Visit to the Western Wall, Orthodox Jews meeting for morning prayer have Deut 6 “Shema” on the forehead inside phylacteries. Take tour through tunnels from ancient city below. In Hebrew the word stone is “eben” which comes from 2 words – “ab”= father and “ben”=son. The length of the temple mount is 488 meters. Moslems built city along this western wall. In 691 AD the Dome of the Rock, which is a shrine not a mosque was constructed. Under the temple Mount is where Josiah likely hid the Ark of the Covenant when he saw the end of Jerusalem coming. The Antonio Fortress lies in the NW corner of the temple mount and served as area to view the entire temple mount. Underneath the city along the wall where the Antonio Fortress once stood is a weeping rock whose water source is unknown. The water collects into a pool below that must be drained frequently. The pool is called the “Tears of Jerusalem”.
Had lunch at best falafel place, baklava for desert. I bought a water here and it turns out the owner is from Riverside, CA (just north of me) too funny. Head to the temple mount and stand in line to get in. Only via the Dung gate can you access the mount and it is only open briefly. Steve and Sarah join me and we get the opportunity to visit the Eastern gate and the "Dome of the Spirits," interestingly also called the "Dome of the Tablets." This little gazebo structure aligns perfectly with the Eastern gate and is easily missed. It appears insignificant but it is here many believe to be the true location of the Holy of Holies (Rev 11). Contrast that to Dome of the Rock shrine which is massive, ostentatious, and prominent. Kind of eerie up here, the temple mount is completely controlled by the Moslems. The Al Aqsa mosque I view from a distance. The Dome of the Spirits and the Eastern gate are all I wanted to see here. You can exit through any gate so I leave and head back to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for a photo (both camera batteries were drained when I visited the previous evening).
I decide to walk the Via Dolorosa. This is the route believed to be the path Jesus walked on His way to the cross. It begins at the eastern Sheep gate (also known as the “Lion’s Gate”) and cuts right through the Moslem quarter and exits to the north via the Damascus gate. A lame man lies at the foot of the Damascus Gate, I give him 10 sheckles and continue 1 block outside the city to the Garden tomb, which is surrounded by a very busy street and Arab bus station.
I walk back to Jaffa gate, relax at a coffee shop there. There was a mosaic of the IXEOUS fish symbol inside and I asked the employee about it. He said a friend had given it to him but he didn’t know what it meant. So we talked and I explained what the letters stood for. He was thankful and I left believing I’ll see him again. Next I walked on top of the city walls, called the Rampart walk, which is the path along the wall where those guarding the city once stood.
No comments:
Post a Comment