Where it all began - the City of David
Have you ever asked yourself how the city of Jerusalem became to be one of the most famous & holy cities in the world?
This post is a first in a series of posts discussing ancient Jerusalem and its waterworks, the Siloam Pool, the dry tunnel, wet tunnel, pilgrims’ road & more.
Archaeologists, when they start digging, ask themselves 3 questions:
Is this a strategic place?
Is there any water nearby?
Is it located near a main road/highway?
Now back to Jerusalem. If you ask yourself these questions about Jerusalem - the ‘old Jerusalem’ where it all began (the City of David), the answer to all 3 questions is ‘no’.
Even the Bible mentions: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people…” (Ps 125:2). Hence, if this is a location surrounded by mountains, can it be a strategic location?
There are only 2 small springs that were located outside of the walls and not enough even for a small city.
In Judges 19, we are told of the story of a Levite and his concubine. They get off the main highway in order to spend the night in Jebus (later to become the City of David). We learn from this, that Jerusalem was not on the main highway.
We, therefore, ask ourselves, how come such a location, that does not meet any of the above criteria, has become to be such a large and famous city.
The video gives you short snapshots of what you will encounter, see and experience when walking through the City of David – the capital of Israel. Its extensive waterworks project built over 2,700 years ago to bring water to ancient Jerusalem will astound you. To really see it all would take about one whole day.
The City of David is the most dug archaeological site in the world and boasts many findings and discoveries that re-validate the Bible (the Old and New Testament) over and over again.
One last note on something I keep reminding myself and my tour groups: pay attention to names because they tell us a story. In this case, the neighborhood located above the City of David is called “Silwan”, reminding us of the name “Siloam Pool”.
As a side note, most of this neighborhood nowadays is supported by massive constructions beneath the houses, so as to enable the excavations of the City of David, taking place directly beneath this neighborhood. Without this supportive construction infrastructure, it would be impossible to continue excavating.
Thank you “City of David” for this super interesting video.
