David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward.
2 Samuel 5:9
The City of David is located south of the modern walled city even though it was the original city core. This is the small town King David captured and made his capital. We visited the City of David National Park to see what has been found at this important Biblical site. Archaeological digs continue throughout the site.
At the northern end of the park is a nice overlook. Doing a horizon scan, we noticed how the horizon is above us. The Psalmist wrote, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:2) On the one hand, you’re nestled comfortably out of sight, but you also can’t see if an enemy is approaching.
One of my favorite things there is Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kings 20:20). King Hezekiah dug this tunnel because of the impending siege by the Assyrians, transporting the water from the vulnerable Gihon Spring to a pool inside the city wall. We traversed the tunnel with no one else to push us along, lit only by our flashlights for 1800 feet, until we reached the exit at the Pool of Siloam.
From there we went into another tunnel, walking on the first century street that connected the pool to the Temple Mount. At one point the tunnel veers off the road to follow the first century sewer. Continuing up the sewer, there are two options: the default is to exit near the entrance to the park. We, however, purchased an extra ticket beforehand which allowed us to continue to the southwest corner of the Temple Mount. Nearing the exit, we saw the foundations of the Temple Mount’s retaining walls. Above us were more of those blocks which had been tossed down by the Romans when they destroyed the city in AD 70. More of these massive blocks were visible when we emerged.
The Southern end of the Temple Mount is fun to explore. Various mikvaot (ritual immersion baths) are scattered around, allowing people to be cleansed before entering the sanctuary. The steps along the southern end led up to the Temple Mount through a few passageways. More on that next time…