Elisha Vision – Commentary

My recent tours to Israel have included the City of David, south of the Temple Mount and the Pool of Siloam. Only a small part was excavated. You can see the steps in this picture, but notice the wall of dirt. It has been that way for years. However, Israel has just announced the intent to finish uncovering the pool. The visible part is only a few square yards, but the full pool will be one and a quarter acre. This is great news. Future visitors will start at the pool and walk up newly discovered road to the Mount. This pool was built by King Hezekiah 2,700 years ago!

“Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?”  2 Kings 20:20

First Temple-era Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem to be excavated, opened to the public – “2,700-year-old water system built during reign of King Hezekiah to be excavated and opened up to the public. The Pool of Siloam served as the reservoir for the waters of the Gihon Spring, which were diverted through an underground water tunnel, and it was thus already considered one of the most important areas in Jerusalem in the First Temple period. Due to its location and importance, the Pool of Siloam was renovated and expanded some 2,000 years ago at the end of the Second Temple period. It is believed that the Pool was used during this time as a ritual bath (‘mikveh’) by millions of pilgrims who converged at the Pool of Siloam before ascending through the City of David to the Temple. In 1880, the Siloam Inscription was uncovered in the water tunnel, just a few dozen meters from the Pool. The Inscription, currently located at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, is written in ancient Hebrew script and records how the Gihon Spring’s water was diverted to the Pool during the reign of King Hezekiah. The Pool of Siloam went through multiple stages of development, and at the height of its glory, was approximately the size of 5 dunams (1¼ acres), and inlaid with impressive flagstones. For the first time in modern history, the excavation by the IAA will enable the complete exposure of the Pool of Siloam, within the context of an official archeological excavation.”

What a wonderful spot to visit on your next tour to Israel. Jesus once mentioned stones talking and I think this is a good example. The people were praising Him and then rebuke came from the Pharisees.

“But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”  Luke 19:38

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and rain in season.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                                   (Read more)