The Judaean Wilderness

The Judaean Wilderness, also called the Judaean Desert, is east of the city of Jerusalem, and descends down to the Dead Sea.  The area has many caves and deep ravines, some ranging in depth from 600 feet to 1,200 feet deep.

Church historians believe this is where Jesus fasted for forty days and was tempted by Satan.  Matthew 4:1 reads "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

A panorama of the Judaean Wilderness

Burros on a field a long ways away!

Another long distance shot.  Sheep, Goats, and a Shepherd.

The City of David

The City of David, located outside the southern walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, is where historians believe King David captured a Jebusite city, which became his palace, and eventually, grew to become Jerusalem.  2 Samuel 5:6-7 reads "The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites,who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.”  Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David."

Today, the City of David is an archaeological park.  The site includes the spring of Gihon, two Pools of Siloam, Hezekiah's Tunnel, and the ruins of what many believe may be the actual foundations of the palace of King David.  

Hezekiah's Tunnel (also called the Siloam Tunnel) is a 533 meter long tunnel, that carried water from the Gihon Spring into the Pool of Siloam.  Originally built as a way to supply water to Jerusalem if it was under siege, it is now a popular tourist spot - walking thru the tunnel from the City of David, through water as deep as thigh-high, out to the Pool of Siloam.

The entrance way 

Foundation to the Palace of King David

Part of the excavation 

More of the excavation 

More of the excavation

At the entrance into Hezekiah's Tunnel.  An Arab village can be seen across the Kidron Valley

Outside looking in

Inside looking out

Descending into Hezekiah's Tunnel.  Once down there, it is pitch black.  The only light is from your flashlight, and those of your companions.  When you turn your lights off, it is DARK!

Looking back into the exit of Hezekiah's Tunnel

Back into the light!

This is the opposite end of the photo above.  The water comes from the tunnel, and previously, flowed into the Pool of Siloam.  Now it is heading into the water system of Jerusalem.

Steps leading down into the Pool of Siloam.  In the New Testament, Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud, and rubbed it over a blind man's eyes.  He then instructed him to go wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam.

Another view of the steps.
John 9:6-7 reads "Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”).
So the man went and washed and came back seeing!"

A poppy at the Pool of Siloam

Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives

The Kidron Valley runs along the east side of the Old City of Jerusalem, between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.  The valley is approximately 20 miles long, running from just north of the Old City down between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives, and through the Judean Desert towards the Dead Sea.

The New Testament records Jesus walking through the valley several times as He traveled between Jerusalem and Bethany.  King David fled through the Kidron Valley, and up to the Mount of Olives, when he was running from the rebellion of his son Absalom.

Looking through the Kidron Valley and onto the Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives

A house on the valley floor, with the Jewish Cemetery in the background

A close-up of part of cemetery.  You can easily see one of the many caves that dot the valley and the Mount of Olives

In the distance, above the cemetery, is the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalena

A close-up of the Church of Mary Magdalena, clearly showing the gilded "onion domes".

An Arab village on the western slope of the Mount of Olives.  I think the village is called Wadi al-Joz

Another view of Wadi al-Joz

Another view of Wadi al-Joz

While looking through my telephoto lens at the village Wadi al-Joz I cam across this small minaret.  It almost looks like it was built in someone's backyard.  A private mosque perhaps? 

A close-up of the minret

Around the Zion Gate

Photos from around the Zion Gate and surrounding area.

The Zion Gate is one of eight gates into the old City of Jerusalem, although one gate, the Golden Gate, has been bricked up and closed for hundreds of years.  The Zion Gate was constructed in 1540, and was a continuation of the Street of the Jews (also known as the Cardo).

The outside of the Zion Gate.  It is not deteriorating from age, those are bullet holes from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

More bullet holes...

The wall inside the gate.  No bullet holes!

Not sure what this building is, but I liked the color contrast between the wall in front and the building in back, as well as the Friar in the niche in the wall (see below for a close-up).  The flag is the Jerusalem Cross, also called the Crusader's Cross, and is usually associated with Catholic organizations.

Looking up at the Abbey of Dormition.  According to local tradition, it was on this spot where the Virgin Mary died.

Another view of the abbey.

The Abbey of Dormition.

A bronze of King David.  Some Catholic historians believe that King David is buried near this spot.  However, according to the Bible, in 1 Kings 2:10, "Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David."

Note the metal shutters.  They remind me of the metal storm shutters you see on houses in the Outer Banks.  But these shutters aren't for stopping storms; they're for stopping bullets!

A city as old as Jerusalem is always requiring some sort of renovation.

A series of side streets in the old city...

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

The wall outside the Zion Gate.

You can actually see at least two periods of wall construction in this photo.  The "newer" wall, probably built in the 1500s, on top of an older wall.