Field Trip #2: The City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel

The city of Jerusalem has changed a lot over the last 3000 years, and in King David's day, the city actually lay outside the current city walls and to the southeast. This area, now called the City of David, is a huge archaeological park, which includes walls of what is believed to be David's palace, various homes, David's tomb, and also the highlight--Hezekiah's tunnel. This tunnel was built connecting a natural spring outside the city walls to a pool inside, and was carved completely underground, through rock, and hidden from view so that attackers didn't know it was there. This allowed the city to withstand even the longest of sieges. The end of this tunnel is also next to the Pool of Siloam, where the Savior healed the man born blind (John 9).

The kids were fairly bored through the City of David stuff, but the tunnel was fun. Isaac was a bit nervous at first--the water was up to his waist and a little brisk, but after ten feet, the water level dropped to mid-calf and he got used to the temperature. The tunnel is quite long and we walked for about 20 minutes to get all the way through to the other end. We all had a great time, including Joe!

Waiting for the super-cool 3D movie about the history of the City of David that conveniently left out any and all reference to any culture ever living on this land besides Jews.

Mary and Isaac standing at the top of the City of David, and in the background you can see the Jewish graves covering the slopes of the Mount of Olives, facing the Kidron Valley and the Temple Mount.

Joe loved the water and the tunnel--and despite it being really loud in there (with 100 people walking through)
 didn't seem fazed at all.

The Four Intrepid Explorers (note the captions on the T-shirts hanging on the wall above them)

Ed and Joe at the end of the tunnel.

Mary at the Pool of Siloam (I sure wish she'd smile normally for pictures.) She's standing at what was the edge of the pool, so the area behind her would have been filled with water. Unfortunately for archaeologists, the dirt wall and the land on the other side are privately owned, and that owner isn't interested in having his land dug up to become another archaeological site. While this may sound to us Americans like a travesty, remember that every time you throw a rock in Israel, it hits a spot that could be excavated to expose 5000 years of history. And you can't excavate everything or no one would have anywhere to live!