Hebron. Machpelah. West Bank. Herodian. Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Hinnom Valley.
Our second day in the Holy Land began by going to Hebron to see tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. The Machpelah (burial caves) have an ancient building atop them that is “shared” by Muslims and Jews. One half is a mosque, and the other half is a synagog. This is an uneasy setting and we were warned to keep quiet - no touching / laughing / talking - in the mosque area. Hebron is a Palestinian village in the West Bank. Israeli Jews are not allowed to visit there unless they are a part of the small settlement allowed to remain near the synagog.
Then on to the ruins of Herod the Great’s Palace the Herodian. This hill and palace are visible from Jerusalem. The area almost a type of “resort / spa in Herods day complete with pools / saunas / banquet and guest rooms. During the time of the Jewish revolt, this palace was taken over and lived in by Jews fleeing Roman invasion. They utilized the water system and tunnels to evade capture.
Then to David’s City and Hezakiah’s Tunnel. An amazing walk through the actual tunnel (and the actual water - up to our knees) with still functioning spring fed cold water. Hezakiah had this tunnel built to ensure a water supply in the event the city of Jerusalem was under siege.
We stopped at an excavated area of tombs near the potter’s field/field of blood in the Hinnom Valley. The Hinnom Valley in Old Testament times had an evil reputation - such as sacrifices of baby’s to the god Moloch. I laid down in the body niche of an excavated tomb - fit nicely! This evening we had a special tour of excavations below the western wall. Unbelievable how these massive stones were moved from the nearly quarry to the temple area. Many of the stones were larger than a school bus and cut to an exact fit.
