Sunday morning we went through the Old City with our Brit friends, the Haywoods, to the City of David on the south side of the walled city of Jerusalem. This is the ancient site of the city of Salem (Abraham and Melchizedek). David captured this city 3000 years ago and made it his capital of Israel, Jerusalem. We visited this site when we were here before but wanted to go back with friends who had not been and to go through Hezekiah's Tunnel.
This tunnel was cut 1700 feet through solid rock from inside the city to the Gihon Springs outside the city and down in the valley of Kidron. This allowed them to channel wanter inside the city for defense purposes. We thought you might like to enjoy some pictures.
Looking down into the Kidron Valley
from the City of David.
The valley was significantly deeper
in David's day.
Our Jewish Guide, Missy, was very animated.
Looking UP from David's City to Temple Mount where Solomon built the first Temple
Ruins of a house in David's City. David's Palace was very close to the house. It would have been very easy for him to look down onto the roof of his neighbor's homes.
This is what the house would have looked like.
David's city was very modern for its day, complete with indoor plumbing.
Yep a 3000 year old toilet seat.
Lovely huh?
David's City 3000 years ago.
David's Palace is the large building near the top.
The Gihon Springs are in the four towers on the right.
The Pool of Siloam is inside the city walls lower left.
Hezekiah's Tunnel runs from the Gihon Springs
1700 feet to the Pool of Siloam.
There was too much water in Hezekiah's Tunnel when we last visited David's City. But Sunday we were able to walk through the tunnel. The tunnel was dug 300 years after David, through solid rock to the Pool of Siloam, bringing water inside the city.
Going through the Tunnel
You can see how deep the water was in places
by how much Judy's pants are wet.
AND the water was very COLD!
Many places in the Tunnel, we had to stoop over because the ceiling was so low. Very claustrophobic!
These steps are part of a massive staircase that let up from the Pool of Siloam to the Huldah Gates leading up to Temple Mount. Jews would take their ritual bath at the pool before walking up to the Temple to make sacrifice.
and we have returned to the peace of the Garden Tomb. Can you even begin to imagine the joy that fills our hearts on a daily basis to Serve our Lord in this marvelous land?
1 comment:
Very interesting stuff, ya'll! I really enjoyed reading that!
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