Old City Walk- Physical Settings class

Broad Wall (Avigad’s Wall), Rooftop Overview, City of David, Kenyon’s Jebusite Wall, Entrance to Warren’s Shaft, Gihon Spring, Pool of Siloam, Southern Wall Excavations, Southern Stairs, Pool of Bethesda

I had class today in the "field" and tried to summarize all of my findings. It is a good review for me to type it out... If you just want to skip to the pictures, click: Old City Walk Pictures

Broad Wall pg 122, 146-147 (Isa 22:8-11, Neh 3:8, 2 Kgs 14:13)
We began our journey this morning by walking out Zion’s gate and to the Broad Wall which was discovered by Archaeologist, Avigad. Around 470 BC the Western hill became very densely populated. The Assyrians launched a 300 year event to take over the land. “TP” wiped up the city completely. Those inhabiting Israel fled south to the closest town where they took a refugee status. Later, during Hezekiah’s rule, he strengthened the wall, built a water tunnel, re-organized taxes, and put a wall around the western hill to protect Western Jerusalem. The wall is very large and wide. It may appear that it was built in a hurry because the stones are uncut and they just placed the rock over existing houses. Is. 22:8-11, Neh. 3:8, 2 Kgs 14:13.

City of David (Ps 121:1-8, Ps 125: 1-2, Zeph 1:10, 2 Chron 3:1, 1 Kgs 11:7)
When David took over the city around 1000 BC, it had already been inhabited by others for about 3000 years. Why did he choose a place that was not the highest in elevation? In fact, it is surprisingly nestled and surrounded by hills everywhere. The Western hill is higher than the City of David. During the reign of David, the temple mount would have been a threshing floor- otherwise known as farming land (a place to grow barley and wheat.

To the East of David’s city Mt. of Olives extends down the Kidron Valley (Now in a Muslim area referred to as Sulwan Village). Every place is higher than that of David’s city. Could it have been that he chose this low place because he would have been protected? The most vulnerable spot for him would have been if the enemy came through the North because if they came from any other direction, he would see them coming. Just from standing here on the mountain I can see all of the rooftops clearly as they descend down hill. It would have been easy for Bathsheba to be seen bathing outside. In fact, most things did occur outside, especially when it is hot out. The fact that Bathsheba did bathe, is not so far fetched.
When Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the idol of Moab on the Mountain which is east of Jerusalem… this would be either the Mt. of Olives or the other Eastern hill. If he did this on Mt. of Olives, this would have been higher than the Temple Mt, which is a huge no, no! I want to learn more about this.

Area of “David’s Palace” (2 Sam 5:9, 1 Chron 15:1, 1 Kgs 9:15, 1 Kgs 7:1-12, Ps 48:12-13)
It was very interesting to hear how the Archeologists are uncovering Byzantine (324 AD-638AD) artifacts. They are continuing to dig- hopefully to uncover some Palace artifacts that date back to the first century.

Hezekiah’s Tunnel (Jer. 11:13, Jer 44:17, 2 Kgs 23:12-14, 2 Sam 5:6-9, 1 Kgs 1:38-40, Isa 7:3, 2 Chron 32:1-5, 2 Chron 32:20, 2 Kgs 20:20, Other tests that are not biblical)
During the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1550 BC) there was a tunnel that acted as a channel for people to walk through in order to get water. They would put a bucket down into the spring, fill up the water and take it back into the city. All of this occurred before David’s reign. 800 years later when David came he could have added onto the work that had been done before. Archeologists have found many pools that were used for collecting the water. When Hezekiah built his tunnel, he started his men on two different sides and began working away at the rock. Their goal was to meet in the middle and they did. The rumor is that there was a little crack in the rock so the men were able to chisel away and meet in the middle because a little trickle of water led them to each other. It is 1750 feet long and 150 feet high.


Pool of Siloam (SS 6:1, 2 Kgs 23:10, 2 Kgs 25:1-4, Neh 2: 12-14, Jn 9: 6-7)
The Pool of Siloam was discovered in 2004 when the modern road was torn down due to erosion of some sort. When they were tearing it down, they found ancient rocks and later found that it was the Pool of Siloam! I was here shortly after they had discovered it! It was amazing to see what they had uncovered since then! It is great seeing things that are discussed in scripture!

Southern Wall Excavation & Southern Stairs (Jn 10:22, Jn 2:14, Jn 2:20, Mt. 4:5-7) & Acts 22:3, Acts 2:5-6, 14, 41, 46, Mt. 23:1-7, 13, 16, 27, 29-30, 33, Mt. 23: 37, Mt24:1-2)
The Southern wall shows Robinson’s arch demolished. Some of the old stones lay on the ground below. When the Romans came through, they knocked out the top of the arch and set it on fire. The road below is sunken in from the pressure of the large stones hitting the floor.
The Southern stairs acted as a great meeting place where you could speak to many people at the same time. People gathered here for discussion of a Spiritual nature. Near the stairs there was a Mikveh, where a physical adult full body immersion with water would occur. Anybody who was to enter into the Temple to make a sacrifice would have done Mikveh. Others would have done this for various reasons; touching the dead or once continuous blood flow had stopped.
Some suggest that Peter would have given his teachings on the Southern Stairs! He was a student under Rabban Gamaliel who would have taught him at the temple. That is just incredible to me! Some also suggest that this could have been the place where he gave his speech to the multitudes at Pentacost. The area would have been big enough to hold 3,000 people and his voice would have carried. Last but not least, those gathered here would have been about spiritual conversation anyways- especially after the resurrection of Christ.

Side note- the place “Gehenna”, mentioned could have been another name for the Valley of Hinom which had a reputation of being a valley full of garbage and waste. To get rid of the waste, people would burn it!

Pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:2-9)
Next, we found St. Ann’s, an old crusader church that was built to honor Virgin Mary’s mother who was from here. Inside, everything is beautiful and imperfect. The windows are not the same size, the pillars have different decorations. It sounds like it would be ugly, but it is not! It could have been when they were horse stalls. However, it is beautiful inside now and the acoustics are great! Close by is the Pool of Bethesda where it is said that the blind man was lying when Jesus healed him. The pool was very deep so he could not go in near the side. He would have been lying near the water.

Roof Tops (I took video)
We finished the day on top of a Hospice (Hostel) in the Muslim quarter of the Old city. I stood there in awe as we listed to the Mosque calls coming from the Minarets all around the city. It intrigued me.