H E Z E K I A H ' S TUNNEL

just a tunnel for exploring

Do Not Enter  signs

About to walk into the tunnel
Don't EVEN make fun of my turban thing on my head.
You are allowed to wear stuff like that in Jerusalem
probably. :)

Finally! The long-awaited field trip to Hezekiah's tunnel took place only yesterday. It is located in the City of David which is just outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Hezekiah was a great king who rose above the influence of his idolatrous father and became favored of the Lord. With the prophet, Isaiah assisting him, he suppressed idolotry and reconstituted temple services. After quite a long time being attacked by the Assyrians, the city was delivered during King Hezekiah's reign of 29 years. He lived an extra 15 years after he plead with the Lord to extend his life. I think Hezekiah had good intentions, or so he thought, for having the desire to live longer....but as we all know... desiring something that is not in accordance with the Lord's will...always turns out in disappointment. Hezekiah accused the Lord of unjustly taking his life, which tells me that he had little understanding of or faith in the joy of the Lord in the spirit world. He developed spiritual tunnel vision (See what I did there?) becoming so obsessed with his desire to live that he lost an eternal perspective. That's why it's important to 1) don't argue with the Lord. 2) Keep an eternal perspective! Anyway, I really like the story of Hezekiah... It reminds me a lot of the story of David -- how somebody who truly loves the Lord and is diligent and obedient falters when it counted the most. It's heart-breaking to me. 

me, Kelly, and Jolls walking through the tunnel. 

However, the tunnel he built is pretty amazing! I couldn't believe we were exploring a tunnel...a real tunnel that was built in 700 BC. This tunnel brought the waters from the Gihon spring inside the city into the pool of Siloem. (That is the pool that Christ healed the blind man!) The tunnel was also built for defense against the Assyrians. They had people working on it from both ends, just chipping away at the limestone until they met each other. The whole tunnel is 533 meters long.


 The whole place felt like a ride at Disneyland or something, except...it wasn't! I remember walking back onto the street after it was over and feeling like I had just gone through a time machine. Walking through Hezekiah's tunnel took me waaaay back to ancient times. I think it would be fair to say that it was one of my favorite field trips so far.

Got a little wet!