ISRAEL PHOTOS III -- A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS FROM ISRAELWITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SCENES AND SITES PERTINENT TO THE STUDY OF CHRISTIANITY |
Photo of a Crusader Chapel built between the North and
South Pools with Healing Pools to the East.
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.
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 indicating the place was associated with healing 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 used as mikvehs (small cleansing pools) for Jewish ritual purification. The small pools were to the east of the main pools. There were two large rectangular pools identified as the north and south pools separated by an island in between. This area was probably the location of the five porticoes.
Bethesda may be from Hebrew meaning "House of Mercy"; listed as Beth Hasa or Beth Hesed by various authors. Bethzatha is Greek for the hill in the NE section of the city that is thought to have been 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.
Bethesda 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.
There were two main pools at Bethesda. There is a northern pool and a southern pool with an island in the middle. There were five porticoes. The pool was in use from 150 BC to 70 AD. A Byzantine patriarch renovated the area of the pool during the 5th century AD. Either the southern, northern, or a "healing pool" also on the property is the probabe site of Jesus healing the paralytic.
Parable of the Mustard Seed
A Mustard Field Along Highway 87-North Shore of Galilee
Mustard Seeds in the Palm of a Hand
Mustard Flowers
Giant Mustard
Upper Most Seats of the Synagogue
The Fig Tree
Mt of Olives Fig Tree, April 12-13, 2005
Fig and Pomegranite Trees Below Siloam in Jerusalem
Sycomore Fig Tree
The Good Shepherd
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
Goat Herder
Camels
Ritual Cleansing
Shechem
The Olive Harvest of Samaria
Mt. Ebal
Olive Tree
Pearl of Great Price
A First Century Synagogue at Gamala
Overview of Gamala
Modern Galilee Fishing Boats
Kursi
Caves and/or Tombs
Steep Slope Near Kursi
Hippos
Feeding the 5,000
On the Mountain
Walking on Water
Ramot-Tzelon area
Mt. Hermon
The Pools of Bethesda in Jerusalem
Healing Pools
Crusader Chapel and St. Ann Church
Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
Hezekiah's Tunnel
Overlook to 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
Waterskins and Wineskins
The Fish and the Coin
Barbel
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
Israel Photos VI
Israel Photos V -- Spring 2011
Israel Photos IV -- Pilgrimage
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