We will conclude our series of lessons about Bible geography by considering some of the other places I was able to visit in 2015. The Lord also worked miracles in many of them.

Hezekiah’s tunnel

  • Before the Assyrian invasion of Judah, around 700 B.C, Hezekiah built a tunnel under the City of David.
  • This tunnel served to bring water from the Gihon Spring into the city while keeping it away from the Assyrians.
  • Hezekiah’s project is mentioned in both 2 Chronicles 32:1-5, 30, and 2 Kings 20:20.
  • The tunnel was discovered in 1867 by the British explorer, Sir Charles Warren.
  • It is about 1750 feet. That is almost the length of five football fields!
  • Water still runs through the tunnel today.

The Pool of Siloam

  • This pool is at the end of Hezekiah’s tunnel. It was fed by water from the Gihon Spring.
  • During the time of Jesus, the pool probably served as a mikveh for Jewish ritual bathing.
  • It is most known for being the location where Jesus healed a man born blind (John 9).

The Pool of Bethesda

  • It was located near the Sheep Gate in the first century (John 5:2). Today, its ruins are in the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem.
  • It had five porticos (John 5:2). This could mean that it, too, served as a mikveh.
  • It is famous for being the location where Jesus healed a person with paralysis (John 5:1-17).

Jeroboam’s altar

  • After being made the king of the newly formed kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam set up two golden calves. These were designated places of worship in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:25-33).
  • King Jeroboam built these altars because he did not want his citizens traveling back to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. He was afraid that they would return to the king of the south.
  • Jeroboam sold his kingdom on the idea by making his newly formed system similar to God’s true worship. He claimed that the people would still be worshipping God. He established altars and a priesthood like they had before. There was even a feast day, “like the feast which is in Judah” (1 Kings 12:32).
  • While it was similar to the worship in Judah, it was still wrong! It wasn’t worship authorized by God! It was not what God instructed all of Israel to do!

Mount Carmel

  • The name Mount Carmel doesn’t refer to one peak, but rather to an entire mountain range.
  • Carmel is a coastal mountain range that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast as far as Jenin.
  • It contains several caves, and it is covered with oak trees, pine trees, and olive trees.
  • The highest point on Mt. Carmel is the steep ridge on its northeastern side. It is 1792 feet.
  • Somewhere on Mt. Carmel, the prophet Elijah confronted 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18: 20-45).
  • Elijah had the false prophets slaughtered at the Brook Kishon after calling fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice he offered (even the alter and water).
  • The statue of Elijah (which is located on Carmel today) reflects the Lord’s victory against the false prophets of Baal.
  • There is also the Carmelite chapel (El-Muhraqa) near the Elijah statue.
  • Carmel is often used as a symbol of beauty in the Bible (Song of Solomon 7:5).
  • From Carmel are great views of Mt. Tabor, Morah, and Mt. Gilboa.