Israel! 2nd day in Jerusalem

Our schedule was changed a bit today, due to unrest. Another first according to Pastor Rick~
On our second day in Jerusalem, we visited the City of David. II Sam 5.
This is the support wall for David's palace. II Samuel 5
Once the Royal Quarter, this city was destroyed by the Babylonians. II Kings 25:8-10. When Jerusalem was rebuilt, it was in the upper part, leaving these ruins outside the city. This wall was built by Nehemiah!

Gihon Springs are located below the city


This was a very narrow tunnel!




Hezekiah Tunnel was used to channel the spring water along the eastern slopes of the Kidron valley and to fill a reservoir to create the pool of Siloam


This was uncovered just prior to WWI, thought to be 2000 years old, built by Harod the great. Muslims now own the adjacent area, which was part of the original pool. Excavation is needed to get the whole pool, but the Muslims will not allow it. While Bethesda was larger than I expected, this one was smaller. This is located at the end of the Wall street (previous blog).

At the beginning of the Canaanite Tunnel, (I may be confused and switched the names... we went through two tunnels, one right after the other) further excavation is being done. This one was below the city.


Besides being narrow, it was very rough, original stone walkways.


And original roof!

When we got out, Paul saw some guys working on some rockwork.... he really wanted to join them! Make it a MMAP project!! He did make a suggestion, which they used and it worked better for them!! Doesn't it look like he is just about to go ask if he can play, too??

We walked on to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park next, going through the Dung Gate


where original steps have been unearthed.
This is the remains of the Double Arch and the Triple Gate, which has been blocked up.


This picture of the site was taken from the Mt of Olives. I want you to get the size of this.... it is the site of the Pentecost. Acts 2. It is "one place", which in Hebrew designates the temple. This is the only site where 3000 people could be baptised within a reasonable time, in the bathing ponds to the left in the picture, below the steps....this is where the Christian church started! And we were actually there!



Then we turned the corner, to Jerusalem's main street and we were walking where they KNOW that Jesus REALLY DID walk! The remains of Robinson's Arch is in the top right corner


Some places they say he could have walked; but at this site, these are the actual stones he would have walked on. We had to walk there barefoot!!
It is that feeling we had everyday!!

We visited the Burnt house museum( no pictures allowed) giving us an overview of the Roman destruction in 70 AD and Temple Institute allowing us to view treasures of the temple (again no picture allowed)

We ended the day with a visit to the Israel Museum which had the dead sea scrolls (no pictures allowed inside) and a fabulous model of the city.


Notice the red roofs at top of picture, indicating the priests lived, and the fish shaped walls, and the City of David, with pool of shiloam just outside, in the foreground.


The Jewish Quarter marked by the two towers,


and the Pools of Bethesda

This gave us our bearings of where things were, and the relationship to the temple mount.

As I write this and review my pictures and notes, I am so in awe of the fact that we were actually able to visit Israel! Watching CNN, I am glad we are back in U.S.A.