June 19

We left for the Mount of Olives at 7 am and arrived there in the cool of the morning. As we looked over the Kidron Valley to Jerusalem and Mount Zion, our professor taught us on the importance ascribed to it in the Old Testament. Psalm 132 says that the Lord has chosen Zion and he repeats this often in the OT. Isaiah is fundamentally about Jerusalem from start to finish.

We also spent some time in the Garden of Geshsemene and reflected on the activities there. From this point Jesus could actually see the Roman soldiers marching toward him some time before they got there.

Below is a picture of Jerusalem (and Mt Zion) from the Mount of Olives

This is a tree from which it is supposed the "Crown of Thorns" came.

For those that have not seen an old olive tree - here is one.

Then, like yesterday, a new contrast lay ahead of us. We went into the West Bank to visit the Herodium and Bethlehem. The West Bank is largely controlled by Palestinians. However, there are numerous Jewish settlements which creates a lot of tension.

Also, the borders between Palestine and Israel are lined with either a high concrete wall or razor barbed wire.

The Herodium was a place built by King Herod (King at the time of Jesus' birth). It was a massive ornate structure placed on the top of a mound which was dug out and filled in to look even. It is located a few miles south of Bethlehem. Here is a photo from a distance.

From the top where it has been excavated:

Here is a view from above of his swimming pool - looks like it is about half the size of a football field.

Me at the Herodium.

And finally an ancient wine press chiseled out of solid rock. It was located at the top of a hill that contained an ancient grape orchard. The grapes were crushed in the low, larger depression and drained into the deeper depression. Don't even think about the sanitary (or lack thereof) conditions.