BETHESDA POOLS

Sign posted at the pools of Bethesda at St. Ann Church Jerusalem (Sept. 2003)

Inside St. Stephen's Gate of Jerusalem (Lion's Gate) is St. Ann Church.  On the property of the church are the ruins of the pools of Bethesda that were described in the Gospel According to John where Jesus healed a paralytic who was 38 years old. 

The archaeologists uncovered the main pool (Southern Pool) identified by some as the location of the healing, yet more importantly they uncovered a series of medicinal baths at the east end of the complex as a more likely place of the healing of the paralytic described by John.  Near the healing pool were steps leading down to a large Roman era cistern yet containing water during the dry season (Sept.). 

The medicinal pools and baths were built from 150 BC to 70 AD;  according to the tourist pamphlet given at the entrance.  These were likely originally used as mikvehs (small cleansing pools)  for Jewish ritual purification.  

Bethesda is from Hebrew meaning "House of Mercy"; listed as Beth Hasa or Beth Hesed by various authors.
Bethzatha was Greek for the hill in the NE section of the city that was thought to be outside the second city wall (outermost wall of Jerusalem) in existence during the time of Jesus ministry to Jerusalem.  The location of this wall was described by the Roman historian Flavius Josephus. 

It was near the Sheep Gate and area outside the wall in an area known as the "New City" that was later enclosed by the third wall.  This area is near the modern gate of the old city called St. Stephen's Gate by Christians.  This gate faces the Mt. of Olives.

Parable of the Mustard Seed
     A Mustard Field Along Highway 87-North Shore of Galilee    
     A Branching Mustard Plant Near the Jordan River/Bethsaida
     Mustard Field March 1999
     Mustard Flowers
     Chukar Partridges
Upper Most Seats of the Synagogue
The Fig Tree
     Mt of Olives Fig Tree April 12-13, 2005
     Fig and Pomegranate trees below Siloam in Jerusalem
     Israel Photos II fig tree page
     Sycomore Fig Tree
The Good Shepherd
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
     Goat Herder
Camels
Eye of the Needle
Ritual Cleansing
Shechem
     The Olive Harvest of Samaria
     Mt. Ebal
     Olive Tree
Pearl of Great Price
A First Century Synagogue at Gamala
     View from the Vulture Overlook
     Overview of Gamala
     Roman Artillery Replica
A First Century Boat on Display at Kibbutz Ginosaur
     Modern Galilee Fishing Boats
Kursi
     Caves and/or Tombs
     Steep Slope near the Lake
Feeding the 5,000
     On the Mountain
     Walking on Water
     Ramot-Zelon area
     Alternate location
Mt. Hermon
Hippos
The Pool(s) of Bethesda in Jerusalem
     Healing Pools
     Southern Pool
     Crusader Chapel and St. Ann Church
The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
     Gihon Spring
     Hezekiah's Tunnel
     Overlook of  Siloam
Tower of Siloam
A Watch Tower in a Vineyard/Olive Grove
     Grape Vines at Beth Horan
     Towers
Mt. Precipice
     South Face
     Summit
     Over the edge
     Measuring Line
     View of Nazareth from near Megiddo
Nazareth
     The Basilica of the Annunciation
Capernaum
Healing a Paralytic in Capernaum
Bethsaida      
First Century Artifacts from Qumran and Masada
     Qumran -- 1st century pottery
     Masada -- 1st century glassware
     Masada -- 1st century pottery
     Masada -- 1st century stoneware
Waterskins and Wineskins
The Fish and the Coin
A Denarius
Casting out a demon
The Road to Jericho
     Old Roman Road
     Wilderness Above Jericho
     Old Jericho
Western Wall
Gethsemane and the Cave of  Gethsemane
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Rolling Stone Tombs - Jerusalem
     Other Rolling Stone Tombs
Tiberias
Solar Power in Israel
Salt of the earth
Chorazin

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