Day Two in Israel

Day Two, June 16, included morning lectures on various historical and geographical topics that help explain the places that we would visit each day. Dr. Robert Mullins is our instructor here at Jerusalem University College (Institute for Holy Land Studies) and a good one at that.

The afternoon started out on foot once again through the old city of Jerusalem. The temperature was hover around 85-90 but is seems to be much hotter but yet low humidity. This hot and dry climate does shed light on the events that take place throughout biblical history. The terrain also makes travel difficult and challenging especially combined with the heat.

Our first stop was outside of JUC as we looked over to the Hinnon Valley noticing again its north south direction with its natural defense features. Combine this with the Kidron Valley to the East and the tranversal Valley to the north of the old city (eventually becoming David's street in Jesus' time), Jerusalem ssits upon the eastern hill/ridge making Jerusalem a naturally protected city. Capture by raiders would have had to climb steep and rugged valley's to get to the city walls in order to overtake the city. No wonder King David moved his capital city from Hebron to the natural fortress of Jerusalem.

The capture of Jerusalem by David's men has some interesting characteristics. David's men would have entered the city through the Gihon Spring located in the Kidron Valley just to the east side of the city. The Jebusites occupied the city. Archeology has discovered recently that the Jebusites had built the city walls of the city not only around the Eastern Hill but also down the slope of the Kidron Valley with a 'U-shaped' wall around the Gihon Spring. David's men would have had to climb the city wall, a very difficult task and then up the water tunnel and eventually the shaft that the residents of the city would have lowered there water jugs to draw water. Somehow, David and his men knew of this water source and used it to sneak into the city at night and caputre it. David makes Jerusalem his city. Having been to this very place the story comes alive. David's keen insight as to the perfect place for his city and the determination of his men to take the city are mind boggling to say the least. This event will jump from the pages of Scripture like never before.

The Gihon Spring carries another story. In King Hezekiah's day, Judah, the Southern Kingdom was well aware of Assyria's ability to conquer and cause great destruction including the deportation of conquered people back to her northern lands. Hezekiah wanted to make sure that he secured the water system for the city of Jerusalem. He had his workers dig a tunnel from the Gihon Spring into the city where it collected in a pool that we know from the Bible times as the pool of Siloam. Once completed the people of the city could get there drinking water without ever leaving the city. This tunnel was hand dug with rough tools no greater than picks and crude tools of the day. This was dug through the hard limestone that makes up this area of Israel. This project had to take years.

As a class we put on our water clothes and started through this 'Hezekiah's tunnel' following the course of the workers from the south east side back into the city. The spring still runs today. The water was cold and its depth was from a couple inches to about waste high. You could see the pick marks of the workes as we worked our way to the end. Workers of that day were coming from both ends and eventually meet in the middle. So far this is the best part of the course. It was like walking back in time.

Our day also included a walk into the 'City of David' which would have been the portion of Jerusalem dating back to David's reign. Looking at this portion of present day Jerusalem gives a vivid picture of how difficult it would have been to conquer this city. The city in David;'s day would be the part located downhill and to the south of the present day Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock now stands.

Overall, a great day with many new connections to the biblical narratives that we all love to read.
here are a few pictures from today.