The King’s Highway is the world’s oldest continuously used
communication route. It used to link ancient Bashan, Giliad, and Ammon
in the North with Moab, Edom, Paran, and Midian in the South.
In the Bible, The King’s Highway is first mentioned by name in Numbers
20:17, 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well.
We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” when Moses led the Exodus through southern Jordan. Moses
asked the King of Edom if he and his people could “go along the King’s
Highway” during their journey to Canaan, but his request was denied.
The King’s Highway is also referenced in an earlier story in Genesis 14:5-8, 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
in relation to the four Kings from the North. They attacked Sodom and
Gomorrah and the three other Cities of the Plain – Heshbon (Hisban),
Medaba (Madaba) and Kir Moab (Karak) – taking Lot hostage, only to be
chased and beaten by Abraham.
Today, this scenic route is a fine paved road that winds, dips, twists, and
rambles through the heart of the Jordanian highlands, passing through
the country’s most stunning landscapes and some of its most important
ancient sites.
