Sunday 29 April

After an easier start, 8.30 on the bus to the Jaffa gate, we walked to the Christ Church in the old city for Sunday service. When the doors opened we entered and sat at the back because we planned to leave early. It soon became obvious that the church would overflow so we decided to leave and had an informal service led by Mal in the gardens.

Continuing down through the old city of Jerusalem we entered the City of David. Changing into our water walking clothes we continued down a level and observed the archaeological ruins of the City of David. At the next level down we passed another set of ruins which may have contained King David’s private toilet 😀.

Down more steps, more steps we finally reached the spiral staircase leading to Hezekiah’s  Tunnel. The Immediate force of the water entering the tunnel was intimidating but even though the water was quite deep at the beginning, 70cm, it soon decreased to shin deep. The tunnel is pitch black so torches are required. The width was approximately 60cm give or take and height as low as 150cm. The 700m tunnel is a masterpiece of engineering, perhaps the greatest engineering achievement of the Pre-Classical Iron Age built 700BC.  2 Chronicles 32:30.

After lunch at the Israel museum we looked over a 1:50 scale model of the City of Jerusalem in the time of the second temple. Nat led us around the model and pointed out many features.

In the same complex we visited the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Cordex - 1000year old bible.

We ventured over the road to the privately owned Bible Lands Museum. Nat surprised us with an emotional departure speech saying how much he enjoyed spending time with us Aussies. Our group sang the Aaronic Blessing to him and each said our individual goodbyes. We will certainly miss him. 

We continued the tour of the museum with guide Sabina who explained the many ancient antique collections of the early biblical times. So ending an interesting day.

Rudy and Barbra

Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem

Ruins possibly including parts of Nehemiah's Wall in The City of David

Was this the toilet of a rich man in the City of David?

On the way to Hezekiah's Tunnel

Walking through Hezekiah's Tunnel

Phil emerging from the Tunnel - shorts wet up to the thighs!

We survived the Tunnel walk!!

Roof of the exhibition building of the Shrine of the Book - The Dead Sea Scrolls

Scale model of the Second Temple and the city of Jerusalem 

 A Christian sarcophagus from about the second century AD

The authors of today's blog - Rudy and Barbra - otherwise known as "Rhubarb"