Israel Speaks
3000 years ago Jerusalem was declared the capital of the kingdom of Israel.
The city's first Israeli ruler was King David.
The ancient city of David is located outside today's walls of the old city
on the Southern slope of Mount Moriah.
Benyamin Bar David has worked as a tour guide in Jerusalem.
The place was deserted for hundreds of years.
Archaeologists found and recognized it only in the late 19th century.
Archaeologist Nir Ortal has been a tour guide in Jerusalem
for over 10 years.
The story of the city of David begins in the Bible with mentions of
the fortified city of Jebusites.
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites,
who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here;
even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, David cannot
get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion
which is the City of David. On that day David had said, "Anyone who
conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those
lame and blind who are David's enemies." - 2. Samuel 5:6-8
The God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. -Ezra 1:3
King David ruled in Jerusalem for 33 years.
He did not, however, build the Temple.
Miniature of the First Temple period Jerusalem, Ariel Center
Many discoveries have been made in the excavations in the city of David.
They date back to the times of King Hezekiah.
Hezekiah lived approximately 200 years after King David
and ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years.
The tunnel dug by Hezekiah led the water to the pool of Siloam.
The original location of the pool was unknown for a long time.
Just a few years ago excavations discovered the stairs leading to it.
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva,
and put it on the man’s eyes. "Go", he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam"
So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. - John 9:6-7
Elad foundation is financing the excavations in the city of David.
The foundation also sustains the place's visiting center.
This site has been developed for 20 years.
Before that this was deserted place with not many visitors.
Only those who really knew would come and visit here.
In recent years we have been developing the site's..
This is the Jerusalem of the Bible.
In order to attract people here to get to know its history, -
this development supports it.
In recent years, there have been archaeological excavations
from 150 years. In 1867 Warren excavated here.
Translation: Sonja Mattayev