Biblical Tour: Jerusalem in Biblical Times

Jerusalem in Biblical Times

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Pictured here is "Warren's shaft", a water pipe which was vital for whoever controlled Jerusalem, since it was the source of Jerusalem's water. When King David brought his army to conquer Jerusalem he said whoever would capture the "tzinor" or water pipe, as well as destroy the two idols in the city (called the 'blind and lame') would be appointed his chief of staff (Samuel II 5:8) - such was the importance of the "tzinor". Warren's shaft carries water from outside the city walls (from the Gihon spring) to within the walls of Jerusalem.

In 1880, children playing in the area discovered a flat stone with an inscription in ancient Hebrew. The inscription was done at the order of Hezekiah, marking the completion of the piercing through of the water tunnel. This is the story of that event: "While (the stone-cutters were swinging their) axes, each to their fellow while there were yet three cubits to be pierced through, (there was heard) the voice of a man calling to his fellow, for there was a crevice on the right... And on the day of the piercing through, the stone-cutters struck through, each to meet his fellow, axe against axe. Then ran the water from the spring to the pool for twelve hundred cubits, and one hundred cubits was the height of the rock above the heads of the stone cutters" (See Kings II 20:20).

Ruins of a Jebusite citadel also called "Zion" and then renamed The City of David. Also visible is the terracing believed to be the "milo" (Samuel II 5:7-9).

	Pictured here is "Warren's shaft", a water pipe which was vital for whoever controlled Jerusalem, since it was the source of Jerusalem's water. When King David brought his army to conquer Jerusalem he said whoever would capture the "tzinor" or water pipe, as well as destroy the two idols in the city (called the 'blind and lame') would be appointed his chief of staff (Samuel II 5:8) - such was the importance of the "tzinor". Warren's shaft carries water from outside the city walls (from the Gihon spring) to within the walls of Jerusalem.
	In 1880, children playing in the area discovered a flat stone with an inscription in ancient Hebrew. The inscription was done at the order of Hezekiah, marking the completion of the piercing through of the water tunnel. This is the story of that event: "While (the stone-cutters were swinging their) axes, each to their fellow while there were yet three cubits to be pierced through, (there was heard) the voice of a man calling to his fellow, for there was a crevice on the right... And on the day of the piercing through, the stone-cutters struck through, each to meet his fellow, axe against axe. Then ran the water from the spring to the pool for twelve hundred cubits, and one hundred cubits was the height of the rock above the heads of the stone cutters" (See Kings II 20:20).
	Ruins of a Jebusite citadel also called "Zion" and then renamed The City of David. Also visible is the terracing believed to be the "milo" (Samuel II 5:7-9).