Day 11 – Thursday, May 8: Garden Tomb, City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam, Southern Wall Excavations, Western Wall, Moshe/Shoreshim, Free time
Today was our last full day of the Israel portion of the trip. It was another beautiful sunny day, with highs in the low 80s. We enjoyed a time of worship & Communion to begin the day (at the Garden Tomb), followed by a visit to the City of David. We left the hotel at 8:30, reading Psalm 48 as we departed the hotel.
Garden Tomb
The drive to the Garden Tomb was a short one. Located on the north side of the Old City, this is an alternative (“Protestant”) location found in the late 1800s for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. We saw the suggested rocky scarp (Golgotha) where Jesus was crucified, followed by the proposed tomb. A special time of worship and Communion followed. We worship the Person, not the place. What a great place to consider the redemptive purpose of Jesus’ coming!
City of David
Next, we drove down around the Old City to the City of David. Because of a re-scheduled flight, we sadly said goodbye to five Georgians in our group (they had a flight today at 4 p.m. to Dubai and then home).
The City of David is located south of (and 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 some 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!
Southern Excavations
Following our reading, some in the group walked up the Drainage Channel (under a pavement dating to 30 AD), with the rest of the group bussing up to the Davidson Center to see the Southern Excavations of the Temple. Within the center, we saw the SW corner of the Temple (with massive Herodian stones), 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)!
“Our last day here in Jerusalem and our last day of the tour was another great one! We enjoyed perfect weather too! We began the day at the Garden Tomb (very special!), with the rest of the day at the City of David, southern steps, Western Wall, and the Jewish Quarter. Walking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel was an incredible experience!”
Western Wall
Close by is the Western Wall, the most holy place for Jewish people today! This western wall served as a retaining wall for the expanded platform of the Temple Mount above. Some walked down to the Wall for a time of prayer. We then walked from the Western Wall (the Kotel) to Hurva Square, the heart of the Jewish Quarter.
Moshe / Shorashim, Jewish Quarter
In the Jewish Quarter we met Moshe and his brother Dov at their shop called Shorashim. They are two Orthodox brothers. Briefly, Moshe shared about his Jewish faith and practice. Everything in the shop has a biblical connection.
To end the day, we enjoyed some free time, exploring the Old City on our own. We then walked to the Zion’s Gate where David picked us up. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a farewell dinner together! God blessed us with a wonderful Israel trip!
Day 12 – Friday May 9: Start of Jordan Extension or Extended Time in Jerusalem (Until Rescheduled Flights Take Place)
