Jerusalem approaches Sat - Sept 15

(Just a quick note if you click on any of the pictures I have posted they will enlarge so you can see the details better. Enjoy)

Today we had another extended trip around what are called the approaches of Jerusalem. It is the traditional ways that people entered into Jerusalem and the area around the city. Jerusalem in tradition is the convergence of two main routes across the land of Israel. There is a North - South route which is know as the central ridge route or the way of the Patriarch's. This runs just west of the city in ancient times along what is called the water shed ridge above the city. The second route is the East - West route from Jericho and the Jordan river out to the Jaffa port on the Mediterranean. There is also a split of the Ridge route around the Bethlehem area that either leads down to southern Israel, or crosses over and goes south of the Dead sea to traditional Moab. We started out the day on the top of Mt. Scopious, which is the current place of Hebrew University and substantial Military position for looking out towards Jordan to the East. The is a distinct difference in the terrain to the west of this mt. and the east of it.

(view to the West)
As you can see to the west there is some green and the visible presence of of some form of water to keep things growing and cities.

(view to the East)
As you can see to the east of this mt. it is dry very brown, and even the shapes of the hills are different. To the west it is a little more jagged and cut, while to the east if is more rounded and open. There is a line in the geology of this hill that separates two forms of limestone Cenomanian, and Senonian. The difference is that the Cenomanian to the west if hard and actually catches water in underground pockets between the layers, while the Senonian is softer and erodes into a chalk like powder that resists water and is very infertile to grow in, unlike the Cenomanian. OK, so that was probably more than you wanted to know, but I found in interesting to see the drastic difference just a few meters can make in the ability to sustain life.

After that we walked back to the top of the Mt. of Olives and were told a couple stories about different digs that have been done around the temple mount. We were also informed about the theory behind why the Golden Gate had been blocked in and a Muslim cemetery placed in front of the gate.

(Golden Gate)
It is said that the Jewish Messiah is to return into the City and the temple from the East. The Golden Gate is on the East side of the temple mount and the assumption was made that he would enter through that gate. In addition Jewish tradition has it that no one can enter the temple ground in an unclean state. So they began a cemetery at the gate because Jewish tradition hold that walking through a cemetery makes one ceremonially unclean and they can not enter the temple grounds. So in an attempt to keep the Jewish Messiah from reentering the city and the temple the Muslims have blocked up the gate and put the cemetery out in front of the Golden Gate.

We then headed back down into the Kidron valley just east of Jerusalem where we caught our bus again out to what is known as UN hill. It is the current and recent historic location of the main UN compound in Israel. It is also known traditionally as the Hill of Unwise Counselors (seems ironic sort of).

We then proceeded out to the Herodian, one of Herod the Greats many palaces. There was a huge pool complex and the base of the palace mt. that was fed through and vast network of cisterns and aqueducts. There is also a Roman cold and hot water bath house on the top of the mt. fed by the same network. It was amazing to see the engineering that would have gone into using gravity fed water to run up to the top of a mountain just for the king to have running water and a luxurious bath.


On the way back from the Herodian we came through Bethlehem and stopped off at the Church of the Nativity. This is, as tradition holds, is the place where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Under the main worship area is a place that is marked with a star around a hole in the floor which is the exact, as they say, place where Mary gave birth,

and a couple meters away is a stone manger that is where Mary laid Jesus.

The church is magnificent with all the paintings of Saint on every pillar, and all around the nativity cave there hangs, what looks like, a leather painted mural of all different scenes from the live of Jesus. They have also excavated portions of the floor of the church to reveal the original tile mosaics that was placed there by Constantine's mother as she went through the Holy Land building churches on the most holy sites.

This church is the oldest standing Christian church in the entire country. It was a beautiful place to see and the services that were going on, all though I did not understand what was being said as it was in Greek, were visually and vocally impressive.

Our final stop on this 11 hour tour around Jerusalem was at what is being called the Palace of Hezekiah, his summer palace. It is about two-three miles south west of Jerusalem, but close enough that you can clearly see the entire city of Jerusalem. All that is left is ruins, but remains lay out what would have been an impressive palace.


Well, I know this was a long entry, but it was a long day. I hope each of you is doing well and I look forward to hearing from you. God Bless each one of you.