Recently, archaeologists in Jerusalem discovered a set of steps leading into the famed Pool of Siloam. According to the Bible, this was the site where Jesus performed the famous miracle of restoring sight to a blind man approximately 2,000 years ago. The monumental discovery is being credited with providing historical evidence for biblical scripture.
The director of international affairs for the City of David Foundation, Ze’ev Orenstein, spoke about the implications of the exciting archaeological discovery. He expressed the utmost exhilaration to be a part of the finding, which adds tangible evidence for perhaps the most important story in history. “It’s exciting to be a part of a story that’s bigger than ourselves — to be a part of bringing a story to life that has significance not for millions, but for billions,” Orenstein said.
The City of David Foundation continued explaining the significance of the discovery and its impact on Judeo-Christian ties to Jerusalem. “The ongoing excavations within the City of David — the historic site of Biblical Jerusalem — particularly of the Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road, serve as one of the greatest affirmations of that heritage and the millennia-old bond Jews and Christians have with Jerusalem,” Orenstein said. “There is no half mile that means more to more people that affirms Jerusalem’s biblical heritage not simply as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact.”
President of the Congress of Christian Leaders, Rev. Johnnie Moore, also commented on the significance of the archaeological finding. “In the Pool of Siloam, we find evidence of history preserved for us, revealed at just the right time,” Moore said.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Pool of Siloam would undergo a complete excavation, where visitors will be able to view one of Israel’s most famous archaeological sites. Currently, only the northern side and a portion of the eastern side are exposed.
“For the first time in modern history, the excavation by the IAA will enable the complete exposure of the Pool of Siloam, within the context of an official archaeological excavation. In the first stage, visitors will be able to observe the archaeological excavations, and in the coming months the Pool of Siloam will be opened for tourist access, as a part of a route that will begin at the southernmost point in the City of David and culminate at the steps of the Western Wall,” according to an announcement from the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The excavation of the Pool of Siloam is set to be included as part of the “Pilgrimage Road,” which was unearthed in 2019 in the City of David. The path includes the Pool of Siloam near the City of David, leading up to the Western Wall near the top of the Temple Mount.
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“The discovery of the Pilgrimage Road was an unprecedented scientific feat of biblical proportions” “…Unlike most archaeological digs which begin from the ground down, this excavation was done subterraneously, beneath the hustle and bustle of modern Jerusalem,” stated Doron Spielman, vice president of the City of David Foundation.