The presence of Petra in the Negev desert, which is an extension of the Sinai desert, gave it that historical importance to the journey of the Prophet of God, Moses, peace be upon him.
Moses and the Children of Israel fled from the oppression of Pharaoh and wandered in that desert for forty years. That is why that region was called Wadi Musa, and its name is still like that until now.
The Prophet of God, Aaron, died in that area, and his grave is at the top of a mountain of the Petra Mountains, a mountain overlooking Mount Nebo, which is the place where Moses, peace be upon him, stopped during his journey.
The secret of naming this region by this name is due to the fact that the Prophet of God, Moses, resided there for some time and was aware of his death approaching, so he took a stone from which 12 springs were flowing and fixed it in the mountains of that region so that 12 springs would emerge again, then it turned into 12 villages and each of the tribes had a village of its own.