The Path of Hezekiah's Tunnel

The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem carries a unique name, alluding to the "one who was sent." I have recently shared a couple of articles about the connection between this unique place and Jesus' miracles. I realize that such articles often fuel further curiosity and research about key landmarks in Israel. My writings typically demonstrate how geography, archaeology, and original languages often allow us to see so much deeper into the familiar biblical stories. A point I frequently make is how our knowledge of context literally makes these stories come alive in a new way. Hopefully, I was already able to show you some of that in my articles and videos.

Well, the story of Siloam goes much deeper (pun intended). The pool is fed with the fresh waters of the Gihon spring that travel via a tunnel. How they were able to reach from the nearby valley is a story worth studying on its own. An underground waterway was King Hezekiah’s creative solution to the city’s water problem during the enemy siege. He designed it to supply fresh water to those hidden behind the city walls.

Hezekiah’s water system was an engineering wonder that included the hewing of a 533-meter-long tunnel in the depths of the rock. There is a lot of fascinating and biblically relevant history tied to so many places in ancient Jerusalem. Siloam is one of those locations that keeps speaking to us through the ages, and each time the message is that God does not abandon his children.