En Gedi is located on the west side of the lower Dead Sea area north of Masada. It’s a beautiful oasis fed by a large spring in a barren, dry place. See and learn about this amazing oasis of living water in the desert. David hid out here when fleeing from King Saul, and God refers to Himself as living water for our dry and thirsty souls. En Gedi: Living Water In the Desert Photo Gallery Places of Interest En Gedi Introduction Nestled between the Judean Desert and the shores of the Dead Sea, En Gedi National Park is one of Israel’s most stunning natural oases. With its lush waterfalls, desert canyons, ancient ruins, and rich biblical history — including the caves where David hid from King Saul — En Gedi offers a breathtaking blend of beauty and spiritual significance. It’s a must-visit destination for nature lovers, hikers, and those seeking a deeper connection to the land of the Bible. Location 1. En Gedi is located on the west side of the lower Dead Sea area about 11 miles (17 km.) north of Masada on Hwy. 90. 2. It’s a beautiful oasis fed by a large spring in a barren, dry place. Historical Background 1. En Gedi was inhabited by the Canaanites during the time of Abraham and Lot. 2. The Dead Sea basin was once like a Garden of the Lord. Genesis 13:10–12: Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere —this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 3. Due to the abundant water supply, the village by En Gedi Park has had a long history of habitation from ancient days to the present. 4. Today, this area is extremely dry, and En Gedi is an oasis of living water in the desert. Places of Interest 1. Park entrance 2. Hiking trail 3. Nahal David Stream 4. Lower pools 5. Upper pools 6. Upper waterfall 7. Synagogue at Tel Goren (Jorn) 8. Ancient and modern En Gedi town 9. Dead Sea En Gedi in the Bible 1. En Gedi was used in a love poem in the book of Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon 1:14: My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En Gedi . 2. In the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth, God speaks of how He will change the Dead Sea region again to be like a garden due to a supernatural river flowing from Jerusalem. Ezekiel 47:9–10: And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From En Gedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 3. En Gedi was one of David’s main hideouts when Saul was pursuing his life. 1 Samuel 23:28–29: So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore, that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi . 4 . En Gedi is a perfect example of living water in the desert. The Israelites were a desert people whose whole history was related to the desert. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, along with the Israelite’s time in Egypt, and their wandering in the desert for 40 years, all took place in a desert. Also, much of Israel is a desert as well. The Israelites fully knew that living water meant life and survival. 5. God used the desert and living water as examples of judgment upon Israel. Jeremiah 2:12–13: Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters , and hewed out cisterns for themselves , broken cisterns that can hold no water. 6. God used desert imagery to show how those who abandon Him are like a parched desert without water. Jeremiah 17:5–8: Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert , and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness , in an uninhabited salt land. 7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD , whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." 7. Christ referred to Himself as the source of living water. John 7:37–38: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink . 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water ." Faith Lesson from En Gedi 1. Living Water in the Bible refers to spiritual life and vitality found only in being right with God. 2. Stagnant water is full of sickness and diseases and refers to the person who lives life without being right with God. 3. Have we received Christ, the source of living water? 4. Do we fellowship regularly with God in order to receive living water for our souls? 5. Do we read God’s Word, which gives living water to our spirits and nourishes our hearts? 6. Are we seeking to find life and joy in our own pursuits and neglecting our relationship with God? Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters , and hewed out cisterns for themselves , broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer. 2:12–13).

Learn about Ekron and the 5 cities of the Philistines. What all happened in Ashdod? What is its history? Who were the Philistines, where did they come from, and where did they live? They are mentioned in many places in the Old Testament and were the enemies of the Israelites. The Other Cities Were: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, and Gath. Biblical Ekron Photo Gallery Places of Interest Ekron Location 1. Ekron (Tel Miqne) is located east of Ashdod and the Mediterranean Sea about 13 miles (20 km.) Historical Background 1. In archeological terms, Tel Ekron (Tel Miqne-Ekron) is significant because it is one of Israel's largest Iron Age sites. 2. More than 100 oil presses were found here, as well as the Ekron Inscription, which clearly identifies the site as Philistine, Ekron. 3. Just to the west of Tel Ekron is Kibbutz Revadim, where a Museum of the History of Philistine Culture shows a reconstructed Philistine street with many artifacts. Places of Interest 1. Tel Ekron 2. Kibbutz Revadim Philistine Street ~ Archaeological items from Tel Ekron have been brought here and preserved. Ekron in the Bible 1. Joshua and the Israelites failed to conquer Ekron in the conquest of the Promised Land as found in Joshua 13:3. 2. It was allotted to Judah in the division of the land and then to the tribe of Dan as found in Joshua chapters 15-19. 3. However, the tribe of Dan failed to conquer the area and moved to the northern part of Israel. Judah wound up conquering Ekron and inhabiting it as found in Judges 1:18. 4. Ekron was one of the Philistine cities where the Ark of the Covenant resided before being returned to the Israelites at Beth Shemesh. 1 Samuel 5:10: So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron , the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” 1 Samuel 6:13-16: Now the people of Beth-shemesh were gathering in their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced at seeing it. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stopped there where there was a large stone; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the saddlebag that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the Lord. 16 When the five governors of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day. 5. After David killed Goliath in the Valley of Elah, the Israelites pursued and defeated the Philistines all the way to Ekron. 1 Samuel 17:52: Then the men of Israel and Judah rose up and shouted, and they pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron . And the Philistine dead lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron . 6. Ekron is included, among other cities, in pronouncements of judgment by the prophets Amos 1:8, Jeremiah 25:20, Zephaniah 2:4, and Zechariah 9:5–7. Faith Lesson from Ekron 1. The Israelites failed to conquer Ekron and the surrounding cities of the Philistines. For some reason, they lacked the faith, willpower, and trust in God to fulfill His command to conquer the inhabitants of the Promised Land. Do we fail to trust in God and conquer the tasks God calls us to do? 2. However, David, as a young man, and later as the king of Israel, would defeat the Philistines and fulfill God's original command to subdue and conquer all of the Promised Land. Do we exercise faith as David did and step out and do mighty things for the Lord? 3. From Ekron the Ark of the Covenant was returned to the Israelites at Beth Shemesh. It was done in a miraculous way by cows carrying the Ark on a wagon arriving at Beth Shemesh all by themselves. Miracles are one way God reveals Himself to skeptical and unbelieving people. Do we share miracles God has done in our lives with others?

Yardenit is just a couple hundred yards (meters) west of Hwy. 90, at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. It’s a popular spot, and the water is clean and abundant. For those desiring to get baptized here in the Jordan River, the Yardenit gift shop provides white robes and towels for a small fee. Yardenit Baptismal Site Photo Gallery Places of Interest Yardenit Baptismal Site Location There are two main baptismal sites on the Jordan River. Yardenit Baptismal Site 1. Yardenit is just a couple hundred yards (meters) west of Hwy. 90, at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. 2. It’s a popular spot, and the water is clean and abundant. 3. For those desiring to get baptized here in the Jordan River, the Yardenit gift shop provides white robes and towels for a small fee. 4. Yardenit has a large gift shop for the purchase of souvenirs and other miscellaneous items as well. 5. Yardenit is also a great place to view the Jordan River. 6. Entrance to the site is free. Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qasr al-Yahud) 1. This Baptismal site is located about 2 miles (3.2 km.) east of Hwy 90, across from Jericho. 2. It’s also known as Qaser al-Yahud, Kasser al-Yahud, and the Baptismal Site of Jesus. 3. It’s the place where it’s believed Jesus was baptized, and where John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus baptized many people as well. 4. The water is not as clean as Yardenit, but thousands of pilgrims are baptized there each year because of its spiritual significance. 5. It’s also the believed location where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. (For more, please see Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus) Places of Interest 1. Yardenit Baptismal Site 2. Jordan River 3. Parking area 4. Hwy. 90 5. Sea of Galilee Historical Background 1. The concept of baptism is rooted in the Old Testament. As far back as Genesis, eight people were saved from the great flood of God’s judgment. The Apostle Peter indicated that the water of the flood “symbolizes baptism that now saves you” (1 Pet. 3:21). 2. Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and King David likewise used water as an external symbol for internal cleansing (Isa. 1:16: Ezek. 36:25; Ps. 51:2). Isaiah 1:16: Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil. 3. The word baptize, baptized, baptizing, or baptismal is mentioned around 83 times in the New Testament and, therefore, shows the value God places on it. (For the full Bible teaching on baptism, please see the Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus – Qsar al-Yahud Baptismal Site.)

One of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. This vast and unique city was carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab civilization, who settled here more than 2,000 years ago, turning it into an important trade route that linked China, India, and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Rome. The Treasury Tomb appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade movie. Petra, Jordan: Biblical Sela Petra, Jordan: Biblical Sela Tour & Overview The Ancient City of Petra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Jordan and even all the Middle East! It's considered one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With breathtaking buildings carved into deep red rock cliffs, it's a mystic place sought out by many. It also has many biblical events that have happened here and prophesied events that may very well take place here in the future. In this video, we'll look at the location of Petra, take a trip through time as we behold its history, see its outstanding sites like the famous Treasury carved tomb where Indiana Jones was filmed, other monumental tomb carvings, the amazing Monastery that sits high upon a mountain, the remains of the ancient city, a huge theatre, walk the deep canyon into the city that has breathtaking high walls on each side and more. You will be amazed at this site as we see it unfold. This will be a unique video looking at every aspect of this ancient place that has captured the imagination of millions. So, let's explore this site and behold its wonders. Location 1. Petra is located about fifty miles south of the Dead Sea and 170 miles southwest of modern Amman, Jordan. Located in the southwest of Jordan, near the town of Wadi Musa, the landscape surro unding Petra is stunning, with re d, rocky mountains at the east of the Arabah Valley. 2. Ancient Petra’s main access is via a narrow crevice called the Siq, which winds for about a mile through mountainous terrain. The Siq provided an excellent natural defense for Petra’s inhabitants. Many moviegoers are familiar with the Siq and the Treasury Tomb of Petra, which were featured in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 3. To support the ancient city’s large population, its inhabitants maintained an extensive water system, including dams, cisterns, rock-carved water channels, and ceramic pipes. Historical Background 1. The name "Petra," which means "rock" in Greek, replaced the biblical name "Sela," which is Hebrew for "rock." 2. The first inhabitants of Petra were the descendants of Esau, called the Edomites. Esau moved to this area from the Negev region around 1900 BC, according to Genesis 36. Remains from early periods confirm that the Edomites occupied the area as well. The Edomites raided traveling caravans and then hid in Petra for protection. They became arrogant and abusive. For this reason, God judged them. Obadiah 3-4: The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, the one who lives in the clefts of the rock , on the height of his dwelling place, who says in his heart, "Who will bring me down to earth?" 4 Though you make your home high like the eagle , though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. 3. Around 400 BC, the Nabataeans, the descendants of Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn son by Sarah's handmaid, Hagar, occupied Petra and made it the capital of their kingdom. The vast majority of what can be seen today was carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans. They became extremely wealthy and turned the city into an important location on a trade route that linked China, India, and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Rome. Petra became so influential that it became the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom that stretched from Damascus to Petra and beyond. 4. The Nabateans , living and trading in Petra, soon accumulated significant wealth, and an envious Greek Empire attacked the city in 312 BC by Seleucid forces, who failed to seize the city. The Nabateans successfully fought back the Greek invaders by taking advantage of the city's mountainous terrain. The mountains effectively served as a natural wall, buttressing Petra. Under Nabataean rule, Petra prospered as a spice trade center that involved China, Egypt, Greece, and India. The city’s population swelled to around 30,000. 5. Because the Nabataean Kingdom was so prosperous, the Roman Empire set its sites on it. The Romans defeated the Nabataeans in 106 AD , and Petra became part of the Roman province of Arabia. The Romans enlarged and glorified the city even more by building a Cardo, a huge theater that accommodated around 6,000 spectators, and other buildings and improvements. It appears that in around 200 AD, a flash flood did catastrophic damage to the city, dealing it a major blow. 6. After the Roman Empire was divided in 330 AD, Petra was ruled by the Byzantine (eastern half of the Roman Empire) until Muslim occupation in the 7th century AD. In 363 AD, an earthquake destroyed many of its buildings, dealing Petra another blow. And again, in 551 AD, another earthquake struck, causing a significant population reduction. Christian churches and a large monastery were built here during the Byzantine period. 7. The Islamic invasion occurred in the 7th century, bringing Muslim reign to Petra. 8. Around 1100 AD, the Crusaders conquered the Muslims and built a fort and outpost at Petra. The Crusaders would occupy Petra until the latter part of the 12th century. 9 . Due to changes in trade routes, earthquakes, and more, b y the 14th century, Petra was completely lost to the West, and so it remained for around 400 years. Only a few nomads and locals inhabited the area. 10. Then, in 1812, a Swiss traveler, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, persuaded his guide to take him to the site of the rumored lost city. Secretly making notes and sketches, he wrote: “It seems very probable that the ruins at Wadi Musa are those of the ancient Petra.” 11. Excavati ons in 1993 revealed several more temples and monuments that provide insight into the ancient city's political, social, and religious traditions. In 1985, Pe tra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sites of Interest There is so much to see at this site as it's so rich in history and places. We'll look at the 18 top sites that are the most visited and important. 1. Moses Spring Nearby to the town of Wadi Musa, which means Valley of Moses in Arabic, is Moses' Spring. According to tradition, this is the rock Moses struck in anger when the Israelites wanted water (Numbers 20:1-13). This act prohibited Moses from entering the Promised Land. 2. Pe tra Visitor Center It is located at the entrance to the park and has a museum where you can see the history and artifacts of ancient Petra. 3. Djinn Blocks Not far from the Petra Visitor Center, there are three enormous, squat monuments known as Djinn Blocks or God Blocks. Many visitors miss the blocks in their hurry to reach the Siq, but they are worth a pause to speculate about their purpose. Some suggest they represent the start of tombs or were associated with funerary dedications or the worship of water and fertility. 4. Obelisk Tomb & Bab As Siq Triclinium Nearby to the Djinn Blocks is a tomb with four pyramidal obelisks, built as funerary symbols by the Nabataeans in the 1st century BC. The four obelisks, together with the eroded human figure in the center, probably represent the five people buried in the tomb. 5. Al-Siq (Siq) Th is is a long road (1 mile, 1.2 km.) with breathtaking high walls on each side that leads to the ancient city. It served as protection to the city in ancient times. Its narrow, vertical walls are undeniably one of the highlights of Petra. Along this road is a water channel once used for transporting water into the ancient city. The walk through this magical corridor, as it snakes its way towards the hidden city, is one full of anticipation for the wonders ahead – a point not wasted on the Nabataeans, who made the passage into a sacred way, punctuated with sites of spiritual significance. 6. The Treasury (Khazn e h) Among the first sites viewed from the Siq is the Khaznah (“Treasury”), which is actually a large tomb. Known locally as Al Khazneh, this tomb is where most visitors fall in love with Petra. The Hellenistic facade is an astonishing piece of craftsmanship. Although carved out of iron-laden sandstone to serve as a tomb for the Nabataean King Aretas III (100 BC–200 AD), the Treasury derives its name from the story that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasure here (in the facade urn) while pursuing the Israelites. 7. Street of Facades Just beyond the Treasury Tomb and on the way to the main area of the ancient city of Petra lies many large facades. These line the street in a majestic manner, giving prestige to the city. Some of these buildings have large carved-out rooms in them. 8. High Place of Sacrifice It's a hike from the valley floor up to the high place, but is well worth it. The summit has a table for sacrificial ceremonies and is reached up a few hundred steps, working through the cliffs and ravines of the hill. This place has spectacular views of the ancient city below and gives you a great view of everything below. It's the most accessible of Petra’s High Places. This well-preserved site was built atop Jebel Madbah with drains to channel the blood of sacrificial animals. The area was mainly used to sacrifice animals to the Nabatean God Dushara. It provides a sober and sad reality that false worship took place here. Many were misguided in believing that the worship of false gods helped them. 9 . Theatre Originally built by the Nabataeans more than 2000 years ago, the Theatre was chiseled out of rock, slicing through many caves and tombs in the process. The Romans enlarged it in around 106 AD to hold about 8500 (around 30% of the population of Petra) soon after they arrived. Badly damaged by an earthquake in 363 AD, the Theatre was partially dismantled to build other structures, but it remains a Petra highlight to this day. 10. Royal Tombs Downhill from the Theatre, the wadi widens to create a larger thoroughfare. To the right, the Royals Tombs loom over the valley. Within its west-facing cliffs are carved some of the most impressive burial places in Petra, known collectively as the ‘Royal Tombs.’ They look particularly stunning, bathed in the golden light of sunset. Among these tombs is the famous Urn Tomb, known as such by a large urn above the tomb. Also in this area is the Palace Tomb. It's distinctive among the Royal Tombs for its rock-hewn facade, the largest in Petra. 11. Nymphaeum At the start of the Colonnaded Street, or Cardo, is the Nymphaeum, a public fountain built in the 2nd century AD and fed by water channeled from the Siq. Little can be seen today, although it’s recognizable by the huge 450 -year-old pistachio tree, giving welcome shade in summer. 12. Byzantine Church The Byzantine Church at Petra, also known as The Petra Church, is a prime example of monumental architecture in the Byzantine era of Petra. It sits on elevated ground in the city center, north of Cardo Street. It's one of three Byzantine churches on the hillside, the other two being the Ridge Church, or Red Church, and the Blue Chapel Church, from the 5th - 6th century. The Byzantine Church is notable for its lavish and well-preserved mosaic decoration. Found within its ruins were 140 papyri, which have provided scholars with valuable information about life in Byzantine Petra and its rural surroundings. An awning covers the remains of the church. Inside are some exquisite Byzantine floor mosaics, some of the best in the region. The mosaics originally continued up the walls. The Nabataeans originally built the structure, which was redesigned and expanded by the Byzantines in around 530 AD. 13. Temple of the Winged Lions The Temple of the Winged Lions is a large Nabatean temple complex that dates to the reign of King Aretas IV in around 9 BC–40 AD. The temple is located in Petra's so-called Sacred Quarter, where other temples are located as well. The temple was likely dedicated to the supreme goddess figure of the Nabateans, but the exact identity of this goddess is uncertain. The temple was ultimately destroyed in the massive earthquake of 363 AD. 14. Colonnaded Street (Roman Cardo) Downhill from the Byzantine Church, the Colonnaded Street marks the center of ancient Petra. The street was built around 106 AD by the Romans. Columns of marble-clad sandstone originally lined the wide road and covered porticoes on each side, giving access to shops. You can still see remains of the original stones of the road. At the end of the Cardo is a massive gate built by Roman Emperor Hadrian in around 135 AD. It's called the "Tem enos-Tor Gate." It was one of the main entrances to Ancient Petra at this time. 15 . Great Temple The "Great Temple" occupied a prime spot in ancient Petra: from its ruins, you can see the Siq to the southeast, the Qasr al-Bint to the west, and the Lower Market/Petra Pool Complex to the east. It appears to have been a major Nabataean t emple of the 1st century BC. It was badly damaged by an earthquake not long after being built but remained in use until the late Byzantine period. It also appears that it might have been used as an administrative building at different points in its history. It's also somewhat unclear as to what deity it was dedicated. It is certainly one of Petra's most distinguished buildings, located at a key place in the city. As you can see, it was located directly to the right just after entering Petra through the western main gate. This means it held prominent value to the city. 16 . Qasr Al Bint Just after leaving the Cardo through the Tem enos-Tor Gate, it's a short walk down the road to Qasr Al Bint. This road would have been the main access to Petra during most of its existence. Qsar Al Bint is one of the few free-standing structures in Petra, Qasr Al Bint was built in around 30 BC by the Nabataeans. It was later adapted to the cult of Roman emperors and destroyed around the 3rd century AD. Despite the name given to it by the local Bedouin – Castle of the Pharaoh’s Daughter – the temple was originally built as a dedication to Nabataean gods and was one of the most important temples in Petra. 17 . The Monastery (Ad-Deir) The Monastery is one of Petra's remarkable rock-hewn buildings, standing at 160 feet tall and 148 feet wide (50 meters tall and 45 meters wide), making it the tallest facade in Petra. Its original purpose is uncertain, but it is believed to have been a temple dedicated to a Nabatean king, Obodas I, although it may have also served other functions. It was likely built in the middle of the first century AD. To visit 'The Monastery,' visitors must take an 800-step path from the Basin and can enjoy views of the Wadi Araba valley. It's quite the hike, but well worth seeing this amazing monument. It's certainly one of Petra’s best-known rock-cut monuments. It has an unfinished tomb facade that, during Byzantine times, was used as a church. Hidden high in the hills, the Monastery is one of the legendary monuments of Petra. It's similar in design to the Treasury but bigger. Its name comes from the crosses carved on the inside walls, suggesting its use as a church in Byzantine times. 18. Mount Hor This site is about 3 miles or 5 km. from ancient Petra and is reached by vehicle and climbing. Crowning th e top of Jebel Haroun, this tomb encased in a 14th-century, whitewashed shrine is thought to be the last resting place of Aaron, Moses' brother, according to Jewish, Christian, and local Muslim tradition. Christians have adopted this site as the authentic place since the Byzantine period and built a monastery here serving as a pilgrimage center. The local Muslim tradition places Aaron's tomb at the same site. The history of the current building dates back to the Mamluk era during the beginning of the 14th century AD. The mausoleum (burial place) consists of a room and a small courtyard. It has a white dome covering the entirety of the main room. Above the shrine's door is the date of its last renewal. The shrine of the Prophet Aaron is located at the highest point in Petra at an altitude of 3,281 feet or 1,350 meters. The locals record the stories of its construction. It is visible from afar, catching the first and last of the day's light above the Petra hilltops. Petra in the Bible 1. The city of Petra is called by its Hebrew name, Sela, in the Bible. Both Petra and Sela mean “rock,” an appropriate name since much of the city is carved into sandstone cliffs. Isaiah 16:1: Send the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land, f rom Sela by way of the wilderness to the mountain of the daughter of Zion. 2 Kings 14:7: He killed ten thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and named it Joktheel, as it is to this day. 2. Petra was in the land of the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau. Israel and Edom constantly had conflicts, starting with Edom’s refusal to allow Moses and the Israelites to pass through their land on their way to Canaan. Numbers 20:18-21: Edom , however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you.” 19 Again, the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the road, and if I and my livestock do drink any of your water, then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing more.” 20 But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against him with a heavy force and a strong hand. 21 So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; then Israel turned away from him. 3. According to tradition, Moses and the Israelites passed through the Petra area in Edom. Local tradition says that the spring at Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), just outside Petra, is where Moses struck the rock and brought forth water (Numbers 20:10-11). This could be true if Petra was outside the border of Edom at this time and not inside of Edom. The Bible is clear in Numbers that the King of Edom refused the Israelites entry into his country as the Israelites journeyed to the Promised Land. 4. Also, according to tradition, Jebel Haroun, located at Petra, is Mt. Hor, where Moses’ brother Aaron was buried. Numbers 20:23-24: Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people. 5. King Saul and King David both fought the Edomites. 1 Samuel 14:47: Now when Saul had taken control of the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom , the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment. 2 Samuel 8:13-14: So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom . In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. 6. During the reign of King Jehoshaphat, Edom invaded Judah but failed, and Israel was victorious in battle (2 Chronicles 20). 7. Later, King Amaziah fought against Edom and took control of Petra, renaming it “Joktheel.” 2 Kings 14:7: He killed ten thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and named it Joktheel , as it is to this day. 8. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, the Edomites gave aid and comfort to the enemy (Psalm 137:7). For this, they were strongly condemned by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Obadiah (Isaiah 34:5-8; Jeremiah 49:16-18). 9 . The Edomites raided traveling caravans and then hid in Petra for protection. They became arrogant and abusive. For this reason, God judged them. Obadiah 3-4: The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, the one who lives in the clefts of the rock , on the height of his dwelling place, who says in his heart, "Who will bring me down to earth?" 4 Though you make your home high like the eagle , though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. 10. Petra seemed secure in its unpenetrable fortress of rock for centuries, but today, its ruins lie uninhabited, fulfilling Scripture. Jeremiah 49:18: As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns, says the LORD, so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it . 11. Evidence of the Nabateans in the Gospels. Nabatean King Aretas IV’s daughter married Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great (Herod’s mother was Nabatean). Aretas had a good relationship with Antipas until he divorced Aretas’ daughter to marry his brother’s wife, Herodias. Antipas’ marital decision caused John the Baptist to condemn him, to which Herodias got her revenge when she persuaded her daughter to ask for John’s head as a birthday present (Matthew 14:6-12; Mark 6:21-29). 12. The Apostle Paul and the Nabateans We later see evidence of the Nabateans in both the books of Acts and 2 Corinthians. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, the city was under its second Nabatean control. King Aretas I gained control after Antiochus Epiphanes was assassinated in 164 B.C. His grandson, Aretas III, regained control of the city after Antiochus XII of Cele-Syria was defeated in the battle of Cana (Josephus, Antiquities, 13.15.1-2). After Paul converted to Christianity in Damascus, the Bible says he immediately went out to preach the Gospel. Those who heard him were astounded that the same guy they had heard was killing Christians was now preaching that Jesus is the Christ. Paul’s enthusiasm greatly upset the Jews in Damascus, and they set out to kill him, causing Paul to go into hiding. Acts 9:23-25: Now, after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. Paul recalls the incident in 2 Corinthians 11:32: In Damascus, the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of Damascus with a garrison, desiring to arrest me. But I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands. Acts 9 says it was the Jews who were after Paul, but Paul says it was Aretas who wanted him. The indication is that the Jews had stirred up the Nabatean authorities against him. They continued to do so several more times as they made repeated attempts on Paul’s life (Acts 13:50). 13. In his letter to the Galatians, while describing his conversion to Christianity, Paul mentions his time in Arabia. Galatians 1:15–17: When God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia , and afterwards I returned to Damascus. Many believe that Arabia, at this time, included Petra. 14. It is believed to be where the Israelites will flee and be protected by God during the second half of the Great Tribulation Period. Revelation 12:5-6: And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness [Petra]where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days. Micah 2:12: I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israe l; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah , as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men (KJV). Bozrah is in the area where Petra is located. It is also the Hebrew word for sheepfold. Psalm 60:8-12: Moab is My washbowl; I will throw My sandal over Edom ; Shout loud, Philistia, because of Me!” 9 Who will bring me into the besieged city ? Who will lead me to Edom ? 10 Have You Yourself not rejected us, God? And will You not go out with our armies, God? 11 Oh give us help against the enemy, for rescue by man is worthless. 12 Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who will trample down our enemies. Faith Lesson from Petra 1. Petra is where many biblical events took place that were prophesied and where it's very likely more biblical prophecies will take place. Prophecy proves the Bible is true. Do we believe and trust the Bible as our guide and source of truth? 2. Petra is a witness to the rising and fall of its inhabitants. It reveals how short our time on earth is and how God blesses and curses those who follow Him or don't. What about us? Do we realize our time on earth is short and that what matters most in life is that we are right with our Creator and prepared for eternity? 3. Pride and arrogance are an ever-present danger to our souls. It's something with which we can all battle. The Edomites and Nabateans certainly fell to this temptation and fell as a result. Obadiah 3-4: The arrogance of your heart has deceived you , the one who lives in the clefts of the rock , on the height of his dwelling place, who says in his heart, "Who will bring me down to earth?" 4 Though you make your home high like the eagle , though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord . James 4:6: God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud .

See the amazing miracle of the blind man healed at the Pool of Siloam (John 9:1–7). Learn the purposes for sickness, the location, and historical facts about this highly visited site in Jerusalem. Additional sites of interest are: Road from the Pool of Siloam leading up to the southern entrance to the temple (Pilgrims' Road), the southern temple entrance, Gihon Spring, City of David, Temple Mount, Hezekiah's Tunnel Pool of Siloam Photo Gallery Places of Interest Pool of Siloam Introduction 1. The Pool of Siloam was a large purification mitzvah for the Jewish holy festivals like the Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, Pentecost, etc. 2. The historian, Josephus, who lived just after the time of Christ, records that up to a million Jews would make pilgrimages to Jerusalem on these holy festivals. These Jews had to be purified before entering the Temple Mount. 3. The water for the Pool of Siloam came from the Gihon Spring, ran through Hezekiah's Tunnel, filled it, and then continued below the pool. 4. The water in the Pool of Siloam was living water. 5. The Pilgrim's Road, which was a wide street with shops on both sides, went from the Pool of Siloam up to the southern entrances to the temple. As they ascended this road, they would sing the songs of ascent found in Psalms 120-134. 6. It was here that Jesus performed an astounding miracle by healing a blind man, as found in John chapter 9. 7. Just above the pool a ways is the Synagogue of Theodotus, the place where the Pharisees questioned the blind man after Jesus healed him. 8. Let's explore and experience this site. Location 1. The Pool of Siloam was uncovered in 2004 during a water pipe break. 2. It is in the lower part of the City of David. 3. It was located on a main road that headed up to the Southern Gate entrance to the temple. Historical Background 1. The Pool of Siloam was a large purification mitzvah for the Jewish holy festivals like the Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, Pentecost, etc. 2. The historian, Josephus, who lived just after the time of Christ, records that up to a million Jews would make pilgrimages to Jerusalem on these holy festivals. These Jews had to be purified before entering the Temple Mount. 3. It was the size of two Olympic-sized swimming pools. 4. It has the same kind of stones and style as the Southern Stairs. 5. Its water source comes from the Gihon Spring in the City of David. 6. The water runs through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which was built in 700 BC to prevent Jerusalem’s water source from being cut off by the warring army of the Assyrians. 7. When Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, the first-century historian, Flavius Josephus, said that this area was set on fire. At that point, silt and debris started to slide into the pool. Pretty soon, it was covered up and totally forgotten. And now, almost 2000 years later, the pool is being excavated and uncovered. 8. The Gihon Spring still exists, and the water from it still flows down through what is called Hezekiah’s tunnel. It ends at a smaller pool built by the Byzantines at the end of Hezekiah's Tunnel today, which is about 160 ft (50 m) above the main Pool of Siloam today. 9. Since the main Pool of Siloam disappeared, Christians throughout the centuries came to believe that the smaller pool, above the now Siloam Pool, was the original Pool of Siloam. They even built a church there, which was destroyed by the Persians in the year 614 AD. 10. In 2004, workers repairing a damaged sewage pipe discovered some large stone steps. Archaeologists then arrived and realized that the stones were part of a large pool mentioned in the Bible. The archaeologist Eli Shukron was watching a team of workers trying to repair a drainage pipeline near the south side of the City of David ridge. Their tractor hit some of the slabs, and the archeologist stopped the work and summoned his colleague, Ronny Reich. They continued peeling back the soil and revealed a section of the steps of an ancient pool, dating to the Second Temple period. After extensive cleaning followed by conservation operations, the full extent of the northern section of the pool was revealed. Places of Interest 1. Pool of Siloam 2. Pilgrim's Road that went from the Pool of Siloam up to the southern entrances to the temple. As they ascended this road, they would sing the songs of ascent found in Psalms 120-134. 3. Southern temple entrances (Southern Stairs & Robinson's Arch Stairway) 4. Gihon Spring 5. City of David 6. Temple Mount 7. Hezekiah's Tunnel 8. Synagogue of Theodotus In John chapter 9, when Jesus rubbed clay on the blind man’s eyes, He told him to go wash it off in this pool. After the blind man was healed, he was brought to the synagogue just up the hill to be questioned by the Pharisees. The synagogue is located near the Tomb of David in the City of David. Pool of Siloam in the Bible 1. Jesus performed an astounding miracle here by healing a blind man. John 9:1–7: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 2. Why did Jesus make clay out of dirt and His saliva? To possibly show that He was the Creator and formed Adam and Eve out of the dust of the ground. According to the Gospel of John, the blind man was not healed until he himself washed the mud from his eyes. If Jesus had healed him instantly, the confrontation with the Pharisees in John 9 would never have taken place. Jesus intended for this trial to unfold, and He set it in motion by making clay on the Sabbath—a practice the Pharisees considered unlawful. This miracle occurred during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2), when the Pool of Siloam was filled with people. Many of those present already knew the blind man (John 9:8– 9). By sending him through the streets with mud covering both eyes, Jesus drew public attention to him, making it inevitable that he would be brought before the Pharisees. 3. Why the Pool of Siloam? It was a key purification place, and multitudes of people were likely present to witness the miracle. It was an example of living water. John 7:37–38: Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 4. Confrontation between the blind man and the religious leaders. John 9:28–34: And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. 5. Later, this man also received spiritual sight and became a follower of Christ. John 9:35–38: Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 6. Jesus pronounced judgment on those who refuse the light God gives them. John 9:39–41: Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind .” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” Faith Lesson from the Pool of Siloam 1. The blind man received physical sight because of Jesus. 2. Later, he would receive spiritual sight as well and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Have we received spiritual sight by being born again? 3. The blind man was cast out of the synagogue, which was an enormous price to pay for a Jew. Are we willing to pay any price to follow Christ? 4. If we refuse the light God gives us, we can become spiritually blind like the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day. 5. Contrary to what many believe, God does not always heal everyone and has more than one purpose for sickness. Seven Biblical Purposes for Sickness and Ailments 1. Sickness for the glory of God. Example of the blind man Jesus healed at the Pool of Siloam. John 9:3: Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 2. Sickness for disciplining believers living in sin. Example of believers who partook of the Lord’s Supper with sin in their lives. 1 Corinthians 11:30: For this reason, many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 3. Sickness to keep us humble and dependent on God. Example of the Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 12:7: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 4. Sickness that allows us to glorify God in our suffering as we show our love and devotion to God despite our problems. Example of the life of Job. Job 13:15: Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. 5. Sickness for transforming us into the image of Christ. Romans 8:28–29: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. 6. Sickness that will develop within us a greater appreciation for heaven and all its pleasures. 2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 7. Sickness unto death. Eventually, we’re all going to die regardless of what happens. Example of the great Prophet Elisha.

If you want an in-depth Bible-centered trip and see more holy sites in Israel than other tours, then this trip is designed for you. Holy Land Trips Final Payment Secure Payment Link Holy Land Trip Final Payment To complete your final deposit payment, please send $1,850 by credit card, PayPal, or check. Payment can be made for more than one person if needed. If paying by credit card or PayPal, a 4% fee is added to your total amount due to fees charged by the credit card and PayPal providers. If paying by credit card or PayPal, click the button below. PayPal does not require you to create a PayPal account to use your credit card. $1,850.00 Final Payment Payment can be made for more than one person if needed. If paying by check, please send your check to the following address: Holy Land Site (Make checks payable to: Holy Land Site) 6945 Burnett St., SE Salem, OR, 97317-5202 (Using regular mail is preferred as there's not always someone available to sign for certified mail).

Located in the heart of the Arava, the landscape is much like that of Biblical times when the children of Israel wandered in the desert for forty years. Learn why it's so important to understand the foundational truths about the Law and all the details of the tabernacle of Moses. See the Tabernacle of Moses replica in Timna Park, Israel. It's the exact size and has all the items found in the tabernacle. Timna Park: Tabernacle Replica Photo Gallery Places of Interest Timna Park: Tabernacle Replica Location 1. Timna Park is 17 miles (27 km.) north of Eilat and the Red Sea, on Hwy. 90. 2. Located within Timna Park is another park that has an exact replica of the tabernacle God ordered Moses to build while he was on Mount Sinai. 3. This tabernacle contains every piece of furniture, Brazen Altar, Table of Showbread, Ark of the Covenant, and everything the original tabernacle had. It’s the only life-size model of its kind in Israel that is exactly like the original one. It has been researched extensively and built according to the specifications given to Moses. 4. Timna Park is in the arid desert of Arava and is on the route the Israelites would have taken in their travels. It’s not for certain, but it’s possible the Israelites could have camped in the same area. 5. The landscape around Timna Park is very similar to that of biblical times when the children of Israel wandered in the desert for forty years. The arid country, lack of water, and heat all paint a picture of what it would have been like to live in the desert at that time. Historical Background 1. The tabernacle was portable, and its specifications are found in Exodus chapters 25–40. 2. Most Christians skim over or don’t read the sections and books of the Bible that deal with the details of the Law and the tabernacle. 3. Some might wonder why God spent 40 days instructing Moses about the tabernacle but only spent 6 days creating the entire universe? 4. And if God only needed a little over one chapter to describe the structure of the world, why did He need 15 chapters to describe the design and details of the tabernacle? 5. For most Christians, reading from Genesis to Exodus chapter 20 is great. Then, they get bogged down in the rest of Exodus, Leviticus, and part of Numbers. 6. The fact that God spends so much time on the details of how mankind can be right with Him reveals that He is more concerned about having a relationship with us than the importance of His creation. Places of Interest 1. Tabernacle Courtyard Fence It measures 75 ft. wide (23 m.) by 150 ft. long (46 m.). The Courtyard has 60 posts with linen curtains all around it. The Courtyard posts were 7.5 ft. high (2.29 m.). Each post had a bronze base with silver hooks and rings on top. Acacia wood was used for the tabernacle. These trees can be seen close to the tabernacle in Timna Park today. The Eastern Gate, which was the entrance, had 4 posts and a colored curtain. 2. Courtyard The Bronze (copper) Altar measured 7.5 ft. wide square (2.29 m.) by 4.5 ft. high (1.37 m.) and had 4 horns on each corner (also called the horns of the altar). The Bronze Laver or washbasin made from brass. Sacrifices and cleansing took place in the courtyard outside the Holy Place. Judgment and cleansing had to take place first before the priests could enter the temple. 3. The Tabernacle (also known as the Tent of Meeting) It measured 45 ft. long (13.72 m.) by 15 ft. wide by 15 ft. high (4.57 m.). It was made with 10 curtains of fine linen of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Each curtain was made with an embroidered cherub. 4. The Holy Place Only the priests and High Priest could enter the Holy Place. It measured 15 ft. wide (4.57 m.) by 30 ft. long (9.14 m.). It contained the menorah made from a single piece of gold. The Table of Showbread (representing the unleavened bread of the first Passover) measured 36 inches wide (91.44 cm.) by 18 inches deep (45.72 cm.) by 27 inches tall (68.58 cm.). On it were 12 loaves of bread which represented the 12 tribes of Israel. The Altar of Incense measured 18 inches square (45.72 cm.) by 36 inches tall (91.44 cm.). Only a special kind of incense was to be burned upon it. The priests wore white linen robes with a colorful sash. The High Priest wore special garments (a turban, ephod, breastplate, and robe). The breastplate contained 12 stones, each representing the 12 tribes of Israel. There were bells and pomegranates at the bottom of the robe. 5. The Veil Curtain separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. It was made of blue, purple, and scarlet thread. 6. The Holy of Holies It measured 15 ft. by 15 ft. (4.6 m. by 4.6 m.). Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of Yom Kippur, and he wore a holy linen coat (Lev. 16:4). He had to be purified from all sin before entering. Tradition holds that a rope was tied to the waist of the High Priest in case God smote him for being impure in His site. By doing so, he could be drug out with the rope because they were forbidden to enter the Holy of Holies. This tradition might very well be true, but it’s not mentioned in the Bible. Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, which measured 45 inches wide (114 cm.) by 27 inches deep by 27 inches tall (68.58 cm.). On top of the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat, which measured 27 inches high (68.58 cm.). Molded to it were 2-winged cherubim angel figures made from one piece of gold. Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the Ten Commandments written on Stone Tablets by the finger of God, Aaron’s Rod that budded, and a Jar of Manna. The Tabernacle in the Bible 1. God gave the instructions to Moses of how to build the tabernacle while he was on Mount Sinai. Exodus 24:15–18: Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Hebrews 8:5: They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 2. The tabernacle was to be God’s special dwelling place among His people. Exodus 25:1–9: The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, 5 tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst . 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. 3. The presence of God was over the tabernacle in the form of a cloud by day and fire by night. Numbers 9:15–17: On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle , the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night . 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 4. Part of the reason the Levites were chosen to be the priests and servants of the temple was because of the zeal for the Lord they displayed regarding the Golden Calf at Mount Sinai. Exodus 32:25–29: And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him . 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord , each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.” Faith Lesson from the Tabernacle 1. God focused on the details of the tabernacle because He wanted to embed some essential concepts in our minds. 2. The details of the tabernacle reveal how sinful people must approach a holy God. 3. The tabernacle was God’s dwelling among mankind. 4. The tabernacle and sacrificial system details reveal that God is more concerned about having a relationship with us than His creation. 5. It reveals the honor and respect we should have toward God. 6. The tabernacle and sacrificial system show the consequences of sin and the value of Christ’ sacrifice on the Cross. When a person sinned in the Old Testament, it cost them financially as they had to offer a sacrifice from their flocks or purchase one. 7. The tabernacle was a pattern of heavenly things. Hebrews 8:5–6: They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things . For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 8. The tabernacle gives insight and understanding regarding the privilege believers have today of being the temple of the living God. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17: Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you ? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are . 9. The concepts of the tabernacle provide understanding for believers today about how we are a living temple made with living stones. 1 Peter 2:4–5: And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood , to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ . 10. Those who skim over or neglect to read the details in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers will miss the foundational truths of who Christ is and what He did in redeeming us through His work on the Cross. 11. The New Testament is built upon the foundation of the Old Testament. Therefore, if our understanding of the Old Testament is weak, so will be our understanding of the New Testament.

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

The site has 26 burial niches and two adjoining burial caves. According to medieval Jewish tradition, the tombs are those of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who lived in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Mount of Olives, Kidron Valley, Jerusalem. Tombs of the Prophets Photo Gallery Places of Interest Tombs of the Prophets Introduction This site, situated on the Mount of Olives, claims to be the burial place of the last three prophets of the Old Testament. It's pretty remarkable to explore the cave complex and see its tombs, along with nearly 50 other tombs. 1. This underground burial site is traditionally believed to be the resting place of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. 2. Visitors can walk through its central hall and narrow passageways lined with around 50 burial rock-cut tombs. 3. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are the last books of the Old Testament. 4. According to historical records, artifacts, inscriptions, and Jewish tradition, the tombs are believed to be those of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who lived in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. 5. We're going to be going down into the cave complex and seeing these tombs. We'll witness and see the tombs of the last three prophets of the Old Testament. Location 1. The Tombs of the Prophets are located at the top of the Mount of Olives at the beginning of the Triumphal Entry descent. 2. Just above it is a popular viewing terrace of Old City Jerusalem. Historical Background 1. The site has 50 burial niches and two adjoining burial caves. 2. According to books, artifacts, inscriptions, and Jewish tradition, the tombs are those of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who lived in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. 3. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are the last books of the Old Testament. 4. Both Jews and Christians venerate the site as the tombs of these prophets. 5. Inscriptions indicate that the site was also used for the burial of Christians in the Byzantine period. 6. The property is currently owned and operated by the Russian Orthodox Church. Places of Interest 1. The tombs of the prophets 2. Mount of Olives 3. Viewing terrace above the tombs 4. Triumphal Entry path 5. Old City Jerusalem The Role of the Prophets in the Bible 1. A prophet was someone called by God to communicate a needed message to God’s people or surrounding nations. 2. Prophets were also called seers because God gave them a special ability to discern and know the future. 1 Samuel 9:9: Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer. 3. The prophet had two roles: (1) to speak forth God’s truth, and (2) to predict the future. 4. A prophet was to deliver God’s message accurately and responsibly, and if they didn’t, they were held accountable. Ezekiel 33:7–9: Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. 9 But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life. 5. A prophet sometimes had a unique appearance, i.e., Elijah, John the Baptist, etc. 6. A prophet often led a hard life and was generally rejected by those to whom they spoke. Isaiah 6:8–10: Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand.’ 10 “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.” 7. The prophets came from all kinds of backgrounds, used various methods, and spoke to many different audiences. Faith Lesson from the Role of the Prophets 1. Today, we are called to be small “p” prophets who speak God’s Word to those around us like the prophets of old did. 2. Like the Old Testament prophets, those to whom we are called to speak often reject and persecute us. 3. And like the Old Testament prophets, our lives can be difficult, lonely, and hard for standing up for the truth. 4. We must know God's Word well in order to share it accurately (2 Tim. 2:15). 5. We are called to speak the truth in love, but nonetheless, we must speak the truth regardless of how others might receive it.

The Church of Pater Noster is located on the top of the Mount of Olives, just below the Chapel of the Ascension. Pater Noster Church, originally called "Eleona," is where Jesus taught about the Lord's Prayer, end time events, and where it's believed He ascended back to heaven. Take a tour of this place and learn how to pray and walk with God in this video. Sites of interest include: Mount of Olives, Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat), Garden of Gethsemane. Pater Noster (Eleona) Church Photo Gallery Places of Interest Pater Noster (Eleona) Church Introduction Welcome to Pater Noster Church. Pater Noster means "Our Father" in Latin. 1. This church was built over the cave where it's believed Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer, as found in Luke 11:1–4. The Crusaders discovered marble plaques on this site, on which the Lord’s Prayer was inscribed in both Greek and Hebrew. Modern archeologists have also uncovered a third plaque inscribed in Latin. 3. It's also the place where it's believed Jesus gave the famous Olivet Discourse about the end times, as found in Matthew 24. 4. We're going to enter the very cave where Jesus taught the Lord's Prayer, and even recite it there. 5. We're going to take a special walk to a place where few tour groups go, overlooking Old City Jerusalem, just like Jesus did with His disciples as He spoke the words of Matthew 24. 6. We'll be in the very footsteps of Jesus as we explore and experience this site. Location 1. The Church of Pater Noster is located on the top of the Mount of Olives, just below the Chapel of the Ascension. 2. It was first named the Church of Eleona, which means "olive grove." Then, later, in around 1100 AD, its name was changed by the Crusaders to Pater Noster Church, which means "Our Father" because it refers to the beginning of the Lord's Prayer. 3. It is part of a Carmelite Monastery, also known as the Sanctuary of the Eleona (Greek for olive grove). 4. It's believed to be the place where Christ taught about the Lord's Prayer, gave the Olivet Discourse as found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, and ascended back to heaven as found in Acts 1:9-11. 5. The location of the ascension of Christ to heaven was moved to the top of the Mount of Olives (where the Chapel of Ascension is located today) around 350 AD, as it was believed to be the actual site where it actually took place. Historical Background 1. Pater Noster means “Our Father” in Latin. 2. Soon after Christ ascended back to heaven, early Christians venerated this site because of its significance. 3. Writing around 318 AD, Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, who was an eyewitness to this site, writes: "According to the common and received account, the feet of our Lord and Savior, himself the Word of God, truly understood . . . upon the Mount of Olives at the cave that is shown there. On the ridge of the Mount of Olives, he prayed and handed on to his disciples the mysteries of the end, and after this, he made his ascension into heaven as Luke teaches in the Acts of the Apostles." 4. Around 330 AD, a church was commissioned and built by Constantine on this site, marked by Helena, the mother of Constantine. It was one of the numerous churches constructed by Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor. Some of these churches include the Church of the Nativity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of Pater Noster (formerly known as the Church of Eleona), a Church at Mamre in Hebron, a church at the Shepherds' Fields in Bethlehem, and others. The church was built in three levels on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, with stairs connecting each level. The church was built on the highest level and resembled a long, rectangular hall with two rows of columns. Its apse was on the east side, facing the rising sun. The remains of the apse can still be seen today by taking a set of stairs down into the grotto. The center level was an atrium, a colonnaded forecourt, and the lowest level was on the west side, consisting of a portico (porch) erected on six columns. Only its foundations were discovered during the excavations in the 19th century, including the crypt (cave), located under the eastern edge of the church. 5. The Byzantine church was built over a cave, which, according to tradition, was the place where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. 6. The Persians destroyed the church in 614 AD, but the memory of Jesus’ teaching continued to be associated with it. Some of the Byzantine church remains can be seen in the backyard outside the present courtyard. 7. When the Crusaders arrived, the site was explicitly associated with the Lord's Prayer, so the Crusaders rebuilt part of the church in 1099. 8. In 1851, the remaining stones of the 4th-century church were sold for tombstones in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Kidron Valley). 9. The site was acquired by Princess Aurelia Bossi de la Tour d'Auvergne (1809–1889) in the second half of the 19th century, and a search for the cave mentioned by early pilgrims began. In 1868, she built a cloister and founded a Carmelite convent in 1872. A convent church was erected in the 1870s. Aurélie, who had a special love for the Lord’s Prayer, decided to purchase all of these ruins, and it is here that she built a convent with a European-style cloister. Aurelie apparently heard about the plaques with the Lord’s Prayer inscribed in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, and it seems that this inspired her to continue the tradition by building 39 more plaques, all in different languages, to be displayed on the walls of the church. Today, there are almost four times as many plaques all over the walls of this church, each one reciting the Lord’s Prayer. 10. In 1910, the foundations of the ancient church that once stood over the venerated cave were finally found, partly stretching beneath the modern cloister. The convent was moved nearby, and reconstruction of the Byzantine church began in 1915. The half-restored church has the exact dimensions as the original, and the garden outside the three doors outlines the open-air area. 11. The reconstruction was stopped in 1927 when funds ran out, and the renewed Church of Eleona remains unfinished. The French architect Marcel Favier, who was appointed to oversee the reconstruction of the ancient church, arrived in Jerusalem in September 1926. 12. The tomb Princess Aurelia Bossi prepared for herself during her lifetime stands at the entrance of the modern church. She died in Florence, Italy, in 1889, and her remains were brought to the church in 1957, according to her last wish. 13. The Carmelite Cloistered Sisters oversee the current church. 14. It is very likely that Jesus prayed in this vicinity because He had just visited Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ house in Bethany, a short distance away. 15. Jesus also regularly prayed on mountaintops, so the top of the Mount of Olives would be a natural fit. Places of Interest 1. Layout of the original Byzantine Church built in around 330 AD by Constantine and overseen by his mother, Helena. The apse of the Byzantine Church can be seen today. Under the apse is the cave where it is believed Jesus taught about prayer is in an enclosed courtyard in front of the church and down a few stairs. Ruins of pillars in the courtyard. Beyond the courtyard, to the outside, is where part of the Byzantine Church was located. 2. The church has 140 large ceramic plaques containing the Lord’s Prayer in many languages. 3. To the left of the church's south door is an area paved with mosaics and identified as a baptistery. 4. The sarcophagus of Princess Aurelie In the year 1856 AD, an aristocratic widow named Aurélie de la Tour d'Auvergne, who had a special affection for the Lord’s Prayer, decided to purchase all of these ruins. It is here that she built a convent with a European-style cloister. She also intended to rebuild the church that once stood here, but it was never completed. 5. The modern-day chapel was part of the Carmelite convent complex, which was founded in 1872. 6. Open garden area south of the church where it's believed Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse. 7. Temple Mount 8. Old City Jerusalem The Lord’s Prayer in the Bible In the New Testament, the Lord’s Prayer is mentioned two times. The first and longer form is found in Matthew 6 and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. The shorter form is found in Luke 11 and is a response given by Jesus to a request from one of his disciples to teach them to pray as John had taught his disciples. Apparently, according to Luke 10:38-42, Jesus came to this place to pray while staying at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, located nearby to the southeast. 1. Jesus was asked to teach His disciples how to pray. Luke 11:1–4: It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” 2. Christ gave examples of how we should pray. Luke 11:5–13: Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” 3. Jesus also taught about how to pray in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:5–15: And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Olivet Discourse in the Bible The Olivet Discourse, as found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, is believed to have occurred here. In these passages, Jesus discusses the events leading up to His second coming and what we can expect. Matthew 24:1-31 Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. 6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away, and they will [g]betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Difficult Times Will Come 15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no [q]life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Christ's Glorious Return 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Christ's Ascension to Heaven Acts 1:9-11 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Faith Lesson from the Lord’s Prayer 1. Jesus prayed regularly and was in constant communion with the Father. Do we do the same? 2. We should not pray repetitious phrases but should pray in a sincere and heartfelt manner. 3. The Lord’s Prayer is not an exact phrase we must pray, but it gives us principles of how to pray. 4. Jesus taught that we should be persistent in prayer. 5. Jesus taught that He is a good, loving Father who delights in answering prayer when it is best for us and His sovereign will. 6. Jesus taught that if we expect God to forgive us, we should forgive others as well. Do we have people in our lives we need to forgive? 7. Do we realize Christ's return will be a real event, and are we ready for His return?