Looking Back at Israel - Hezekiah's Tunnel

One of the most memorable sites was Hezekiah's tunnel. At one point, the water source for Jerusalem was outside the city walls. When Jerusalem's water supply was in danger of being cut off by invading Assyrians, King Hezekiah ordered a tunnel dug from the Spring of Gihon to a reservoir inside the city, which the people could reach through a shaft. Using simple tools, workers hewed their way through about 1,750 feet of solid limestone.

"This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David." 2 Chronicles 32:30

This tunnel has been found and you can walk through from one end to the other. As you can seen, it is very tight in some places, and of course, filled with water.

It was completely dark; there were no lights in the tunnel. People either wore headlights or brought flashlights along. It was completely amazing to think of how much work this would have taken without the technology we have today. They can tell from the shape of the tunnel, that crews must have began from each side and met in the middle.

I only had to duck in one spot, but everyone else was walking hunched over for most of the tunnel. This was definitely not a walk for the claustrophobic! Not only was this a fun thing, but it is clearly in the Bible, and for some reason, I really loved seeing and understanding this tunnel and how smart these people were.

"The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" 2 Kings 20:20

Hubs and I at the end of the tunnel.

I almost didn't walk through the tunnel. It was cold outside and I was tired, but at the last minute I knew I needed to see this. I'm so glad I did.