JERUSALEM JOURNAL: DAY 4

JERUSALEM JOURNAL: DAY 4 - DECEMBER 30, 2009

ROOFTOP OF THE GLORIA HOTEL

I thought that it would be nice to get some pictures of the city.

ROOFTOP OF THE PETRA HOSTEL

This is one of the best places to get good pictures of the city from a high elevation. Hezekiah’s Pool was below the hostel, but is now a dumping ground for refuse. Typically the dirtier portions of the city or the neighborhoods are occupied by Muslims.



BROAD WALL

The Broad Wall was built in 701 BC by King Hezekiah of Judah (see 2 Chron 32:5). It was approximately 8 meters high by 7 meters thick and built to ally the threat of an attack by the Assyrians, who, in 722, had sent the Northern Kingdom into exile. Jerusalem had grown, and one of the reasons for that growth might have been refugees who had escaped the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The wall provided for a northern defense of the city. While the other three sides of the city were surrounded by both the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys, there were hills on the North side, and this was the most vulnerable point for the city.










ARIEL CENTER FOR JERUSALEM IN THE FIRST TEMPLE PERIOD

This center built a scale model to depict the temple as it would have existed at the end of the first temple period. Included was a presentation and movie.

KIDRON VALLEY OVERLOOK

Just outside of the Dung Gate we were able to view old tombs which had been etched into the side of the rocks. One is the tomb of Zechariah, built in the 1st Century BC and having nothing to do with the well known prophet of earlier times. Another was a tomb inscribed to the sons of Hazir, and a third one is the Tomb of Absalom also built in the 1st Century BC and having nothing to do with King David’s son. Jesus probably walked there, on His way to the Garden of Gethsemane.










However, down the way, there was a tomb built from the 8th to 7th Century BC. At this location, the wall of the city dates back to the Hasmonean period or possibly earlier. The problem is that excavation of the ground below is impossible due to all the graveyards that surround the city walls.

From there we could also see the hill on which Solomon built a high place to the god Chemosh, one of several high places built so that his foreign wives could worship their Gods. Solomon, of course received punishment from God for his apostasy when his sons lost the united kingdom, which split into two nations, Israel and Judah. It is also interesting, as well as ironic, to note that the United Nations Headquarters is built on the Hill of Evil Counsel, which dates back to Solomon’s days.

HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL

This tunnel was dug to bring water into the city to hold off Sennacherib, the Assyrian King, during his unsuccessful siege. In this area, they also excavated part of a Hasmonean wall and a stepped stone structure which might have been the support for the palace of David. Another interesting piece that they found was a stone toilet.

We actually walked through the tunnel from the Springs of Gihon to one of the Pools of Siloam.

POOL OF SILOAM

We exited Hezekiah’s Tunnel at one of the pools; but this was not the pool mentioned in John’s Gospel, where the blind man healed by Jesus washed his eyes. That pool is being excavated at a higher level, where they have just found two parallel streets which appear to go up to the Temple Mount and have been dated during the period that Christ lived. We were allowed into the newer excavation site to see the work that they had done, and as a result, probably walked on the same steps that Jesus Christ might have when he went up to the temple. Note: unfortunately, my camera ran out of memory at this point.

ISRAEL MUSEUM NEW TESTAMENT MODEL

This model depicts Jerusalem just before the destruction in AD 70 by the Romans. It is built on a scale of 1:50 with authentic materials.

DEAD SEA SCROLLS (Shrine of the Book)

At the same museum, they exhibited some of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including verses from Isaiah and the Apocrypha.


GENERAL COMMENTS

It was a long day, and even longer because Todd decided that he wanted to give us an hour and a half lecture after we got back. Most of us could not keep our eyes open. I understand that Todd may know a great deal about his subject, but he tends to forget about his students and their needs. While we were going through the tunnel this afternoon, for example, I was behind him and had to ask him to slow down, because he was getting too far ahead. He wants to lead, but he needs to do a better job of making sure that his students are following.