Mt. Scopus (Mt. of Olives), View of Wilderness, View from Mt. of Olives, Garden of Get Shemen, Promenade, Herodian, Bethlehem
Today I finally began to understand the complexity of the Land here in Jerusalem. Prior to this, I was very confused as to where the Central valley was in comparison to the Eastern hill and Western hill, where the Herodian was, where David’s city ended, and so on. This Valentine's Day some of those puzzle pieces came together.
Mt Scopus (Northern part of Mt. of Olives) Ps 48
As we stood on Mt. Scopus we were able to view the Watershed Ridge. It followed the very top of Israel along the North. There were several tall buildings on this ridge which made the Watershed Ridge easier to identify. On the map, Jerusalem looks like it is directly next to the Watershed Ridge. From where we stood, it appeared as if there was really no boundary separating the Eastern Hill from the ridge.
It shocked me to see that the Mt. of Olives is higher in elevation than from where the former Holy of Holies on the temple Mount would have been located. This raised some questions for me. Wasn’t it supposed to be at the highest part of the city? What happened?
We also learned the “Mt. Siyon,” present day Mt. Hermon can be associated with Mt. Zion. Mt. Siyon is located in the far North and is called a Divine Mountain. I’m sure we will learn more about that later.
The “Ah, ha” moment for me was when we were able to see that God’s palace, the Temple Mount would have been situated in the most vulnerable part of the city, the North. Why would they want the most precious thing in the world to be exposed first to the “Cats” while under siege? It is simple. God would protect his land. “When the kings (Cats) joined forces, when they advanced together, they saw her, and were astounded; they fled in terror. Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish (Big boats) shattered by an east wind.” Psalm 48: 4 When the enemy was approaching from the North, they were scared and ran when they saw the temple. The Text says that God destroyed them with the East wind showing how He protects his dwelling place.
View of Wilderness (Josh. 15)
Next, we ventured over the Mt. of Olives and down the mountain just a bit to where we were able to see Senonian chalk-like rock everywhere. The land was brown and sloped. George Adam Smith gave a detailed description of the Wilderness comparing it to standing on a ship while watching waves roll. From where I stood, I would have to agree. I could see rolling hills of dry brown land. As I looked further east I could envision the Dead Sea situated in the deepest part of the Rift Valley. This lowest place on earth is 1200 meters below sea level, naming this as the lowest point on earth.
The Senonian rocks do not hold water very well, nor does the Rendzina soil allow for good crops. We could see how difficult it might be to build on this land, just from the lack of villages in the area. It is also east of the Watershed Ridge so their rain fall would be significantly less than if we were able to travel to the west of the ridge. If one were to travel from Jerusalem over the ridge by themselves, it would be very dangerous. They would need to know how to protect themselves from robbers, carry enough food and water, and be able to fight off animals.
Anathoth is where the second temple prophet, Jeremiah, the prophet is from. Anathoth is a boarder town into the Wilderness. Life would have been difficult for him in this dry land. However, when he went to Jerusalem with green land, water, and protection, it was paradise.
View from Mt. Olives (2 Sam. 5, 15:23)
I learned today excavation on burial grounds is not permitted. A few years ago, a JUC student sank into some ground directly outside the Golden Gate. He fell onto some old bones, but more importantly he found that there was another wall directly under the current Golden Gate. The next day the grounds were filled in and no excavation occurred!
When Jesus made his “Triumphal entry” back into Jerusalem from the Wilderness, he would have stopped in Bethany, located on the Eastern side of the Mt. of Olives for Shabbat dinner (Friday). This was the home of Mary and Martha who would have had Simon (the Leper) and Lazarus (Jesus raised him from the dead six weeks earlier). This was his last Shabbat meal before his death. Jesus would have stayed in Bethany Friday night because it was Shabbat and he would have been breaking a law if he was to travel/work on Shabbat. On Sunday, the busiest day of the week (especially since Passover was coming on Friday, at the end of the week) he came over the top of the ridge and sees Jerusalem. Lk 19:28 says Jesus wept like David did when coming over the mountain and seeing the city. Jesus probably did Mikveh and then entered by the Southern Steps (not the Golden Gate).
As we fast forward, for Passover, the moon is always full which means that on this Passover (Friday), the moon would have been situated directly over the Mt. of Olives. The Text tells us that Jesus and his disciples would have gone to the Gan Get Shemen (Garden of Gethsemane). Some scholars say that the last supper, where he reclined with his disciples could have been the Passover meal, but probably not. While in the garden, he is captured and then later crucified at the exact time that the sacrificial lamb died. The people at his crucifixion that Friday had to hurry and take the body down before Shabbat started because they probably had to be home for their meals. There was not even enough time to anoint Jesus’ body properly before being placed in the tomb because they could not work on Shabbat which is why Mary came back later. Mary and possibly Martha would have arrived early on Sunday morning, when Shabbat was over to anoint his body. Jesus appears to them for forty days and gives the image in Acts 1:6 that the Holy spirit would appear first to Jerusalem, then to the daughters of Jerusalem meaning all the surround areas and then to the ends of the earth. How amazing!
Another fun fact: Whenever Jesus was in the Wilderness, he always entered in through the east as the Israelites did coming out of captivity.
Herodian (Ps 23)
Herod’s reputation of building great things is displayed in the Herodian. This palace was constructed next to another mountain in which he chopped off the top so that it would be shorter than the Herodian. In a place that is extremely brown and dry, Herod managed to build an aqueduct 40 miles long that carried water from the Springs in Hebron, to Jerusalem, through Bethlehem, and then to the Herodian. He would have used it for his sauna, pool, and other lavish uses. It was easy to see how people might have hated him from all of the extraordinary structures that he ordered people to build. He was a bit insane, eventually killing his children, as he suspected them of eventually killing him to take the thrown.
In the Herodian we could see an old Triclynium which was eventually converted to a Jewish Synagogue. It is one of three oldest synagogues in the world. At the top of the Herodian you can see the Senonian rocks with Rendzina soil all around. The land is known as “Midbar,” a type of arid land where you can have goats and sheep. People can survive off of milk from goats, and bugs (locusts). In fact, this is the land of the Ibex who only drinks water every 2-3 days. The number one cause of death in the Wilderness is drowning during the flash floods.
Bethlehem- Church of the Nativity
Bethlehem is one of the smaller cities in Judah. Jesus was born in a cave when the animals and shepherds would have been out in the fields. The cave was a private area in close proximity to the actual home. In some cases the cave could have even been below the home. It was custom back then and until recently that when a woman was going to give birth to a child, she would go down to the animals' cave and deliver the baby there. The American idea that leads us to feel sorry for Mary and Joseph having to deliver in a barn is incorrect. Today, the cave is covered with the “Church of the Nativity” and various marble slabs, candles, and incense to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Today I finally began to understand the complexity of the Land here in Jerusalem. Prior to this, I was very confused as to where the Central valley was in comparison to the Eastern hill and Western hill, where the Herodian was, where David’s city ended, and so on. This Valentine's Day some of those puzzle pieces came together.
Mt Scopus (Northern part of Mt. of Olives) Ps 48
As we stood on Mt. Scopus we were able to view the Watershed Ridge. It followed the very top of Israel along the North. There were several tall buildings on this ridge which made the Watershed Ridge easier to identify. On the map, Jerusalem looks like it is directly next to the Watershed Ridge. From where we stood, it appeared as if there was really no boundary separating the Eastern Hill from the ridge.
It shocked me to see that the Mt. of Olives is higher in elevation than from where the former Holy of Holies on the temple Mount would have been located. This raised some questions for me. Wasn’t it supposed to be at the highest part of the city? What happened?
We also learned the “Mt. Siyon,” present day Mt. Hermon can be associated with Mt. Zion. Mt. Siyon is located in the far North and is called a Divine Mountain. I’m sure we will learn more about that later.
The “Ah, ha” moment for me was when we were able to see that God’s palace, the Temple Mount would have been situated in the most vulnerable part of the city, the North. Why would they want the most precious thing in the world to be exposed first to the “Cats” while under siege? It is simple. God would protect his land. “When the kings (Cats) joined forces, when they advanced together, they saw her, and were astounded; they fled in terror. Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish (Big boats) shattered by an east wind.” Psalm 48: 4 When the enemy was approaching from the North, they were scared and ran when they saw the temple. The Text says that God destroyed them with the East wind showing how He protects his dwelling place.
View of Wilderness (Josh. 15)
Next, we ventured over the Mt. of Olives and down the mountain just a bit to where we were able to see Senonian chalk-like rock everywhere. The land was brown and sloped. George Adam Smith gave a detailed description of the Wilderness comparing it to standing on a ship while watching waves roll. From where I stood, I would have to agree. I could see rolling hills of dry brown land. As I looked further east I could envision the Dead Sea situated in the deepest part of the Rift Valley. This lowest place on earth is 1200 meters below sea level, naming this as the lowest point on earth.
The Senonian rocks do not hold water very well, nor does the Rendzina soil allow for good crops. We could see how difficult it might be to build on this land, just from the lack of villages in the area. It is also east of the Watershed Ridge so their rain fall would be significantly less than if we were able to travel to the west of the ridge. If one were to travel from Jerusalem over the ridge by themselves, it would be very dangerous. They would need to know how to protect themselves from robbers, carry enough food and water, and be able to fight off animals.
Anathoth is where the second temple prophet, Jeremiah, the prophet is from. Anathoth is a boarder town into the Wilderness. Life would have been difficult for him in this dry land. However, when he went to Jerusalem with green land, water, and protection, it was paradise.
View from Mt. Olives (2 Sam. 5, 15:23)
I learned today excavation on burial grounds is not permitted. A few years ago, a JUC student sank into some ground directly outside the Golden Gate. He fell onto some old bones, but more importantly he found that there was another wall directly under the current Golden Gate. The next day the grounds were filled in and no excavation occurred!
When Jesus made his “Triumphal entry” back into Jerusalem from the Wilderness, he would have stopped in Bethany, located on the Eastern side of the Mt. of Olives for Shabbat dinner (Friday). This was the home of Mary and Martha who would have had Simon (the Leper) and Lazarus (Jesus raised him from the dead six weeks earlier). This was his last Shabbat meal before his death. Jesus would have stayed in Bethany Friday night because it was Shabbat and he would have been breaking a law if he was to travel/work on Shabbat. On Sunday, the busiest day of the week (especially since Passover was coming on Friday, at the end of the week) he came over the top of the ridge and sees Jerusalem. Lk 19:28 says Jesus wept like David did when coming over the mountain and seeing the city. Jesus probably did Mikveh and then entered by the Southern Steps (not the Golden Gate).
As we fast forward, for Passover, the moon is always full which means that on this Passover (Friday), the moon would have been situated directly over the Mt. of Olives. The Text tells us that Jesus and his disciples would have gone to the Gan Get Shemen (Garden of Gethsemane). Some scholars say that the last supper, where he reclined with his disciples could have been the Passover meal, but probably not. While in the garden, he is captured and then later crucified at the exact time that the sacrificial lamb died. The people at his crucifixion that Friday had to hurry and take the body down before Shabbat started because they probably had to be home for their meals. There was not even enough time to anoint Jesus’ body properly before being placed in the tomb because they could not work on Shabbat which is why Mary came back later. Mary and possibly Martha would have arrived early on Sunday morning, when Shabbat was over to anoint his body. Jesus appears to them for forty days and gives the image in Acts 1:6 that the Holy spirit would appear first to Jerusalem, then to the daughters of Jerusalem meaning all the surround areas and then to the ends of the earth. How amazing!
Another fun fact: Whenever Jesus was in the Wilderness, he always entered in through the east as the Israelites did coming out of captivity.
Herodian (Ps 23)
Herod’s reputation of building great things is displayed in the Herodian. This palace was constructed next to another mountain in which he chopped off the top so that it would be shorter than the Herodian. In a place that is extremely brown and dry, Herod managed to build an aqueduct 40 miles long that carried water from the Springs in Hebron, to Jerusalem, through Bethlehem, and then to the Herodian. He would have used it for his sauna, pool, and other lavish uses. It was easy to see how people might have hated him from all of the extraordinary structures that he ordered people to build. He was a bit insane, eventually killing his children, as he suspected them of eventually killing him to take the thrown.
In the Herodian we could see an old Triclynium which was eventually converted to a Jewish Synagogue. It is one of three oldest synagogues in the world. At the top of the Herodian you can see the Senonian rocks with Rendzina soil all around. The land is known as “Midbar,” a type of arid land where you can have goats and sheep. People can survive off of milk from goats, and bugs (locusts). In fact, this is the land of the Ibex who only drinks water every 2-3 days. The number one cause of death in the Wilderness is drowning during the flash floods.
Bethlehem- Church of the Nativity
Bethlehem is one of the smaller cities in Judah. Jesus was born in a cave when the animals and shepherds would have been out in the fields. The cave was a private area in close proximity to the actual home. In some cases the cave could have even been below the home. It was custom back then and until recently that when a woman was going to give birth to a child, she would go down to the animals' cave and deliver the baby there. The American idea that leads us to feel sorry for Mary and Joseph having to deliver in a barn is incorrect. Today, the cave is covered with the “Church of the Nativity” and various marble slabs, candles, and incense to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
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