Posted on 09/11/2023 10:18:55 AM PDT by george76
Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a sacred Christian site in Jerusalem, where Jesus performed a miracle by healing a blind man. The steps to the ancient Pool of Siloam haven't been seen for more than 2,000 years.
The discovery of the steps is a bit of a miracle as well. Construction was being conducted in 2004 to repair a large sewage pipe south of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount in the City of David. During the repair procedure, a strange scrapping noise was heard. Archaeologists identified ancient stone steps in the vicinity.
Since the discovery, major excavations have been taking place in the area.
According to the Biblical Archaeology Society, "Further excavation revealed that they were part of a monumental pool from the Second Temple period, the period in which Jesus lived. The structure Reich and Shukron discovered was 225 feet long, with corners that are slightly greater than 90 degrees, indicating a trapezoidal shape, with the widening end oriented toward Tyropoeon valley."
...
In recent weeks, archaeologists uncovered a series of steps leading to the ancient Pool of Siloam, that are being seen for the first time in over 2,000 years.
Some experts say the pool may have been used as a mikveh or a ritual bath for Jewish pilgrims to purify themselves before visiting the Temple.
However, the Pool of Siloam also has major significance for Christians. It is at the steps to the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man.
The Gospel of John (John 9:1–11) states that Jesus found a man blind from birth at the steps near the pool, and then performed a miracle. Jesus Christ advised the blind man to wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, and upon doing so he had his vision restored.
The Siloam Pool is also believed to be mentioned in the Old Testament book of II Kings 20:20.
The ancient Pool of Siloam is estimated to have been constructed some 2,700 years ago during the reign of King Hezekia. Water from the Gihon Spring flowed to the pool through a 1,750-foot tunnel under the City of David. The religious landmark is believed to have reached the size of 1.25 acres at one point.
Ze’ev Orenstein – international affairs director for the City of David Foundation – recently told Fox News, "The ongoing excavations within the City of David — the historic site of Biblical Jerusalem — particularly of the Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road, serve as one of the greatest affirmations of that heritage and the millennia-old bond Jews and Christians have with Jerusalem."
The Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority, and the City of David Foundation announced earlier this year that the Siloam Pool and the nearby biblical site would be open to the public in the near future for the first time in 2,000 years.
Orenstein proclaimed, "There is no half-mile anywhere on Earth which means more to more people — not to millions, but to billions — than the half-mile that is the City of David."
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Almost two decades ago my dad mail ordered some live daylilly
plants from Arkansas. (Might have been the same place.)
They were beautiful!
The local white-tailed deer population thought that the 'Snow Blizzard'
variety of the daylillies were quite tasty as well.
But the deer only ate the Snow Blizzard variety.
They left all of the other types alone. Weird.
Snow Blizzard
bkmk - the Pool of Siloam
The Pool of Siloam
https://www.bibleplaces.com/poolofsiloam/
Pool of Siloam
https://www.holylandsite.com/pool-of-siloam
Pool of Siloam
https://madainproject.com/pool_of_siloam
- - -
Jerusalem area map - 1858
https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/15506394
Jerusalem area map - 1865 - including City of David
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/1865_Ordnance_Survey_of_Jerusalem_Old_City_full_map.jpg
Jerusalem area - time of Jesus (scroll down to bottom)
https://www.conformingtojesus.com/charts-maps/en/jerusalem_in_jesus_time_map.htm
Jerusalem area - time of Nehemiah - including City of David
https://www.conformingtojesus.com/charts-maps/en/jerusalem_in_nehemiah_time_map.htm
Probably the most accurate - City of David
Jerusalem area - time of David and Solomon - City of David
https://www.seektheoldpaths.com/Maps/056.jpg
1865 Ordnance Survey of Jerusalem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_Survey_of_Jerusalem
pg 105 - photo looking eastward - the still “ancient road” in appearance, from Jerusalem, past the Garden of Gethsemane and then uphill to the Mount of Olives
pg 106 - photo looking north-northeast - showing in the upper left quadrant, the eastern half of the City of David, that descended from the southern wall of the old (but not ancient) City of Jerusalem
This fills me with wonder, to see that. Thank you for the ping.
1865 Ordnance Survey of Jerusalem PDF file direct link at wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ordnance_Survey_of_Jerusalem_1865.pdf
Tomb of King David
https://www.holylandsite.com/tomb-of-david
Is T1 David’s Tomb?
https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/38/6/6
One more
Excavating Jerusalem’s ancient secrets at the City of David
https://www.israel21c.org/digging-into-the-origins-of-jerusalem/
These look great-I am going to check them out when I get home-I just watched the one on King David’s Tomb, and that was really interesting, so...thank you!
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