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1BL Israel Study Tour
May 25 - June 4, 2015
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An experience that we will never forget
We woke up this morning in Jerusalem. It's quite a difference from the serenity and peace of Galilee and the Mediterranean coast at Caesarea. But the city of Jerusalem has its own stories and places we hold dear. We began our morning at the Western Wall of the temple mount. Here was the place that we have seen in pictures, come to life. The plaza was created after Israel captured the Old City in 1967. Ronan, our tour guide, explained that the Jewish people pray three times a day---morning, noon, and night. They pray that the temple will be rebuilt and they'll one day be able to worship there. To hear them pray with such passion-some silent, some out loud was so moving.
Western Wall
The Western Wall is the most holy place accessible to the Jewish people because of Muslim control of the Temple Mount. Known in recent centuries as the “Wailing Wall,” this was built by Herod the Great as the retaining wall of the Temple Mount complex. The plaza was created as an area for prayer when Israel captured the Old City in 1967. At times tens of thousands of people gather here for prayer.
Next we toured the tunnels that have been excavated in the lower levels of the Western Wall. People were praying there too. They are as close as they can get to where the Holy of Holies would have been (where Gods presence dwelled).
Rabbinic Tunnels
The tour of the western wall tunnels is one of the most popular tourist sites in Jerusalem. These underground tunnels connect the western wall prayer area to the north-west side of the temple mount, passing along the side of the temple mount and under the present day houses in the Old City. Along its path are remains from the second temple period, as well as structures from later periods.
We then headed to Hezekiah's Tunnel. The story is found in 2 Chronicles 32:30. To protect the water source of Jerusalem against an Assyrian siege Hezekiah blocked the spring from the Upper Gihon and channeled it through a 1750 foot tunnel hewn from the rock. With little time to complete the project he had men working from the two ends toward the middle. It was impressive. We walked in knee deep, really cold water in pitch black (except for our flashlights) for about 20 minutes. The water empties into the Pool of Siloam. Brent reminded us of the story from John 9:1-7 where Jesus sends the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam. To witness first hand the place where it happened was incredible.
Hezekiah's Tunnel
A 1750-foot (530m) tunnel carved during the reign of Hezekiah to bring water from one side of the city to the other, Hezekiah’s Tunnel together with the 6th c. tunnel of Euphalios in Greece are considered the greatest works of water engineering technology in the pre-Classical period. Had it followed a straight line, the length would have been 1070 ft (335m) or 40% shorter.
Next we went to Bethlehem. It's controlled by the Palestinians so we went through a checkpoint on our way in. We drove by the places most tourists stop, opting to continue up the hill to Herodian.
Bethlehem
Biblical scholars believe Bethlehem, located in the "hill country" of Judah, may be the same as the Biblical Ephrath which means "fertile", as there is a reference to it in the Book of Micah as Bethlehem Ephratah.[17] The Bible also calls it Beth-Lehem Judah,and the New Testament describes it as the "City of David". It is first mentioned in the Bible as the place where the matriarch Rachel died and was buried "by the wayside" (Gen. 48:7). Rachel's Tomb, the traditional grave site, stands at the entrance to Bethlehem. According to the Book of Ruth, the valley to the east is where Ruth of Moab gleaned the fields and returned to town with Naomi. It was the home of Jesse, father of King David of Israel, and the site of David's anointment by the prophet Samuel. It was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his warriors brought him water when he was hiding in the cave of Adullam.
Herod built 8 palaces throughout Israel and this is one of them. Even though it's only partially excavated, it is amazing in its opulence and vastness! As we stood on the ruins of what once was an impressive display of Herod's power, Darrin read Luke 2 and we could see Bethlehem and what would have been the shepherd's fields below us. What a contrast. The King of kings born humbly and without pretense. Angels announcing His arrival to lowly shepherds. King Herod? Gone and largely forgotten. Jesus? Alive and our coming King. Wow! We even sang a few Christmas carols as we reflected on that.
Herodium
Herodium is 3 miles southeast of Bethlehem and 8 miles south of Jerusalem. Its summit is 2,460 feet above sea level.
Herod built or re-built eleven fortresses. This one he constructed on the location of his victory over Antigonus in 40 BC.
Back down in Bethlehem we stopped by a shop owned by Palestinian Christians who welcomed us with coffee and lemonade. It was great to support our Palestinian brothers and sisters as we bought gifts for family and friends (and ourselves).
What a great first day in Jerusalem. We can't wait for what's coming tomorrow!
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