It was 3,000 years ago that King David made the City of David, also known as Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Later, David would be buried in the City of David. Learn all about the true location that has been lost over the years. Tomb of King David Photo Gallery Places of Interest Tomb of King David Location 1. The place tourists go today to see the Tomb of King David is on the Western Hill at the exact location as the Upper Room. This is so because the Crusaders (1095–1291 AD) believed Pentecost took place at the Upper Room and interpreted a verse in Peter's sermon as meaning King David's tomb was at the Upper Room and not in the Jerusalem area: "Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29). Later, a Jewish Rabbi had a vision that King David's tomb was in the same area, so a synagogue was placed over the same building as the Upper Room, and a casket was placed there to honor King David. The casket is empty and does not have David's bones in it. In 1913, Ramond Weill discovered the Tomb of David in the lower part of the City of David, and for about 50 years, tourists visited that site. However, after 1960, tourists returned to the Upper Room, where they believed the Tomb of David was located. Why did this change occur? We will see why in a moment. 2. The Bible provides quite accurate information regarding the location of the Tomb of David. 1 Kings 2:10: Then David lay down with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David . This verse makes it clear that the Tomb of David was located inside the City of David. The current site where tourists visit the Tomb of David is not in the City of David but on the upper part of the Western Hill, just west of the City of David, about 0.5 miles (1 km) away. Nehemiah 3:15-16: Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He built it, made a roof for it, and installed its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah [Siloam] at the king’s garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David . 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David , and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty men. The context of Nehemiah 3 makes it clear that these verses form part of a description of the rebuilding of the city wall, beginning at the southern tip of the city of David and moving north along the eastern wall, the section being rebuilt. Verse 15 starts at the pool of Siloam. It ends at the steps. The following section, described in verse 16, begins at these unknown steps and continues farther north towards the temple mount up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool. Based on this information, it is estimated where the royal tombs should be located. Based on this location and the section of the wall described in Nehemiah, Raymond Weill began digging in this area in 1913. Using around 200 local workers and 30 donkeys, Weill's team cleared the entire area all the way down to bedrock. Weill then found the remains of nine tombs in front of an ancient pool just as the Bible had indicated. The tombs were extensively damaged due to the stones that were quarried out of the site (to rebuild Jerusalem into Aelia Capitolina) later on, and the intentional destruction by Roman Emperor Hadrian (135 AD), who tried to wipe out the remains of a Jewish presence in the area. However, two of the most important and monumental tombs were clearly visible. Weill identified the most monumental tomb as that of King David. It should be noted that only kings were allowed to be buried within the city walls of a city, as they were considered royalty and were exempt from obeying Moses' command to bury the dead outside the city walls because they were deemed unclean. This adds weight to the most monumental tomb, that of King David. Historical Background 1. King David died around 970 BC and was buried in the City of David (1 Kings 2:10). The City of David was 11 acres (4.5 hectares) in size (about the size of 11 football fields). 2. David's Tomb was known and venerated during the time of Nehemiah (around 444 BC). As we have seen from Nehemiah's account, David's Tomb is located on the east side of the City of David, north of the Pool of Siloam. The location of Raymond Weill's excavations confirms this location. 3. A synagogue dating to around 100 BC, which appears to have venerated David's Tomb, was discovered, with its remains still visible today. It's called the Theodotos synagogue, and is located right below David's Tomb. Raymond Weill found a stone bearing a dedication inscription for the synagogue. In this inscription, Theodotus, a ruler of the synagogue and the son and grandson of synagogue rulers, built the synagogue for three things: 1) the reading of the Torah, 2) the teaching of the commandments, and 3) as a guest house for travelers. 4. The Apostle Peter, on the day of Pentecost, indicates that the Tomb of David was still venerated during the New Testament period. “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day ” (Acts 2:29). 5. Josephus Flavius, a Jewish historian writing around 60-80 AD, located the Tomb of David in the City of David. According to Josephus, Herod broke into David's tomb to rob it, but when he tried to enter the inner chamber, tongues of fire shot out (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 16:7:1). 6. Around 135 AD, the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, knew where David's Tomb was and intentionally quarried stones there for his building projects. It's this destruction that removed the top of David's Tomb and destroyed many other tombs of royal kings buried in this area. 7. In summary, the historical and archeological data reveal that the Tomb of David in the City of David was venerated from the time of David's death in 970 BC until around 638 AD, when the Muslims took over Israel and destroyed many Christian and Jewish sites. It would be at this time that the tomb would become neglected and buried under dirt and debris. Change in Location from the City of David to Mount Zion 1. The Crusaders began venerating the location of the Tomb of David on Mount Zion around 1125 AD. This was because the Tomb of David was buried in the City of David, and its location was unknown. 2. Also, the Crusaders believed Pentecost took place in the Upper Room and interpreted a verse in Peter's sermon as indicating that King David's tomb was there (Acts 2:29). 3. Later, a Jewish Rabbi had a vision that King David's tomb was in the same area, so a synagogue was placed over the same building as the Upper Room, and a casket was placed there to honor King David. The casket is empty and does not have David's bones in it. 4. The site on Mount Zion has no biblical or archaeological evidence supporting it as the location of David's Tomb. 5. The site is where the Upper Room was located. After it was destroyed in 70 AD, a new Judeo-Christian Synagogue was built on the original site, with subsequent churches constructed to mark the Upper Room location as well. Change in Location from Mount Zion Back to the City of David 1. After Raymond Weill discovered David's Tomb in the City of David, it would be the site where all the tourists would visit and venerate once again. 2. Raymond Weill's discovery of the Tomb of David was widely accepted by his colleagues. An example of this is Benjamin Mazar, one of the father figures of Israeli archaeology. He wrote a famous book about his excavations around Jerusalem. On the back of his book is a photo showing the tombs from the House of David that Weill discovered. So we have an example of how Weill's discovery was accepted in scholarship for many years. Change in Location from the City of David Back to Mount Zion 1. In 1960, Kathleen Kenyon excavated the Tomb of David site in the City of David. However, the site and Kathleen Kenyon's work were then under the authority of Jordan and the Jordan Antiquities Authority. It appears Kathleen's goal was to overturn any Jewish connections to the biblical sites and replace them with different views. She did this in Jericho and other places. It seems she was politically driven and not archaeologically driven. 2. Kathleen interpreted the tombs as cisterns. This is remarkably irresponsible, as all the evidence at these sites clearly supports them as being tombs and not cisterns. Cisterns are vertical in nature. David's Tomb is horizontally shaped. Cisterns don't have openings at the bottom. David's Tomb has an opening at the bottom for entry. Cisterns usually don't have two levels. David's Tomb has a lower level and an upper level. The upper level is where his body was located. Cisterns are entirely covered with plaster, so water doesn't escape or leak out. David's Tomb has very little plaster. Cisterns don't have cutouts in their sides for oil lamps. This tomb has them. 3. Katheen admitted that what Weill had identified as the Tomb of David was not like any other observed cistern known. Here is her quote from her book, "Digging Up Jerusalem," pgs. 31-32. “The particular cuttings revealed by Weill were certainly unusual , consisting of two rock-cut tunnels side by side. They are not like any observed cisterns , though the plaster that covers the rock shows that they were at some stage used as cisterns." 4. As a result of Kathleen's interpretation, tourists began going to Mount Zion, the site of the first floor of the Upper Room, and no longer visit the actual site in the City of David. In fact, most tourists don't even know the story behind what has happened and are ignorant of the location of the actual site. Location of the Tomb of David, According to the Israeli Antiquities Authority The Israeli Antiquities Authority oversees and is the ultimate authority on excavations and discoveries in Israel. They have posted signs in the City of David marking the location of the Tomb of David (and the other tombs of the House of David), along with the Theodotos Synagogue, and more. Places of Interest 1. Pool of Siloam 2. Tomb 1: King David's Tomb 3. Tomb 2 4. Horizontal Tomb Shaft of Tomb 1 5. Burial niche at the very back of Tomb 1 6. Carved out trough at the back of the Tomb 1 horizontal shaft. This is likely the place where King David's bones were buried. 7. Quarried Area 8. Ancient 3,000-year-old walls of the City of David 9. Walls Nehemiah repaired that can be seen today 10. Upper Room Faith Lesson from the Tomb of David 1. The importance of the discovery of King David's palace and tomb can be found in Psalm 16.:9-11. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 2. Was David writing about himself or someone else? He couldn't have been writing about himself as he died, his body decayed, and his bones turned to dust. 3. However, God made a promise to David that He would establish a house of lineage for him and establish that there would come someone from his lineage who would reign forever. This would be the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would come from David's lineage. 2 Samuel 7:11-13: The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever . 4. For around a thousand years after David's death, the Israelites continued to remember this promise given to David and looked for their coming Messiah, the Son of David, who would fulfill this prophecy. Psalm 89:3-4: I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to My servant David, 4 I will establish your descendants forever and build up your throne to all generations. Psalm 89:35-37: Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. 36 His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. 7 It shall be established forever like the moon, and a witness in the sky is faithful. 5. Christ fulfilled this prophecy. His tomb was empty, and Christ never saw decay. He will reign forever, and His kingdom will have no end. 6. Have you received Christ as your Lord and Savior, and will you be a part of Christ's eternal kingdom?

See why the southern part of the Temple Mount is the most likely place where Pentecost happened. Sites of interest related to Pentecost: Pool of Siloam, Pilgrim's Road (Herodian St.) from the Pool of Siloam to the Southern Stairs and Robinson's Arch Stairway, Mikvehs by the Southern Stairs, City of David, Jerusalem in the time of Christ, time of prayer at the temple. Pentecost happened 50 days after Passover. Temple Mount & Pentecost Photo Gallery Places of Interest Temple Mount & Pentecost Location 1. The Temple Mount is located on the eastern side of Old City Jerusalem 2. It occupies 1/6 of the current city. 3. It is 35 acres (14 hectares) in size, the equivalent of 35 football fields. Historical Background 1. The Temple Mount has played a “center stage” role for much of Israel’s history and has functioned as the center of God’s dwelling place and ministry on this earth. 2. It will play a key part during the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth as well. 3. God has chosen to focus His presence and attention there like a laser beam from heaven like no other place. 4. First temple: the temple Solomon built. 5. Second temple: the temple Zerubbabel oversaw after the deportation and return of the Jews. 6. King Herod’s temple: it would seem like this would be called the third temple, but because the second temple wasn’t destroyed by enemies, but that Herod built over it a new temple and then removed the old one inside, it is still referred to as the second temple. Places of Interest 1. Temple Mount 2. Royal Stoa 3. Dome of the Rock. 4. Solomon's Portico 5. Western Wall 6. Eastern Gate 7. Southern Stairs 8. Antonia Fortress 9. Upper Room 10. Pools of Bethesda 11. Pool of Siloam 12. Pilgrim's Road 13. Mikvahs by the Southern Stairs 14. Original Altar Location 15. City of David The Temple Mount and Pentecost in the Bible 1. Pentecost means 50. 2. Fifty days after Passover, the Jewish feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) was celebrated, which was primarily a thanksgiving for the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, but it was later associated with a remembrance of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. At this feast, the Jews were to give God the firstfruits of their wheat harvest. 3. Pentecost also marks 50 days from the time the Israelites left Egypt and arrived at Mount Sinai, where God gave them the 10 Commandments and the Law. 4. Pentecost happened 50 days after Passover. There were 40 days from the resurrection of Christ to His ascension, and then 10 days from Christ’s ascension to Pentecost, for a total of 50 days. 5. Interestingly, the Jewish nation was born at Mount Sinai 50 days after leaving Egypt, and the Church was born at Pentecost 50 days after Christ’s resurrection. Why Pentecost Most Likely Happened on the Temple Mount Many believe Pentecost occurred in or around the Upper Room. However, the best evidence suggests that it most likely occurred on the Temple Mount, near the Royal Stoa. 1. What does the Bible say? Acts 2:1–6: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house [structure] where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together , and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 2. Scripture says the coming of the Holy Spirit filled a house. It doesn’t say or mention anything about the Upper Room. 3. What does "house" mean in Hebrew? The Hebrew word for "house" in Acts 2:2 is "Har Ha Bait," which means "the mountain of THE HOUSE," or "the dwelling place of God." This meaning would support the idea that Pentecost most likely took place on the Temple Mount. While Acts 2:2 states that the sound of wind filled the whole “house,” Jesus refers to the Temple with the term “house” four times (John 2:16, 17; Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). In Acts 5:21, Luke refers to a prison as a “house.” Additionally, the Temple is often referred to as a house in the Old Testament. John 2:17: The Zeal for your house will consume me. Matthew 21:12-13: And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” House can also refer to just a covered area. The Royal Stoa fits this description. On the southern end of the Temple Mount, just above the Southern Stairs, was the Royal Stoa . It was a massive public meeting place with a large, roofed area. It aligns with what the Bible says about the location of Pentecost. 4. Three thousand were baptized after hearing Peter's message. Acts 2:41: So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. For 3,000 to be saved, a crowd of at least 30,000, up to 100,000 would likely have assembled. The Jewish historian Josephus, along with others, estimates that hundreds of thousands gathered in Jerusalem during the holy feasts. This large multitude could not fit in or around the Upper Room. 5. The Upper Room could only accommodate about 150 people. The massive crowd that gathered and the 3,000 baptized could not have fit in the Upper Room or the surrounding area. Peter addressed "All who dwelt in Jerusalem ." Acts 2:14: But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “ Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem , let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. Peter addressed a multitude of people. Acts 2:6: And at this sound the multitude came together , and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. The Upper Room was in a densely populated residential area of Jerusalem. It had narrow streets and many buildings. A multitude of people couldn't gather in this area as the narrow streets and buildings would have made this virtually impossible. Due to the narrow streets and buildings around the Upper Room, Peter could have only preached to several hundred people at best. 6. There was no reason for a multitude of people to be in the residential area by the Upper Room. The Upper Room is a long way from the central part of Jerusalem. It was not in an area of public interest. The Temple Mount was the center of public activity, especially during the holy feasts. 7. There were many Mikvehs (baptismal pools) around the Temple Mount. There are approximately 75 mikvehs near the Temple Mount, along with the Pools of Bethesda and the Pool of Siloam, where those who were ritually clean could be baptized. There were no public mikvehs around the Upper Room area. The Upper Room is situated in the southwest corner of Jerusalem, approximately 0.51 miles (0.83 km) from the Temple Mount, a considerable distance away. Most likely, too far away for a large crowd to go to for baptisms, etc. 8. The coming of the Holy Spirit happened at nine in the morning, which was the time of morning prayers at the Temple. The disciples frequently visited the Temple during times of prayer. Acts 2:15: For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour [9:00 am] of the day . Acts 3:1: Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. Therefore, the apostles and disciples were most likely on the Temple Mount when Pentecost happened. 9. The southern part of the Temple Mount would have been a natural place for Pentecost to occur, as it was the center of public activities in Jerusalem. The Southern Stairs and Robinson's Arch entrance were massive, serving as the main entrances to the Temple Mount. These entrances would be natural gathering places for people. 10. The Temple Mount and Royal Stoa area could easily have handled the large crowd of 30,000 to 100,000 gathered at Pentecost. At Passover, the Temple Mount was jammed with tens of thousands of pilgrims from fifteen different countries speaking multiple languages. The description in Acts chapter two clearly indicates that the miracle of Pentecost was witnessed by people who spoke various languages. This event could only have occurred on the Temple Mount, where pilgrims from different parts of the world had congregated for the feast. Crowds speaking multiple languages would not have gathered around a dining room in upper Jerusalem. The Royal Stoa would have exposed access, allowing for people in the building to be easily seen and heard from outside the colonnade. The apostles then were immediately accessible to thousands of Jews gathered for the festival in a massive public facility. 11. The Temple Mount platform was the only place in Jerusalem during the time of Pentecost that could have accommodated a multitude of 30,000 to 100,000 people. It was the size of 35 professional football fields, big enough to handle over 150,000 people. Therefore, the Temple Mount platform is the best candidate for where Pentecost happened, and most specifically, around the southern part of it by the Royal Stoa. The Message of Pentecost 1. Peter spoke boldly as the Holy Spirit enabled him. Acts 2:14-21: But Peter, taking his stand with the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams; 18 and even on My male and female servants, and they will prophesy. 19 And I will display wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 2. Peter's message was based on Old Testament prophecy. Acts 2:22-28: “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25 For David says of Him, ‘I saw the Lord continually before me, because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue was overjoyed; moreover my flesh also will live in hope; 27 For You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence." 3. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the promised Messiah. Acts 2:29-36: “Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 So because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore, since He has been exalted at the right hand of God, and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 4. The response of many who heard this message. Acts 2:37-42: Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Faith Lesson from Pentecost 1. Pentecost is a fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. 2. It’s incredible to see the many pictures in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New Testament. Christ, the New Testament Passover Lamb, fulfils the Old Testament Passover lamb. The Jewish nation was formally born at Mount Sinai on Pentecost. The Christian Church was also born at Pentecost. The Passover lamb was sacrificed on Passover afternoon at 3:00 pm. Christ died on the Cross as our sacrifice at 3:00 pm on Passover as well. 3. Do we understand how prophecy fits into validating God’s Word? 4. Do we understand the meta-narrative (God’s large master plan) of God’s story? 5. Do I see how God gave examples and pieces to His meta-narrative in the Old Testament and then fulfilled and amplified these examples in the New Testament? 6. Have I received the Holy Spirit as a result of trusting Christ as my Lord and Savior? 7. Have I been baptized?

Filmed in Israel on a Sea of Galilee boat ride! In-depth teaching of Jesus walking on water, calming the storm on the sea, Peter walking on water, feeding the 5,000, and more! See the mountain where Jesus prayed, where He fed the 5,000, Magada, Gennesaret, Tabgha, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kursi, Sea of Galilee, and more. Matthew 14:22, Mark 6:45, John 6:16. Sites of interest include: Mount Arbel, Magdala, Gennesaret, Tabhga, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kirsi, Feeding the 5,000. Jesus Walks on Water, Calms the Sea Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jesus Walks on Water and Calms the Sea Introduction Welcome to a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Two significant events from the Bible took place out on the water. Here are the highlights. 1. Jesus calms a storm on a boat ride from Capernaum to the country of the Gadarenes, where He healed two demon-possessed men. One of these men had a legion of demons in him whom Jesus cast into a herd of pigs, and they ran down a steep hill into the sea (Matthew 8:23-27). 2. The following account involves Jesus calming a storm and walking on the water. We'll focus on this account here (Matthew 14:22-36). Location 1. This miracle occurred in the middle of the widest part of the sea. John 6:19 suggests it was about 3–4 miles (5.5 km) from the eastern shore. The sea is about 8 miles (13 km) wide at its widest part, which would place them in the middle of the sea. 2. They were also far from land (Matt. 14:24). This means they were far from the northern part of the seashore as well. Historical Background 1. The disciples had just returned from an amazing time of preaching and healing throughout Israel (Christ had sent them out two by two). 2. Jesus took them to the eastern side of the sea, south of Bethsaida, to rest. However, instead of resting, a large crowd gathered, and Jesus taught them all day and then fed them. There were 5,000 men, not counting women and children, present, which means there were probably 15,000–20,000 people or more in total. Luke 9:10: On their return, the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida . 3. After Christ fed the multitude, they wanted to make Him King by force (John 6:15). However, what they had in mind was an earthly kingdom wherein the Romans would be overthrown, and Jesus would return them to their glory days. This was prophesied in Scripture, but Christ’s earthly kingdom would not be realized until His second coming. 4. The disciples were caught up in the frenzy of the crowd’s desire to make Jesus King, so He immediately sent them away by boat to the other side of the sea. 5. The disciples’ hearts were hard, and Scripture says they didn’t learn anything from the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 16:5–12). 6. After feeding the 5,000, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. He likely prayed that His disciples would learn the lesson of faith He was about to teach them. This lesson would involve sending a storm and revealing His deity to them. 7. Jesus purposefully allowed them to reach a state of utter disaster, fear, and desperation so that what He was about to teach them would sink in deeply. 8. The narrative of Scripture would place the disciples sailing from the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee to the western shore. Places of Interest (Please See Maps Above) 1. Feeding of the 5,000 location. 2. The mountain upon which Jesus prayed. 3. Departure beach 4. Bethsaida 5. Capernaum 6. Place where Jesus walked on water. 7. Gennesaret 8. Sea of Galilee Jesus Walks on Water and Calms the Sea in the Bible 1. Immediately after feeding the 5,000, Jesus sent His disciples to the other side of the sea. Matthew 14:22: Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. Mark 6:45: Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. John 6:16–17: When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. The summary of these verses indicates that they were headed west to the other side of the sea. 2. Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. Matthew 14:23: And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 3. Jesus sends a strong storm. Matthew 14:24: But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. Mark 6:48: And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. John 6:17–18: It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 4. Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25: And in the fourth watch of the night [3:00–6:00 am] he came to them, walking on the sea. John 6:19: When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat. 5. The disciples become terrified. Matthew 14:26: But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 6. The emotional state of the disciples: They were already exhausted from their ministry of being sent out two by two. They had a long day of ministry. They rowed all night in a state of panic and desperation. They missed a night of sleep. It was still dark, so it was probably around 4:00 am. They feared for their lives. They were alone. It was dark. They were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on the sea. 7. Jesus spoke to them. Matthew 14:27: But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I [I AM, in Greek]. Do not be afraid." 8. Peter walks on the water for a moment. Matthew 14:28–31: And Peter answered him, " Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come. "So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 9. The disciples worship Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Matthew 14:32–33: And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Mark 6:52: And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded. This miracle was a major turning point in the lives of the disciples. The deity of Jesus was now deeply embedded in their hearts and lives, and they would never be the same. 10. Jesus and the disciples miraculously arrive at the other side of the sea at Gennesaret. John 6:21: Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 11. After already being exhausted and missing a night of sleep, they had more ministry awaiting them. Matthew 14:34–36: And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Faith Lesson from Jesus Walking on Water and Calming the Sea 1. Jesus embedded in the lives of His disciples that He was God. Do we believe in the deity of Christ and that He was God in the flesh? 2. Like Peter and the disciples, are we of little faith sometimes? 3. Like the disciples, we are often surrounded by serious problems. Do we realize Jesus cares for us during our storms? 4. Like the disciples, we can often feel tired and alone in our trials and problems. Do we understand that we are not alone and that God is caring for us? 5. Peter walked on the water for a moment and then took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. Therefore, he sank into the water. Do we understand that to navigate the storms in our lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus despite the raging problems around us? 6. Jesus sent the storm to teach His disciples who He was and their need for faith in Him. Do we understand that Jesus also sends us storms to teach us the same truths? 7. Jesus and the disciples often had long days of exhausting ministry. Are we willing to do the same?

See a tour of all the key sites at Tel Dan and learn the devastating reality of why the northern 10 tribes of Israel fell and were led into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Jeroboam set up an altar to worship a golden calf, and the remaining Kings of Israel followed in his steps. The city of Dan was located in the northernmost part of Israel, north of the Sea of Galilee. The tribe of Dan failed to take the original territory allotted to them, so they captured and moved to this area. The City of Dan Photo Gallery Places of Interest Dan Location 1. The city of Dan was located in the northernmost part of Israel, about 24 miles (38 km.) north of the Sea of Galilee. 2. It is a well-watered lush area superb for agriculture. Historical Background 1. The tribe of Dan failed to take the original territory allotted to them, so they captured and moved to this area (Judges 18). 2. When referring to all Israel, the phrase “From Dan to Beersheba” was commonly used. 1 Kings 4:25: Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 3. Just after Solomon’s reign, the kingdom of Israel was divided because Solomon turned from the Lord and introduced the worship of false gods into the nation. 1 Kings 11:1–2: Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods .” Solomon held fast to these in love. 1 Kings 11:6–11: Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. 8 Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. 9 Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord , the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice , 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods ; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you , and will give it to your servant. 4. Rehoboam was given the southern 2 tribes of Israel (called Judah from this time forward), and Jeroboam received the northern 10 tribes of Israel (called Israel from this time forward). Places of Interest 1. Entrance 2. Dan Spring 3. Dan River 4. Flour Mills 5. Pooh Bear Tree 6. Pistachio Tree 7. Wading Pool 8. Jeroboam’s Golden Calf High Place 9. Command Post Lookout 10. Israelite Outer Gate 11. Israelite Inner Gate 12. Canaanite Gate The City of Dan in the Bible 1. God appeared to Jeroboam and promised to bless him if he would serve Him. 1 Kings 11:38: Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 2. Jeroboam turned away from the Lord and built golden calves in Bethel and Dan. 1 Kings 12:25-31: Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king consulted, and made two golden calves , and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 29 He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan . 30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. 31 And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi. 3. After a severe warning from God, Jeroboam continued in sin. The worship of false gods would eventually seal the doom of the northern 10 tribes of Israel. 1 Kings 13:33–34: Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. 34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth. 4. The sin of Jeroboam became a pattern that the rest of the kings of Israel would follow. 1 Kings 15:33–34: In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit. 1 Kings 16:26: He [Omri] walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit, so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols. 5. In 722 BC, as judgment from God for their continual disobedience, the 10 northern tribes of Israel were deported by the Assyrian Empire. 6. Eighty years later, Josiah became King of Judah and chose to follow God with all his heart. As a result of finding and reading the Scriptures, he led one of the most significant revivals Israel ever experienced. 2 Kings 22:1–2: Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 23:25: Before him, there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. 7. As a result of Josiah’s obedience, he renewed the covenant of the Lord with Israel and destroyed the golden calves Jeroboam had erected. 2 Kings 23:15: Furthermore, the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down. Then he demolished its stones, ground them to dust, and burned the Asherah. 2 Kings 23:19: Josiah also removed all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria , which the kings of Israel had made provoking the Lord; and he did to them just as he had done in Bethel. Faith Lesson from the city of Dan 1. Despite God supernaturally revealing Himself two times to Solomon, he turned away from the Lord in his latter years. There is a tendency to grow apathetic the longer we are Christians. Are you apathetic and lukewarm in your relationship with God? 2. Despite God supernaturally revealing himself two times to Jeroboam, he turned his back on God and built altars to false gods all throughout the land. God gives grace to each person to receive and obey Him, but those who reject Him and His grace will be judged accordingly. 3. The sin of Jeroboam became a pattern that the rest of the kings of the northern tribes of Israel followed. What kind of example are we? Are we following the sinful patterns of our parents and those around us? 4. In 722 BC, the 10 northern tribes of Israel were deported because of their refusal to return to God. 5. The worship of false gods at Bethel and Dan became the downfall of the northern tribes of Israel. False gods and idols can be anything we make more important in our lives than God. Do you have any idols in your life? 6. Josiah chose to follow God with all his heart and tore down the two golden calf altars Jeroboam had set up. Do we follow God with all our heart like Josiah, and work with God to tear down the lies and false philosophies of Satan and the world with God’s Word (2 Cor. 10:4–5)?

The Hinnom Valley is a place few people visit but has amazing things to see and a sobering message. Join us as we walk the valley and see and learn all about this biblical place. We'll see the Field of Blood (Akeldama Monastery), see the Tomb of Annas & Caiaphas (the high priests who condemned Christ to crucifixion), and learn why Christ used it as an example of hell. Hinnom Valley Overview Photo Gallery Places of Interest Hinnom Valley Overview Location 1. The Hinnom Valley is located just to the southeast of Old City Jerusalem. 2. The Hinnom Valley joins the Kidron Valley just to the southeast of Old City Jerusalem. 3. Today, it looks nothing like it did during the Old and New Testament periods. 4. It was an ugly place where ugly things happened. Historical Background 1. In the lower part of the Hinnom Valley and Kidron Valley, the city dumped its waste and burned its trash. Because the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys are located on the southeast side of Jerusalem, the prevailing winds carry the winds away from the city. For this reason, it became the city dump. Dead animals from the temple sacrifices were thrown there to rot and be eaten by worms and maggots. Trash was burned here. The city sewage was emptied here. It was smelly, ugly, burning, crawling with worms, full of rot, and full of disease. 2. During the Old Testament period, many of the Israelites sacrificed their children to the false gods of Molech and Baal in the Hinnom Valley. Leviticus 20:2: You shall also say to the sons of Israel: “Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones.” 3. What did worship to Molech entail? It is believed that idols of Moloch were giant metal statues of a man with a bull’s head. Each image had a hole in the abdomen and outstretched forearms that made a kind of ramp to the hole. A fire was lit in or around the statue and babies were placed in the statue’s arms or in the hole. When a couple sacrificed their firstborn, they believed that Moloch would ensure financial prosperity for the family and future children. It was a custom to beat drums and play music loudly. Some believe this was done to drown out the babies’ screams from reaching the ears of their parents. 4. What did worship to Baal entail? Baal worship was rooted in sensuality and involved ritualistic prostitution in the temples. At times, appeasing Baal required human sacrifice, usually the firstborn of the one making the sacrifice. 5. With its pagan history and burning sewer stench, Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley serves as a vivid metaphor for both the Christian and Jewish concept of hell. 6. By Jesus' time in the New Testament, the Greek translation of Hinnom Valley, “Gehenna,” became a synonym for hell. For this reason, the English New Testament versions of the Bible translate Gehenna as hell. Places of Interest 1. Hinnom Valley 2. Kidron Valley 3. Temple Mount 4. City of David 5. Pool of Siloam 6. Akeldama ~ Field of Blood. Place Judas hanged himself after betraying Christ. 7. Tomb of Caiaphas Valley of Hinnom in the Bible 1. The Prophet Jeremiah strongly condemned the worship of Molech. Jeremiah 32:31–35: This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger—their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 They set up their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. 2. Several of the Kings of Israel worshipped Molech and Baal. 2 Chronicles 28:1–4: Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done. 2 But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals. 3 Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel. 4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree. 2 Chronicles 33:5–6: For he [King Manasseh] built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger. 3. God destroyed the nations that previously lived in Israel because of their evil worship of false gods. Deuteronomy 20:16–18: But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God. 4. When Christ wanted to communicate the concept of coming judgment and hell, He used Gehenna (Hinnom) as an example. Mark 9:42–49: Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, 46 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. Luke 12:5: But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 5. Interestingly, the Field of Blood which was purchased from the 30 pieces of silver Judas received to betray Christ is in the Hinnom Valley. Today, there’s a monastery marking this spot called, Akeldama. Faith Lesson from the Hinnom Valley 1. Worship of false gods is ugly and destructive. Today, in a metaphorical sense, we can also sacrifice our children on the altar of false idols if we neglect God and don't raise our children to fear Him. 2. Hell is a true reality even though it might seem unjust or uncomfortable. 3. Coming judgment is certain and will take place. 4. Are we genuinely saved and walking with God so we will escape the judgment to come?

See all the key sites in Old City Jerusalem in this in-depth walking tour. Jerusalem Old City Walking Tour Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jerusalem Old City Tour Please refer to the Google Map above to view all the sites on this tour. Location 1. Jerusalem is in central Israel, about 33 miles (53 km) east of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean Sea. 2. It’s situated at an altitude of 2,600 ft. (800 m.) above sea level and is one of the highest cities in Israel. 3. It’s located on a well-protected mountain, making it hard for enemy forces to capture it. 4. Jerusalem rests primarily upon bedrock, so everything was well preserved. 5. Jerusalem is the Old Testament Mount Moriah. Historical Background 1. Jerusalem means “City of Peace.” 2. It’s mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. 3. It’s first mentioned as the city in which King Melchizedek, King of Salem (Jerusalem) lived (Gen. 14:17). Melchizedek was a figure of Christ as he had neither beginning of days nor end of life. Hebrews 7:1: For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 4. Jerusalem is the special dwelling place of God on this earth. Psalms 76:2: His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion . Psalm 135:21: Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD. Old City Jerusalem Tour Sites of Interest Please refer to the Google Map above to view all the sites on this tour. 1. Outside Jaffa Gate - Start of Walking Tour 2. Jaffa Gate 3. Tower of David 4. David Street Leading to Temple Mount & Western Wall 5. Rooftop Walk Entrance 6. Cardo Maximus 7. Cardo Ruins 1 8. Cardo Ruins 2 9. Cardo Ruins 3 10. Hurva Synagogue Plaza 11. Menorah 12. Hezekiah's Broad Wall 13. Cardo Minor Ruins 14. Southern Stairs Archaeological Site 15. Western Wall Excavations 16. Temple Mount Entrance 17. Western Wall 18. Western Wall Synagogue 19. Little Western Wall 20. Lions' Gate 21. Arab Temple Mount Access 22. Pools of Bethesda - Church of St. Anne 23. Station 1 Via Dolorosa 24. Station 1 Via Dolorosa (second # 1) 25. Station 2 Via Dolorosa 26. Convent of the Sisters of Zion - Underneath Antonia Fortress 27. Ecce Homo Arch 28. Stones from Street During Christ's Time 29. Station 3 Via Dolorosa 30. Station 4 Via Dolorosa 31. Station 5 Via Dolorosa 32. Station 6 Via Dolorosa 33. Old City Wall During Christ's Time 34. Station 7 Via Dolorosa 35. Station 8 Via Dolorosa 36. Station 9 Via Dolorosa 37. Stations 10-14 Via Dolorosa - Church of the Holy Sepulchre 38. Hadrian Plaza 39. Church of John the Baptist 40. Back to David Street 41. Jaffa Gate Plaza - End of Tour Faith Lesson from Jerusalem 1. Jerusalem has played a key role as the center of God’s dwelling place and ministry on this earth. 2. It will be the place Christ returns to in power and great glory at the end of the Great Tribulation Period. Believers will return with Him at this event. Will you be coming with him in glory or be judged by Him when He comes? 3. Christ will reign over all the earth in Jerusalem during the Millennial Reign. Will you be among those who reign with Him? 4. God will create a New Jerusalem, His new eternal dwelling place on the new earth. Those who follow Christ will have the privilege of living in or visiting this new city forever. Are you saved, and will you be in heaven, where the New Jerusalem will be?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the believed place where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. See all the places and events that happened at the Church of this historical place. Church of the Holy Sepulchre Background Photo Gallery Places of Interest Church of the Holy Sepulchre Background Introduction Welcome to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The evidence is overwhelming that this is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. This is the most significant event in Christian history. We will explore all the evidence and witness this monumental event. There are two main sites here that we'll see: (1) Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified, and (2) the tomb where Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. May the significance of this place move you as you reflect on what Christ did here for you and for everyone else. Its role in God's master plan of salvation cannot be overstated. Location 1. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located about 450 yards (415 m.) west of the Temple Mount. 2. It was located outside the city walls during the time of Christ. 3. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the place where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. 4. It is the ending place of the Via Dolorosa path, and the last five stations are located there. 5. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the most important holy site in Christianity and is visited by over one million pilgrims every year. Historical Background 1. The place of Calvary was once a stone quarry that supplied stone for the building of the temple and so forth. 2. During Christ's time, there was a gate to Jerusalem called the Gennath Gate, which means garden gate. This gate was discovered recently. It is in a slightly different location than the Jerusalem model, which was built before the gate was discovered. Josephus also mentions this gate in his historical writings. There was a road that passed by the stone quarry, serving as a route for travelers entering and leaving Jerusalem. Because the quarry had fallen out of use many years before Christ, it gradually developed into a garden, with a nearby cistern and pool of water. Some of the rock was left, and the Romans crucified people upon it. This rock can be seen in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today. It was an ideal place because it was just outside the city and located on a well-traveled road. The Romans crucified people in the most visible places possible so all would learn what would happen to them if they disobeyed Roman laws. There were also tombs in the rock faces that were used for burials. Scripture states in John 19:20 that the place of crucifixion was near the city of Jerusalem, so this place fits the biblical narrative well: Therefore, many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. Substantial remains of the First Wall have been found in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. In these latter excavations, the remains of the Gennath (Garden) Gate and the beginning of what is believed to be the Second Wall have been found, just where Josephus described them as being (cf. War 5.146). The name "Garden Gate" indicates that a garden must have been located nearby. However, this garden wasn't like a flower garden; it was a farming garden for raising crops. Excavations below the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer reveal that this area was once an ancient quarry, which was later abandoned. A layer of new farming soil has been discovered under the Church of the Redeemer, indicating that it was once a garden area. The excavators believe that the area was filled with fertile soil, presumably to transform the unsightly quarry remains into a small garden for farming. An additional area near the rock quarry was converted into a cistern as the city expanded. From the Gospels, we know that Jesus was crucified in a place called "Calvary" and buried in a garden that was in the same place as Joseph of Arimathea's tomb. The front wall of the tomb faced east, allowing the early morning sun to illuminate it. According to Hebrews 13:12, Jesus was crucified outside the city. Some people have a problem with the proximity of the place where Jesus was crucified and his tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. However, John 19:41 states, "Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid." So, Scripture clearly indicates that the crucifixion and the tomb were close to each other. 3. According to tradition, the early Christian community of Jerusalem venerated the site of the crucifixion from the time of the resurrection until 135 AD, when Emperor Hadrian destroyed and rebuilt Jerusalem. Visiting the burial sites of rabbis was a common practice that is still done to this day by the Jews. Therefore, it is clear that the early Christians would have visited the place where Christ died and rose again as well. No one was like Jesus, so His followers knew exactly where Golgotha was and venerated it. There is no way this spot would have been lost or forgotten by them. For example, shortly after the resurrection of Christ, the Upper Room was converted into a church, and the apse (which is a half-round circle with a dome shape) pointed toward the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection place of Christ. This provides significant evidence that this place was venerated and visited early on after Christ's resurrection. Because this place was so important, the apse of the Upper Room Church pointed toward it and not the temple. Another interesting fact is that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre also contains burial tombs that date back to the time of Christ. They are of the type that were used from about 37 BC to around 70 AD. These tombs clearly indicate that this area had tombs and was outside the City of Jerusalem during the time of Christ, as regular people were not buried within the city. Lastly, during this period, from the time of Christ to 132 AD, a carving with an ancient Latin description was found here. It says, "Yes, Lord! We will go." This shows that early Christians venerated this place. 4. About 10 years after the crucifixion of Christ, a wall was built by King Agrippa I that enclosed the area of Christ's execution and burial within the city. This accounts for why the Holy Sepulchre is located inside the Old City walls of Jerusalem today. 5. The next major event that affected the site of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ was a major Jewish rebellion against the Romans called the Bar Kokhba revolt around 132 AD. Due to the revolt, the Roman Emperor Hadrian destroyed much of Jerusalem and altered its orientation. He renamed the city Aelia Capitolina and the country to Palestine, which was a Philistine name. Aelia is derived from the emperor’s family name, and Capitolina refers to the cult of the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva). He desired to erase the Jewish connection to the land because of the Jews' continual rebellions and uprisings. He constructed a main street that ran north and south, called the Cardo Maximus (meaning "hinge" or "center axis"). He also desecrated the place of the crucifixion and resurrection that had been venerated by early Christians, and in its place, he built a large platform that filled in the quarry and erected upon it a large temple. Hadrian erected a statue of the Roman god Jupiter (equivalent to Zeus) over the tomb of Jesus, and a statue of Venus (equivalent to Aphrodite) over the site of his crucifixion. Hadrian was so intent on destroying any connection to the land by the Jews and the Christians that he buried all the evidence of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ under a platform that housed his large temple to Venus. Hadrian laid out the new City of Jerusalem so that the major streets led to his temple to Venus, which again were over the remains of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ. Coins have been discovered that depict the image of the temple that Hadrian built to Venus. Melito of Sardis in 160 AD. The most compelling, and indeed the earliest witness to the local memory of the site of Jesus’ death and burial, comes through the testimony of Melito of Sardis. Melito was a very important figure in the history of the church, as he was the first to compile the Christian Canon of the Old Testament. In fact, he is the one who coined the term “Old Testament.” Melito affirms that the location of Golgotha was where Hadrian built a temple to the false god Venus. Origen of Alexandria (1 85 – 254 AD) is also an eyewitness to the location of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the site of Golgotha. Eusebius, the bishop of Caesarea , Israel, who lived from 260 to 339 AD, provided a chronological account of the development of Early Christianity from the 1st century to the 4th century. He was an eyewitness to some of the events Hadrian did and wrote down what he saw. Regarding the desecration of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ, Eusebius says: "The Romans brought a quantity of earth from a distance with much labor and covered the entire spot and buried it. Then having raised this to a moderate height, they paved it with stone." What he described was the raised platform Hadrian built, upon which he erected his temple to Jupiter and Venus. This platform had retaining walls around it, some of which can still be seen inside the Church today. Additionally, some of the stairs leading up to the Temple of Hadrian can still be seen today in the lower part of the church to the east. Eusebius goes on to say, "The monument of his most holy passions so long ago buried beneath the ground." Here, he is describing the place where the crucifixion and tomb of Christ were buried. Hadrian also minted a coin depicting the temple he built upon Golgotha. The temple of Hadrian would remain in place for another 200 years or so until the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. It is important to note that between 160 and 450 AD, six historians wrote about the location of the crucifixion site, and all of them place this event either under or in the vicinity of Hadrian’s Temple to Venus. 6. In 313 AD, a major change happened in the Roman Empire when Constantine legalized Christianity. Later, because his mother was so passionate about Christ, she made a trip to the Holy Land to build churches over the main events of Christ’s life. She built the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives (currently known as the Pater Noster Church), the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Roman Emperor Constantine had the Temple of Hadrian, erected to Jupiter and Venus, demolished to make way for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. During the demolition process, the tomb and crucifixion site of Jesus were uncovered once again, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was subsequently erected. Additionally, Constantine's mother, Helena, is claimed to have discovered the relic of the Cross of Jesus at this time as well. The church was dedicated in 335 AD. The church was laid out in three sections: 1: Leading up from the Cardo was the church venerating the crucifixion site, also known as the Basilica of the Martyrium (taken from the word martyr). The apse of the church faced west. 2: The courtyard was called the triportico because it had three sides with covered walkways. Just outside the church, and before the mausoleum (with its rotunda dome), was an open courtyard. Just to the left was the crucifixion site of Christ. Now, I should mention that some believe the crucifixion site was located in the apse part of the Basilica of the Martyrium and not in the courtyard. However, the likelihood of the tomb's location and the crucifixion site being exactly aligned is unrealistic. It appears that the building was constructed in this manner for aesthetic reasons, rather than archaeological purposes. The remains of the rock of Golgotha are still preserved today and are located in the place where the courtyard once stood, not in the church itself, specifically in the apse area. 3: Just beyond the open courtyard was the large rotunda covering the tomb of Christ. This is also known as a mausoleum or anastasis. The tomb was initially carved out of the rock and preserved. You can see an example of this in Absalom's Monument in the Kidron Valley. The crypt, or cistern of the crosses, was under the Basilica of the Martyrium, venerating Golgotha. 7. Now, let's see what Jerome says about Hadrian’s temple being located on top of the crucifixion and tomb site of Christ. Jerome lived from 347 to 420 AD. In about 389 AD, he established a monastery at Bethlehem and translated the Hebrew Bible into Latin. Bethlehem is very close to Jerusalem, so Jerome was an eyewitness to the events he wrote about. Here's what Jerome tells us: "From the time of Hadrian to the reign of Constantine, the spot which had witnessed the resurrection was occupied by a figure of Jupiter while on the rock where the cross had stood a marble statue of Venus was set up by the heathen and became an object of worship. The original persecutors indeed suppose that by polluting our holy places, they would deprive us of our faith in the passion and in the resurrection." So Jerome confirms that from the time of Hadrian to Constantine, the temple Hadrian built was located on top of Golgotha. So, in the place where Christ died for the sins of humanity, Hadrian set up a temple to false gods who promoted deep immoral sins. What a contrast. 8. Eusebius, whom we referred to earlier, describes the destruction of Hadrian's temple by Constantine: "As soon as his [Constantine's] commands were given, these engines of deceit were cast down from their proud eminence to very ground and the dwelling places of error with the statues and the evil spirits which they represented were overthrown and utterly destroyed. Nor did the Emperor's zeal stop here, but he gave further orders that the materials of what was thus destroyed, both stone and timber, should be removed and thrown as far from the spot as possible, and this command also was speedily executed." Eusebius continues: "The emperor, however, was not satisfied with having proceeded thus far; once more fired with holy adjure, he directed that the ground itself should be dug up to come to a considerable depth and the soil which had been polluted by the foul impurities of demon worship transported to a far distant place. This was also accomplished without delay, and as soon as the original surface of the ground beneath the covering of the earth appeared, immediately the venerable and Holy Monument of our Savior's resurrection was discovered. Then indeed did the most holy cave [referring to the tomb] present a faithful similitude of his return to life and that after lying buried in darkness, it again emerged to light and afforded to all who came to witness a sight a clear and visible proof of the wonders of which that spot had once been seen, a testimony to the resurrection of the Savior clearer than any voice could give." Eusebius then speaks about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that Constantine built: "Accordingly, on the very spot which witnessed the Savior's suffering, a new Jerusalem was constructed where at the side opposite to the Sepulcher [Jesus's tomb] which was the eastern side, the church itself was erected, a noble work rising to a vast height and a great extent in length and breadth." Eusebius now describes the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Constantine: "Thereupon the Emperor issued sacred edicts, and when he had provided an abundant supply of all the things required for the project, he gave orders that a House of Prayer worthy of God should be erected round about the cave of salvation [he is speaking about the tomb], and on a scale of rich and imperial costliness to be greater than anything else that had been built on earth." So Constantine built a large mausoleum over the tomb's location. A mausoleum is a structure designed for burial or entombment above the ground. 9. Another eyewitness account that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was located on the site of the crucifixion and tomb of Christ comes from the Pilgrim of Bardot from 333AD: "On your left is a little hill of Golgotha where the Lord was crucified, about a stone's throw from it is the Crypt where they laid his body and from where he rose again on the third day. These are present by order of Constantine. There has been built a basilica that is a church of wondrous beauty." 10. A quote from another pilgrim's account of a worship service in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre comes from 380 AD: "I know you were eager to know about the services they have daily in the holy places, I shall tell you about them. When the first cock has crowed, the bishop straightaway enters and goes into the tomb and the anastasis [anastasis means resurrection and is the round rotunda dome place in the church over the tomb of Christ] and the whole crowd streams into the Anastasis which is already ablaze with many lamps. Then the bishop standing inside the screen takes the gospel and advances to the door of the tomb, where he himself reads the account of the Lord's resurrection. When the gospel is finished, the bishop comes out and is taken with hymns to the cross, and they all go with him to the great church, the martyrium. The people assemble in the great church built by Constantine upon Golgotha." 11. Another amazing piece of evidence is found at the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana, which is recognized as the oldest place of Christian worship in Rome. In the apse of the building, which dates to around 400 AD, is a mosaic of Christ with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the background. So, we actually have a photo of what Constantine's Church of the Holy Sepulchre looked like. This is strong evidence of the church's authenticity. 12. In addition, more substantial evidence supporting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the true site of Golgotha is found in Madaba, Jordan. The Madaba Mosaic Map is part of a floor mosaic in the early Byzantine church of St. George in Madaba, Jordan. The map is of the Middle East, and part of it shows the oldest surviving original depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. On the map of Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located in the center of the city. This reveals that the church existed and was venerated as the site of Jesus' death and resurrection—the map dates to around 550 AD. 13. The next significant change to the church occurred during the Persian conquest in 614 AD, when it was pillaged and suffered significant damage. However, the monk Modestus restored it. According to tradition, the relic of the True Cross was also taken during this time and then recovered in 630 AD. 14. In 648 AD, Jerusalem came under Muslim rule, but Christians could still make pilgrimages to the church. 15. In 1009 AD, the Muslim Caliph al-Hakim ordered all churches to be destroyed. This proved fatal for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was singled out in particular and destroyed beyond recognition. During the destruction of the church, the tomb of Christ was largely destroyed. However, some of the rock of the tomb and its location were still preserved. 16. In 1048 AD, Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and Patriarch Nicephorus of Constantinople again restored the church at great expense. 17. The Crusaders renovated the church in 1112 AD and reconsecrated it in 1149 AD. Much of what is seen today of the church dates back to the Crusader renovations around 1112 AD, although portions of the original church of Constantine remain. As 12th-century maps reveal, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was the spiritual center of Christendom and its most important pilgrimage site. The church was laid out so pilgrims could move from chapel to chapel, culminating in the Holy Sepulchre itself. The church that the Crusaders built included the courtyard where Golgotha was believed to have been, and enclosed everything under one roof within a magnificent cathedral. The entrance to the church was relocated from the east end to the south side of the building. The Basilica of Helena, accessed from stairs leading downward, was built. This is the place where Helena is believed to have found the true Cross of Christ. It was initially in a hole under the quarry. The entrance to Calvary was located outside the church, with stairs leading upwards to a platform where all the events of the crucifixion were depicted. The Basilica of the Martyrium was transformed, and all its contents were housed under the cathedral's roof. The apse of the church Constantine built for the crucifixion site faced west; today, it faces east. The sites of the crucifixion and tomb have remained in the same places since the time of Christ. Only the buildings around them have changed. An Edicule was built over Christ's tomb, and within it is the Chapel of the Angels, as well as what remains of Christ's tomb. 18. The right-hand door was blocked up after the Muslim reconquest of the city in 1187. Today, the entrance consists of a single large door. 19. The three primary custodians of the church were appointed when the Crusaders ruled Jerusalem. They are the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic churches. In the 19th century, the Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Syrian Orthodox also acquired responsibilities, albeit in a smaller capacity. Each church denomination agrees on the times and places of worship. 20. A Muslim family has been given the key for opening and closing the church doors since 1187 AD, when Muslims seized control of Jerusalem. 21. After a fire, the last significant changes to the church took place around 1808. The Edicule over the tomb was renovated. The central Catholicon was closed, which was once part of the courtyard of Constantine’s church. New stairs leading up to Calvary were changed from outside the church to inside. Today, you enter from just inside the church, turn right, and take steep stairs up to the platform of Calvary. The Edicule, or tomb of Christ, has been renovated several times since the Crusaders. It suffered an earthquake in 1927 and was subsequently shored up; then, in 2016, it underwent another renovation. 22. Because of all the adornments and construction over the centuries, it is hard to imagine how the site would have looked in Christ's time. However, these 2,000 years of activity and tradition give greater weight to its authenticity. Some people have an adverse reaction to the atmosphere inside the church. However, this is what we should expect from a place that has been venerated for two millennia. 23. In April of 2022, a stone slab was recently turned over during renovations, and its significance was rediscovered. They identified unique decorations on this stone slab that combine Classical, Byzantine, and early Islamic art, featuring finely cut tiles of colorful marble used to fill in circular engravings on the stone. The stone slab stood at the apex of the sanctuary in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This provides further evidence that this site has been revered for millennia as the actual location of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Now, in archaeology, one of the most important factors in locating an authentic site is having one thing built upon another. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has a history spanning approximately 2,000 years. All this provides overwhelming evidence that this is the genuine place where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead to pay for our sins. All the evidence and historical writings from eyewitnesses provide overwhelming support for the authenticity of this site. 24. In conclusion, the true site of Golgotha should have all the evidence of the buildings described by all the eyewitness accounts, should match the historical records, archaeological discoveries, and have these remains visible to some extent today. There is only one place in the world that contains all this evidence, and it's the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The evidence is just so overwhelming that this is the true location of Golgotha. Here is the very place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. It is, therefore, Christianity's most holy site. Places of Interest 1. Window Ladder The so-called "Immovable Ladder" under the window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, made of Lebanese cedar wood, was in place by 1728 and has remained there ever since the 1757 status quo was established, aside from being temporarily moved twice. The ladder is referred to as immovable due to the agreement of the Status Quo, which states that no cleric of the six ecumenical Christian orders may move, rearrange, or alter any property without the consent of the other five orders. The six churches that oversee the church are: Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic churches are the primary overseers. The Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Syrian Orthodox churches have less oversight. 2. The Chapel of the Franks ~ Via Dolorosa Station 10 According to Christian tradition, it's where Jesus was stripped of his clothes before crucifixion. This would make sense as the Romans usually crucified people naked. It is located to the right of the church entrance. It can be seen behind glass panels by going up the stairs. This place was formerly accessed from inside the church. Today, this door is closed, and the Chapel of the Franks can only be accessed from the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 3. Stairway Leading to Golgotha The place where Jesus was crucified was at the summit of a small hill. To ascend the hill of Golgotha today, you need to start at the entrance of the church, turn right, and climb up the 800-year-old stairs leading to Calvary (or Golgotha), the place where Jesus was crucified. 4. Chapel of the Nailing of the Cross ~ Via Dolorosa Station 11 This is where Jesus was nailed to the Cross. It features a 12th-century mosaic of Jesus being nailed to the cross. Here you see Jesus after having been nailed to the cross. Mary is wearing black, indicating that she is in mourning. It seems that the other two people in this mosaic are entirely symbolic. The person bowing before Jesus represents the bride of Christ, the Church, adorned in a pure white robe. The man with the nails is not a soldier because he is dressed in ordinary clothing. Luke 23:33: When the soldiers came to the place called “The Skull,” they nailed Jesus to a cross . They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus. 5. Rock of Calvary The rock of Calvary can be seen under a glass cover on either side of the main altar. 6. Crucifixion Altar ~ Via Dolorosa Station 12 This is where Christ was crucified. A silver disk, with a central hole, lies underneath the altar, marking the place where the Cross stood. On each side of the altar is the bedrock from the original site of Golgotha. Beneath the altar is a hole that permits people to touch the rock of Golgotha. John 19:18-19: There they crucified Him , and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Now Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written: “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 7. Shrine of Mary ~ Via Dolorosa Station 13 Between stations 11 and 12 of the Via Dolorosa is a shrine of Mary, the mother of Jesus, with a spear piercing her heart. This is also the believed place where the body of Jesus was taken down from the Cross. Luke 2:34-35: And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul —to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 8. Chapel of Adam This chapel enshrines a cracked slab of rock behind glass, which is believed to have been caused by the earthquake after Christ died on the Cross. Just outside the chapel, part of the original rock of Golgotha can also be seen. Matthew 27:50-53: And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 Also, the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 9. T he Stone of Unction Located just after entering the church, it commemorates the preparation of Jesus' body for burial. Behind the Stone is a mosaic depicting Christ's anointing for burial. Matthew 27:59-60: And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth , 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Just above the Stone of Unction is a large mosaic showing a timeline of the events of the death, anointing, and burial of Jesus. 10. Mourning Place An Armenian Shrine, also known as the Chapel of the Three Marys. It marks the place where they watched the crucifixion of Christ. John 19:25: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 11. Tomb of Jesus ~ Via Dolorosa Station 14 Underneath the large dome of the church (Rotunda) is the Tomb of Jesus. It is housed in a large shrine referred to as an Edicule. In the first room of the tomb is a rock in a case on a table. It is believed to be part of the original stone that was rolled to seal the tomb. In the second room of the burial tomb is bedrock from the original tomb. To the right is the bench where the body of Jesus would have been laid. Matthew 27:57-60: Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea came, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock ; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Matthew 28:5-6: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen , just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” In 2016, an archaeological team was granted permission to lift the marble slate covering the tomb, and an older marble slab with a carved cross was discovered beneath it. Underneath it was the original limestone burial bed of Christ. 12. Coptic Chapel Around the back side of the Tomb of the Edicule is the small Chapel of the Coptic Church – the Orthodox Church of Egypt. Probably the most interesting aspect of this small chapel is what lies beneath the altar. Under it is an exposed portion of the original rock that surrounded the tomb of Jesus, which Joseph of Arimathea built. 13. Syrian Chapel ~ First Century Tombs The chapel is located within the original 4th-century walls of Constantine's church. This room is used every Sunday for worship by the Syrian Orthodox Church, which claims to be the oldest Christian denomination in the world. The Syrian church worships in the first-century language of Aramaic, and its Bible is written in the Syriac language, which is closely related to Aramaic. According to tradition, the Apostles Peter and John are considered the founders of the Syrian Church, which originated in the first century in the city of Antioch. It was here, as recorded in Acts 11:26, that the followers of Christ were first referred to as Christians. There are five tombs in this room that date back to the first century. Three of them are blocked, as if they have no significance. A decorative arch surrounds the two open tombs in the middle. That means these tombs were reserved for individuals of special status. It's believed that these were the tombs of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, members of the Jewish ruling council who were secret disciples of Christ, and who laid Him in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. 14. The Catholicon It was the central part of the Crusader Church. It's the largest chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the main prayer hall of the Greek Orthodox church in Jerusalem. At the front of the chapel is a short, rose-colored marble basin containing a circular stone marked with a cross. It’s called the Omphalos, a word that means navel. It has been here for almost 1,000 years. The Orthodox Church teaches that the place where Jesus died and rose from the dead is the center of the world. A specific spot, known as the Omphalos, is situated exactly halfway between the cross and the tomb. They believe this spot is the spiritual center of the entire universe. This throne, located on the right side of the chapel, is reserved for the priest who oversees the Greek Orthodox Church in the Holy Land. He is called the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The throne on the left side of the chapel is dedicated to the Patriarch of Antioch, a city located in southern Turkey. The lecterns on each side of the chapel are called the Analogion. It is where the priest reads Scripture and leads his congregation in song and holy liturgy during Orthodox worship services. The wall in the front of the church is called an iconostasis, or icon stand, and virtually every Greek Orthodox church in the world has one. The iconostasis symbolically separates the main worship hall, which represents all of us on earth, from the sanctuary and the main altar behind the wall, which represents heaven. 15. Chapel of Mary Magdalene In between the rotunda of the church and the Arches of the Virgin is the Roman Catholic Chapel dedicated to Mary Magdalene. This chapel is believed to be the site where Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. Above the altar in this chapel is a bronze statue depicting the encounter of Mary Magdalene with Jesus. High on the opposite side is the pipe organ that accompanies the worship services celebrated here. The tiles on the floor are new, but they are laid in the same pattern that they were in the 11th century. The circle with the rays represents the location where Jesus stood when He and Mary first encountered each other after His resurrection, and the three concentric circles represent the positions where Mary Magdalene stood when she saw Him. 16. Chapel of the Apparition It's approximately 1,000 years old and in the custody of the Franciscan Catholic community in Jerusalem. On the front left side of the church, a sculpture depicts Jesus appearing to His mother shortly after His resurrection. This appearance of Jesus to his mother is not recorded in the Bible. It’s a legend that was first mentioned in the third century. In this chapel is a column of stone believed by many to be part of the pillar to which Jesus was tied as the Roman soldiers whipped Him. On the far side of this room is a bronze statue on the wall, showing all fourteen stations of the cross – from the point at which Jesus was condemned by Pontius Pilate to die, to the tomb where He was buried, and from which He rose from the dead. 17. Arches of the Virgin Mary This is a long gallery under the custody of the Franciscan Catholics in the Holy Land. It’s called the Arches of the Virgin because it commemorates the moment Mary visited the tomb of Jesus, where He appeared to her after His resurrection. This legendary appearance to Mary is not mentioned in the Bible, but found in historical accounts from two ancient sources from the third century AD. The northern wall of this gallery is part of the original Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built by Constantine. There are holes in this wall that once supported large marble panels that adorned the rotunda over the Tomb of Jesus. 18. Chapel of the Prison of Jesus This chapel is under the authority of the Greek Orthodox Church. One of the remnants of this prison was this leg stock, where a prisoner’s legs would have been slipped through these holes, and then shackled at the ankles, so that the prisoner could not escape. It is unlikely that this prison existed during the crucifixion of Jesus, as it was located outside the city walls, and there is no mention in the Gospels of Jesus spending time in a prison at Golgotha. It is believed that Jesus was imprisoned for the night at the House of the High Priest, Caiaphas. However, not here at Golgotha. Today, this prison serves as a commemorative chapel where one can pray and contemplate the imprisonment of Jesus leading up to His crucifixion. 19. The Ambulatory There is a long, curved hallway that runs around the church behind the main worship hall, the Catholicon. This hallway is called the Ambulatory. When you walk through it, starting from the Chapel of Adam, it is like a little miniature Via Dolorosa. There are three chapels on the right side of this hallway, and they tell the story of Jesus' sufferings in chronological order, from right to left. Chapel of Derision Chapel of the Parting of the Robes Chapel of Longinus 20. Chapel of the Derision This place commemorates the people who derided Jesus by mocking and laughing at him while He hung on the Cross. The Paintings in the Chapel of the Derision. Each picture is a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy. The picture on the right shows Jesus during one of His trials, where the Jewish rulers are mocking him. This was a fulfillment of verses from Psalm 27 and Psalm 35. The middle picture shows Jesus seated on this granite pillar, with the crown of thorns placed on His head. That was a fulfillment of prophecies in Psalms 35, 69, and Isaiah 50. The picture on the left shows Jesus walking through a crowd that is jeering and yelling at Him. That is a fulfillment of verses from Psalm 7 and Isaiah 53. Matthew 27:39-44: And those passing by were speaking abusively to Him , shaking their heads, 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way, the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He has trusted in God; let God rescue Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way. 21. Chapel of the Division of the Robes While Jesus hung on the cross, the Roman soldiers tore His robe up into four parts. This was foretold in Psalm 22:18: They divide my garments among them, and they cast lots for my clothing. The soldiers divided up Jesus’ outer garment into four parts, and then had a kind of lottery drawing to see which one of them would walk away with His tunic, which He wore under His robe. His tunic didn’t have any seams. It was woven into one piece. Mark 15:24: And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves , casting lots for them to decide what each man would take. 22. St Longinus Chapel Longinus was the believed Roman Centurion who commanded the soldiers that stood watch at Golgotha. He was an eyewitness to Jesus' final moments and proclaimed that Jesus was truly the Son of God. An ancient source from the fourth century claims the soldier's name was Longinus. John 19:32-34: So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but after they came to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 Yet one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear , and immediately blood and water came out. Whatever happened to this soldier named Longinus? Tradition tells us that Longinus became a believer in Christ, probably not just because of this earthquake, but also because, as a soldier, he likely heard that this same Jesus rose from the dead three days later. Matthew 27:54: Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God !” Today, Longinus is revered as a saint in many Christian denominations because he is believed to have converted to Christianity after the crucifixion of Jesus. That’s why there is a large statue of Longinus in Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Rome today. Tradition tells us that Longinus was martyred in Cappadocia. 23. Chapel of St. Helena Descending the stairs into this chapel, ancient crosses carved into the walls from the 1100s can be seen. These stairs weren't always here. In the original church, this area was just a tunnel that led down to the foundation of the church that Helena built. After Christianity was legalized in 325 AD, the Empress Helena tore down the pagan temple Hadrian had built over Golgotha. That process exposed the area of this chapel. At the time, she did the same thing that Hadrian did 200 years earlier. She used this room as a foundation for the church that she built above it. To the left of the chapel, part of a structural wall Hadrian built can be seen today. The Chapel of Saint Helena was named after the mother of the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine the Great. In 326 AD, Constantine sent Helena to the Holy Land in her late 70s to build churches on Christianity’s most holy sites, beginning with this location. It was the Crusaders who gave this chapel its common name, but the current custodians of the chapel, the Armenian Apostolic Church, renamed this chapel after their patron Saint. They now refer to it as the Chapel of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Saint Gregory is the most important saint for the Armenian Apostolic Church. In 301 AD, he convinced the king of Armenia to adopt Christianity. After that, the entire nation of Armenia switched from the pagan religion of Zoroastrianism to Christianity. The three large paintings on the north wall of this room tell his story. The Altar of Saint Helena (also known to the Armenians as the Altar of Saint Gregory). This altar was dedicated to Saint Helena. The Armenian Apostolic Church operates this chapel, and you will find a large mosaic on the floor depicting nine historic Armenian churches. Although the mosaic appears ancient, it was actually created in the 1970s. The Altar of the Penitent Thief is located to the left of the chapel. 24. Chapel of the Discovery of the Cross Going down some stairs located on the right side of the chapel is a room called the Chapel of the Discovery of the Cross. Tradition claims that this is where Saint Helena discovered the "True Cross" on which Jesus is said to have died. Why was the cross left here? This room was once a large underground cistern that collected water for the garden. You can still see the hole in the ceiling where people lowered buckets to get water. Tradition claims that local Christians told Helena that the Cross had been thrown into this old water cistern on the day Jesus died. Why was it thrown in this cistern? Jesus died at 3:00 PM, and the Jewish holy day (the Sabbath) began at 6:00 PM. Jewish law required that everything be buried or cleaned up before the Sabbath started. This gave Jesus’s followers only three hours to bury him and get rid of the bloody crosses. Because they were in a rush, they likely threw the crosses into this nearby cistern. Supposedly, the crosses stayed hidden here until Helena found them in 326 AD. If you look at the ceiling, you can see straight cuts in the rock. This is because, long before it was a cistern, this room was a stone quarry where workers extracted stone for building construction. Later, the old quarry was transformed into a garden, which is mentioned in the Bible (John 19:41). Ultimately, this space was converted into a cistern to supply water for the garden. The left side of this chapel is under the custody of the Catholics, whose altar features a life-sized statue of the Empress Helena holding a cross. The exact place where it is said that Helena found the three crosses is believed to be behind the metal altar railing. 25. Chapel of Saint Vartan This chapel is normally closed to the public, and special arrangements must be made to see it. This chapel is at the deepest part of the church. Throughout the centuries, the wall adjacent to the Altar of the Penitent Thief in the Chapel of Saint Helena was merely a wall. In the 1970s, a hole was made in the wall, and when they broke through, they discovered archaeological ruins that date back almost 2,700 years. The first room was part of a rock quarry that provided the building stones for Solomon’s Temple (960 BC) and other building projects in Jerusalem. A wall containing a boat drawing was part of the foundation of the temple to the false gods that Hadrian built on this site in 135 AD. The only remnants of this ancient temple are in this chapel and the Russian Church of Alexander Nevsky next door. Sometime between 325 AD—after Helena demolished Hadrian’s temple to the false gods—and the completion of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre about eleven years later, a pilgrim made his way to Jerusalem. He had traveled by boat from the western regions of the Roman Empire. Upon reaching this sacred place, he etched a drawing of his vessel onto the wall. Alongside it, in Latin, he inscribed the words: "Domine, imus"—“Lord, we go.” This phrase likely echoes Psalm 122:1: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” His journey had brought him to the gates of Jerusalem—and he marked the moment in stone. Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Bible 1. Jesus arrives at Golgotha and is stripped of His garments (Station 10 of the Via Dolorosa; for all stations, see Via Dolorosa). John 19:23–24: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” 2. Jesus is nailed to the Cross (Station 11). John 19:17–18: And he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 3. Jesus dies on the Cross (Station 12). Luke 23:44–45: It was now about the sixth hour [12:00 pm], and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [3:00 pm], 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.” 4. Jesus' body is removed from the Cross (Station 13). John 19:38–40: After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 5. Jesus is placed in the tomb (Station 14). John 19:41–42: Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. 6. Jesus rises from the dead. Matthew 28:5–6: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Faith Lesson from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 1. While we might disagree with the decorations and atmosphere of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, do we appreciate all the devotion and sacrifice that have been made to remember and commemorate all Jesus did for us on the Cross? 2. The fact that this place, along with many others, has been preserved and set aside to honor Christ and the events of the Bible provides powerful evidence regarding the historicity of Christ and the truthfulness of the Bible. Do we truly believe the Bible and everything written in it? 3. This is the believed place where Christ gave His life for each one of us. Have we received Christ's gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life with Him in paradise? 4. Are we grateful for the price Jesus paid to save us and have a living relationship with us?

Nimrod Fortress National Park is situated in the midst of a magical mountain landscape on the slopes of Mount Hermon, atop a ridge 2,700 ft. or 815 m above sea level. It's one of the largest and most impressive medieval fortresses in the Middle East. It controlled one of the region’s main roads, from Tyre on the Mediterranean coast, through the upper Hula Valley and Banias to Damascus. Nimrod Fortress National Park Photo Gallery Nimrod Fortress National Park Introduction Have you ever heard of a fortress so massive and mysterious? It’s tied to legends of giants, crusaders, sultans, and empires? Welcome to the full story of Nimrod’s Fortress—a mountaintop stronghold with a history as dramatic as its view. Location 1. Nimrod Fortress National Park is situated in the midst of a magical mountain landscape on the slopes of Mount Hermon, atop a ridge 2,700 ft. or 815 m above sea level. 2. It's one of the largest and most impressive medieval fortresses in the Middle East. It controlled one of the region’s main roads, from Tyre on the Mediterranean coast, through the upper Hula Valley and Banias to Damascus. Historical Background 1. Its Origins – 1200 AD The fortress was originally constructed around 1250 AD, during a time of great tension and transition. The Ayyubid dynasty, founded by Saladin, ruled the region following the expulsion of the Crusaders from much of the Levant. 2. In 1229, Al-Aziz Uthman, a nephew of Saladin and the Ayyubid governor of Damascus, built the original structure. His goal? To guard against the Crusader threat, especially from the military stronghold in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and to secure the vital road to Damascus. This first phase of the fortress was a military necessity, quickly erected, with an emphasis on strong towers and strategic positioning. The Stone Mystery – Herodian Lookalikes? One of the most intriguing aspects of Nimrod’s Fortress is its stonework. As you walk through the fortress, you’ll notice massive ashlar stones—finely cut blocks with a raised boss in the center and a smooth, chiseled margin around the edges. To the trained eye, these stones appear strikingly similar to those found in Herodian construction in Jerusalem, such as the Western Wall. First, no archaeological evidence has ever been found on the site to suggest that a fortress or building existed here during the 1st century BC or AD, when Herod the Great ruled Judea. Instead, all the structural layers date back to the medieval Islamic period, beginning in the 13th century. Second, this style of masonry wasn’t exclusive to Herod’s engineers. The Ayyubids and Mamluks often borrowed styles from the past—either for visual impact or to connect themselves with the grandeur of earlier civilizations. In this case, it’s likely that the builders deliberately imitated earlier Roman and Herodian stonework, using it to create a sense of legacy and permanence. 3. Mamluk Expansion – 1250 AD Just a few decades after the Ayyubids, the fortress saw major expansion under the Mamluks. After defeating the Mongols at the Battle of Ayn Jalut in 1260, the Mamluks secured their hold on the region. One of their generals, Baybars—who would later become sultan—oversaw significant renovations and fortifications at Nimrod’s Fortress. Under his direction, the castle grew in size, strength, and sophistication. Massive walls were reinforced, hidden staircases were added, and inscriptions were carved into the stone. 4. Ottoman Period – 1500 AD and After By 1500 AD, Nimrod’s Fortress had lost its military value. The Ottomans now ruled the region, and the fortress slowly slipped into disuse. Earthquakes damaged parts of the structure, and the forest began to reclaim it. Modern Rediscovery In the 20th century, archaeologists from the British Mandate period, and later Israel, began excavating and restoring the site. They found evidence not of ancient Israelite kings or Roman generals, but of medieval Muslim rulers who built a massive and strategic defense point overlooking vital trade and military routes. 5. Today, Nimrod’s Fortress is a protected national park. Visitors can explore its high towers, winding passages, and stone-carved inscriptions. The view from the top—over the Golan, the Galilee, and even Lebanon—is breathtaking. Legends and Misunderstandings Of course, the name “Nimrod’s Fortress” still captures the imagination. Nimrod, the mighty hunter from Genesis, was never here—but the myth persisted, because the site feels ancient, almost timeless. 6. Conclusion Nimrod’s Fortress is more than a relic of the past. It’s a monument built by medieval Muslim rulers, shaped by shifting empires, and cloaked in the aura of ancient myth. Its stones may look biblical, but they tell a medieval story—one of strategy, strength, and survival on the edge of empire. Places of Interest 1. The Northwest Tower – The impressive gate installed in the tower bears an Arabic inscription of the Ayyubid governor al ’Aziz ‘Othman and belongs to the first stage of construction. The stones of the arch shifted in an earthquake (1759), but miraculously, the arch itself did not collapse. This “veranda” is part of a room, the ceiling of which buckled and was rebuilt in 1275 by the governor Bilik. At that time, the tower was expanded and two more stories were added. Also from this period is the opening in the tower’s ground floor leading to a cistern, above which is a shaft 7 m high; through it water was raised to the uppermost story. South of the room, a toilet was discovered. West of the gate tower, at the end of the “veranda,” a secret passage was constructed that leads outside the northern wall. 2. The Baybars Inscription – A monumental Arabic inscription, among the largest of the Mamluk period (1275). The inscription contains words of praise and eulogy for Sultan Baybars, who tasked his subordinate Bilik, commander of the fortress, with the building and reconstruction work. The inscription was placed on the facade of the second story, where Bilik’s palace was almost certainly located. 3. The Western Tower – A westward-facing tower, as yet unexcavated. 4. The Service Road – A modern pathway that passes through a breach in the wall, and through which one may directly enter the fortress. 5. The Southwest Tower – The top of this tower provides a magnificent view of the Galilee, the Hula Valley, and the slopes of the Golan. The stairs lead to the interior hall of the original tower. The tower was enlarged in Baybars’ time, after which additional embrasures for archers were built. From this hall, a spiral staircase descends to the southward-facing rooms, where you will also find embrasures. 6. The Large Reservoir – It is 9 x 25 m in area and 7 m high. Rainwater flowed into it via channels that were long since destroyed. Its northern side is roofed with a barrel vault, and stairs descend to the bottom. The southern part is roofed with a cross vault. A later breach in the southern wall, made by shepherds, permits a glimpse of the reservoir. 7. Rahat – A public drinking fountain (sabil in Arabic) located on the eastern side of the reservoir and fed by its water. Above the basin is an inscription by Fahr a-Din Hassan, who reconditioned the fountain in 1240. 8. The Beautiful Tower – This semicircular tower, which projects from the wall, was built by Baybars. The interior of the tower is octagonal, with two sides joined, resulting in a structure with seven sides. The roof of the tower is vaulted. The tower, the cut stones, and the embrasures are of outstanding construction quality. In the right-hand corner is a toilet cubicle similar to that in the northwest tower. 9. The Moat – Hewn into the bedrock, the moat separates the fortress from the donjon (the keep). The route crosses the moat in a place where it was somewhat filled in, but it can be better seen on the right side. The moat was crossed by a wooden bridge. At the end of the moat, in the southwestern corner of the donjon, is the earliest inscription found in the fortress, dating to the rule of the governor al-’Aziz ‘Othman (1228). 10. The Donjon (the keep) – A fortified, free-standing structure above the fortress. If the lower fortifications were overrun, the defenders were still able to continue defending the fortress from this massive and powerful structure. Its gate is in the northwest corner. At the four corners of the structure, square towers were erected. In the area between them, remnants of the arches of a ceremonial hall, additional halls, and water cisterns were found. From the northeast tower, a steep trail for fit hikers descends toward the park entrance. 11. The View from the Top of the Donjon – Here, one realizes the clear supremacy of the donjon over the rest of the fortress. It affords a breathtaking panorama of Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights, the Galilee, and the Hula Valley. 12. The Northern Tower (the prison tower) – This well-preserved tower was apparently also built by Baybars. It includes a central hall, with walls pierced by embrasures for archers and a staircase that ascends to the roof. From the top of the tower, Mount Hermon and Mount Dov are visible. During the 15th century, the place was apparently used as a prison. 13. The Secret Passage – The route returns to the northwestern tower (1). In the corner of the “veranda” is the entrance to a secret, graded passageway leading northward. It is 27 m long, 1.8 m wide, and has a high, arched ceiling. A row of stones can be seen on the ceiling that was displaced by an earthquake. The passage ends in an opening (postern) to the outside of the northern wall that was hidden by a pile of rocks. From here, the route returns to the western wall and goes around it on the outside to the parking lot. 14. The Pool – Located outside the fortress on its eastern side, the pool has a surface area of 26 x 54 m and a depth of at least 5 m. Its location on the slope enabled the collection of large quantities of rainwater that in peacetime served the residents of the fortress, and may even have been used for irrigation and watering flocks. Faith Lesson from Magdala and Mary Magdalene 1. So, what are some faith lessons we can learn from this fortress site? As we walked its paths and witnessed its massive stones, we couldn't help but think of all the work and labor that went into building this massive fortress. Why did they do it? They did it to build and protect their kingdoms. At the time, it probably seemed urgent and vital to them. However, in the grand course of time, it rapidly faded away along with them and their dreams and hopes. That's what time does. As we move further away from a moment in time, that moment loses its importance and urgency. What seems so important at the moment rapidly fades away and gets lost. 2. Those who built this fortress invested an enormous amount of time, money, and even their lives. However, what do they have now? Where are they, and if they could go back in time, what would they change? I'm certain they would line the dirt paths here and share what's really important in life. Because right now, they are in one of two places according to the Bible. They are with God in paradise, or separated from Him in hell. 3. Jesus gives us eternal wisdom that we should all embrace strongly, so we don't look back and regret what we've done. He says in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. He continues on just a few verses later in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you ." 4. If we are wise, we'll realize that the time we'll spend on this earth is just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. So, what can we learn from this site? We should live our lives building God's eternal kingdom and not our own, which will quickly pass away and turn to ruins like we see at this site. We need to put God first, seek first His Kingdom and serve Him, not ourselves, our dreams, and our kingdoms.

See and experience an engineering wonder that happened over 2700 years ago. In order to save Jerusalem and its inhabitants, King Hezekiah orchestrated a tunnel that took the water from the Gihon Spring underground to the Pool of Siloam. This kept the water inside the city so the Assyrian army couldn't cut off their water supply and conquer them. Hezekiah's Water Tunnel Photo Gallery Places of Interest Hezekiah's Water Tunnel Location 1. Hezekiah's Water Tunnel, also known as the Siloam Tunnel, is a remarkable ancient water tunnel located in the southern part of the City of David in Jerusalem. 2. The City of David is located just south of the Temple Mount and is the original part of Jerusalem that existed before it was expanded over the centuries. 3. Today, Hezekiah's Tunnel is a popular archaeological site and tourist attraction, offering visitors the chance to walk through the ancient waterway. Historical Background 1. It was constructed during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah in around 700 BC. 2. The Bible mentions it in the context of preparations for an impending siege by the Assyrians, led by Sennacherib. 3. The tunnel was designed to transport water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam, effectively securing the city's water supply during the siege by preventing the Assyrian forces from accessing it. 4. The construction of this tunnel is considered an engineering marvel of its time, as it was hewn from solid rock. It measures approximately 583 yards (533 m.) long and has an altitude difference of 12 inches (30 cm.) between its two ends. 5. The historical significance of Hezekiah's Tunnel is also highlighted by the Siloam Inscription, found at the southern end of the tunnel. This inscription describes how two teams of workers, starting from opposite ends, met in the middle to complete the tunnel. This feat is detailed in the biblical passages of 2 Chronicles 32:2–4 and 2 Kings 20:20. Biblical Background 1. After the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah), God sent prophet after prophet to warn them to turn from their sinful ways and follow Him. However, all these warnings fell on deaf ears. 2. All the 19 kings who reigned in the northern kingdom of Israel did not follow the Lord and acted wickedly. 3. As a result, the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and taken into captivity by 722 BC by the Assyrians because of Israel’s continual disobedience. 2 Kings 18:11–12: Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and put them in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God , but transgressed His covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded; they would neither listen nor do it. 4. The Assyrian army was brutal and known for its torturous tactics. They intentionally instilled fear in the hearts of those they conquered to cause other countries to surrender instead of fighting. 5. By 701 BC, the Assyrians, headed by Sennacherib, invaded Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, because they disobeyed God. 6. According to an Assyrian stele found in the ruins of the royal palace of Nineveh, Sennacherib conquered 46 cities in Judea before attempting to conquer Jerusalem. 7. God allowed most of Judah to be conquered but protected Jerusalem because of Hezekiah’s obedience to Him. 8. As Hezekiah began to prepare for what he knew would be a terrible siege by a merciless Assyrian war machine, he had to figure out how to protect his people. This meant building new defenses. 9. During the time of Hezekiah, Jerusalem’s urban population had grown far outside the old walls of the city and were unprotected. 10. King Hezekiah fortified the city's existing walls and built a new wall rapidly to protect those living outside them. 2 Chronicles 32:5: He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 11. Hezekiah’s new wall measured about 22 feet wide (7 m.) by 25 feet high (8 m.). 12. It was a massive undertaking and measured around 2.5 miles (4 km.) in length. 13. A portion of the wall was discovered in the 1970s by Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad and dated to the reign of King Hezekiah (716-687 BC). 14. Archaeologists called it “Hezekiah’s Broad Wall” because of how wide it is. 15. Additionally, King Hezekiah also built a water tunnel to keep the water from the Gihon Spring inside the city walls so the Assyrians couldn’t cut off the water supply (2 Chron. 32:3–4). Places of Interest 1. Hezekiah’s Broad Wall 2. Gihon Spring 3. Pool of Siloam 4. Hezekiah's Water Tunnel 5. City of David 6. Temple Mount Hezekiah in the Bible 1. King Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, was a wicked king. He closed the doors to the temple and burned his children in sacrificial worship to false gods. 2. King Hezekiah was a godly king who reopened the temple and restored worship to God. 2 Kings 18:3–6: And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). 5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 3. King Hezekiah chose not to serve the King of Assyria. 2 Kings 18:7: And the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 4. Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, conquered the southern part of Judah, including the mighty city of Lachish. King Hezekiah tries to keep him at bay by paying him money. 2 Kings 18:13–16: Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them. 14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear.” So the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver which was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house. 16 At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 5. King Sennacherib makes plans to conquer Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:17: Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a large army to Jerusalem. So they went up and came to Jerusalem. 6. King Sennacherib mocks King Hezekiah and the God of Israel. 2 Kings 18:32–35: And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us .” 33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 35 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’” 7. King Hezekiah humbles himself before God and sends for the Prophet Isaiah. 2 Kings 19:1–7: And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the Lord. 2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver. 4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left.’” 5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.” 8. King Sennacherib once again threatens King Hezekiah and speaks against the God of Israel. 2 Kings 19:9–12: So he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed.’” 9. Hezekiah seeks the Lord’s help. 2 Kings 19:14–19: Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 Now, O Lord our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God.” 10. God answers Hezekiah’s prayer. 2 Kings 19:20–22: Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.’ 21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken against him: ‘She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin daughter of Zion; She has shaken her head behind you, The daughter of Jerusalem! 22 ‘Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice, And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!’” 2 Kings 19:32–34: Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city, declares the Lord. 34 For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” 11. God miraculously destroys King Sennacherib and his army. 2 Kings 19:35–37: Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh. 37 It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place. Faith Lesson from the Life of King Hezekiah 1. Even though Hezekiah had a wicked father, he chose to serve the Lord. 2. No matter what our background might be, and the parents we have, God can still use us greatly if we yield ourselves entirely to Him. 3. He was extremely dedicated to God. 2 Kings 18:5–6: He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. 4. He trusted in God during times of great trials. 5. God blessed him and protected him because of his faith and dedication to Him. 6. He worked hard to fortify the old walls, built a huge new wall, and protected the water source of the city. All this was good, but not needed as God supernaturally protected Jerusalem because Hezekiah trusted in the Lord. 7. King Hezekiah lived the kind of life God blesses. Are we following his example?

The great showdown between the Prophet and the prophets of Baal and Asherah is one of the greatest miracles in the Bible. Understand the details of this monumental event and learn lessons of faith that you can apply to your own life from this great miracle. Mount Carmel was a High Place of worship to the false god of Baal and Asherah during the period of Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. It has a spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley, which is also known as the Valley of Armageddon. Mt. Carmel: Elijah and the False Prophets Photo Gallery Places of Interest Mount Carmel Introduction Welcome to Mount Carmel. This is where the huge showdown between Elijah and the 850 false prophets of Baal and Asherah happened. This place was one of the most important high places of worship, so it would only be fitting for this monumental event to happen here. Just imagine thousands and thousands of Israelites gathered here to see this event. The showdown was to determine who the true and living God was. Was it Baal, Asherah, or the true and living God? God sent fire down from heaven right here to settle this matter. The event that happened here is earth-shattering. Location 1. The place marking the great showdown between Elijah and the false prophets is known as Deir Al-Mukhraqa Carmelite Monastery. 2. Mount Carmel is located about 9 miles (15 km.) east of the Mediterranean Sea in the Carmel Mountain Range, which is in the northern part of Israel. It’s also about 28 miles (44 km.) southwest of the Sea of Galilee. 3. Mount Carmel was a High Place of worship to the false god of Baal and Asherah during the period of Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. 4. It has a spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley, which is also known as the Valley of Armageddon. Armageddon is where part of the last battle on earth takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation Period. 5. From Mount Carmel, Nazareth, and Cana can be seen to the northeast. Historical Background 1. The great showdown between the Prophet Elijah and the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah began around 100 years earlier when King Solomon sowed the seeds that would destroy Israel morally. 2. Against God’s clear commandments to the Israelites, Solomon married many foreign wives. 3. These foreign wives worshipped false gods, and to honor them, Solomon built high places of worship all over Israel where these false gods could be worshipped. 1 Kings 11 recounts this tragic reality. 4. As a result, the worship of false gods became rampant in the land. 5. Because of the worship of false gods, God pronounced judgment on the nation of Israel, and it was divided into two kingdoms after Solomon’s death. 6. Rehoboam, one of Solomon’s sons, took the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which consisted of 2 tribes, and Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s officials, took the Northern Kingdom, which consisted of 10 tribes. 7. Because Jeroboam was afraid many of his people would defect to Rehoboam’s kingdom by going to Jerusalem to worship God in the temple there, he introduced false gods into the northern tribes of Israel. 8. Jeroboam erected two golden calf altars at Bethel and Dan for his people to worship instead of going to the temple in Jerusalem. He told his people that these golden calves were the gods who led them out of Egypt. 9. Several kings later, King Ahab, king of the Northern Kingdom, married a foreign wife named Jezebel. Jezebel worshipped the false gods of Baal (a male god) and Asherah (a female god). Jezebel promoted the worship of these false gods by employing countless prophets of Baal and Asherah. She even supported them financially and fed them at her royal table. 10. Mt. Carmel was one of the key high places in Israel where the people worshiped Baal and Asherah. 12. Baal and Asherah were the gods of the weather. For this reason, God sent a drought and then later rain. By doing so, He showed He was the true God of the weather and everything else. Baal worship was originally from the Canaanite nations God drove out because of their extreme wickedness. Places of Interest (Please See Maps Above) 1. Mt. Carmel 2. Kishon Stream 3. Jezreel Valley 4. Tel Jezreel 5. Mediterranean Sea 6. Megiddo 7. Nazareth Mount Carmel in the Bible 1. The showdown between Elijah and the false prophets took place during the reign of Ahab, King of Israel. 1 Kings 16:29-33” In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 2. Because of Ahab’s great sin, God caused a severe drought all over the land. 1 Kings 17:1: Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. 3. After these 3 years had ended, Elijah confronts Ahab and promises God will send rain. Kings 18:1–2: After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 1 Kings 18:17–19: When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now, therefore, send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.” 4. The great gathering of all the people. 1 Kings 18:20–21: So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 5. The great contest between Elijah and the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. 1 Kings 18:22–24: Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 6. The false prophets of Baal and Asherah go first. 1 Kings 18:25–29: Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation [evening sacrifice], but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 7. Elijah takes his turn. 1 Kings 18:30–35: Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs [about 1 foot deep by 1 foot wide] of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 8. God miraculously answers. 1 Kings 18:36–39: And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 9. Elijah then slaughters the false prophets below the hill right here in the Kishon Stream. 1 Kings 18:40: And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. 10. Afterward, God sent a massive rainstorm, which caused a deluge of rain to Israel and ended the drought. 1 Kings 18:41–46: And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while, the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Jezreel is about 15 miles (24 km.) directly east of Mount Carmel. 11. Unfortunately, this great miracle and spiritual revival didn’t last long. Soon afterward, the country fell back into worshipping false gods and idols. Faith Lesson from Mt. Carmel 1. Do we fall away easily from the Lord and neglect Him? 2. Does spiritual revival in our lives rapidly fade? 3. Are we undisciplined in our time with God and fail to read His Word and grow in Him? 4. Have we witnessed miracles in our lives where we know that God is real and that He has shown Himself powerful to us? 5. After seeing miracles and experiencing God’s help, do we forget and fall away from God afterward? 6. Are we steadfast in our relationship with God, or are we like the Israelites who were unstable with big ups and downs? 7. Are we in need of coming back to God today and getting right with Him once again?