It seems like we spent more time today underground than above ground! We started out by another visit to the Western Wall. I got the opportunity to go down and touch it on the women's side and pray for a bit. I had to admit, I had mixed feelings about it. It was a cool experience that I'm glad to say I did. However, I kind of felt like I was intruding. I don't need to be at a special place to pray and the people there believe that when they pray at the Wall, their prayers have a direct line to God. I have a direct line to God any time I like, so I felt like I should leave the Wall to them.
The men's side of the wall is closest to us in this picture. Men and women can not pray together. Of course, when it was really busy last night, guys and girls were talking over the fence to each other.
After that, we walked through the rabbinic tunnels that run along the Temple Mount. The tunnels were used so that the rabbis did not have to mix with the common people before entering the temple; thereby becoming unclean. In the process of excavating these tunnels, they uncovered more of the wall from Jesus time.
That's my hand touching the wall Jesus probably walked by. How cool is that?!?!
On the way to our next stop, we passed this group of kids. I just had to laugh. Kids are kids, no matter which country you're in. These boys were pushing each other and goofing around. The adults were trying unsuccessfully to get them into a line.
From here, we walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel. This is an underground tunnel that connected a water source outside of the city walls to the Pool of Siloam. It was completely dark, except for our flashlights. I had laughed at Jeff when he bought us headlamps instead of flashlights, but I was grateful to have my hands free. I actually enjoyed this tunnel. The water was cool and the footing was pretty even. I just had to watch my head.
To get back to the temple area, our guide took us through another tunnel that had just been opened. This was not such a pleasant tunnel. Beware of anything that's been 'recently excavated'. However, it dumped us out right by the southern corner of the temple area.
This is where Robinson's Arch came out of the side of the temple. This was a people's entrance.
Look at these huge stones from the temple wall. Jesus prophesied that not one stone would be left on another.
Just to give you an idea of how large some of these stones were, it took five and a half of us standing hand to hand to get the length.
That's the Mount of Olives in the background.
Here we are on the southern steps of the temple.
There's the chance that Pentecost could have taken place on these steps. When the Bible refers to "the house" it often means the temple. Pentecost took place on a major feast day, and at 9am, they would have been at the temple. Also, forty mikvahs have been discovered here. It would be a convenient place to baptize 3,000 people. Can you image a ball of fire shooting out of the Holy of Holies an settling on people's heads? What a picture of God moving his residence from the temple to us.
At Pentecost, God changes His residence from the temple to the people. It took place fifty days after Christ's ascension and 70 languages were spoken. This mirrors the Israelites leaving Egypt. They got the 10 commandments 50 days after leaving Egypt. 3,000 people died because of their sin and 70 nations were represented in their group.
I went with the mission to find some cheap scarves. We ended up in this great little shop that had been in this guy's family for nine generations. He spoke very good English and was highly entertaining - a great salesman. He was really impressed that Jeff liked Taybeh beer. Jeff discovered it at the hotel. It's made by the only brewery in the West Bank. This shop keep was Palestinian, so he got a kick out of that. Unfortunately, because it's a Palestinian product, Jeff can't get it in the states!
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