Day 08 - City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Davidson Center, Southern Steps, Herodium

Jerusalem, the City of David, is where we started our day and remembered the story of Bathsheba. Seeing the terraces of the area gave us insights into how the story could have unfolded. 

The braver (or crazier) of the group explored the knee-deep water in the tunnels of Hezekiah, while the smarter group (guess which one I was in) basically had the same experience nice and dry in the tunnels built by the Canaanites.

Both tunnels led us to the pool of Siloam where Jesus told the blind man to go to be healed. We learned that in Jesus time you could climb over 900 stairs directly to the southern wall of the Temple Mount. Jesus sent the man a long way to see if he had the faith to be healed!

Next we went to the southern wall and sat on the steps for some teaching - just as they did in Jesus time. We read about Pentecost and were amazed to realize we could very well have been sitting where it happened. With all the ritual baths (mikvaot) around the temple, they could easily have baptized 3000 people right there!

We ended the day at Herodium. After falafels and baklava for lunch we headed up the mountain to visit Herod the Great’s second palace / mausoleum. A massive structure with ancient air conditioning, bath house, and private theater. A massive contrast to the King of Kings crucified on a mountain across the valley. 

Tomorrow we finish our grand journey and head home with massive insights into Biblical times. I’m sure none of us will ever be the same.

- Doug Siewert