich with traditions connected to biblical figures such as Moses and Aaron. 

• Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses): The modern town serving as the gateway to Petra is named Wadi Musa, meaning "Valley of Moses." According to local tradition, this is where Moses struck a rock with his staff to produce water for the Israelites during their desert journey (Numbers 20:11). Today, a spring known as Ain Musa (Moses' Spring) still flows in the area, considered by many a tangible link to this biblical event.

• Aaron’s Tomb (Jebel Harun): A nearby peak, Jebel Harun or "Mount Aaron," is traditionally believed to be the burial site of Aaron, Moses’ brother. At over 1,350 meters (4,400 feet), the summit hosts a small white-domed shrine, a revered site for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish pilgrims alike.

These traditions add layers of spiritual and historical significance to Petra’s landscape, where biblical memory and geographic reality intersect.

Petra: A Bridge Between Myth and History

Petra is more than a tourist attraction or an archaeological wonder—it is a silent witness to civilizations that rose and fell, leaving behind not only carved monuments but also echoes of their presence in the historical record. While its exact identification with biblical Sela remains uncertain, Petra’s connection to Edom and the broader biblical world is undeniable.

Beyond its famed stone façades and winding canyons, Petra stands as a testament to how landscapes shape history. It remains a place where human footsteps and ancient narratives intertwine, continuing to inspire those who visit and study its storied past.