Old Testament Walk

Today's trip through Jerusalem focused on Old Testament Jerusalem. Most people who visit Jerusalem don't know that the original city that David conquered from the Jebusites and his original palace are not located where the city is today. Today's Jerusalem is on the western ridge and David's was on the eastern ridge (with just a narrow valley between them). Solomon is the one who expanded the original city up onto the western ridge to build the temple. It was helpful to hear that Jerusalem is like a bump on the bottom of a bowl. It is a raised hilltop with higher mountains all around it. I always assumed it was the highest point, but I was wrong.

We started by looking at a section of the wall that has been excavated which is some of the original wall. This little archeological park is right in the middle of a neighborhood (see the playground in the background). How would you like to have a structure from 800 BC in your backyard?

We then moved outside the modern city to the location of ancient Jerusalem. There is significant excavation here which was really very interesting. I've put a picture here from the dig. I'm wondering if anyone can guess what that square stone in the middle is? It is dug out like a bowl with a hole in the middle of it. Send your guesses my way.

The highlight of the day was walking Hezekiah's tunnel. When King Hezekiah realized that sooner or later Sanecharib was going to attack from the north, he got busy trying to solve the water problem that Jerusalem had -- it's only spring, Gihon, was outside the city wall. He had his workers dig a tunnel through solid bedrock to channel that water into the city. They started at either end and met in the middle. It was a truly amazing feat. We got to walk that tunnel with water sometimes above our knees and mostly at our shins. Anyone who is claustrophobic would have hated the 1750 foot hike. I'm not tall, but I hit my head more than once and most of the time both my shoulders were barely not scraping the walls. It got even better when we turned off our flashlights. That tunnel emptied into the Pool of Shilom. It was a wonderful adventure.

Our hike up the Kidron Valley brought us to an ancient burial ground with impressive caves/tombs which were open for exploration. I took the chance to lay down on a bench where bodies from the 200 BC were laid. (You don't get to do that every day. I'm inside one of the rooms in the tomb with the pillars)

There were many other pauses throughout the day as we learned about David and Solomon and the Mount of Olives (makes up the other side of the Kidron Valley). The history and geography has given me a much better perspective to the stories of the Bible. Tomorrow is the New Testament Jerusalem walk where we will go up to the temple mount (Golden Dome), the Western Wall and other excavations.

The afternoon was spent in class learning more about what we saw in the morning and preparing us for what we will see tomorrow. (I also passed my first quiz!) I am hot and tired from hiking but thankful for all that I'm experiencing and learning.