From wars and rumors of war abroad, to the rise of anti-Christian, "woke" ideology here at home, it’s clear that Americans are living in perilous and unprecedented times. Some would even say that we’re witnessing biblical prophecy unfold in real time. Stakelbeck Tonight will make sense of these stunning developments through a bold and biblical lens.
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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: December 23, 2024 | Stakelbeck Tonight | December 19, 2024
- Tonight.
- 00:00:05.929 --> 00:00:06.629
- It's part two of our three part
- 00:00:06.629 --> 00:00:08.465
- Stakelbeck tonight series, digging up the bible.
- 00:00:08.465 --> 00:00:11.201
- We're taking you to some of the most iconic
- 00:00:11.201 --> 00:00:13.470
- And significant biblical sites in jerusalem and beyond.
- 00:00:13.470 --> 00:00:17.207
- We'll explore the temple mount, where the bible says
- 00:00:17.207 --> 00:00:20.076
- God's divine presence wants to dwell.
- 00:00:20.076 --> 00:00:22.645
- You'll also hear the story behind the western wall, a place
- 00:00:22.645 --> 00:00:25.682
- Of deep prayer and connection to the faith of our fathers.
- 00:00:25.682 --> 00:00:29.853
- Then we'll journey to herodium
- 00:00:29.853 --> 00:00:32.255
- King herod's magnificent fortress
- 00:00:32.255 --> 00:00:34.657
- And the tower of david, a landmark that has stood
- 00:00:34.657 --> 00:00:38.128
- The test of time in the very heart of jerusalem.
- 00:00:38.128 --> 00:00:41.464
- It's a journey through the pages of your bible
- 00:00:41.464 --> 00:00:44.067
- With our good friend danny the digger herman.
- 00:00:44.067 --> 00:00:46.703
- And it all starts now.
- 00:00:46.703 --> 00:01:06.856
- Welcome to stickleback tonight.
- 00:01:07.490 --> 00:01:08.958
- I'm erick stakelbeck and this is part
- 00:01:08.958 --> 00:01:10.860
- Two of our special series, digging up the bible.
- 00:01:10.860 --> 00:01:14.430
- Our journey begins
- 00:01:14.430 --> 00:01:15.665
- At the most sacred and historically
- 00:01:15.665 --> 00:01:17.834
- Significant site in the world.
- 00:01:17.834 --> 00:01:19.802
- The temple mount in jerusalem.
- 00:01:19.802 --> 00:01:22.005
- From king solomon to king herod.
- 00:01:22.005 --> 00:01:24.340
- Up until today, the temple mount has stood
- 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:27.210
- At the center of faith and history for millennia.
- 00:01:27.210 --> 00:01:30.847
- Let's take a closer look at this incredible site
- 00:01:30.847 --> 00:01:33.516
- And its profound significance.
- 00:01:33.516 --> 00:01:36.986
- Danny, here we are.
- 00:01:36.986 --> 00:01:38.087
- What a majestic view of the holiest site in the world.
- 00:01:38.087 --> 00:01:41.357
- This is the temple mount.
- 00:01:41.357 --> 00:01:42.892
- Tell us why the temple mount is so important
- 00:01:42.892 --> 00:01:46.162
- To jews, christians, muslims to the entire world.
- 00:01:46.162 --> 00:01:49.599
- Yes. this is possibly the holiest
- 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.769
- Coordinate on the planet.
- 00:01:52.769 --> 00:01:54.404
- The muslims gave it the view that you see now.
- 00:01:54.404 --> 00:01:57.407
- And we have here.
- 00:01:57.407 --> 00:01:58.675
- The dome of the rock, which is marking by muslim
- 00:01:58.675 --> 00:02:01.744
- Tradition the supposedly the footprint
- 00:02:01.744 --> 00:02:05.048
- And the mark where muhammad ascended
- 00:02:05.048 --> 00:02:06.816
- To heaven to get the prayers of islam.
- 00:02:06.816 --> 00:02:08.618
- And accordingly, a giant mosque next to
- 00:02:08.618 --> 00:02:10.753
- It is called al-aqsa mosque, just blocks the far most mosque,
- 00:02:10.753 --> 00:02:15.058
- Which is what the super 17 says about the night journey
- 00:02:15.058 --> 00:02:18.228
- Of muhammad,
- 00:02:18.228 --> 00:02:19.262
- Where he went on his winged horse
- 00:02:19.262 --> 00:02:20.930
- And then went up to the heavens to get the prayers of islam.
- 00:02:20.930 --> 00:02:23.299
- So this is the dome of the rock is a shrine.
- 00:02:23.299 --> 00:02:26.302
- It's not a mosque.
- 00:02:26.302 --> 00:02:27.303
- Just so people know, the mosque is next door,
- 00:02:27.303 --> 00:02:29.672
- The al-aqsa mosque, which is the third
- 00:02:29.672 --> 00:02:31.741
- Holiest site in islam behind mecca and medina.
- 00:02:31.741 --> 00:02:34.711
- Yes, except that there's a slight problem.
- 00:02:34.711 --> 00:02:37.614
- The koran never said that happened in jerusalem.
- 00:02:37.614 --> 00:02:40.149
- In fact, the quran never mentions
- 00:02:40.149 --> 00:02:41.484
- Jerusalem, not even once. not even. once.
- 00:02:41.484 --> 00:02:43.753
- So we have dating back over 3000 years, first solomon's temple,
- 00:02:43.753 --> 00:02:49.459
- The ark of the covenant
- 00:02:49.459 --> 00:02:50.660
- Was there, the holy of holies, god's divine presence dwelt
- 00:02:50.660 --> 00:02:53.596
- Right there on top of the temple mount.
- 00:02:53.596 --> 00:02:56.432
- Then that temple was destroyed by the babylonians.
- 00:02:56.432 --> 00:02:58.968
- Yes, temple rebuilt.
- 00:02:58.968 --> 00:03:00.937
- By the jews. returning from babylon? yes.
- 00:03:00.937 --> 00:03:03.072
- Returning from babbling next door.
- 00:03:03.072 --> 00:03:04.474
- And then king herod makes it into a grand structure.
- 00:03:04.474 --> 00:03:07.577
- Once again, the second temple.
- 00:03:07.577 --> 00:03:08.745
- That is the temple
- 00:03:08.745 --> 00:03:10.013
- Where jesus taught chased out the moneychangers. yes.
- 00:03:10.013 --> 00:03:13.049
- And 30 years after he's out of the scene,
- 00:03:13.049 --> 00:03:15.318
- The temple is outside of the scene by the romans.
- 00:03:15.318 --> 00:03:17.720
- Destroyed the temple. yes.
- 00:03:17.720 --> 00:03:19.088
- And then there's a christian presence there.
- 00:03:19.088 --> 00:03:21.691
- The byzantines. very minimal.
- 00:03:21.691 --> 00:03:23.493
- It seems that they deliberately left it in ruins to show
- 00:03:23.493 --> 00:03:27.163
- How christianity took over judaism, the role of judaism.
- 00:03:27.163 --> 00:03:31.534
- Jesus fulfills the jewish prophetic messianic message.
- 00:03:31.534 --> 00:03:36.072
- The sacrifice of jesus now replaces
- 00:03:36.072 --> 00:03:38.808
- The animal sacrifices that were in the temple.
- 00:03:38.808 --> 00:03:41.811
- So there was apparently a chapel
- 00:03:41.811 --> 00:03:43.646
- There, but nothing significant.
- 00:03:43.646 --> 00:03:45.248
- It was deliberately left in ruins for christian narrative.
- 00:03:45.248 --> 00:03:50.286
- And when the moslems arrive, they see a big empty space once
- 00:03:50.286 --> 00:03:53.523
- Relating to the jewish temple
- 00:03:53.523 --> 00:03:55.458
- And they want to compete with christianity.
- 00:03:55.458 --> 00:03:57.694
- So they make a replica of a
- 00:03:57.694 --> 00:03:58.961
- Church over the place where the temple used to be.
- 00:03:58.961 --> 00:04:02.031
- As you can see, the temple mount is the most coveted piece
- 00:04:02.031 --> 00:04:04.967
- Of real estate in the world.
- 00:04:04.967 --> 00:04:06.502
- Always has been and always will be.
- 00:04:06.502 --> 00:04:09.038
- And danny,
- 00:04:09.038 --> 00:04:09.505
- You and i
- 00:04:09.505 --> 00:04:10.106
- Had a unique opportunity
- 00:04:10.106 --> 00:04:11.607
- To basically have the temple mount to ourselves.
- 00:04:11.607 --> 00:04:13.810
- We were there during the tail end of covid.
- 00:04:13.810 --> 00:04:15.712
- That was quite an experience.
- 00:04:15.712 --> 00:04:16.813
- Yeah,
- 00:04:16.813 --> 00:04:17.714
- But why is it still such a focal point
- 00:04:17.714 --> 00:04:19.515
- Today of the world's attention?
- 00:04:19.515 --> 00:04:21.150
- This one site?
- 00:04:21.150 --> 00:04:22.518
- I fear that it will stay a focal point for the world,
- 00:04:22.518 --> 00:04:25.922
- The western versus the eastern or muslim world
- 00:04:25.922 --> 00:04:28.257
- For quite some time because
- 00:04:28.257 --> 00:04:31.127
- Historic archeologically,
- 00:04:31.127 --> 00:04:33.062
- There's no question that solomon's temple stood
- 00:04:33.062 --> 00:04:35.732
- There, herod's temple stood there.
- 00:04:35.732 --> 00:04:37.333
- It's just an archeological and historical fact.
- 00:04:37.333 --> 00:04:40.370
- And you know what?
- 00:04:40.370 --> 00:04:41.504
- I'll emphasize this again.
- 00:04:41.504 --> 00:04:42.839
- Even the muslims, when they built the dome of the rock
- 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:47.310
- In the seventh century, at first it was to commemorate
- 00:04:47.310 --> 00:04:50.313
- Solomon's temple there in the past, only later
- 00:04:50.313 --> 00:04:53.416
- They started associating muhammad's night journey
- 00:04:53.416 --> 00:04:56.252
- And the holy laksa story into the tradition of the site.
- 00:04:56.252 --> 00:05:00.356
- So it was the place of the jewish temple.
- 00:05:00.356 --> 00:05:03.559
- There's no way of denying it.
- 00:05:03.559 --> 00:05:05.628
- And yet the muslims
- 00:05:05.628 --> 00:05:06.829
- Since the seventh century have rebranded it into something
- 00:05:06.829 --> 00:05:10.199
- Very muslim.
- 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:11.267
- And today they only associated with muslim tradition.
- 00:05:11.267 --> 00:05:14.137
- They, in fact, deny the fact that they themselves
- 00:05:14.137 --> 00:05:17.340
- Once associated with solomon's temple. wow.
- 00:05:17.340 --> 00:05:20.410
- So we have any starkel conflict?
- 00:05:20.410 --> 00:05:22.044
- There's nothing you know,
- 00:05:22.044 --> 00:05:23.246
- I can do, i can think of to resolve it.
- 00:05:23.246 --> 00:05:25.481
- Yeah, but the archeological evidence
- 00:05:25.481 --> 00:05:27.350
- And by the way, jerusalem mentioned
- 00:05:27.350 --> 00:05:28.885
- Hundreds of times in the bible, never mentioned in the koran.
- 00:05:28.885 --> 00:05:31.587
- Not even. not even once.
- 00:05:31.587 --> 00:05:32.922
- Yeah, very interesting.
- 00:05:32.922 --> 00:05:34.657
- And folks, the western wall, which is the retaining wall,
- 00:05:34.657 --> 00:05:37.126
- The temple mount,
- 00:05:37.126 --> 00:05:38.194
- That is not just an enduring symbol of jewish faith
- 00:05:38.194 --> 00:05:41.130
- And resilience.
- 00:05:41.130 --> 00:05:42.098
- It's a living connection to the second temple
- 00:05:42.098 --> 00:05:45.034
- And a testament to the biblical history of jerusalem.
- 00:05:45.034 --> 00:05:48.304
- This sacred site draws millions of visitors every year
- 00:05:48.304 --> 00:05:51.507
- Who come to pray and reflect,
- 00:05:51.507 --> 00:05:53.576
- Standing where countless believers
- 00:05:53.576 --> 00:05:55.678
- Have stood before them. take a look.
- 00:05:55.678 --> 00:06:14.931
- And here we are.
- 00:06:15.331 --> 00:06:16.666
- We're in jerusalem.
- 00:06:16.666 --> 00:06:17.533
- We're at the foot of the western wall.
- 00:06:17.533 --> 00:06:20.470
- So what is this place and why is it so important?
- 00:06:20.470 --> 00:06:23.105
- Technically, the wall is just a supportive
- 00:06:23.105 --> 00:06:25.808
- Wall of the temple mount that was around the temple.
- 00:06:25.808 --> 00:06:29.378
- So the really important site, the western wall,
- 00:06:29.378 --> 00:06:31.614
- Obviously very important, the retaining wall.
- 00:06:31.614 --> 00:06:33.883
- But the big one was up above there.
- 00:06:33.883 --> 00:06:36.586
- But since we don't have it anymore, judaism adopted
- 00:06:36.586 --> 00:06:40.623
- The western retaining wall
- 00:06:40.623 --> 00:06:42.091
- Or more specifically part of the western retaining wall.
- 00:06:42.091 --> 00:06:45.161
- Because it was accessible, it was visible.
- 00:06:45.161 --> 00:06:48.297
- And also when you're standing here, you are very close
- 00:06:48.297 --> 00:06:51.234
- To where the holy of holies where the ark used to be.
- 00:06:51.234 --> 00:06:54.871
- So ark of the covenant. yes.
- 00:06:54.871 --> 00:06:57.073
- So both being accessible, being close to
- 00:06:57.073 --> 00:07:00.543
- Where the ark used to be and being 2000 years old.
- 00:07:00.543 --> 00:07:04.347
- These three reasons combined branded the western retaining
- 00:07:04.347 --> 00:07:08.150
- Wall is so holy youth groups come here and dance and sing
- 00:07:08.150 --> 00:07:12.488
- And chant for the shabbat holidays on passover.
- 00:07:12.488 --> 00:07:15.958
- It's amazing.
- 00:07:15.958 --> 00:07:17.126
- Amazing to see all the crowds gathering around here.
- 00:07:17.126 --> 00:07:19.862
- This place always has its very special dynamic.
- 00:07:19.862 --> 00:07:23.199
- Yes, the wall starts here.
- 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.334
- It does not end here.
- 00:07:25.334 --> 00:07:26.636
- Like you said, only 11% is visible.
- 00:07:26.636 --> 00:07:29.472
- So you are going to take us deep beneath the western wall
- 00:07:29.472 --> 00:07:33.409
- Right now.
- 00:07:33.409 --> 00:07:34.644
- And we've got some exciting things to show everyone, right?
- 00:07:34.644 --> 00:07:36.779
- Totally this way. let's go.
- 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:42.552
- It's getting narrow in here.
- 00:07:42.552 --> 00:07:43.653
- Danny, tell me where we are right now
- 00:07:43.653 --> 00:07:45.388
- Along the western wall tunnels.
- 00:07:45.388 --> 00:07:47.023
- Again, this.
- 00:07:47.023 --> 00:07:47.790
- This is the western wall. amazing.
- 00:07:47.790 --> 00:07:50.493
- And above our heads is daily life of the muslim quarter.
- 00:07:50.493 --> 00:07:54.030
- And again, it shows you how huge the temple mount,
- 00:07:54.030 --> 00:07:57.633
- The complex above is because that plaza is so massive.
- 00:07:57.633 --> 00:08:02.004
- Above it makes sense that this is a long wall
- 00:08:02.004 --> 00:08:04.740
- That keeps going and going seemingly underground.
- 00:08:04.740 --> 00:08:07.643
- Here, here.
- 00:08:07.643 --> 00:08:08.811
- This is more of the western wall.
- 00:08:08.811 --> 00:08:11.981
- But this area,
- 00:08:11.981 --> 00:08:13.516
- This spot specifically is also holy by many jews.
- 00:08:13.516 --> 00:08:17.853
- In fact, many jews that will come here will put their keep on
- 00:08:17.853 --> 00:08:21.457
- Because this is like the western wall praying plaza.
- 00:08:21.457 --> 00:08:23.859
- It's a holy place.
- 00:08:23.859 --> 00:08:24.827
- And why he was a diagram showing
- 00:08:24.827 --> 00:08:30.032
- What we think the temple mount used to look like.
- 00:08:30.032 --> 00:08:32.501
- And we started at the western wall, right?
- 00:08:32.501 --> 00:08:34.570
- We moved into the tunnels.
- 00:08:34.570 --> 00:08:36.472
- And now that we are here, we are at the closest point
- 00:08:36.472 --> 00:08:40.209
- To where the holy of holies of the temple used to be
- 00:08:40.209 --> 00:08:43.980
- The closest point to where the ark was here.
- 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:47.984
- And the ark which included, of course, god's divine presence.
- 00:08:47.984 --> 00:08:52.221
- The ten commandments. yes.
- 00:08:52.221 --> 00:08:54.056
- And that's why you
- 00:08:54.056 --> 00:08:55.024
- So many people will put notes here specifically
- 00:08:55.024 --> 00:08:58.828
- Because it's so close physically to god's presence.
- 00:08:58.828 --> 00:09:03.165
- The city now, well, the holy of holies, the place of the on.
- 00:09:03.165 --> 00:09:06.902
- The second of glory.
- 00:09:06.902 --> 00:09:08.738
- Now, this is not visible to the general public,
- 00:09:08.738 --> 00:09:12.141
- But this is really the holiest portion of the western wall.
- 00:09:12.141 --> 00:09:16.412
- Is the only way to see to come here is to join a tour of the
- 00:09:16.412 --> 00:09:20.116
- Western wall tunnels.
- 00:09:20.116 --> 00:09:21.317
- And then you also get to this point.
- 00:09:21.317 --> 00:09:25.388
- More with
- 00:09:25.388 --> 00:09:26.555
- Danny, the digger herman after the break as we dig deeper
- 00:09:26.555 --> 00:09:29.091
- Into the fascinating discovery surrounding the western wall
- 00:09:29.091 --> 00:09:32.728
- And its incredible history, you won't want to miss this.
- 00:09:32.728 --> 00:09:35.765
- The ground.
- 00:09:35.765 --> 00:09:44.005
- The ground.
- 00:09:44.005 --> 00:09:49.979
- Welcome back to starting back tonight
- 00:09:50.780 --> 00:09:52.415
- In our very special three part series, digging up the bible
- 00:09:52.415 --> 00:09:56.152
- With the one and only danny the digger.
- 00:09:56.152 --> 00:09:58.320
- Herman.
- 00:09:58.320 --> 00:09:59.488
- Hey, speaking of digging danny, the western wall tunnels,
- 00:09:59.488 --> 00:10:02.692
- What a fascinating place.
- 00:10:02.692 --> 00:10:04.160
- And there is a christian link there and much more.
- 00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:06.729
- Unpack that for us a bit.
- 00:10:06.729 --> 00:10:08.130
- Yeah, we filmed there
- 00:10:08.130 --> 00:10:09.532
- A few years ago when they have uncovered a fair amount of it,
- 00:10:09.532 --> 00:10:13.202
- But since we've been there,
- 00:10:13.202 --> 00:10:14.670
- They've uncovered so much more that there's a whole new tour.
- 00:10:14.670 --> 00:10:18.441
- There's the western world classic tour,
- 00:10:18.441 --> 00:10:20.543
- And there's a whole new one for all the new discoveries.
- 00:10:20.543 --> 00:10:23.879
- There's, for instance, a whole little mini theater
- 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:26.282
- From roman times and all down that they've uncovered there.
- 00:10:26.282 --> 00:10:29.385
- Maybe one day they'll find there's some evidence
- 00:10:29.385 --> 00:10:32.588
- Which can link to a fascinating christian topic
- 00:10:32.588 --> 00:10:36.058
- The trial of jesus,
- 00:10:36.058 --> 00:10:37.760
- The trial of jesus is said to have happened at the told you,
- 00:10:37.760 --> 00:10:41.597
- But josephus never mentions any poem in jerusalem.
- 00:10:41.597 --> 00:10:44.900
- But at least one pilgrim coming to jerusalem states that
- 00:10:44.900 --> 00:10:48.671
- The petroleum was next
- 00:10:48.671 --> 00:10:49.972
- To the temple mount, next to where today's western wall.
- 00:10:49.972 --> 00:10:53.642
- And if he was right,
- 00:10:53.642 --> 00:10:55.444
- Maybe there's archeological evidence,
- 00:10:55.444 --> 00:10:57.513
- Maybe there'll be an inscription in mentioning a pi told him.
- 00:10:57.513 --> 00:11:00.316
- And we'll finally know where jesus trial by pilatus
- 00:11:00.316 --> 00:11:04.420
- Took place.
- 00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:05.488
- Well, if you find it, we expect you to debut it
- 00:11:05.488 --> 00:11:07.423
- Here on stack's back tonight. of course. my.
- 00:11:07.423 --> 00:11:09.191
- If you'll be my first phone call.
- 00:11:09.191 --> 00:11:11.327
- But the western wall tunnels.
- 00:11:11.327 --> 00:11:12.328
- Danny, i loved it. and there's also that
- 00:11:12.328 --> 00:11:14.597
- Giant foundation stone down there, right?
- 00:11:14.597 --> 00:11:17.066
- Yeah, in the western wall tunnels.
- 00:11:17.066 --> 00:11:18.334
- Those quickly about that. that's fascinating.
- 00:11:18.334 --> 00:11:20.069
- How many tunnels is that? yeah, they many.
- 00:11:20.069 --> 00:11:22.304
- They thought that first, it's about 500 tons.
- 00:11:22.304 --> 00:11:25.207
- Now they reduce it to 400 and something.
- 00:11:25.207 --> 00:11:27.910
- I mean, still mega, mega big and heavy.
- 00:11:27.910 --> 00:11:30.780
- And just imagine how they moved all of these stones.
- 00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:34.150
- The smallest ones are over two tons.
- 00:11:34.150 --> 00:11:37.119
- And we still don't know how they got it there.
- 00:11:37.119 --> 00:11:39.054
- Yeah, we have vitruvius.
- 00:11:39.054 --> 00:11:40.689
- We have a roman historian which writes a lot about architecture
- 00:11:40.689 --> 00:11:45.861
- And he writes how to mobilize heavy stuff.
- 00:11:45.861 --> 00:11:48.631
- But even when you read it, you realize this scale
- 00:11:48.631 --> 00:11:51.834
- Of work of investment just for a foundation wall.
- 00:11:51.834 --> 00:11:55.404
- Erick it's not even the temple,
- 00:11:55.404 --> 00:11:56.772
- It's just the temple retaining western wall.
- 00:11:56.772 --> 00:11:59.809
- The mysteries of the bible.
- 00:11:59.809 --> 00:12:01.977
- And we're digging them up with danny the digger.
- 00:12:01.977 --> 00:12:04.513
- And after the break, more, we're taking you to herodium,
- 00:12:04.513 --> 00:12:07.783
- A palace outside of jerusalem, a fortress built by king
- 00:12:07.783 --> 00:12:11.387
- Herod the great,
- 00:12:11.387 --> 00:12:12.621
- And also the tower of david in the very heart of jerusalem.
- 00:12:12.621 --> 00:12:15.858
- Folks, you will not want to miss this.
- 00:12:15.858 --> 00:12:17.660
- Stay with us for more. digging up the bible.
- 00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:28.001
- Stay with us for more. digging up the bible.
- 00:12:28.001 --> 00:12:33.641
- Welcome back to stickleback tonight
- 00:12:34.409 --> 00:12:35.977
- And part two of our three part series, digging up the bible.
- 00:12:35.977 --> 00:12:40.014
- Herodium is a fortress and palace built
- 00:12:40.014 --> 00:12:43.117
- By the notorious king herod.
- 00:12:43.117 --> 00:12:45.253
- It's a testament to the ambition and architectural
- 00:12:45.253 --> 00:12:48.456
- Genius of one of history's most infamous rulers.
- 00:12:48.456 --> 00:12:51.893
- Located just outside of bethlehem, this site
- 00:12:51.893 --> 00:12:55.029
- Holds secrets that connect us to herod's reign
- 00:12:55.029 --> 00:12:58.366
- And the turbulent times of jesus's birth.
- 00:12:58.366 --> 00:13:01.769
- Take a look.
- 00:13:01.769 --> 00:13:26.928
- Danny the digger, it is great to have you with us.
- 00:13:27.929 --> 00:13:29.898
- Always a pleasure, erick.
- 00:13:29.898 --> 00:13:31.065
- Always a pleasure to have you.
- 00:13:31.065 --> 00:13:32.267
- And what a place you always take us to.
- 00:13:32.267 --> 00:13:33.835
- The most interesting, the most fascinating places
- 00:13:33.835 --> 00:13:36.037
- Here in the land of israel and beyond.
- 00:13:36.037 --> 00:13:38.840
- Herodium. yes.
- 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:40.174
- This is
- 00:13:40.174 --> 00:13:41.442
- A site that i personally have a very strong connection to it.
- 00:13:41.442 --> 00:13:44.512
- I personally participated in some of the excavations here,
- 00:13:44.512 --> 00:13:47.582
- And this is really one
- 00:13:47.582 --> 00:13:48.616
- Of the most fantastic sites in the holy land.
- 00:13:48.616 --> 00:13:50.985
- Give us a survey of the land.
- 00:13:50.985 --> 00:13:52.520
- Where are we right now? okay.
- 00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:54.522
- We are on the edge of the judean desert.
- 00:13:54.522 --> 00:13:56.858
- It descends from here all the way down to the dead
- 00:13:56.858 --> 00:13:58.993
- Sea, which on a better day can actually be seen from here.
- 00:13:58.993 --> 00:14:02.463
- But jerusalem is just behind us, ten miles away.
- 00:14:02.463 --> 00:14:05.400
- You can see mount gilo there in the distance.
- 00:14:05.400 --> 00:14:08.636
- And actually, even closer to us is bethlehem.
- 00:14:08.636 --> 00:14:11.205
- We're in the west bank.
- 00:14:11.205 --> 00:14:12.840
- And this site is a place where herod, in his earlier
- 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:15.910
- Years had a pivotal moment of of conflict
- 00:14:15.910 --> 00:14:19.747
- Against the maccabees.
- 00:14:19.747 --> 00:14:20.715
- He nearly lost, but he survived.
- 00:14:20.715 --> 00:14:23.017
- And later his king decided to make a monument
- 00:14:23.017 --> 00:14:25.586
- For that, for that moment, for that achievement.
- 00:14:25.586 --> 00:14:28.690
- And he humbly named it after himself.
- 00:14:28.690 --> 00:14:31.392
- Herodium herodium.
- 00:14:31.392 --> 00:14:32.994
- And it was meant to be his palace and his burial place.
- 00:14:32.994 --> 00:14:36.531
- This is man made as hard as it is to believe
- 00:14:36.531 --> 00:14:39.567
- This is actually manmade.
- 00:14:39.567 --> 00:14:40.802
- How we're up here on this slope, right? yeah.
- 00:14:40.802 --> 00:14:42.670
- There was a natural hill here.
- 00:14:42.670 --> 00:14:44.138
- There were actually two of them.
- 00:14:44.138 --> 00:14:45.373
- But herod cut one of them to make the other one much higher.
- 00:14:45.373 --> 00:14:48.977
- All all manmade, all built tons of earth were piled up
- 00:14:48.977 --> 00:14:53.014
- And a circular wall created the frame of the acropolis
- 00:14:53.014 --> 00:14:57.218
- Where inside he planted a palace complex.
- 00:14:57.218 --> 00:15:00.788
- You have a bathhouse, you have a reception
- 00:15:00.788 --> 00:15:02.824
- Hall, you have the bedrooms.
- 00:15:02.824 --> 00:15:04.125
- And beneath a giant set of water reservoirs
- 00:15:04.125 --> 00:15:08.029
- To last a long siege if need.
- 00:15:08.029 --> 00:15:09.864
- As archeologists, i would say, herod is the great builder.
- 00:15:09.864 --> 00:15:13.434
- Look at this.
- 00:15:13.434 --> 00:15:14.168
- This is the interior
- 00:15:14.168 --> 00:15:15.770
- Of the palace in the citadel of the city,
- 00:15:15.770 --> 00:15:18.339
- Humbly named after himself. herodium
- 00:15:18.339 --> 00:15:19.874
- And pretty well-preserved. i mean, these ruins.
- 00:15:19.874 --> 00:15:22.243
- It was all covered up
- 00:15:22.243 --> 00:15:23.811
- In the middle ages and those this debris protected it.
- 00:15:23.811 --> 00:15:27.915
- In fact, here is where the bathhouse used to be.
- 00:15:27.915 --> 00:15:32.320
- These pillars.
- 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.187
- Sauna here. totally.
- 00:15:33.187 --> 00:15:34.789
- Okay.
- 00:15:34.789 --> 00:15:35.790
- This part didn't last very well, but the tepito,
- 00:15:35.790 --> 00:15:38.726
- The service room, the massage room is fully intact.
- 00:15:38.726 --> 00:15:42.363
- You got to see this.
- 00:15:42.363 --> 00:15:43.398
- Now, let's take a look.
- 00:15:43.398 --> 00:15:46.534
- This is a complete domed structure.
- 00:15:47.301 --> 00:15:51.406
- Okay, this is not reconstructed.
- 00:15:51.406 --> 00:15:53.674
- This is 2000 year old and original, filled up
- 00:15:53.674 --> 00:15:56.844
- With debris and re-exposed by the franciscans in the 1960s.
- 00:15:56.844 --> 00:16:00.548
- And built by herod the great.
- 00:16:00.548 --> 00:16:01.849
- And built by herod the. great. one of the only kind.
- 00:16:01.849 --> 00:16:04.218
- I like it in israel. right?
- 00:16:04.218 --> 00:16:05.753
- The stone. yes.
- 00:16:05.753 --> 00:16:06.721
- It's done on a roman global scale.
- 00:16:06.721 --> 00:16:08.956
- It's one of the very few examples
- 00:16:08.956 --> 00:16:10.792
- Where the whole thing is intact.
- 00:16:10.792 --> 00:16:12.193
- And the rest of the palace in front of us is the courtyard.
- 00:16:12.193 --> 00:16:15.696
- The reception hall, the bedrooms.
- 00:16:15.696 --> 00:16:17.965
- I mean, it's also very well preserved.
- 00:16:17.965 --> 00:16:20.001
- I was just going to say it's amazingly well-preserved, danny.
- 00:16:20.001 --> 00:16:22.303
- Because, see, the site has a lot more than this nice bathhouse.
- 00:16:22.303 --> 00:16:26.007
- It's got remains of a towers of this nice garden,
- 00:16:26.007 --> 00:16:31.512
- But it was also used in later periods.
- 00:16:31.512 --> 00:16:33.448
- Look here, for instance,
- 00:16:33.448 --> 00:16:34.882
- You can see a cross chiseling into the entry of the bathhouse.
- 00:16:34.882 --> 00:16:37.718
- Amazing. in byzantine times.
- 00:16:37.718 --> 00:16:39.787
- They also use this. 1600 years ago. yeah.
- 00:16:39.787 --> 00:16:42.657
- And in the garden area, this nice open courtyard,
- 00:16:42.657 --> 00:16:46.794
- Which probably had nice gardening,
- 00:16:46.794 --> 00:16:48.129
- You can see beautiful corinthian capitals.
- 00:16:48.129 --> 00:16:50.498
- Very well preserved. these pillars.
- 00:16:50.498 --> 00:16:51.999
- Indeed.
- 00:16:51.999 --> 00:16:53.267
- And a giant watchtower on the eastern side, facing the desert,
- 00:16:53.267 --> 00:16:57.038
- Which was used probably for guarding
- 00:16:57.038 --> 00:16:59.073
- And maybe also for marking this site.
- 00:16:59.073 --> 00:17:00.908
- And for the paranoid herod, he needed to see anyone
- 00:17:00.908 --> 00:17:03.111
- Who was approaching to see his enemies coming.
- 00:17:03.111 --> 00:17:05.079
- Along distance here. on the edge of the judean desert.
- 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:08.850
- Incredible site.
- 00:17:08.850 --> 00:17:10.118
- And danny herod was kind of a mad king, i guess you could say.
- 00:17:10.118 --> 00:17:13.454
- Killed his own wife, his own children.
- 00:17:13.454 --> 00:17:15.289
- And the mystery of the tomb at herodium.
- 00:17:15.289 --> 00:17:17.391
- That's an interesting one. yeah, we definitely know that.
- 00:17:17.391 --> 00:17:19.894
- He was buried at the site.
- 00:17:19.894 --> 00:17:21.362
- He prepared his own burial place there.
- 00:17:21.362 --> 00:17:24.532
- He died in jericho.
- 00:17:24.532 --> 00:17:25.800
- And josephus tells us of the pompeii procession to this site.
- 00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:30.571
- And he kind of tells through the burial
- 00:17:30.571 --> 00:17:33.674
- That this is the end
- 00:17:33.674 --> 00:17:34.742
- Of a chapter of a period in the history of judea.
- 00:17:34.742 --> 00:17:37.478
- But he doesn't say where was the tomb.
- 00:17:37.478 --> 00:17:40.114
- And in 2007, for the first time, an israeli archeologist,
- 00:17:40.114 --> 00:17:43.951
- Professor nuzzo, suggested to locate the tomb on the
- 00:17:43.951 --> 00:17:48.022
- On the northern eastern slopes.
- 00:17:48.022 --> 00:17:50.591
- But there's one thing missing there.
- 00:17:50.591 --> 00:17:52.360
- There's no inscription in that sepulcher
- 00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:54.562
- That tells us for sure this is it.
- 00:17:54.562 --> 00:17:56.264
- And i personally think i'm not the only one.
- 00:17:56.264 --> 00:17:59.300
- Maybe the tomb is very well hidden in a different location.
- 00:17:59.300 --> 00:18:02.970
- This is just family members.
- 00:18:02.970 --> 00:18:04.972
- It's not the real thing.
- 00:18:04.972 --> 00:18:06.207
- Maybe the biggest secrets of herodium
- 00:18:06.207 --> 00:18:08.910
- Are still waiting to be revealed.
- 00:18:08.910 --> 00:18:10.478
- The resting place of the mad king herod the great.
- 00:18:10.478 --> 00:18:13.581
- Well, speaking of secrets,
- 00:18:13.581 --> 00:18:15.183
- The tower of david talk about generation
- 00:18:15.183 --> 00:18:17.652
- After generation of jerusalem and the land of israel.
- 00:18:17.652 --> 00:18:21.122
- It stands really as a sentinel in the heart of jerusalem's
- 00:18:21.122 --> 00:18:24.425
- Old city.
- 00:18:24.425 --> 00:18:25.626
- It's a place steeped in history and biblical significance.
- 00:18:25.626 --> 00:18:28.696
- From the days of king david to this very day, this iconic
- 00:18:28.696 --> 00:18:32.500
- Landmark has witnessed the rise and fall of empires and remains
- 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:36.938
- A powerful symbol of jerusalem's enduring importance.
- 00:18:36.938 --> 00:18:41.075
- Join us as we uncover the incredible story
- 00:18:41.075 --> 00:18:44.011
- Of the tower of david.
- 00:18:44.011 --> 00:18:53.120
- Period after
- 00:18:53.454 --> 00:18:54.589
- Period of jerusalem, history has been uncovered here.
- 00:18:54.589 --> 00:18:57.758
- Tell us more about what we see in the courtyard below us.
- 00:18:57.758 --> 00:19:00.494
- Well, it's a mishmash of of levels and periods
- 00:19:00.494 --> 00:19:04.298
- Because it seems like everyone was here.
- 00:19:04.298 --> 00:19:06.234
- The maccabees, the hasmonean period here, king herod.
- 00:19:06.234 --> 00:19:09.971
- What else do we have here in the area?
- 00:19:09.971 --> 00:19:11.472
- We have evidence of byzantine monks settling here.
- 00:19:11.472 --> 00:19:14.709
- Here in crusaders time.
- 00:19:14.709 --> 00:19:17.078
- Do you see there's a reconstructed arch there? yes.
- 00:19:17.078 --> 00:19:20.081
- Early muslim period. wow. like you name it.
- 00:19:20.081 --> 00:19:22.750
- What are we looking at right now?
- 00:19:22.750 --> 00:19:24.151
- This looks pretty ancient. yes.
- 00:19:24.151 --> 00:19:25.920
- So after the six-day war,
- 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.421
- There was a lot of excavations carried out all over jerusalem.
- 00:19:27.421 --> 00:19:30.992
- The jewish quarter around us sovereign steps.
- 00:19:30.992 --> 00:19:34.328
- And also here they've uncovered.
- 00:19:34.328 --> 00:19:36.530
- Notice this.
- 00:19:36.530 --> 00:19:37.798
- You have two distinct levels, one aligned more with the north
- 00:19:37.798 --> 00:19:41.435
- And beneath it,
- 00:19:41.435 --> 00:19:42.637
- Another layer that is 45 degrees angled in that direction.
- 00:19:42.637 --> 00:19:46.274
- So it's two different distinct phases of life here.
- 00:19:46.274 --> 00:19:50.444
- This alone is herodian above a maccabee layer.
- 00:19:50.444 --> 00:19:54.649
- Well,
- 00:19:54.649 --> 00:19:55.549
- And when herod took over in general,
- 00:19:55.549 --> 00:19:57.652
- We know that he made three
- 00:19:57.652 --> 00:19:59.053
- Giant towers, one he named after his brother
- 00:19:59.053 --> 00:20:01.956
- Fetzer, and another one after miriam and another one
- 00:20:01.956 --> 00:20:05.793
- Because then it says that when the romans destroyed
- 00:20:05.793 --> 00:20:09.130
- Jerusalem, they only left those three towers
- 00:20:09.130 --> 00:20:12.333
- Intact to show how beautiful jerusalem used to be
- 00:20:12.333 --> 00:20:15.670
- If it wasn't for the jewish rebellion.
- 00:20:15.670 --> 00:20:18.205
- Then today we think that the foundation of this tower
- 00:20:18.205 --> 00:20:21.776
- Is the cell tower.
- 00:20:21.776 --> 00:20:22.943
- There's herodian masonry in the foundation of this tower.
- 00:20:22.943 --> 00:20:26.514
- This entire area was destroyed as the temple was destroyed
- 00:20:26.514 --> 00:20:29.650
- In a.d. 70 by the romans.
- 00:20:29.650 --> 00:20:31.952
- Standing here at the tower of david,
- 00:20:31.952 --> 00:20:33.988
- You would have had a bird's eye view.
- 00:20:33.988 --> 00:20:35.690
- We're in the shadow of the temple mount right now.
- 00:20:35.690 --> 00:20:37.758
- Oh, of course.
- 00:20:37.758 --> 00:20:38.826
- The smoldering destruction would have been in your
- 00:20:38.826 --> 00:20:40.795
- Line of sight.
- 00:20:40.795 --> 00:20:41.962
- Yes, well, you can see this on the top of this tower.
- 00:20:41.962 --> 00:20:45.533
- Then later, there was roman military presence.
- 00:20:45.533 --> 00:20:48.602
- The 10th legion was stationed here for 300 years.
- 00:20:48.602 --> 00:20:52.106
- We think that its headquarters was actually right next to us.
- 00:20:52.106 --> 00:20:56.677
- In christian times, there's some evidence
- 00:20:56.677 --> 00:20:58.813
- Of christian monks settling in the ruins here.
- 00:20:58.813 --> 00:21:01.449
- Byzantine period. yes.
- 00:21:01.449 --> 00:21:03.017
- And then the muslims started building something.
- 00:21:03.017 --> 00:21:05.252
- But the main transformation will be in the middle ages
- 00:21:05.252 --> 00:21:08.522
- By the crusaders. following the second.
- 00:21:08.522 --> 00:21:12.460
- I believe
- 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.561
- They all use this place had quarrels among themselves.
- 00:21:13.561 --> 00:21:18.032
- Also, we have some amazing detailed accounts of this period
- 00:21:18.032 --> 00:21:21.369
- And the turks later recycle this and use
- 00:21:21.369 --> 00:21:24.338
- It also as their headquarters.
- 00:21:24.338 --> 00:21:25.840
- So what you're seeing today is a reflection
- 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:28.109
- Mostly of the crusaders and ottoman above it.
- 00:21:28.109 --> 00:21:30.878
- Now, the crusaders,
- 00:21:30.878 --> 00:21:31.946
- I suppose,
- 00:21:31.946 --> 00:21:33.214
- Thought that there was a king david link to this site as well.
- 00:21:33.214 --> 00:21:35.950
- The linkage
- 00:21:35.950 --> 00:21:37.184
- To david goes even earlier, but they definitely called it
- 00:21:37.184 --> 00:21:40.287
- Tower of david or david's citadel.
- 00:21:40.287 --> 00:21:42.790
- And today
- 00:21:42.790 --> 00:21:43.591
- We label it as tower of david,
- 00:21:43.591 --> 00:21:45.159
- Mostly because of associating this minaret.
- 00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:48.362
- Yes, actually a minaret
- 00:21:48.362 --> 00:21:50.464
- That gives it the name tower of david.
- 00:21:50.464 --> 00:21:53.768
- And by the way, that minaret,
- 00:21:53.768 --> 00:21:54.902
- The tower of david, is an iconic site in jerusalem.
- 00:21:54.902 --> 00:21:58.038
- As you're entering
- 00:21:58.038 --> 00:21:59.240
- The jaffa gate, it's right there, the skyline of jerusalem.
- 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.876
- You see the tower of david?
- 00:22:01.876 --> 00:22:02.943
- Yeah, the dome of the rock
- 00:22:02.943 --> 00:22:04.412
- And the tower of david are always the symbols.
- 00:22:04.412 --> 00:22:06.881
- It's what you see on the postcard.
- 00:22:06.881 --> 00:22:09.950
- Thanks again to our good friend danny,
- 00:22:09.950 --> 00:22:11.819
- The digger hermann, for that incredible tour of herodium.
- 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:14.955
- And, folks, we're not done yet.
- 00:22:14.955 --> 00:22:16.657
- Up next, a sneak peek at part three of our special series,
- 00:22:16.657 --> 00:22:20.661
- Digging up the bible.
- 00:22:20.661 --> 00:22:22.563
- Stick around.
- 00:22:22.563 --> 00:22:30.999
- Stick around.
- 00:22:30.999 --> 00:22:35.945
- Welcome back to starting back tonight.
- 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.347
- As we wrap up part two of this special three part
- 00:22:38.347 --> 00:22:40.950
- Series, digging up the bible, i think was very significant
- 00:22:40.950 --> 00:22:44.120
- That we spent today just outside of bethlehem in herodium
- 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:48.024
- Makes me think, of course, of christmas just two days away.
- 00:22:48.024 --> 00:22:51.360
- Hanukkah just three days away, december 26th.
- 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:53.963
- And the book of micah, chapter five, verse two.
- 00:22:53.963 --> 00:22:56.399
- But you,
- 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:57.600
- Bethlehem ephrata, though you are small among the clans
- 00:22:57.600 --> 00:23:00.403
- Of judah,
- 00:23:00.403 --> 00:23:01.637
- Out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over israel,
- 00:23:01.637 --> 00:23:05.475
- Whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
- 00:23:05.475 --> 00:23:08.845
- His name is jesus.
- 00:23:08.845 --> 00:23:10.746
- He's foretold in the dead sea scrolls,
- 00:23:10.746 --> 00:23:12.849
- Which we will dig into tomorrow with danny, the bigger herm.
- 00:23:12.849 --> 00:23:16.619
- And until then, part
- 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.753
- Three of our special series, digging up the bible.
- 00:23:17.753 --> 00:23:20.990
- God bless you and we'll see you soon.
- 00:23:20.990 --> 00:23:20.990
