Day 10 – Tuesday, March 29: Southern Excavations, Western Wall/Tunnels, City of David: Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam, Garden Tomb, Israel Museum
Today was our last day in Jerusalem. The weather was again perfect, with full sun and highs in the upper 60s. We experienced a lot, with many Old and New Testament connections! We left the hotel at 7:30, reading Psalm 48 as we departed.
Southern Excavations
The traffic was heavy around the Old City today. We arrived at the Davidson Center to see the Southern Excavations of the Temple. This included seeing the SW corner of the Temple, the Herodian pavement, and the southern steps that would have led into the Temple in Jesus’ day. We recalled the many times Jesus and the disciples (and Paul) used these steps. Whereas the Temple was a magnificent building (Mark 13:1-2), we are to be the Temple (1 Corinthians 3)!
Western Wall/Tunnels
Close by is the Western Wall, the most holy place for Jewish people today! We entered the excavation called the Western Wall Tunnels where we saw many interesting ruins from the time of Herod and beyond. This included a section of a large section of the western retaining wall that is underground, a small theater (probably 2nd century AD), fountains, and ritual baths. Some of the stones were 100s of tons in weight!
City of David
Walking south from the Western Wall about 5 minutes is the City of David. It is located outside the Old City today. We first got a great view of the area from the observation tower before we walked down through the excavations of Area G (where Dr. John dug for a month in 1982), and Warren’s Shaft. At the Gihon Spring is where most in the group accessed the entrance to Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a 1,710-foot tunnel chiseled in 701 BC. We walked in water through this amazing discovery mentioned in 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 8:6. Others walked through the “dry” Canaanite tunnel. Both groups converged at the Pool of Siloam where we read John 9 in dramatic fashion!
We met David and our bus here at the southern end of the City of David and drove to Jaffa Gate for lunch n the Christian Quarter.
Garden Tomb
From lunch, we walked to the Garden Tomb. This is an alternative location for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. We saw the rocky scarp (Golgotha) and the proposed tomb. A special time of worship and Communion followed.
“Today was our last day here in Israel. Jerusalem sure is a unique city. From seeing the grandeur of the Temple to walking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the day was filled with new experiences. It has been an unbelievable trip!”
Israel Museum
The last stop of the day was the Israel Museum. We saw three things here: The 1:50 scale-model of Jerusalem at the time of 70 AD, the Shrine of the Book (where we saw some of the Dead Sea Scrolls), and the Archaeological wing of the museum. We saw a few highlights of the artifacts found from all over the country that have biblical connections.
We returned to the hotel for our farewell dinner as one big group. Some go to Jordan tomorrow while others fly home tomorrow night.
Day 11 – Wednesday, March 30: Border Crossing to Jordan, Mt. Nebo, Machaerus, Wadi Rum. (For those retuning home: Free time in Jerusalem, Shephelah/Lowlands biblical sites, Flight Home)
