Hidden beneath the streets of the Old City, the Western Wall Tunnels reveal the hidden layers of Jerusalem’s history. Stretching along the length of the Western Wall, these underground passageways bring visitors face-to-face with stones from the time of the Second Temple and the engineering marvels of ancient builders. Western Wall Tunnels Tour Photo Gallery Places of Interest Western Wall Tunnels Tour Introduction Beneath the streets of Jerusalem lies a hidden world—the Western Wall Tunnels. These ancient passageways run along the base of the Temple Mount, taking us back over 2,000 years to the time of Jesus and the Second Temple. One of the most astonishing features here is a stone, measuring over 45 feet long and weighing more than 600 tons. To put that in perspective, that's the size of a full-sized city bus! How the ancient builders moved it into place remains a mystery to this day. From Herodian engineering marvels to sacred prayer chambers still in use today, this isn’t just archaeology; it’s a journey into the soul of biblical history. Join us as we uncover the deep history, spiritual significance, and architectural wonders of the Western Wall Tunnels—an unforgettable journey beneath the heart of Jerusalem. Location 1. The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall (because the Jews weep here during their prayers), is located on the western side of the Temple Mount. 2. The Western Wall Tunnel is accessed on the northern side of the Western Wall Plaza and runs north to the end of the Temple Mount Platform. Historical Background 1. When the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 AD, part of the western side of the Temple Mount Platform survived. For hundreds of years prior to 1967, people prayed in the small area of the wall that could be seen at that time. However, in 1967, following the Six-Day War, Israelis excavated below the ground level of the wall and found two more stone rows. They then cleared the area around the wall to create the Western Wall Plaza that visitors see today. 2. The Western Wall is part of the retaining wall, or support wall, that Herod the Great built in 19 BC when he enlarged the Temple Mount complex in order to accommodate a larger temple and Temple Mount area. It was a massive undertaking that required exceptional and sophisticated engineering. 3. Unlike some think, the Western Wall was not part of the wall of the temple King Herod Built. Places of Interest 1. In the Western Wall Plaza area, a walkway bridge can be seen that tourists use to access the Temple Mount. 2. The Western Wall Plaza is divided into two sections: a men’s and a women’s section. 3. The area close to the wall is considered a synagogue, so men must wear a head covering when entering the men’s section. 4. Many Jews do not enter on the Temple Mount for fear of unknowingly walking in the place where the Holy of Holies might have been. Plus, Muslims do not want them entering there as well. However, in recent years, many Jews are now going on the Temple Mount Platform and even praying there. 5. The Western Wall Plaza is the closest large public area to the temple and Holy of Holies for the Jews. Therefore, it is their most holy site. 6. On the northern side of the Western Wall is Wilson’s Arch, which is the modern name for a stone arch whose top is still visible today. It once supported a bridge that provided access to a gate that was level with the surface of the Temple Mount during the time of Jesus. Under this arch is a synagogue where Jews pray and read the Scriptures. 7. The Western Wall Plaza is only 10% of the entire western wall of the Temple Mount Platform. The majority of the wall is accessed by entering what is called “The Western Wall Tunnels.” 8. The entire length of the Western Wall is 1,575 ft. long (480 m.), almost a third of a mile (.53 km.). 9. South of the Western Wall Plaza are stones that the Romans cast down when they destroyed the city in 70 AD. under the leadership of the Roman General, Titus. 10. The broken pavement of the street that the massive stones crushed when they fell is sobering to see. 11. Burn marks remain on some of the stones as a result of fire from the Roman conquest of the city in 70 AD. 12. There are remains of shops that were part of a large shopping plaza at the southern part of the Western Wall. 13. This is the same wall that Jesus and His disciples would have seen. 14. On the Southern Stair entrance to the temple is where Jesus would have taught His disciples and entered the Temple Mount area. 15. At the southernmost end of the Western Wall is a significant stone that stood upon the uttermost southwestern corner of the Temple Mount. It has words written in Hebrew that mean “The Trumpeter’s House.” A priest would stand at this corner announcing with a loud trumpet blast the beginning of the Sabbath and other festival days the Jews celebrated. 16. Robinson's Arch: This was a large stairway access to the southwest side of the Temple Mount. 17. Barclay's Gate: This was an access on the western side of the Temple Mount. It is located just under the public walkway bridge. 18. Wilson’s Arch: It's located on the northern side of the Western Wall. It once supported a large bridge that provided access and an aqueduct to the Temple Mount. Under this arch is a men's synagogue where Jews pray and read the Scriptures. 19. Warren's Gate: Is an ancient entrance into the Temple platform in Jerusalem, located about 150 feet (46 m) into the Western Wall Tunnel. It is directly west of where the original temple once stood. 20. Struthion Pool: The pool was from the time of Herod and associated with the Antonia Fortress. Then, Hadrian covered it with two parallel vaults around 135 AD and built the paved plaza above it so it wouldn't be in the way of his plaza and gate entrance to the city. Western Wall Tunnel 1. In order to build the temple on the mountain top of Mount Moriah, supporting walls had to be erected that could be filled in, so there was a large flat place (platform) upon which to build. King Solomon first did this when he constructed the first temple around 967 BC. When the temple was rebuilt under Zerubbabel (537-515 BC), this same platform was used. Afterward, the Hasmonean's expanded the Temple Mount to the south a bit in around 140 BC. Then, in 19 BC, King Herod began rebuilding a new massive temple. To accomplish this, he had to enlarge the Temple Mount Platform significantly. When he was done, it measured 985 x 1,575 feet (300 x 480 m.), or the equivalent of 35 football fields in size (35 acres, 14 hectares). 2. King Herod put 10,000 men to work and trained 1,000 priests as masons so they could work on the most sacred parts of the temple. The building was begun in 19 B.C. and finished in 10 years, but the work of decoration was not completed until 64 AD. 3. The temple King Herod built on this massive Temple Mount Platform was enormous in size. Nothing in the known world at that time compared to it in size and beauty. For comparison’s sake, the temple Herod built was over twice the size of the Dome of the Rock (which measures 65 feet wide x 115 feet high or 20 x 35 m.), which can be seen today. 4. In 70 AD, six years after the temple was fully completed, the Romans burned down and destroyed the temple at Jerusalem, and it has never been rebuilt since. 5. Located beside the Western Wall Tour Entrance on the left side, or northern side of the Western Wall is a synagogue. Here Jews gather to study, read, and pray. This is one of the Jew’s most holy synagogues because of its proximity to the original temple wherein the Holy of Holies resided. 6. At the beginning of the Western Wall Tunnel Tour Entrance is a room where the tour begins. Here, tour guides give an overview of the temple Solomon built, the temple Zerubbabel oversaw, and then the temple King Herod built. The history of the Western Wall is meshed in with the history of the temples that once resided next to the Western Wall. 7. Walking along the Western Wall Tunnel, what is known as the master course of stones can be seen. These are some of the first rows of cut stones that support the Temple Mount Western Wall. The largest stone found in the Western Wall measures 44 ft. (13.4 m.) in length (longer than a Greyhound bus). It’s almost 12 ft. (3.66 m.) high (taller than a semi-truck trailer). Its width is 14 ft. (4.26 m.) (almost as wide as some highways). It weighs over 600 tons (equivalent to 200 elephants, or ten tanks, or two 747 jumbo jets, including the people and their luggage). There is no machine big enough today to lift it. It was carved outside the city and then placed here. The stones were carved and placed with such precision that not even a credit card will fit between the joints. By comparison, the largest stones in the Egyptian Pyramids are 15 tons. 8. We next come to what is called Warren's Gate. This is the closest place along the Western Wall to where the temple used to be. It is, therefore, according to the Jews, the holiest place in the Western Wall. Just 200 ft. (61 m.) towards the east is where the temple was originally located. 9. The bedrock of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount can be seen as well. The masons who laid the great stones to build the Western Wall chiseled the bedrock of the mountain to make them look like they were stones, but in reality, they are the bedrock of the mountain upon which the Western Wall rests. 10. Next, the tiles of the original floor where Jesus likely walked are visible in the tunnel. 11. Continuing along the Western Wall Tunnel is a Hasmonean aqueduct built over 2,200 years ago, which was 150 years before Christ. 12. At the northern end of the Western Wall Tunnel is the Struthion Pool, where water was stored for use in the city of Jerusalem. Faith Lesson from the Western Wall 1. It's sad that the closest large meeting area the Jews can get to the place where the original temple used to be located is the Western Wall, which in reality, is just part of the supporting wall of the Temple Mount. 2. It’s sad that because of the Jew’s repeated refusal to heed God’s warnings to obey and follow Him that He sent judgments upon Israel and Jerusalem. 3. It's sad that because the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, Jesus prophesied Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. This was fulfilled in 70 AD. The reality of this destruction is the overarching fact that can be seen all along the Western Wall. 4. Because of the Jew’s continual disobedience to God, He prophesied that the Jews would be scattered to the four corners of the earth. This was fulfilled in 70 AD. 5. God also prophesied that He would bring the Jews back to their homeland in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948. 6. According to many passages in the Bible, God still has a plan for the Jews. He said He would bring them back to their homeland after being scattered for thousands of years. He also says that during the Great Tribulation Period that many Jews, if not most of them, will recognize that Jesus is indeed their Messiah and turn to Him in repentance. 7. Amazingly, we see the first prophecy fulfilled in that the Jews returned to their homeland and have their own country back. Many civilizations have occupied the Holy Land, but God has fulfilled prophecy in bringing the Jews back to their homeland today. 8. The stones here cry out that God’s Word is true and is verifiable through the fulfillment of these prophecies. 9. There is a popular saying about the stones of Jerusalem that is sad but very true, “The Jerusalem Stone, so resilient and supple, bows to the transient follies of humankind, bearing a testimony like a hundred witnesses, and yet, remains silent.” 10. We find in all that has happened to the Jews a powerful and sobering message for us today. Obedience brings God’s blessings, but disobedience brings His discipline. 1 Corinthians 10:11–12: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

See every Bible Site in Israel In-depth! Everything about Israel: Maps, Videos, Books about Israel, Tours, Holy Land Trips to Israel, Footsteps of Jesus, Bible Teachings, Jerusalem, Galilee, Samaria, Bethlehem, Masada, Dead Sea, Capernaum, Negev, Nazareth, Experience Israel Online. Christian Tour Trips to Israel. Exodus Route, Red Sea Crossing, Mount Sinai in Arabia, Noah's Ark, Temple Mount, Temple, City of David, Church of Holy Sepulchre, Church of Nativity, Church of Annunciation, Jordan Home Dear Friend, Perhaps you’d love to visit the Holy Land but can’t, or maybe you have the privilege of going and want to learn more about the places you'll visit. If either is the case, then this website is for you! See the Bible come to life as you walk in the footsteps of Jesus and see the places where the events of the Bible took place. This website enables you to experience the Holy Land online by watching videos and teachings from the Land of the Bible. You’ll discover a new dimension in understanding the Bible, and it will go from black and white to 3D, living color! Holy Land Experience Trip s Our Holy Land Trips are open to anyone worldwide with a valid passport for travel to Israel. Would you like to have a life-changing and never-to-be-forgotten experience? If so, it is our joy to invite you to join us on a trip of a lifetime to the Land of the Bible, where you will find a new dimension in understanding the Bible and the life of Jesus. We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, visit places where Jesus walked, lived, taught, performed miracles, walked on the water, calmed the sea, and where He was crucified and raised from the dead. We will immerse ourselves in the Land of the Bible and experience it to the depths of our souls. You will never be the same or read your Bible the same after a trip like this. If it's Bible you want, then this trip is for you. At each site, we will give biblical and historical teaching along with a faith lesson. Therefore, this trip is designed to provide an in-depth study and perspective from the Scriptures of the events and places of the Bible. Our goal is to offer a highly biblical, non-touristy, and inspirational trip to the Land of the Bible. Our trips also include sites that are off the beaten path. ____________ "An absolutely amazing trip with a guy who knows his Bible and can relate it to you in-country. I've gone to Israel with this dear friend of mine twice. It's an 11 out of a 10 trip!" Dan Reeves "I've looked and looked, but I just haven't found any groups with the same approach I got spoiled by when we went with you to Israel. Also, they're not really Bible-teaching tours. Your teaching tour is still head and shoulders above anything else, so if it works out, I'd like to go with you again next year." Todd Yaney Holy Land Experience Trip October 16 ~ November 1, 2026 (Includes travel to and from Israel) 17-Day Trip $5 ,450 USD Click for Trip Details A few spots still available. Maximum group size 40. The length of your trip can be shortened if needed. You can start or depart at any time. Holy Land Experience Trip November 6 ~ 22, 2026 (Includes travel to and from Israel) 17-Day Trip $5,450 USD Click for Trip Details A few spots still available. Maximum group size 40. The length of your trip can be shortened if needed. You can start or depart at any time. Holy Land Experience Trip April 30 ~ May 16, 2027 (Includes travel to and from Israel) 17-Day Trip $5 ,850 USD Click for Trip Details This trip is currently full. Please consider one of our next trips or to be placed on the waiting list. Maximum group size 40. The length of your trip can be shortened if needed. You can start or depart at any time. Holy Land Experience Trip October 22 ~ November 7, 2027 (Includes travel to and from Israel) 17-Day Trip $5 ,950 USD Click for Trip Details Spots still available. Maximum group size 40. The length of your trip can be shortened if needed. You can start or depart at any time. Books by HolyLandSite.com Travel Guide Book 664 Pages Bible Companion Book 654 Pages Jerusalem & Central Israel Book 402 Pages Sea of Galilee & Northern Israel Book 222 Pages Negev & Southern Israel Book 222 Pages See some of our most popular videos below!

Tour Mount Nebo & all the sites of interest. It's the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land and died. Learn why Moses was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. Mount Nebo & Moses Overview Mt. Nebo & Moses Overview Mount Nebo is in the country of Jordan today. However, it was originally part of the Promised Land. It was conquered by the Israelites and then possessed by 2 1/2 tribes of Israel (Rueben, Gad, and 1/2 of Manassah). Location 1. Mount Nebo is a high mountain in Moab where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. It rises more than 4,000 feet or 1,200 meters above the Dead Sea. 2. It is located on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. 3. This site is on the highest place of the mountains in this area. It fits the biblical description of being on the peak of a mountain opposite Jericho. 4. Arc haeology, history, eyewitness accounts, and the Bible all support this site as the authentic place where Moses reached the end of his ministry. 5. There is no reason to dispute this site as the authentic place where Moses looked over the Promised Land. It's quite sobering to be in the very footsteps of Moses and ponder this place and site. Historical Background 1. The word "Nebo " was a reference to the Mesopotamian god, Nabu . From this false god, world leaders would attach it to their name. For example, Nebuchadnezzar did this. It would be like saying, "god Nebuchadnezzar." Nebuchadrezzar was king of Babylonia from approximately 605 BC until approximately 562 BC and is mentioned around 90 times in the Bible, most of which is in the book of Daniel. In biblical history, Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for conquering Judah and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC. 2. M ount Nebo has a long history of religious significance because it's believed to be where Moses stood to view the Promised Land before his death. 3. According to the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses died on Mount Nebo and was buried in Moab. 4. Sometime before 300 AD, a structure was built here to venerate this site. Its date seems unknown at this time. 5 . In the 4th century AD, a sanctuary mentioned by the pilgrim nun Egeria was built on Mount Nebo to honor Moses. This was certainly built upon the site of an even older structure. The church was finished by 394 AD and had three east apses flanked by funerary chapels on the north and south sides. 6. In the 6th century, the church was enlarged and transformed into a basilica with a sacristy and new baptistery (whose surviving floor mosaics date from c.530 AD). Soon the church was the heart of a large monastery and pilgrimage center that would thrive for nearly six centuries. The basilica still stands on Mount Nebo today and contains a fascinating collection of Byzantine mosaics. 7. The site was abandoned by 1564 and remained abandoned and neglected for several centuries. The Franciscans bought the site in 1932 and were responsible for excavating most of the church and monastery's ruins and reconstructing much of the basilica. During this period, a protective shelter was installed over the archaeological remains to protect them. Today, Mount Nebo is an active Franciscan monastery and the headquarters of the Franciscan Archaeological Institute. Sites of Interest Bianchi Sculpture The first site on the path to the Moses Memorial Church is a rock sculpture by Vincenzo Bianchi, commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul II to Mount Nebo, in the year 2000. Pope John Paul II visited the Mount Nebo in holy land, and during his visit to the Moses Memorial Church he also planted an olive tree. Mount Nebo Siyagha Memorial of Moses Stone Just past the Bianchi Scupture Stone is a large rock commemorating Moses. Abu Badd Rolling Sto ne This rolling stone was used as a fortified door of a Byzantine monastery in the old village of Faisaliyah, once known as Kufr Abu Badd. Some say this stone may be from the Tomb of Jesus. It stands today‬ as a memorial to ‪Moses, marking where it's thought Moses stood to look at the “Promised Land.” Moses Memorial Church A church was first constructed in the second half of the 4th century to commemorate the place where Moses died. The church design follows a typical basilica pattern. It was enlarged in the late fifth century AD and rebuilt in 597 AD. It has a large number of mosaics that date back to 530 AD. The mosaics have been well preserved and portray images of wildlife and hunting, a common pastime in the Byzantine era. The church is first mentioned in an account of a pilgrimage made by a lady name d Aetheria in 394 AD. Six tombs have been found hollowed from the natural rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church. In 1989 a new shelter consisting of a complete basilica was built over the ancient church. The Ancient Baptistery On the left side of the Memorial Church of Moses is the excavated Baptistery, complete with the most spectacular mosaics ever excavated. These magnificent mosaics are dated to August 531, thanks to an inscription in Greek. It also lists the three workers on this project and the Bishop when it was built. The Bishop listed was Elias. Theotokos Chapel This chapel was dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, and was added about 604 CE at the time of Bishop Leontius. It's located next to the exit door and was added in the 7th century, where three monastery rooms previously stood. Its apse has a mosaic of a square object that may be a vessel for the Eucharist. The floor of the chapel is paved with mosaics of plants and flowers. Diakonikon Baptistery The Diakonikon Baptistery inside the rebuilt basilica houses several remains of antique mosaics. Narthex This marks the entrance to the old church structure. The Brazen Serpent Monument The Brazen Serpent is a sculpture situated on Mount Nebo. It has become so popula r that it is now recognized as the symbol of Mount Nebo. It was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni and is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14). A glimpse of the serpent protected one from the deadly plague God sent. Memorial Viewpoint A small sign at the viewpoint has lines pointing to some of the major landmarks visible from Mount Nebo, and if the day is clear, you can see all the way to Jerusalem itself. Ancient Monastery On the highest se ction of this site, the complete remains of an ancient Byzantine church and the original monastery can be seen. These were found in the excavation of 1933. The walls of this ancient monastery can be seen as you exit and go outside. Caves on Mount Nebo According to extra-biblical legend, the prophet Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave on Mount Nebo and said that this "place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy" (2 Maccabees 2:7). Museum The Mount Nebo Interpretation Center is a small, single-room museum at this site. Inside are several reconstructions of mosaics, a Roman milestone from the area, and a number of smaller archaeological finds from the surrounding areas. Mt. Nebo & Mo ses in the Bible 1. Mt. Nebo is where the ministry of Moses ended; he looked at the Promised Land from a distance and died. Deuteronomy 32:48-52: Now the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying, 49 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo , which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho , and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession. 50 Then you are to die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52 For you will see the land at a distance but you will not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.” Deuteronomy 34: 1-6: Moses ascended from the desert plain of Moab toward Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the entire land, from Gilgal as far as Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire territory of Judah all the way to out over the sea, 3 including the Negev, the Arabah, the valley of Jericho, and the city of the palm trees as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord told him: “This is the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by an oath when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ I’ll let you see it with your eyes, but you won’t cross over there.” 5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. 6 He was buried in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab, but no one knows to this day where his burial place is. 2. The life of Moses can be divided into three 40-year periods. From birth to fleeing to the land of Midian in Arabia. During this period, he was raised in Egyptian royalty and prestige. He knew he was called to deliver God's people. During this period, he could be classified as a "somebody." After killing an Egyptian in his attempt to deliver God's people by his own power and might, he fled to Midian, where he married and became a shepherd. During this period, he could be classified as a "nobody." Then God supernaturally moved in his life, and by God's hand, he delivered God's people and led them to Mt. Nebo, just on the edge of the Promised Land. During this period, he could be classified as an "everybody." 3. We should realize that Moses was a godly man who was used greatly by God. He was very humble and sought to please God in everything. Deuteronomy 12:3: Now the man Moses was very humble , more than any person who was on the face of the earth. 4. However, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land because of a major sin he committed. This sin is often overlooked, and God is viewed as harsh and overreacting. 5. What was this major sin, and why did God forbid Moses from entering the Promised Land after he had served God for 40 long, difficult years? There are two accounts where God provides water from a large rock supernaturally. Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land due to how he treated the rock, which represented God and Christ. 6. Account 1 Exodus17:1-7: Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why is it that you have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What am I to do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock , and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 Then he named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” In this first account of the rock and water, Moses obeys God fully, so God is pleased with Moses. 7. Account 2 Numbers 20:1-13: Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 3 Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! 4 Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; 7 then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.” 9 So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock ?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff ; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. In this account, God is displeased with Moses. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them .” 13 Those were called the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them. First, we must understand that the rock represents God and Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4: For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; 2 and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ . 8. The three sins of Moses that prevented him from entering the Promised Land. 1. He did not trust God. “Since you d id not trust in Me" 2. He did not treat God as Holy in the sight of the Israelites. “Since you d id not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel" 3. He acted in anger toward the people and God. Psalm 106:32-33: They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went badly for Moses on their account. 33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. Faith Lesson 1. Moses was very humble and greatly used by God. What about us? Humility is not viewing ourselves as worthless but means that we rely upon God and not ourselves. 2. Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land because he did not trust in God the second time he was to bring water from the rock, which represented God and Christ. What about us? Do we follow God in the midst of storms and pressure? It's when we're under pressure and extreme stress that we reveal the depth of our spiritual maturity and faith. 3. Moses did not treat God as holy in the sight of the people he led. What about us? Do we treat God as holy and honor Him in our dealings with others? 4. Moses was angry with God's people and God. What about us? Do we deal harshly and angrily with others? 5. Even though God forgave Moses, there were still consequences for his sin. We see this also in the life of King David. What about us? Do we realize that God forgives us but doesn't always remove the consequences of our sins? Also, sometimes it takes time for the consequences to heal.

Other than the main holy sites we have on our website about central Israel, this page lists many other sites of interest: Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Mizpah Other Sites of Interest In Central Israel Photo Gallery Places of Interest Other Sites of Interest In Central Israel Bethany Beyond the Jordan Tradition and archaeology hold that this site is the believed location of Bethany Beyond the Jordan. It’s located on a tributary that connects to the Jordan River known as Wadi Kharrar. Just before the place this wadi joins the Jordan River is called Bethany Beyond the Jordan. It’s also just across from Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site on Israel’s side of the river. (For more on Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site, please see Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus.) This area is where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist (John 1:28), where John baptized many people, and where John lived for periods of time. It’s on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River and consists of two distinct areas: Tell Al-Kharrar, also known as Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill), and the area of the churches of John the Baptist. There are Roman and Byzantine ruins of churches, chapels, a monastery, caves that hermits have used, and pools in which baptisms were held. Excavations at this site began in 1996, following Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel in 1994, and have uncovered more than 20 churches, caves, and baptismal pools, all dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods. This area is also associated with the ascension of the Prophet Elijah into heaven, which is commemorated at a hill called Tell Mar Elias or Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill). Mizpah Mizpah was located centrally in the country within the territory of Benjamin, about 8 miles north of Jerusalem. Its importance as an administrative center is demonstrated not only by its use during the days of the Judges and Samuel but also by its utilization by conquering nations years later when the Empires of Assyria and Babylon would take over Judah. Mizpah means watchtower or lookout and was a central meeting place where Israel gathered for much of its history. At Mizpah, Jacob and Laban made a covenant wherein Jacob promised Laban that he would take care of his daughters and grandchildren (Gen. 31:48–49). The city of Mizpah was established as an important site early in the history of Israel in the time of the Judges and was used as a national rallying point for a man of the Levites who asked for national justice at the end of the time period of the Judges when his concubine was raped and killed by several members of the Benjamite tribe. Samuel judged the nation from Mizpah and held national gatherings at the city, and Israel's first king, Saul, was presented to the nation at Mizpah.

Privacy Policy for HolyLandSite.com Pivacy Policy Holy Land Site Privacy Policy This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their 'Personally Identifiable Information' (PII) is being used online. PII, as described in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with our website. What personal information do we collect from the people that visit our blog, website or app? When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address, mailing address, phone number or other details to help you with your experience. When do we collect information? 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It was 3,000 years ago that King David made the City of David, also known as Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Learn all about this key place in Israel. See a complete overview and in-depth tour of the City of David. No stone is left unturned. Learn about the history, places of interest, key events from the Bible that happened here, and a faith lesson about how it all applies to our lives today. City of David Overview Photo Gallery Places of Interest City of David Overview Introduction Welcome to the City of David. This is where Jerusalem all began. 1. It was established by King David as his capital over 3,000 years ago. 2. It is strategically located with the Kidron Valley to the east, the Tyropoeon Valley to the West, and the Hinnom Valley to the south. These valleys provided it with natural protection. Psalms 125:2: As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever. 3. It has been the most excavated site in Israel over the past 150 years. 4. Before King David conquered this site, it was known as the city of Jebus. 5. David built houses for himself and prepared a place for the Ark of the Covenant in the City of David. 6. This site has so much to see, and its history is packed. We'll see and explore the following: Ancient ruins dating back over 3,500 years. King David's Palace and retaining wall. Walls Nehemiah built. What's believed to be Melchizedek's Temple. Gihon Spring Hezekiah's Tunnel King David's Tomb Pool of Siloam 7. Let's explore and experience this incredible site where Jerusalem began. Location 1. The City of David is located just south of the Temple Mount on a plateau ridge. 2. It’s where all the history of Jerusalem began. 3. It is strategically located with the Kidron Valley to the east, the Tyropoeon Valley to the West, and the Hinnom Valley to the south. These valleys provide it with natural protection. Psalms 125:2: As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever. 4. It has been the most excavated site in Israel over the past 150 years. Historical Background 1. King David made the City of David, also known as Jerusalem, the capital of Israel 3,000 years ago. 2. Before David, Abraham traveled here when he met with the King of Salem (Jerusalem). 3. Later, Abraham would be willing to offer his son, Isaac, to the Lord on Mt. Moriah, just above the City of David. 4. The City of David had an amazing source of fresh water known as the Gihon Spring. 5. The City of David is also called Zion in Scripture. 2 Samuel 5:7: Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David. Places of Interest 1. A theater with an excellent movie showing the history of the City of David. 2. Bet Hatsofeh Lookout – Great place to see a panoramic view of the City of David and the sites around it. 3. Palace of King David Royal Phoenician Capital – 2 Samuel 5:11: And Hiram king of Tyre [Phenicia] sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. Two Bullae (clay seals) – Recent discoveries unearthed these clay seals, dating to the beginning of the 6th Century BC, bearing the names "Gedaliah son of Pashur " and "Jehucal son of Shelemiah ." Both officials are named in the Bible. Jeremiah 38:1 says: "Then ... Gedaliah the son of Pashur , and Jehucal the son of Shelemiah ... heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people." This is the first time two bullas from a single Bible verse have been discovered in one place. From here, David looked down upon Bathsheba bathing. 2 Samuel 11:2: It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing ; and the woman was very beautiful. 4. Givati Excavation Area Excavations began in 2007. It was a parking lot. Jeremiah's Dungeon was likely in this area. Jeremiah 38:6: "So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud." Public building: 900-700 BC Fortification structure: 300-200 BC Multilevel structure: 100-0 BC Massive Roman Villa: 63 BC - 100 AD Byzantine structure: 600 - 700 AD Muslim bakery structure: 700 - 800 AD 5 . Stepped Stone Retaining Wall by King David's Palace 6. Ancient 3,000-year-old walls 7. Walls Nehemiah repaired 8. House of Ahiel (four-room house) 9. Hasmonean Tower 10 . Burnt Room – Evidence of a room burnt during the Babylonian destruction in 586 BC. A burnt ash level from this same time period was also discovered throughout the site. Jeremiah 52:12–13: "In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13 And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down." 11 . Gihon Spring Jerusalem’s primary water source King Solomon was anointed here, along with many other kings. 1 Kings 1:45: Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. King Hezekiah diverted the water down to the Pool of Siloam. 12. Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel 13. Canaanite Tunnel 14. Warren Shaft System 15. Melchizedek's Temple 16. Ancient 3,000-year-old walls Nehemiah repaired. 17. Tower of Siloam Luke 13:1-5: There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 18. The Hezekiah Tunnel Inscription Also known as the Siloam Inscription, commemorates the construction of the Siloam Tunnel in 8th century BC Jerusalem and provides one of the earliest Hebrew records of public works. Inscription Wording: “… (When) (the tunnel) was driven through. And this was the way in which it was cut through: While (…) (were) still (…) axe (s), each man toward his fellow, and while there were still three cubits to be cut through, (there was heard) the voice of a man calling to his fellow, for there was an overlap in the rock on the right (and on the left). And when the tunnel was driven through, the quarrymen hewed (the rock), each man toward his fellow, axe against axe; and the water flowed from the spring toward the reservoir for twelve hundred cubits, and the height of the rock above the head of the quarrymen was 100 cubits” (W.F. Albright, ANET 321). 19. Tomb of King David 20. Synagogue of Theodotus In John chapter 9, when Jesus rubbed clay on the blind man’s eyes, He told him to go wash it off in the Pool of Siloam. After the blind man was healed, he was brought to this synagogue to be questioned by the Pharisees. The synagogue is located below the Tomb of David. 21. Pool of Siloam – Siloam means “safe” Herod the Great enlarged the Pool of Siloam to make it a massive Mikveh A blind man was healed here by Christ 22. Pilgrim's Road leading up to the temple from the Pool of Siloam is called the Herodian Street. Countless Jews used it to ascend to the temple. There is no doubt Jesus walked this road as well. 23. There was a canal tunnel under the Herodian Street that was used for waste purposes. In this tunnel, thousands of Jews were slaughtered by the Romans in 70 AD as they tried to escape the city. 24. In this same tunnel, a rare gold bell sewn onto priests' garments, an ancient silver shekel used to pay the half-shekel temple tax, and a Roman sword with its leather sheath still partly intact were recently discovered. City of David in the Bible 1. Before King David conquered this site, it was known as the city of Jebus. 1 Chronicles 11:3–5: So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord through Samuel. 4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, 5 the inhabitants of the land, were there. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David). 2 Samuel 5:9: So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 2. David built houses for himself and prepared a place for the Ark of the Covenant in the City of David. 1 Chronicles 15:1: Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 3. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to the City of David. 2 Samuel 6:12: Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 4. David strongly desired to build a house for the Lord, but God said "no" because of all the bloodshed he had shed in battle. However, he made all the plans and prepared much of the materials his son, Solomon, would use to build the House of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 22:5: Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death. 5. From David’s palace rooftop, he saw Bathsheba bathing and committed a serious sin. 2 Samuel 11:2: It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 6. David died and was buried in the City of David. 1 Kings 2:10: Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. David’s tomb is located close to the City of David. 7. King Solomon was anointed as king at the Gihon Spring. 1 Kings 1:45: Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. 8. After David built his palace and much of the city of David, his son, Solomon, built the temple just north of the City of David. 1 Kings 6:1: In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. 9. The people would go up from the City of David to the temple to worship God. Isaiah 2:3: And many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” 10. Later, King Hezekiah built a tunnel to divert the water from the Gihon Spring (the city’s water source) down to the Pool of Siloam to keep the water inside the city walls so warring armies (the Assyrians) couldn’t cut off the water to the city. 2 Chronicles 32:30: This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. Faith Lesson from the City of David 1. The City of David has provided overwhelming archaeological evidence supporting the truthfulness of Scripture. Do we embrace these and many other pieces of evidence that yield more and more proof that the Bible is true and historically accurate? 2. The City of David, along with Jerusalem, was destroyed by the Babylonians because of Israel’s disobedience to God. Do we understand that obedience brings life and peace, but disobedience brings death and destruction? 3. In what areas of my life am I experiencing pain and problems because of disobedience to God’s Word?

The crossing of the Jordon was a much bigger miracle than we think. The river was at flood stage, and its waters backed up for about 20 miles while the 3 million or more Israelites crossed the river. A wall of water would have accumulated that would have been about 100 ft. (30 m.) high, as this is. Adam: The place where the waters of the Jordan backed up to when the Israelites crossed the river (20 miles, 32 km., above the crossing site), Shittim, Camp Gilgal, Jericho. Jordan River Crossing into the Promised Land Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jordan River: Crossing into the Promised Land Introduction Welcome to this site on the Jordan, where the Israelites crossed the river into the Promised Land. 1. It was a far bigger miracle than most think. 2. It was also here that John the Baptist baptized many people. 3. There are many churches and monuments marking these biblical events. Location 1. The crossing place where the Israelites entered the Promised Land is just opposite Jericho. 2. It’s amazing that it’s in the same area where John the Baptist baptized many and where John baptized Jesus. 3. Today, it’s known as Qasr el Yahud (Kasser Al Yahud, Qaser, the Baptismal Site of Jesus. 4. It’s about 2 miles (3.3 km.) east of Hwy. 90, opposite Jericho. Historical Background 1. The nation of Israel spent 430 years in Egypt. Four hundred of these years they were slaves (Gen. 15:13), and thirty years they enjoyed peace during the time Joseph was alive. 2. God supernaturally delivered the Israelites out of the hands of the Egyptians through Moses. 3. After the Exodus, they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. 4. They spent a year at Mount Sinai receiving the Law and then headed to Kadesh Barnea to enter the Promised Land. 5. After the 12 spies returned from scouting out the land, 10 spies convinced the people that the inhabitants of the land were too strong for them to conquer and they should return to Egypt (Num. 13:25–33). 6. Because of their unbelief and disobedience, they were banned from entering the Promised Land and ordered to wander in the desert 40 years until every person 20 years old, and older died (Num. 14:20–25). 7. During the 40 years of wandering in the desert, entering the Promised Land became a deep yearning within the souls of the new generation. Day after day they dreamt about a new life in the Promised Land, which would bring an end to their seemingly vain wandering in the desert eating Manna day after day. 8. After 40 long years, they were poised to enter the Promised Land, and their hearts were overflowing with enthusiasm and expectation as the time had finally arrived. 9. The word “Hebrew” means to cross over. Abraham crossed over from false gods to the one and only true God. He crossed over physically by leaving his homeland and coming to the Promised Land. The Israelites were delivered by God from the Egyptians as they crossed through the Red Sea, and then crossed through the Jordan River into the Promised Land. All these acts are pictures of deliverance and salvation. We also cross over from death to life through Christ. Places of Interest 1. Crossing site of the Israelites into the Promised Land. 2. Baptismal Site of Jesus: The believed place where Jesus was baptized and where many are baptized today. 3. Adam: The place where the waters of the Jordan backed up to when the Israelites crossed the river (20 miles, 32 km., above the crossing site). 4. Shittim 5. Camp Gilgal 6. Jericho 7. Church of John the Baptist 8. Elijah's Hill 9. Cave of John the Baptist 10. Bethany Beyond the Jordan Crossing the Jordan River in the Bible 1. Before entering the Promised Land, the Israelites camped on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. Joshua 3:1: Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and they set out from Shittim . And they came to the Jordan , he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2. The Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground as God miraculously parted the waters. Joshua 3:14–17: So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan , and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest ), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam [20 miles, 32 km. north], the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea [Dead Sea], were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan , and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan . Using the geographical layout of the land from Adam to the crossing of the Jordan site, the body of water that would have accumulated would have been 20 miles (32 km.) long, 2 miles (3.2 km.) wide, and around 120 ft. (37 m.) high. 3. God ordered that 12 stones be taken out of the Jordan River for a monument. Joshua 4:1–7: When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan , the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight [Gilgal].’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan , and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” It appears that the 12-Stone Monument was later moved to the permanent Gilgal located about 7 miles north of Camp Gilgal. For more, please see Gilgal. 4. Joshua also erected a monument in the middle of the Jordan River. Joshua 4:9–10: And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan , in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. 5. After crossing the river, the water flowed again, and the Israelites arrived at Camp Gilgal. Joshua 4:15–19: And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan , and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks , as before. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 6. Joshua set up 12 stones as a monument of remembrance. Joshua 4:20–24: And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan , Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea , which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Faith Lesson from Crossing the Jordan River 1. Entering the Promised Land was a long-awaited dream for the new generation of Israelites after wandering in the desert for 40 years. It was also the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant of promise, one of the foundational covenants in the Bible. Is there some hope and dream you have that seems like it will never happen? Do you also really believe that God will fulfill His promise of heaven and that one day you’ll actually be there? And are you living in such a way that shows this? 2. Crossing into the Promised Land is also a picture of living in victory. Unfortunately, many Christians today choose to live in the wilderness in defeat and disobedience. Are you living in obedience and victory or living in the wilderness? 3. The crossing of the Jordan was a much bigger miracle than we think as the river was at flood stage, overflowing its banks. As mentioned, the body of water that would have accumulated would have been 20 miles (32 km.) long, 2 miles (3.2 km.) wide, and around 120 ft. (37 m.) high. This was a massive body and wall of water the 3 million or more Israelites would have witnessed as they walked alongside it for about 2 miles (3.2 km.). 4. The miracle was similar to the crossing of the Red Sea after the Israelite’s Exodus from Egypt. God repeated this miracle to reveal His glory and faithfulness. 5. The waters of the Jordan stopped flowing the moment the priests’ stepped into the water. God required the priests to take a step of faith, and then He acted. In the same way, God often asks us to take a step of faith before He moves. What step of faith do we need to take in our lives today? 6. God ordered Joshua to set up a memorial after crossing the Jordan. Do we have memorials in our minds as reminders of the miracles God has done for us, and do we pass these memorials on to our offspring?

Under the Convent of the Sisters of Sion lie ancient ruins going back before the time of Jesus. It is a gold mine of archaeology and insights into ancient Jerusalem. We'll tour this site and see the Struthion Pool, ruins of the Antonia Fortress, and what some believe is the stone pavement where Jesus was tried and condemned to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate. Sisters of Sion, Ecce Homo Arch, Antonia Fortress Photo Gallery Places of Interest Sisters of Sion, Ecce Homo Arch, Antonia Fortress Introduction 1. We are about to descend beneath the streets of Jerusalem into one of the most dramatic and mysterious places connected with the final hours of Jesus. It's known as the Lithostrotos, which means "Stone Pavement." It's believed by some to be the very place Jesus was tried by Pontius Pilate and condemned to crucifixion. We'll see what the evidence shows about this later. It's located beneath the Sisters of Sion, near the Ecce Homo Arch on the Via Dolorosa. 2. Here, hidden below the noise of the Old City, massive stone pavements, ancient cisterns, Roman arches, and the great Struthion Pool reveal layers of history buried beneath our feet. 3. For centuries, pilgrims believed this was the very place where Pontius Pilate judged Jesus and presented Him to the crowd with the words, “Behold the Man.” 4. Is this where Jesus was tried and condemned to crucifixion? Was this where the Antonia Fortress was located? What was this area like during Jesus' time and afterward? And what about the Ecce Homo Arch? This area, just north of the Temple Mount, is vital to understand. It's one of the most important sites in Jerusalem. We'll provide you with an understanding of this area so you can appreciate its vital importance. We'll embark on an effort to uncover the fascinating evidence about the layout of this area in ancient Jerusalem. 5. As we walk on these ancient stones through these tunnels and rooms, we'll discover a story that is fascinating. We'll see a place where faith, tradition, Roman power, and archaeology all meet in the heart of Jerusalem. Location 1. The area we're going to focus on is located just outside the Temple Mount area on its northwestern side. 2. Today, Umariya Elementary School and the Sisters of Zion Convent lie atop much of their ruins. 3. We'll look at the key sites in this area and then descend under the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. 4. Tradition places the Antonia Fortress as the beginning point of the Via Dolorosa, which means painful path. Orientation to the Key Sites Now let's provide some orientation. As mentioned, this area, just north of the Temple Mount, is vital to understand as it's one of the most important areas in Jerusalem. Therefore, we want to orient you to all the key sites in this area. After this, we'll descend beneath the Sisters of Sion Convent and explore ancient Jerusalem before, during, and after the time of Jesus. Sisters of Sion Convent 1. The first place we'll look at is the Sisters of Sion Convent. As mentioned, we'll be going underneath it later and exploring it in depth. But for now, we'll provide an overview. 2. The land was purchased in 1857 by Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, a French Jewish convert to Catholicism who founded the Sisters of Zion to build bridges between Christians and Jews. The Sisters excavated the ruins and preserved them. 3. For centuries, Christians believed this area was the courtyard of the Antonia Fortress—the Roman military garrison where Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus. According to John 19:13, Pilate sat on his judgment seat at a place called the Lithostrotos (Stone Pavement), or Gabbatha in Aramaic. The arch outside the convent was believed to be the spot where Pilate presented Jesus, saying, "Ecce Homo" (Behold the Man). 4. The Archaeological Reality Modern archaeology (spearheaded by the brilliant Catholic archaeologist Father Pierre Benoit in the 1970s) proved that the stone pavement and the Ecce Homo arch actually date to 135 AD and were built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian a century after Jesus. Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem as a Roman pagan city called Aelia Capitolina, and this area served as his eastern public plaza and marketplace. The Temple Mount 1. It was first built by King Solomon around 967 BC and was a walled platform upon which the temple Solomon built would stand. The mountain was originally Mount Moriah, and in order to build the temple on it, it had to be leveled. Solomon's original platform measured 500 cubits square (861 feet, 262.5 meters). 2. Later, the Hasmoneans added onto the southern part of the platform around 140 BC. The addition lines can still be seen today. 3. Then Herod the Great enlarged the platform as well, almost doubling its size. He enlarged it to the south, west, and north. The lines of his addition are still visible today. 4. Exactly where the Dome of the Rock stands today is where the original temple once stood. The evidence for this is overwhelming. We have done videos about this. The Via Dolorosa 1. The Via Dolorosa, meaning “The Way of Suffering” or “The Sorrowful Way,” is the traditional route through Jerusalem’s Old City that remembers Jesus carrying the cross from His condemnation to His crucifixion. Today it begins inside where the Antonia Fortress once stood, and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians have long identified the place of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. The route is marked by 14 Stations of the Cross—nine along the streets and five inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 2. Historically, the exact path has changed over time. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, later rebuilt by Hadrian as Aelia Capitolina, and reshaped many times afterward, so the original first-century street route cannot be known with certainty. The Via Dolorosa, as a Christian pilgrimage route, developed mainly during the Crusader Period (1099 - 1260), especially through the work of the Franciscans, who were entrusted with the care of many Holy Land sites and led pilgrims in devotional walks connected with the Passion of Christ. 3. The route followed today took on its modern form around the 18th century, replacing earlier versions. Because many scholars believe Pilate’s Praetorium was likely at Herod’s Palace near Jaffa Gate, not at the Antonia Fortress, the present route may not be the exact path Jesus walked. However, it remains one of the most meaningful Christian pilgrimage routes in the world because it allows believers to prayerfully remember the suffering, sacrifice, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus in the city where these events took place. Ecce Homo Arch 1. Most pilgrims know this arch by the words Ecce Homo, Latin for "Behold the Man." These words come from John 19:5, when Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd after the scourging and mocking. 2. For centuries, many Christians believed this arch marked the place where Pilate said those words. But archaeology tells us the arch itself was not standing in Jesus’ day. It was later built by the Roman emperor Hadrian around 135 AD, when he rebuilt Jerusalem as a Roman colony called Aelia Capitolina after the Jewish revolts. 3. The arch was part of a triple-arched Roman gateway connected with Hadrian’s eastern forum or public plaza. The large central arch is the one visible today over the street, while part of one smaller side arch can still be seen inside the Ecce Homo Church. 4. It was a Roman monumental gateway, built to mark a main entrance into Hadrian’s new city center, displaying Roman power, order, and victory after Jerusalem had been destroyed and reshaped. Only later did Christian tradition connect the arch with the Passion of Christ and the words “Ecce Homo.” The Antonia Fortress 1. The geography of ancient Jerusalem dictated its defenses. While the city was naturally protected by steep ravines to the east, south, and west, the northern approach lacked natural barriers. Consequently, the northwestern corner of the Temple Mount was its most vulnerable point. 2. Following the Babylonian exile, a fortress called the Birah was constructed near this spot by Nehemiah around 444 BC to protect the Second Temple on the Temple Mount, originally built by King Solomon. 3. During the Hellenistic and Hasmonean periods (332-63 BC), the Jewish priest-kings built a heavily fortified tower known as the Baris. It housed a military garrison, protected the northern flank of the Temple Mount, and securely stored the sacred vestments of the High Priest. 4. When Herod the Great captured Jerusalem and secured his throne as the Roman client king of Judea in 37 BC, he recognized the necessity of controlling a volatile city that largely viewed him as an illegitimate ruler. He completely rebuilt and expanded the old Baris into a formidable, state-of-the-art military complex. When completed, it was a massive, strategically vital military citadel situated on a rocky escarpment at the northwestern corner of the Temple Mount. It stood as a towering symbol of military might and imperial control over the sacred heart of Judaism. 5. Herod named the citadel the Antonia Fortress in honor of his Roman patron and friend, the general and triumvir Mark Antony. Because Antony was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and died shortly after, the fortress was certainly built and named prior to that date. 6. Our primary source for the physical appearance of the fortress is the 1st-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. He recorded that it was built on a steep rock outcropping 50 cubits (23 meters) high, covered with smooth stone slabs to prevent scaling. 7. The citadel was rectangular and featured massive corner towers. Three were 50 cubits (23 meters) high, but the southeastern tower was 70 cubits (32 meters) high. This specific tower offered a direct, unobstructed view down into the courts of the Temple Mount, allowing soldiers to monitor the massive crowds below. 8. Although built as an impregnable fortress, Josephus noted it was designed with the luxury of a palace, containing baths, broad courtyards, and barracks large enough to house a full Roman cohort. Subterranean passages and staircases connected the fortress directly to the northern porticoes of the Temple. Pools of Bethesda 1. The Pools of Bethesda are located just inside the Lions’ Gate, beside the Church of St. Anne, near the traditional beginning of the Via Dolorosa. In Jesus’ day, this area was near the Sheep Gate, where animals connected with Temple sacrifice may have passed, and the pools served as a large water and purification complex. 2. They consist of two pools, a northern and a southern pool. The northern pool was built by King Hezekiah around 700 BC, and the southern pool was built by the Hasmoneans around 150 BC. They were living-water pools near the Temple Mount for purification and as reservoirs. 3. The Gospel of John says that Jesus healed a man there who had been unable to walk for 38 years, and John describes the pool as having five porticoes. For many years, critics thought this detail was strange, but excavations revealed a large pool complex with two basins separated by a central wall, which helps explain the “five porticoes” description. 4. In the time of Jesus, the site had a northern pool used as a reservoir and a southern pool with steps, likely used as a mikveh, or Jewish ritual bath. The pools were famous in Jesus' time and were associated with healing and purification. Pool of Israel 1. The Pool of Israel was once a huge open reservoir located just inside the Old City near the northeastern corner of the Temple Mount, close to today’s Lions’ Gate. It was one of Jerusalem’s largest reservoirs, measuring roughly 110 meters long, 38 meters wide, and about 24 meters deep, and it helped collect and store rainwater for the city and the Temple Mount area. It also likely functioned as a kind of defensive ditch or moat along the vulnerable northern side of the Temple Mount. It existed before the time of Herod the Great, who reigned over Israel (37 - 4 BC), but he refortified it. Struthion Pool 1. It is also called the Sparrow Pool. Probably because it was the smallest of the pools on the northern side of the Temple Mount. 2. Before Hadrian covered it in 135 AD, it was an open-air pool or reservoir. It was connected with the water system north of the Temple Mount and the defensive area of the Antonia Fortress. 3. The pool is described as about 54 meters long and 14 meters wide, with a depth of around 5 meters. It was originally an open-air reservoir, and Josephus refers to the pool called Struthion. 4. Hadrian later installed vaulting over it so his plaza could cover it. 5. The pool itself belongs to the late Second Temple period (515 BC - 70 AD). The covering vaults above it date to Hadrian in 135 AD. So, think of two layers: the Struthion Pool at the lowest level and Hadrian’s second-century Roman city on top of the Struthion Pool. 6. In summary, the pool was from the time of Herod and associated with the Antonia Fortress. Then, Hadrian covered it with two parallel vaults around 135 AD and built the paved plaza above it so it wouldn't be in the way of his plaza and the city's gate entrance. Church of the Holy Sepulchre 1. The church marks the spot of Golgotha, where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again. The evidence supporting this is overwhelming. 2. It is where the Via Dolorosa ends. Five of the stations of the Via Dolorosa are located inside the church. Herod & Pilate's Palace 1. Herod's Palace Fortress, which later was used by Pontius Pilate, is located on the west side of Jerusalem just south of Jaffa Gate. It was built by Herod and consisted of two palace wings, one to the north and one to the south, with a large plaza garden in the middle. To the far north, it had massive protective towers, and to the far south, barracks for around 500 soldiers. Touring Underneath the Sisters of Sion Convent The Sisters of Sion hase a total of 16 stations or places to see on their tour map. We will follow this route and see the tour's highlights. 1. Descending Down in Time 1. As we descend down the stairs from the Sisters of Sion meeting area, we are traveling back in time. Jerusalem is a city built on a 'layer cake' of its own ruins. Every time the city was destroyed, the next empire built right on top of the rubble of the previous empire. This first lower level is from the time of Hadrian (135 AD). 2. Struthion Pool 1. Struthion is Greek for "sparrow"—likely a nickname because it was considered a smaller pool compared to the other pools in the area and the massive Temple Mount reservoirs. It was originally carved out around 140 BC by the Hasmonean kings and later expanded by King Herod. 2. Its purpose was to catch rainwater and provide drinking water for the Antonia Fortress, a massive Roman military barracks that stood right above it. But here is the catch: In the time of Jesus, this pool was open to the sky. It acted as a massive, open-air defensive moat for the fortress. If Jesus had walked past the Antonia Fortress during His life, He would have seen the Struthion Pool along with the other sites. 3. So, why is it in a dark cave today? Remember Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD? When he wanted to build his new paved marketplace (the forum), he didn't want a giant open pool in the middle. So, his engineers built these beautiful, soaring stone barrel vaults right over our heads. He put a 'roof' on the pool, and then laid his stone plaza directly on top of it. At the far end of the pool, there is a cinderblock wall blocking the water. In 1970, Israeli archaeologists digging the famous Western Wall Tunnels accidentally broke through the rock into the Sisters of Sion side of the pool. That wall was built to divide the Sisters of Sion Convent's private property from the public tunnels. If you take the tunnel tour today, your grand finale is walking along the other half of this exact same body of water. 3. Lithostrotos (Stone Pavement) 1. We have now moved up one layer, standing on the "roof" of the pool. Welcome to the Lithostrotos, a Greek word meaning "The Paved Place." In the Gospel of John (19:13), it states: "When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha)." 2. When early archaeologists discovered these massive, beautiful flagstones in the 1800s, they fell to their knees. They were convinced they had found the exact courtyard of the Antonia Fortress where Jesus stood trial. 3. Take a look at the stones. Notice how massive they are. Notice the rough grooves carved into the rock by Roman stonemasons to keep horses and chariots from slipping on the wet stone. But here is the archaeological truth. Because these paving stones sit atop the vaulted roof Hadrian built over the pool in 135 AD, they cannot be from the time of Jesus. They belong to Hadrian’s 2nd-century Roman forum. 4. Ceiling Over the Lithostrotos Under our feet are these massive stones that were those of Hadrian's large plaza built over the Struthion Pool, but what about the ceiling above us, when was it built? 1. After Hadrian's plaza was built over the Struthion Pool below us, Jerusalem was repeatedly besieged, leveled, and rebuilt by the Byzantines, Persians, Islamic empires, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomans. 2. In ancient cities, it was too difficult to haul away heavy stone rubble. When buildings collapsed, new builders simply smoothed out the debris and built their new streets and homes right on top of the old ones. As a result, the street level of Jerusalem slowly rose by 4 to 6 meters. Hadrian's open-air pavement was buried beneath tons of earth, debris, and the foundations of medieval buildings, completely disappearing from history. 3. In 1857, a French Jewish convert to Catholicism and Jesuit priest named Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne purchased a tract of ruined land along the Via Dolorosa. His goal was to build a church, an orphanage, and a convent. 4. When Ratisbonne's workers began digging deep into the debris to lay the foundations, they made an incredible discovery: they hit the ancient Roman paving stones of Hadrian's forum. At the time, Ratisbonne and early archaeologists mistakenly believed these stones were the biblical Gabbatha—the courtyard of the Antonia Fortress where Jesus was condemned by Pontius Pilate. (Modern archaeology in the 1970s conclusively proved this pavement actually belonged to Hadrian's 135 AD forum, but the spiritual tradition remains). 5. Believing he had found one of the holiest sites in Christianity, Ratisbonne ordered his architects to preserve the pavement exactly where it lay. However, he still needed to build a massive complex atop it. 6. To protect the Roman pavement without destroying it, between 1858 and 1868, the builders constructed heavy stone pillars and a series of sturdy, arched stone vaults directly over the ancient plaza. 7. This new roof served a dual purpose: it created a protective subterranean crypt to showcase the Roman pavement, and it served as the heavy foundational floor to hold up the massive Convent of the Sisters of Zion and the Basilica of the Ecce Homo, which still sit above it today. 5. The "Game of the King" 1. On the floor is the 'Game of the King," also known as "Nine Men's Morris." The gameboard is etched with several large stones in this area. There is also the faint circle radiating like a king's crown right beside it. Interestingly, this game is still played today. 2. This is one of the most chilling artifacts in Jerusalem. This is a game board, carved by bored Roman soldiers while on guard duty. It is called the Game of the King. Roman soldiers played this with knuckle-bone dice. The winner was allowed to choose a condemned prisoner as the mock "King." They would dress the terrified prisoner in a fake royal robe, put a makeshift crown on his head, give him mock orders, beat him, and at the end of the festival, execute him. Do you see the connection to this game and what was done to Jesus? 3. Even though these specific etchings date to a century after Christ, they were carved by the exact same type of Roman legionaries who occupied the Antonia Fortress. The Gospels tell us that Roman soldiers stripped Jesus, put a scarlet robe on Him, twisted together a crown of thorns, struck Him, and mocked Him, yelling, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 4. When you look at this game board, the mockery of Jesus is no longer just a story on a page. You are looking at the exact cultural and psychological reality of the Roman military machine that crucified Him. 6. Murial of Jesus and His Cross 1. Here we see Jesus carrying His cross. It provides a visual aid to help us realize what Jesus did for us all. He willingly went to the cross to die for our sins, rise from the dead, and give us eternal life in paradise with Him. 2. Even though Jesus did not walk at this level of ancient Jerusalem, some of the things under this floor were here when He was here. Was the Antonia Fortress Where Jesus was Tried? 1. Some believe Jesus appeared before Pilate here and was condemned to death by crucifixion. Others believe that Pilate’s Headquarters, also called Pilate’s Palace or Praetorium, was the place Christ appeared before Pilate. 2. If the stones of the Lithostrotos are from a century later, we have to ask: Where was the actual trial of Jesus? Where was Pilate's Praetorium? 3. For centuries, pilgrims assumed Pilate stayed right here at the Antonia Fortress, which is why the Via Dolorosa starts at the Antonia Fortress today. However, Roman history tells us a different story. Pontius Pilate usually lived in luxury on the Mediterranean coast in Caesarea. When he came to Jerusalem for Passover, he did not sleep in a sweaty, cramped military barracks with the common soldiers. 4. Historical records from ancient writers like Flavius Josephus and Philo indicate that Roman governors like Pilate did not stay in the cramped Antonia Fortress when visiting Jerusalem. They stayed in the most luxurious location in the city: Herod's Palace (on the western side of the city, near the modern Jaffa Gate/Tower of David). 5. So why do we walk the Via Dolorosa here, on the east side? Because faith and tradition are powerful. During the Crusades and medieval periods, the ruins of Herod's palace were repurposed, and pilgrim routes shifted in response to safety and church locations. The Franciscans finalized this route in the Middle Ages. The Via Dolorosa is a spiritual journey—a physical meditation on the Passion of Christ—not an exact GPS map. Was the Present-Day Temple Mount Once the Antonia Fortress? 1. Some believe that the Antonia Fortress encompassed all the current Temple Mount and that the original Temple Mount was in the City of David. However, Scripture clearly states that at the dedication of the temple that Solomon built, in 2 Chronicles 5, the Ark of the Covenant was brought “out of the City of David” to the temple. “Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the City of David , which is Zion” (2 Chron. 5:2). 2. If the Ark was brought out of the City of David to the temple, then the temple couldn't have been in the City of David. There is also overwhelming historical and archaeological evidence, as well as the writings of the famous Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, that contradict the belief that the Antonia Fortress encompassed the entire Temple Mount. This Area Around the Sisters of Sion in the Bible 1. The possibility that Jesus was tried in or by the Antonia Fortress, John 19:16. If this is the place, then it was here that Christ was condemned to crucifixion and was led away to Golgotha. This is a monumental event in God's plan of redemption for humanity. John 19:16: “Finally, Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So, the soldiers took Jesus away.” 2. The Apostle Paul addresses a large crowd, Acts 21:31–40. After Paul was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple, an angry mob seized him, dragged him out, and tried to kill him. Roman soldiers from the Antonia Fortress quickly came down, rescued Paul, and carried him up the stairs into the barracks because of the crowd’s violence. As he was being taken inside, Paul asked permission to speak, and from the fortress stairs he addressed the mob in Hebrew. 3. Jesus healed a sick man at the Pools of Bethesda, John 5:1-17. While in Jerusalem for a Jewish feast, Jesus visited the Pool of Bethesda near the Sheep Gate, where many sick and disabled people waited for healing. There He saw a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years and asked if he wanted to be made well. Jesus then commanded him, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk,” and the man was immediately healed. Because this happened on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders opposed Jesus, but He answered that His Father was still working, and He too was working. Faith Lesson from the area by the Sisters of Sion 1. Jesus willingly chose to suffer a horrific death to pay for our sins. What about us? Are we grateful for what Christ has done for us? Have we repented of our sins and placed our trust in Christ for salvation? Are we right before the Lord and walking in obedience to Him? 2. Paul suffered at the Antonia Fortress for his faith. Are we willing to boldly proclaim our faith and suffer as a result if necessary? Paul shared his testimony often. Do we have our testimony memorized, and do we share it when talking to others about God? 3. The sick man whom Christ healed apparently was sick because of some sin in his life. What about us? Are we in danger of God's discipline in our lives because of sin we are clinging to? The sick man showed extreme perseverance in going to the Pool of Bethesda for 38 long years. Are we persistent in seeking the Lord, or do we give up easily?

We have led many tour trips to Israel during tension and unrest. Hear our perspective as experienced tour guides who have made many trips to Israel. Must see perspective for anyone concerned with what's happening in Israel, and if they should take a tour trip at this time. Is It Safe to Travel to Israel During Unrest? Safety In Israel We know the current war might be causing you to reconsider going to Israel at this time. However, here is some information and context to help you. 1. We have tour guide colleagues in Israel leading teams there right now. Things are safe with no issues. They are having a great time and enjoying all the sites. 2. Right now, we can visit all of the sites on our itinerary. 3. Security in Israel is better than ever right now. There have been virtually no terrorist attacks inside Israel since the war began. 4. Israel is open for business: all restaurants, hotels, parks, services, etc., are functioning normally. 5. Ben Gurion Airport is functioning normally, with all major airlines operating without issues. 6. Israel is winning the war with Hamas and should have Gaza under complete control soon. 7. The war is happening in Gaza, not within the country of Israel. We will not be touring any sites in or close to Gaza. 8. Our tour bus driver assures us that things are safe for tourism in Israel right now. 9. There are far fewer tourists in Israel, so some of the sites that are difficult to see due to long lines are very accessible. Now is a great time to visit Israel. 10. We know the current situation could seem scary to you, but we have traveled throughout Israel many times during tensions and have not felt unsafe. Virtually all of the country functions normally with no issues. Therefore, we want to assure you that we are moving forward with our tour trips and have no plans to cancel them. Other Safety Concerns Good News Before I share the inside perspective on tension and unrest in Israel, let me share some good news from our bus driver, with whom we are in regular contact about safety for the tour trips we lead to Israel. Here’s his quote: “Do not worry, my brother, the conditions here are not as the media presents. I now have an American group in these conditions during this month of Ramadan [Muslim Holy Month], and everything is going on safely, and there are no problems.” This quote comes during a time of high tension in Israel during Ramadan. Now, let’s discuss the inside story of what’s happening in Israel and whether we should be concerned. Spiritual Warfare All that’s happening can be traced to spiritual warfare. The Israeli government has been passing new laws allowing Jews to go up to the Temple Mount. The Muslims don’t like this, so they gather rocks and things inside the Al Aqsa Mosque to throw at the Jews when they’re up there. We saw this firsthand recently. The Israeli police have therefore gone into the Al Aqsa Mosque to clear this out and arrest the Muslim protesters. The Temple Mount authority has been given to the Muslims, but the Israeli police control the security there. The surrounding places, like Gaza and Lebanon, support the Muslims and therefore are aiding them in this spiritual warfare. Ramadan Ramadan is a Muslim holy month. During this time, there is always more tension because the Muslims engage more in Jihad. So this explains why there is more tension during this time. After Ramadan, things will settle down considerably. This is why we don’t plan our trips to Israel during Ramadan. Also, it’s hard to go onto the Temple Mount during Ramadan because it’s so busy with Muslims. Most Arabs Are Very Friendly Every experience we have had with Arabs has been highly positive. They tend to love tourists and view them as a positive influence. Our Experiences In Israel During Unrest We have been in Israel during some terrorist attacks and didn’t even know it until we heard it on the news or someone told us. I’ll briefly share two incidents. A few years ago, my wife and I were filming a Bible teaching on the Mount of Olives and heard some helicopter noise. It was somewhat annoying, but we didn't think much of it, as airplanes and helicopters are quite common in Israel. They patrol their skies quite well. Later, we learned that an Arab had run into some Jews by the Damascus bus station. We were just a quarter mile away from this incident. It was dealt with, and life went back to normal very quickly. Later, we took the light rail train that departs beside the Damascus bus station, where this event happened, to our hotel. We didn’t even know what had happened until later. On a recent tour trip to Israel with a group, we visited Pilate’s Palace, discussing the location of Jesus' trial. During the teaching, we heard some sirens and so forth. Later, we learned there had been a terrorist attack inside Old City Jerusalem. After our teaching, we entered the Old City and would never have known anything had happened if we hadn’t been told. We must understand that things happen in a moment in time and then return to normal. This is normal for Israel. We’ll Avoid Any Hotspots If, by chance, an incident were to happen, we would avoid it. Our bus driver is an Arab Christian and has been driving tour buses for many years. He will not lead us into any danger. While in Jerusalem, the Israeli police are incredible and provide fantastic security. Also, tourists are not targeted. In fact, they are welcomed. The tension is between Muslims and Jews. Israel’s Iron Dome Defense System Israel has developed a sophisticated Iron Dome that shoots most rockets fired into Israel. The chances of us being hit by a missile are one in a million. It’s not like rockets are raining down from heaven everywhere in Israel. God’s Sovereignty The hairs on our heads and our days are numbered. We won’t die one minute sooner or later than what God has determined for us, so we can rest in His sovereignty and enjoy His peace and will for us. I tell those who think I am taking a risk in going to Israel that if God determines it’s my time to die, I couldn’t think of a better place to go to be in the presence of the Lord (which is much better than this life) than the Holy Land. We are not worried about safety issues in Israel. We fully trust the Lord’s perfect will for us, so we are at peace with our trips. We have gone to Israel many times in the midst of some unrest and haven’t had any issues. Some incidents happen on occasion, and most of the time, those in Israel don’t even know what’s happened until they hear it on the news. We won’t be canceling any upcoming tour trips to Israel, as we have visited the country many times during unrest, and virtually all of it functions normally regardless of what’s happening in a particular area. However, if you feel uncomfortable, we understand. We Don’t Cancel Our Trip s Unless There Is Extreme Danger Based on the above info, we have no plans to cancel any upcoming tour trip to Israel. We know it’s hard for some to understand this without having been to Israel. However, life goes on as usual for 99.9 percent of the population, and for those whose lives are interrupted, it’s only for a short time. Then it quickly passes, and life goes back to normal.

Other than the main holy sites we have on our website about northern Israel, this page lists many other sites of interest in the area: Acre (Akko, Acco, Ptolemais), Belvoir Fortress, Jezreel (Yizreel), Nimrod Fortress National Park Other Sites of Interest ~ Northern Galilee Photo Gallery Places of Interest Other Sites of Interest In Northern Israel Acre (Akko, Acco, Ptolemais) Located about 9 miles (14 km.) north of Haifa, Acre was one of the best seaports in Israel. Acre was allotted to the tribe of Asher, but they were never able to conquer it (Josh. 19:24–31; Judg. 1:31). It was similar to Tyre and Sidon, cities the Israelites failed to conquer. As a result, Acre became a fortress city of unusual strength that stood up against its many attackers. However, when Assyria arose to power, Acre was conquered and came under its control. When Assyria fell from world power, Acre, along with other Phoenician towns, came under the rule of Babylon, and then later, to Persia. In the Seleucid period (BC 312–65), Acre rose to prominence in the battles between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies. The Ptolemies had control of it during the struggles after the death of Alexander the Great and made it their stronghold on the coast. At this time, the city of Acre was changed to the name Ptolemais. This would be the name it would be known as during the Greek and Roman occupations of Israel. Therefore, the New Testament authors refer to Acre as Ptolemais (Acts 21:7). In the period of the Crusaders, Acre was the most famous stronghold on the coast. It declined after the Crusader period and fell into the hands of the Ottomans under Selim I in 1516. Belvoir Fortress This Crusader castle is located on a hill of the Naphtali Plateau, 12 miles (20 km.) south of the Sea of Galilee. This impressive structure sits about 1,641 ft. (500 m.) above the Jordan Valley, which was a strategic location during the time of the Crusades. Designed to withstand the Muslim invaders, the fortress provided strong combat positioning as well as an amazing view of the surrounding area. Built in 1168 by the Hospitallers order, it withstood a year and a half siege by Saladin’s forces. The structure itself consists of an outer and an inner square fortress. It is still well-preserved, and visitors can explore the grounds while taking in a stunning view of the Jordan Valley, the Sea of Galilee, and the Golan Heights. It is the most complete and preserved Crusader fortress in Israel. Jezreel (Yizreel) Jezreel, located in the fertile Jezreel Valley, is about 24 miles (38 km.) east of the Mediterranean Sea and about 17 miles (28 km.) southwest of the Sea of Galilee. Jezreel was a major biblical city, and during the 9th century BC, it was the northern capital of the Israelite Kingdom. When Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa, news of this event came from Jezreel. Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, became crippled when his nurse fell while carrying him as she ran in haste after hearing the terrible news of Jonathan’s death (2 Sam. 4:4). After the Kingdom of Israel was divided in around 930 BC, King Ahab made Jezreel one of his royal residences, erecting a palace here (1 Kings 21:1). At Jezreel lived King Ahab’s wife, who instituted the worship to the false gods of Baal and Asherah. This provoked God to send a drought that lasted 3 years. It ended with the great showdown between Elijah and the 850 false prophets of Baal and Asherah. God sent fire from heaven that consumed Elijah’s altar to show the nation of Israel He was God. Afterward, Elijah killed all the false prophets (1 Kings 18). The vineyard of Naboth was by King Ahab’s palace in Jezreel. Ahab wanted the vineyard for a vegetable garden, but Naboth refused to sell it. So Ahab’s wicked wife, Jezebel, arranged for Naboth to be wrongly accused and executed so Ahab could rob his land (1 Kings 21). Apparently, it was on the city's eastern wall from which Jehu entered when he ordered Jezebel (King Ahab’s wife) to be thrown down according to prophecy. Some of her blood spattered on the wall when she landed, and the dogs ate her body (2 Kings 9:30–37). Nimrod Fortress National Park Nimrod Fortress is situated in the northernmost part of Israel, just a few miles north of Caesarea Philippi. It’s on a ridge rising some 2,600 ft. (800 m.) above sea level and is the biggest Crusader castle in Israel. The mountain-top stronghold overlooks the deep narrow valley separating Mount Hermon from the Golan Heights and the road linking the Galilee with Damascus (present-day Syria). The Crusaders built it in the Middle Ages to guard this major access route against armies coming from the west. On the eastern edge of the fortress was a large keep (a keep is a fortress within a fortress), protected by large rectangular towers. In the west, it was separated from the main fortress by a moat, accessed by a bridge. The keep served as living quarters for the commander of the fortress. In times of siege, it became an additional defense position. The fortress is named after a biblical hero, the hunter, Nimrod, the great warrior (Gen. 10:8-9) who, according to local tradition, dwelt on this summit.