Exploring Old Testament Jerusalem

The director of the college opened with Psalm 121,one of the Psalms of Ascent. We read about the deep love that the Psalmist has for the city of Jerusalem. The delight of a "good city," a city that echoes the good intention of creation, but still falls short of what God wanted. The admonition that closed the Psalm was to pray and to do what is best for your neighbor and shalom (peace) would come to the troubled city.
Our instructor and guide Cindy went through an orientation followed by a powerful lecture about what the land was going to be like. Fertile enough, but not like Egypt. The rains would take care of the land, but those rains came from the hand of God. The people of Israel were admonished that in this land as they prospered not to forget their God and think that they had taken care of themselves. She spoke extensively of the shepherd and the farmer that is captured in the phrase a land flowing with milk and honey. The people were called to embrace the wealthier, easier life of the farmer and the experience of the nomadic, harsher life of the shepherd. We gained a critical understanding of the two hills of Jerusalem (Eastern smaller and lower that has temple Mount on it & Western broader, higher and flatter but waterless) and the three valleys that run through it(the Kidron, the Central and the Hinnom). Mount Moriah is traditionally believed to be the Temple Mount. The layering of story on story is a part of the Jewish tradition.
We ate a hearty lunch in the lovely garden courtyard of JUC under the grapevines and an apricot tree. Then we set off for the five hour tour with the caution to keep up which was not as successful as our long-legged fast walking guide wanted. We started by looking at the Hinnom valley and the patriarchal highway which stretches out from the King David Hotel. We examined the wall which was layered from 100BC level with the Hasmonians to a Crusader level to a Sulaman the Magnificent level. Walls built on top of walls using a unique kind of masonry for each. We began seeking shade for every stop. We entered the David Street Market lined with shop keepers beckoning us in and promising "best price."
We found our way to Hezekiah's Wall which was excavated in 1967 when the Jewish government had control of the Jewish Quarter.
They excavated before they rebuilt. This proved the prominence and power of the city at the time of Hezekiah. He built this wall because he knew the Assyrians were coming from the refugees who flooded Jerusalem from the vanquished Northern Kingdom. The whole story of II Kings 15 to II Kings 17 lept to life in front of our eyes. Hezekiah also pulled the water into the city through the building of Hezekiah's tunnel. Isaiah warns him in 22:8 that Hezekiah's preparations will be in vain unless he repents and seeks God's face. God saves the city through sending a miraculous disease to the Assyrian army.
As we continued to travel the red brick line in the street traced Hezekiah's unexcavated wall. We had a beautiful overlook from the Western hill catching our first sight of the grave stubbled Mount of Olives and the Easter hill with temple mount suddenly rising into prominence as we rounded a corner. The Dome of the Rock glittered majestically in the sun. Cindy explained that the City of David was on the Eastern Hill and was tightly packed with buildings as it is now. That neighborhood is now called the Silwan where many Arab's live and are unable to purchase land so they build their houses higher and higher to accommodate their expanding family's. David would have looked out over his city easily catching sight of Bathsheba one hot evening. There was some weariness as we had walked long and hard in the blistering afternoon sun. We enjoyed an air conditioned movie about what the city of David looked like at David's time. We saw the ruins of a retaining wall complete with a toilet.

The rocks were charred from the Babylonian attack that destroyed the first temple and many Babylonian spearheads were found. Our final site was Hezekiah's tunnel. We descended through dizzying staircases deeper and deeper noting Warren's Shaft which led to the discovery of Hezekiah's Tunnel

Flashlights were handed to every third person. Part of the group divided off choosing not to take the tunnel; the rest put on wading shoes. We cheered each other on as the water got thigh high. The tunnel was often not wider than our shoulders and we had to duck our heads for long stretches. The water was cool and the chisel marks on the sides of the tunnel could still be seen. (The water was so clear I could see my gold toe nail polish glinting in the light-Jonna). Don Genereaux had

exhausted himself, and had some trouble in the tunnel. Bill McLean took his back pack and carried it. Don bravely pressed on in spite of cuts and bruises on his arm and a pounding heart. After Rob Lund (unofficial trip doctor) checked him out ,he was given a taxi ride home to rest. By dinner he was completely recovered and earned a fabulous tee-shirt, which read I Survived Hezekiah's Tunnel.
We sat together at the end of our respective tunnels (wet and dry) and listened to the John 9 story at the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed the blind man's eyes. Jesus bringing sight physically and spiritually, which God seems to have a habit of doing. We heard Jesus' call to the whole nation of Israel to "see" him and knew he was speaking to us.



We had a long hike home up many steep hills with Grace and Anna McLean leading the way up steep sharp turns kindly waiting for the slower hikers. Dinner was gorgeous again. Several folks headed out after dinner with Peter and Jan Nordell to see the city. We found some shops open and Peter treated us all to a bagel like bread with a powdered spice dip.

The city begins to feel vaguely familiar as it continues to be profoundly foreign. "You come see me tomorrow," a shopkeeper instructs shoving business cards in our hand. Jerusalem is not through with us yet.