Day 16 – Sunday, March 2: City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam, Southern Excavations, Shorashim, Free Afternoon in the Old City
Today was our last full day here in Jerusalem. The day included some adventure (Hezekiah’s Tunnel), dramatic reading of John 9 at the Pool of Siloam, southern steps of the Temple, Western Wall, a conversation with an Orthodox Jew (Moshe), and some free time in the afternoon. We had perfect weather day, with full sun and warmer temps around 60. We read from Psalm 48 as we left the hotel.
City of David/Hezekiah Tunnel
We started the day by driving to the City of David. After gathering on the observation tower and learning about the surrounding area, we walked down through the excavations (“Area G”). We saw David’s palace, city walls, and 7th-6th BC house structures (one of them was excavated/uncovered by Dr. John in June-July, 1982). We all continued through Warren’s Shaft (2 Samuel 5). The upper part of this discovery was probably used by David but not the vertical 52 foot shaft. Finally, we descended down to the Canaanite/Jebusite pool to the Gihon Spring. We then saw a newer movie about how Hezekiah’s Tunnel was chiseled out of stone before many in the group braved the waters of the 1,710 foot-long tunnel (2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32). Others took the “dry” Jebusite tunnel built 100s of years earlier. Both groups met at the Pool of Siloam where we read John 9 in dramatic fashion. More of the pool (or reservoir pool) as been exposed, but without finding any more of the steps of the pool. It could be that the smaller pool outside the end of Hezekiah’s Tunnel may have been the ritual pool in the John 9 story (?). Time will tell.
Southern Steps
From the Pool of Siloam and because the Drainage Channel was closed, we all bussed north (and up) to the “Davidson Center.” Here, we walked on the Herodian pavement used no doubt by Jesus. The SW corner of the Temple may have been the pinnacle where Jesus was tempted (Mt. 4). We then walked over to the southern steps used by commoners. Jesus Himself (and His disciples, and Paul) would have used these steps to enter the Temple. We recalled the many mentioned in the NT who used these steps (Luke 2, 18; John 2; Mark 13; and Acts 2, etc…). Before leaving the steps, we considered how God wants us to be His spiritual temple (2 Corinthians 3).
“Our last day here in Jerusalem and our last day of the tour was another great one! We enjoyed perfect weather too! The morning was spent at the City of David. Walking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel was an incredible experience!”
Jewish Quarter: Western Wall, Shorashim, Free Time
Following our time on the southern steps of the Temple, we walked to the Kotel and the Western Wall. Seeing this massive retaining wall of Herod’s Temple was impressive. We then walked up into the heart of the Jewish Quarter where we enjoyed an interesting conversation with an Orthodox Jew named Moshe at Shorashim. The rest of the afternoon was free time. Some returned to the Holy Sepulcher while everyone explored on their own.
We returned to the hotel for our last dinner together. We all wake really early tomorrow morning for our flight home.
Day 17 – Monday, March 3: Early Morning Flight Back Home (via Europe)
