Erick Stakelbeck: The Valley of Jehoshaphat | Stakelbeck Tonight

July 30, 2025 | 25:5

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: The Valley of Jehoshaphat | Stakelbeck Tonight | July 30, 2025
  • Welcome to stakelbeck tonight.
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  • And welcome to israel's kidron valley.
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  • This is one of the most significant sites
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  • In all of jerusalem and in your bible.
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  • And tonight,
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  • Our good friend, renowned israeli tour guide jaime
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  • El grau, takes us throughout the kidron valley
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  • From mount scopus to the garden of gethsemane
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  • To the mount of olives, to ancient
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  • Tombs will unlock the mysteries of biblical jerusalem.
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  • You're about to see bible prophecy come to life
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  • Before your very eyes as we walk where jesus wall
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  • And it all starts now.
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  • Jamie, it is great to have you back with us, my friend.
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  • At a very important and significant place in the bible.
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  • Where are we right now?
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  • Great to be with you again, erick.
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  • Welcome to mount scopus.
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  • Overlooking the kidron valley from the north side of the city.
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  • These days,
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  • All the way down to the kids on valley
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  • Kidron valley, stretching right over here from mount scopus
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  • All the way down to the south, and then turns east
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  • 21 miles and spills at the dead sea. wow.
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  • It's a vast place, jamie.
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  • In such biblical significance.
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  • The kidron valley is mentioned many times in the bible.
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  • We'll get into that today, but okay, tell us a little bit
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  • Now of this great overlook we're at right now.
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  • Tell us what we can see
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  • Right now from mount scopus here in the kidron valley.
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  • Where we're standing overlooking the old city of jerusalem
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  • From the north, will the first thing
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  • That magnetized us our eyes is the golden dome,
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  • The golden dome of the rock,
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  • Where, according to our tradition,
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  • That is where the binding of isaac took place.
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  • When abraham takes his son, his only son, isaac is mentioned
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  • In the book of genesis
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  • And is about to sacrifice his son
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  • On the altar on the rock.
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  • These days we have this golden shrine built above it.
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  • We can see the east.
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  • And the temples were there as well.
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  • Obviously solomon's temple,
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  • Herod's temple right on the temple mount.
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  • First temple built by king solomon round about 960 bc,
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  • Which was destroyed by the babylonians 586 bc.
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  • 400 years later.
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  • And the second temple built by the people
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  • Coming back from babylonia after exile, built in the same
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  • Spot, destroyed 70 a.d.
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  • What we're actually looking at now from this point
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  • Is the eastern and northern corner of temple mount,
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  • The same temple mount built, renovated by king herod
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  • 2000 years ago, the same king herod
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  • Who persecuted the innocents in bethlehem.
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  • That's right, that's right.
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  • Now, this is the kidron valley, jamie.
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  • It's kind of the border of jerusalem, right?
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  • Traditionally, it's been looked at as a border
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  • And beyond the kidron is a place
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  • Historically at least, you didn't want to go.
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  • That was kind of the wilderness, right?
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  • Yes. this was the geographic border and the municipal border
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  • Of ancient jerusalem.
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  • In fact, up until 150 years ago, the kidron
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  • Valley was still outside the old city.
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  • When we go back to the account to the hebrew bible,
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  • Jerusalem, meaning the city of david
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  • Or the jebusites city, the king david captures you about.
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  • The kidron valley was the eastern border
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  • Of the city of david throughout history.
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  • We have to remember, according to hebrew law, up
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  • Until today, jewish law jews are not allowed
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  • To bury their dead in the city, only outside.
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  • Therefore, the mount of olives and the feet of the mount of
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  • Olives, which are connected to the kidron valley,
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  • Were actually the necropolis.
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  • The city of the dead.
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  • And you could have
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  • Looked upon the city of the dead from where you lived
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  • In jerusalem.
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  • Obviously, many traditions and many prophecies took place
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  • Regarding this area. mount of olives.
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  • We'll talk about those prophecies that had
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  • And still have a profound impact on humanity,
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  • The way we understand things that will take place
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  • Here in jerusalem during the end of the days.
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  • So, okay, you mentioned david and solomon.
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  • Let's kind of go in chronological order.
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  • We're going to do that today, jamie, because
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  • There's so much biblical history here in the kidron valley.
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  • Tell us the connection
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  • Of the one and only king david to the kidron valley.
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  • Well, if we go back to the book of samuel,
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  • We read that the young shepherd from the city of david,
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  • The original city of david, bethlehem, when he becomes king,
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  • He catches his throne and he has to deal with many issues.
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  • One of them is the rebellion
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  • Of his son, his renowned son absalom, absalom!
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  • Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
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  • As king, he had the revolt from his son absalom.
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  • Tell us more about it.
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  • When absalom
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  • Comes back from hebron, leading his troops, his men,
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  • He wants to catch the kingdom, and he wants to throw
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  • His father, king david, from the throne and take over
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  • King david understands that he has a king,
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  • Has the right
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  • To kill his own son, but he will be merciful towards his son.
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  • He will not want to see his son killed
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  • And he will choose to flee from his son.
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  • Where does he flee to?
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  • Well, we have to open the book of samuel.
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  • If you don't mind. i'd love to read this out.
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  • You can't walk here without a bible in your hand, folks.
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  • By the way, here
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  • In jerusalem, here in the kidron valley, have bible will carry.
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  • That's jamie's philosophy. and we love it. yes.
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  • Well, two samuel chapter 15.
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  • We read the following.
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  • The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by.
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  • The king also crossed the kidd john valley,
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  • And all the people moved on toward the wilderness.
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  • Now let's go back and understand what happens over here.
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  • King david has two choices either to kill his son
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  • Or to flee.
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  • Now the people, his people tell him,
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  • Take the ark of the covenant with you, the holy of holies,
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  • And he will choose the right decision.
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  • He will say, the ark of the covenant is not mine.
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  • It's god's will.
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  • And this is the chosen place.
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  • This is where the altar is.
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  • This is where the temple will be.
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  • This is where the ark of the covenant should stay.
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  • He will leave the ark of the covenant here in jerusalem,
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  • And he will flee this way through the kidron
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  • Valley, up to the hills of mount of olives, to the wilderness.
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  • And that's amazing,
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  • Because a 12 minute walk all the way up to the ridge
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  • Of mount of olives. from where we're standing right.
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  • Now, where we're standing right now,
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  • You enter the wilderness, the judean desert.
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  • When king solomon
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  • Establishes or begins to establish his kingdom,
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  • He has to get things together and make some order.
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  • One of the things he does, he will warn shimi,
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  • The son of gera shimmy
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  • Ben guitar, not to leave the boundaries of jerusalem.
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  • And since we mentioned earlier on, erick
  • 00:07:15.691 --> 00:07:18.261
  • That the kidron valley throughout history
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  • Was the geographic and municipal.
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  • Site, the.
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  • Boundary, boundary or border of jerusalem to the west of
  • 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:27.370
  • Where we are now, up over there, very close to where we are.
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  • We understand that
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  • By passing the kidron valley, you're outside the city.
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  • You. jamie, we're in the midst of these beautiful olive trees
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  • Here in the garden of gethsemane in the kidron valley.
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  • But this is a place it's really known for its tombs.
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  • Tell us more about that.
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  • Well, mount of olives is the necropolis we will around us.
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  • Here's a great example.
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  • We're talking about very soft limestone.
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  • Like chalk. stone. soft like chalk.
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  • History is based on geography, right.
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  • So where you have
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  • A source of water, you'll have a city
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  • And where you have a very soft stone.
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  • People can chisel, carve and make use of it.
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  • Since the city is right behind us, up over there
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  • On mount moriah, going down to the slopes of the city of david,
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  • Right opposite are the feet of mount of olives.
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  • And look what we have just right opposite us.
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  • Who knows how old this tomb is, first of all?
  • 00:08:39.375 --> 00:08:41.243
  • Well, this is no doubt thousands of years old.
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  • This is no doubt biblical.
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  • I mean, look where it's situated.
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  • Yeah, and there's a few all around here and up above us.
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  • Now, this was covered back in the day,
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  • In ancient times by a stone, right?
  • 00:08:53.990 --> 00:08:55.791
  • By a burial stone.
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  • Look, we have to realize that this kind of tool
  • 00:08:56.859 --> 00:08:59.662
  • Would not have stayed open back in the days.
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  • You want to protect the deceased body,
  • 00:09:02.598 --> 00:09:04.700
  • You want to prevent animals from coming in and dismembering,
  • 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:07.937
  • The deceased body.
  • 00:09:08.371 --> 00:09:09.305
  • So, yes, you will take a huge, large rock
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  • And roll it over a rolling stone to seal that tomb.
  • 00:09:12.441 --> 00:09:16.545
  • Now, what we assume today, according to the research,
  • 00:09:16.545 --> 00:09:20.282
  • Is that only 4% of the people back in the days of
  • 00:09:20.282 --> 00:09:24.954
  • The bible were actually buried in burial tombs.
  • 00:09:24.954 --> 00:09:28.290
  • The rest could not afford
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  • To carve through the rock or family tomb.
  • 00:09:30.092 --> 00:09:33.062
  • And just like we do today, the commoners
  • 00:09:33.062 --> 00:09:35.631
  • Would have been buried underground.
  • 00:09:35.631 --> 00:09:39.035
  • And rich families would have been buried this way.
  • 00:09:39.035 --> 00:09:40.970
  • Needs to be.
  • 00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:42.071
  • Think of, in the new testament, joseph of arimathea,
  • 00:09:42.071 --> 00:09:44.273
  • A rich man. and jesus was buried in a rich man's tomb.
  • 00:09:44.273 --> 00:09:46.742
  • So how does one actually does explain that jesus was buried
  • 00:09:46.742 --> 00:09:50.946
  • As a rich jew?
  • 00:09:50.946 --> 00:09:51.947
  • Well, as you said, joseph of arimathea was a rich
  • 00:09:51.947 --> 00:09:55.484
  • Person who contribute and who gave his tomb to jesus.
  • 00:09:55.484 --> 00:09:59.789
  • Yes, sir.
  • 00:09:59.789 --> 00:10:01.257
  • Up next, more from the kidron valley, home
  • 00:10:02.158 --> 00:10:05.261
  • To some of the most remarkable ancient tombs in all of israel.
  • 00:10:05.261 --> 00:10:09.365
  • These burial sites date back thousands of years
  • 00:10:09.365 --> 00:10:11.967
  • And include some truly famous tombs
  • 00:10:11.967 --> 00:10:15.071
  • You won't want to miss what we found.
  • 00:10:15.071 --> 00:10:17.273
  • Stay with us.
  • 00:10:17.273 --> 00:10:24.003
  • Stay with us.
  • 00:10:24.003 --> 00:10:35.825
  • Jamie, i think right now
  • 00:10:36.358 --> 00:10:37.693
  • We are standing in one
  • 00:10:37.693 --> 00:10:38.728
  • Of the most amazing places in all of jerusalem.
  • 00:10:38.728 --> 00:10:41.731
  • And that's saying something.
  • 00:10:41.731 --> 00:10:43.399
  • We're in the middle of so many iconic biblical spots.
  • 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:47.103
  • Break it down for us as we stand here.
  • 00:10:47.103 --> 00:10:48.771
  • By the way, at the foot of the mount of olives.
  • 00:10:48.771 --> 00:10:52.174
  • Welcome to the valley of joseph.
  • 00:10:52.174 --> 00:10:54.610
  • And traditionally, this valley we can see right behind me.
  • 00:10:54.610 --> 00:10:58.581
  • This wide valley within the kidron valley
  • 00:10:58.581 --> 00:11:01.851
  • Is the valley traditionally mentioned in the prophecies.
  • 00:11:01.851 --> 00:11:06.155
  • The book of joel chapter three mentions the following.
  • 00:11:06.155 --> 00:11:09.458
  • I'd like to read it out.
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  • In this valley, within a valley where we are right now,
  • 00:11:11.327 --> 00:11:13.529
  • Within the kidron.
  • 00:11:13.529 --> 00:11:14.630
  • The book of joel chapter three says, in those days,
  • 00:11:14.630 --> 00:11:18.968
  • And at that time
  • 00:11:18.968 --> 00:11:20.102
  • When i restore the fortunes of judah and jerusalem,
  • 00:11:20.102 --> 00:11:23.906
  • I will gather all nations together and bring them down
  • 00:11:23.906 --> 00:11:27.076
  • To the valley of joseph.
  • 00:11:27.076 --> 00:11:28.511
  • And there i will put them on trial
  • 00:11:28.511 --> 00:11:31.380
  • For what they did to my inheritance,
  • 00:11:31.380 --> 00:11:34.316
  • My people israel, because they scattered my people
  • 00:11:34.316 --> 00:11:37.386
  • Among the nations and divided up my land.
  • 00:11:37.386 --> 00:11:41.457
  • Wow. wow, jamie.
  • 00:11:41.457 --> 00:11:42.958
  • So what the book of joel is saying,
  • 00:11:42.958 --> 00:11:45.094
  • What god almighty is saying through the prophet joel,
  • 00:11:45.094 --> 00:11:47.496
  • Is that a day is coming when all nations will be judged.
  • 00:11:47.496 --> 00:11:51.500
  • Right here, where we're standing in the valley of joseph,
  • 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:53.569
  • That every nation for how they treated israel.
  • 00:11:53.569 --> 00:11:57.740
  • I'd say that israel is a pretty big deal
  • 00:11:57.740 --> 00:12:00.409
  • In god's economy, judging by that verse.
  • 00:12:00.409 --> 00:12:03.078
  • Yes, according to the faith,
  • 00:12:03.078 --> 00:12:05.447
  • We know that the dead will arise from their tombs.
  • 00:12:05.447 --> 00:12:08.918
  • And look where we are.
  • 00:12:08.918 --> 00:12:10.019
  • We are in the middle of a jewish cemetery, round
  • 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:14.723
  • About or down where the valley is, the valley of jehoshaphat.
  • 00:12:14.723 --> 00:12:17.960
  • We can see a number of tombs where christians are buried,
  • 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:21.597
  • And up on the eastern slopes
  • 00:12:21.597 --> 00:12:25.067
  • Of temple mount you can see another burial site,
  • 00:12:25.067 --> 00:12:27.636
  • Another cemetery where muslims are buried.
  • 00:12:27.636 --> 00:12:30.139
  • When the messiah
  • 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:31.340
  • Comes, there's going to be the resurrection of the dead.
  • 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:33.909
  • They will rise and they will be judged.
  • 00:12:33.909 --> 00:12:35.678
  • We will all be judged according to the book of joel
  • 00:12:35.678 --> 00:12:39.081
  • Here in the valley of joseph and jehoshaphat in hebrew,
  • 00:12:39.081 --> 00:12:42.651
  • Jehoshaphat means god will judge. wow.
  • 00:12:42.651 --> 00:12:46.889
  • And now the messiah, when he comes,
  • 00:12:46.889 --> 00:12:49.692
  • Will come through the golden gate.
  • 00:12:49.692 --> 00:12:52.428
  • Traditionally,
  • 00:12:52.428 --> 00:12:53.295
  • He will walk through
  • 00:12:53.295 --> 00:12:54.363
  • The golden gate, which is right up over there
  • 00:12:54.363 --> 00:12:56.332
  • Where we can see the eastern wall of temple mount, built,
  • 00:12:56.332 --> 00:12:59.902
  • Erected 2000 years ago by king herod.
  • 00:12:59.902 --> 00:13:02.872
  • That was the eastern entrance to the temple,
  • 00:13:02.872 --> 00:13:07.209
  • Built up over this field in the mid 1500s by sultan
  • 00:13:07.209 --> 00:13:11.480
  • Suleiman of the ottoman empire, the ottoman empire.
  • 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:14.283
  • So we're in the midst of the tombs on the mount of olives,
  • 00:13:14.283 --> 00:13:16.819
  • The golden gate,
  • 00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:18.220
  • The temple mount, the valley of jehoshaphat.
  • 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:20.289
  • This is like bible prophecy.
  • 00:13:20.289 --> 00:13:21.957
  • Come to life where we're standing right now.
  • 00:13:21.957 --> 00:13:24.894
  • And there is another jesus connection here.
  • 00:13:24.894 --> 00:13:28.697
  • We're in the shadow of the garden of gethsemane.
  • 00:13:28.697 --> 00:13:31.834
  • Jamie, tell us more.
  • 00:13:32.301 --> 00:13:33.302
  • So, right behind us
  • 00:13:33.302 --> 00:13:34.670
  • Is the iconic church of the garden of gethsemane.
  • 00:13:34.670 --> 00:13:38.073
  • Traditionally, that is where jesus went
  • 00:13:38.073 --> 00:13:40.876
  • To after the last supper with his disciples
  • 00:13:40.876 --> 00:13:44.013
  • To pray, to mourn his destiny.
  • 00:13:44.013 --> 00:13:47.516
  • And as we read in the bible, we read that he leaves
  • 00:13:47.516 --> 00:13:51.754
  • Three of his disciples
  • 00:13:51.754 --> 00:13:53.989
  • Far away from him, and he weeps on a rock
  • 00:13:53.989 --> 00:13:57.226
  • And asks his father to take away
  • 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:00.963
  • The cup of the agony, and he's in deep agony.
  • 00:14:00.963 --> 00:14:04.366
  • That's one of the only times we read about jesus's
  • 00:14:04.366 --> 00:14:08.771
  • Human nature when he goes into grief and agony.
  • 00:14:08.771 --> 00:14:12.408
  • That's why that church over there,
  • 00:14:12.408 --> 00:14:13.742
  • Erected here in the early 1900s, is called
  • 00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:17.479
  • The church of the agony.
  • 00:14:17.479 --> 00:14:18.981
  • The church of all nations people will come to jerusalem
  • 00:14:18.981 --> 00:14:22.918
  • During the end of their lives,
  • 00:14:22.918 --> 00:14:24.486
  • Or towards the end of their lives.
  • 00:14:24.486 --> 00:14:26.722
  • And what they want to do is to be buried over here.
  • 00:14:26.722 --> 00:14:29.425
  • They want to die in jerusalem, and they want to be buried
  • 00:14:29.425 --> 00:14:33.228
  • On this mountain, mount of olives, expecting
  • 00:14:33.228 --> 00:14:36.432
  • And waiting for the coming of the messiah.
  • 00:14:36.432 --> 00:14:39.435
  • And this explains this unique scenery
  • 00:14:39.435 --> 00:14:41.870
  • That nowhere else in the world will be able to see.
  • 00:14:41.870 --> 00:14:44.239
  • This is absolutely amazing.
  • 00:14:44.239 --> 00:14:46.608
  • Yeah, people want to be buried right here.
  • 00:14:46.608 --> 00:14:48.477
  • So that when the messiah comes, they'd be the first to rise
  • 00:14:48.477 --> 00:14:50.946
  • With him and enter the golden gate front stage. the
  • 00:14:50.946 --> 00:14:55.517
  • Up next, we take you deep
  • 00:14:56.085 --> 00:14:57.553
  • Into the heart of the kidron valley,
  • 00:14:57.553 --> 00:14:59.488
  • Where ancient stones whisper secrets and a mysterious tomb
  • 00:14:59.488 --> 00:15:03.625
  • May hold a direct connection to king david himself.
  • 00:15:03.625 --> 00:15:07.529
  • Don't move.
  • 00:15:07.863 --> 00:15:12.007
  • Don't move.
  • 00:15:12.007 --> 00:15:18.842
  • From here in.
  • 00:15:19.209 --> 00:15:33.056
  • Jamie, one of the most notorious figures, i would say in
  • 00:15:34.124 --> 00:15:39.062
  • The old testament is david's son, absalom.
  • 00:15:39.062 --> 00:15:42.632
  • Now, we talked about him earlier.
  • 00:15:42.632 --> 00:15:44.667
  • This is a very significant place
  • 00:15:44.667 --> 00:15:46.703
  • Where it comes to absalom, right?
  • 00:15:46.703 --> 00:15:47.937
  • Right here in the kidron valley.
  • 00:15:47.937 --> 00:15:49.539
  • Yes. yes, we are.
  • 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.974
  • We are right outside.
  • 00:15:50.974 --> 00:15:52.909
  • Or looking at absalom's pillar.
  • 00:15:52.909 --> 00:15:55.512
  • Traditionally the place, the spot
  • 00:15:55.512 --> 00:15:57.480
  • Where absalom, son of david, was buried.
  • 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:01.017
  • Second samuel, chapter 18.
  • 00:16:01.017 --> 00:16:04.421
  • This is what we read during his lifetime.
  • 00:16:04.421 --> 00:16:07.924
  • Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in
  • 00:16:07.924 --> 00:16:11.494
  • The king's valley as a monument to himself.
  • 00:16:11.494 --> 00:16:14.531
  • For he thought,
  • 00:16:14.531 --> 00:16:15.565
  • I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.
  • 00:16:15.565 --> 00:16:18.735
  • He named the pillar after himself,
  • 00:16:18.735 --> 00:16:21.337
  • And it is called absalom's monument to this day.
  • 00:16:21.337 --> 00:16:25.175
  • So we're in the king's valley.
  • 00:16:25.175 --> 00:16:27.877
  • We're in the king's valley
  • 00:16:27.877 --> 00:16:28.945
  • Because it's right outside jerusalem.
  • 00:16:28.945 --> 00:16:31.247
  • Where would the king have his gardens?
  • 00:16:31.247 --> 00:16:34.317
  • Naturally. in the valley.
  • 00:16:34.317 --> 00:16:35.952
  • In the valley where we have water flowing down
  • 00:16:35.952 --> 00:16:39.222
  • And from not far away from us, we have the giant spring,
  • 00:16:39.222 --> 00:16:43.760
  • Which waters all the crops around us.
  • 00:16:43.760 --> 00:16:46.696
  • And the king could have watered his gardens as well.
  • 00:16:46.696 --> 00:16:50.300
  • And that is why the kidron valley,
  • 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:52.202
  • Also known as valley of joseph, that also known as
  • 00:16:52.202 --> 00:16:56.072
  • King's valley. when pilgrims
  • 00:16:56.072 --> 00:16:57.841
  • Come into jerusalem and see this magnificent.
  • 00:16:57.841 --> 00:17:01.644
  • It's quite as well built monument over here.
  • 00:17:01.644 --> 00:17:04.647
  • Automatically they will connected to absalom.
  • 00:17:04.647 --> 00:17:08.318
  • It must be absalom's pillar, as the bible says.
  • 00:17:08.318 --> 00:17:10.887
  • Is it question mark? yeah. question mark. yeah.
  • 00:17:10.887 --> 00:17:13.690
  • Well, this is called.
  • 00:17:13.690 --> 00:17:14.591
  • It's called a nefesh.
  • 00:17:14.591 --> 00:17:16.259
  • B'nefesh means a stone.
  • 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:18.895
  • Nefesh means a monument.
  • 00:17:18.895 --> 00:17:20.864
  • So you have the monument and the tomb.
  • 00:17:20.864 --> 00:17:23.133
  • But the tomb of this monument is actually not to the left.
  • 00:17:23.133 --> 00:17:27.370
  • It's actually inside this tomb.
  • 00:17:27.370 --> 00:17:30.140
  • So one person would have been buried inside.
  • 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:32.976
  • That one person
  • 00:17:32.976 --> 00:17:34.144
  • Had to be a very important figure to be buried in this
  • 00:17:34.144 --> 00:17:37.180
  • Beautiful monument carved into the rock.
  • 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:40.383
  • As we can still see, the chisel marks on both sides.
  • 00:17:40.383 --> 00:17:43.386
  • And the rest of his family would have been buried
  • 00:17:43.386 --> 00:17:46.389
  • In those chambers.
  • 00:17:46.389 --> 00:17:47.457
  • We can see to our left over here.
  • 00:17:47.457 --> 00:17:50.160
  • Man, it is quite a structure.
  • 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.928
  • Someone clearly important is buried here.
  • 00:17:51.928 --> 00:17:54.297
  • Jamie. was it absalom? who knows?
  • 00:17:54.297 --> 00:17:56.499
  • So we do know.
  • 00:17:56.499 --> 00:17:57.567
  • Or we can assume we know the answer.
  • 00:17:57.567 --> 00:18:00.537
  • This style was seen in jerusalem 2000 years ago.
  • 00:18:00.537 --> 00:18:04.073
  • Therefore, whoever was buried over
  • 00:18:04.073 --> 00:18:05.975
  • Here was walking around jerusalem 2000 years ago.
  • 00:18:05.975 --> 00:18:09.879
  • If we go back to the herodian and ehud says discoveries.
  • 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:15.018
  • Yeah.
  • 00:18:15.251 --> 00:18:16.252
  • When we tried to compare herod's king herod's
  • 00:18:16.252 --> 00:18:19.355
  • Tomb to this tomb, they are very, very similar.
  • 00:18:19.355 --> 00:18:24.160
  • You can get confused thinking that this was the tomb of herod
  • 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:27.430
  • Found the herodium, which was reconstructed.
  • 00:18:27.430 --> 00:18:29.999
  • So one of your friends that you've interviewed before
  • 00:18:29.999 --> 00:18:32.936
  • On your show, doctor gabi barchi, of.
  • 00:18:32.936 --> 00:18:35.772
  • Course. comes over here.
  • 00:18:35.772 --> 00:18:37.240
  • Part of his deep research is to examine
  • 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:40.343
  • All the tombs around jerusalem.
  • 00:18:40.343 --> 00:18:43.947
  • And when he examines these findings, together
  • 00:18:43.947 --> 00:18:46.749
  • With ehud, nets his findings in the herodian.
  • 00:18:46.749 --> 00:18:49.752
  • Matching this style
  • 00:18:49.752 --> 00:18:51.187
  • Into king herod style, he will determine
  • 00:18:51.187 --> 00:18:53.823
  • That the person who is buried over here is actually king
  • 00:18:53.823 --> 00:18:56.993
  • Herod's grandson, agrippa or agrippa as well.
  • 00:18:56.993 --> 00:19:01.631
  • So who's buried here?
  • 00:19:01.631 --> 00:19:04.267
  • Herod agrippa.
  • 00:19:04.601 --> 00:19:05.602
  • No absalom. i'll tell you why.
  • 00:19:05.602 --> 00:19:08.104
  • Because if for thousands of years
  • 00:19:08.104 --> 00:19:10.039
  • People came here to this spot telling their children
  • 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:13.476
  • That absalom is buried over here tossing rocks on the monument.
  • 00:19:13.476 --> 00:19:18.114
  • It's absalom's tomb.
  • 00:19:18.114 --> 00:19:19.182
  • Absalom's tomb.
  • 00:19:19.182 --> 00:19:19.983
  • No it's not. it's okay.
  • 00:19:19.983 --> 00:19:21.684
  • You get the idea.
  • 00:19:21.684 --> 00:19:23.152
  • The idea in jerusalem, many traditions,
  • 00:19:23.152 --> 00:19:26.155
  • Many practices, many ideas.
  • 00:19:26.155 --> 00:19:28.791
  • You want to find the objective truth
  • 00:19:28.791 --> 00:19:31.094
  • That has been researched by scholars.
  • 00:19:31.094 --> 00:19:33.029
  • Okay, but if you want to know the traditions
  • 00:19:33.029 --> 00:19:35.031
  • That had a profound impact on many comes to the city.
  • 00:19:35.031 --> 00:19:39.202
  • This is one of the great stories ever told.
  • 00:19:39.202 --> 00:19:42.505
  • Coming up, one more ancient mystery
  • 00:19:43.273 --> 00:19:45.808
  • Awaits deep within the tombs of the kidron valley,
  • 00:19:45.808 --> 00:19:49.145
  • Shrouded in history, legend and echoes of the bible.
  • 00:19:49.145 --> 00:19:52.915
  • What secrets still lie buried?
  • 00:19:52.915 --> 00:19:55.752
  • Stay tuned. you won't want to miss this.
  • 00:19:55.752 --> 00:20:02.008
  • Stay tuned. you won't want to miss this.
  • 00:20:02.008 --> 00:20:25.348
  • We are in
  • 00:20:25.648 --> 00:20:26.549
  • What's known to be the hezekiah
  • 00:20:26.549 --> 00:20:29.819
  • Family's tomb, mentioned in the book of chronicles.
  • 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:33.389
  • In the book of nehemiah, we hear we learn about 24 priests
  • 00:20:33.389 --> 00:20:39.028
  • Families who are running the temple
  • 00:20:39.028 --> 00:20:41.497
  • In a two weeks shift a year.
  • 00:20:41.497 --> 00:20:44.400
  • The hezekiah family mentioned in those books
  • 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.003
  • Were there up in the temple during those two weeks,
  • 00:20:47.003 --> 00:20:50.106
  • Just like another well known priest
  • 00:20:50.106 --> 00:20:53.309
  • Who practiced up into the temple.
  • 00:20:53.309 --> 00:20:55.278
  • And his name is zechariah.
  • 00:20:55.278 --> 00:20:57.180
  • Zechariah, the father of john, known as john the back.
  • 00:20:57.180 --> 00:21:00.249
  • John the baptist.
  • 00:21:00.249 --> 00:21:01.517
  • Well, thanks to the inscription right above your head, erick,
  • 00:21:01.517 --> 00:21:04.954
  • We know these days that it is the hazier family's tomb.
  • 00:21:04.954 --> 00:21:09.959
  • That's ancient hebrew, what, 2200 years old? yes.
  • 00:21:09.959 --> 00:21:13.496
  • So that this tomb was carved into the rock
  • 00:21:13.496 --> 00:21:17.200
  • Back in the hasmonean era, 2200 years ago.
  • 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:20.536
  • But traditionally, this was not the tomb of his heir.
  • 00:21:20.536 --> 00:21:24.107
  • Known to the pilgrims who gathered here around
  • 00:21:24.107 --> 00:21:27.210
  • Jerusalem and practiced their traditions.
  • 00:21:27.210 --> 00:21:30.947
  • This was known, according to the modern research
  • 00:21:30.947 --> 00:21:33.750
  • Back in those days.
  • 00:21:33.750 --> 00:21:34.751
  • The tomb of joseph, the stepfather of jesus,
  • 00:21:34.751 --> 00:21:38.321
  • And his brother james.
  • 00:21:38.321 --> 00:21:40.423
  • One of the tombs behind me right now
  • 00:21:40.423 --> 00:21:43.893
  • Was mentioned to be the tomb of zachariah.
  • 00:21:43.893 --> 00:21:46.963
  • This began of that tradition began, according to
  • 00:21:46.963 --> 00:21:49.799
  • The inscription written on the tomb in ancient greek
  • 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:54.137
  • That began in the three hundreds,
  • 00:21:54.137 --> 00:21:56.973
  • When this was under byzantine control and faith.
  • 00:21:56.973 --> 00:22:01.477
  • So the christians wanted to commemorate zachariah
  • 00:22:01.477 --> 00:22:04.213
  • The father. father of john the baptist.
  • 00:22:04.213 --> 00:22:06.215
  • Jews coming here
  • 00:22:06.215 --> 00:22:07.550
  • Throughout the millennials were not familiar with that.
  • 00:22:07.550 --> 00:22:10.353
  • Zachariah the priest.
  • 00:22:10.353 --> 00:22:11.487
  • They were familiar with a different zachariah
  • 00:22:11.487 --> 00:22:14.123
  • With the old testament, the priest
  • 00:22:14.123 --> 00:22:16.826
  • Who was walking around, not just a priest, also a prophet.
  • 00:22:16.826 --> 00:22:21.330
  • The tradition is that the
  • 00:22:21.898 --> 00:22:23.599
  • First from the first temple era, that zachariah, the prophet
  • 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:27.804
  • Who was stoned up in the temple,
  • 00:22:27.804 --> 00:22:29.672
  • His tomb was right close to us.
  • 00:22:29.672 --> 00:22:31.774
  • And that's how we get all this
  • 00:22:31.774 --> 00:22:33.209
  • Mixed up in all these different traditions.
  • 00:22:33.209 --> 00:22:35.411
  • It's interesting
  • 00:22:35.411 --> 00:22:36.546
  • Because when we started, i said, well, let's do a piece
  • 00:22:36.546 --> 00:22:37.914
  • On the tombs of the kidron valley.
  • 00:22:37.914 --> 00:22:39.849
  • This, this is amazing.
  • 00:22:39.849 --> 00:22:41.284
  • Is this was it's just the tip of the iceberg,
  • 00:22:41.284 --> 00:22:44.854
  • Folks, as we wrap up
  • 00:22:45.321 --> 00:22:46.789
  • Here, what a journey through the ancient heart of jerusalem.
  • 00:22:46.789 --> 00:22:49.992
  • From the monumental tombs to the mysteries still hidden
  • 00:22:49.992 --> 00:22:53.162
  • Beneath the stones, the kidron valley reminds us that the bible
  • 00:22:53.162 --> 00:22:57.166
  • Isn't just a book.
  • 00:22:57.166 --> 00:22:58.401
  • It's living, breathing history that you can still see, touch,
  • 00:22:58.401 --> 00:23:02.572
  • And walk through today.
  • 00:23:02.572 --> 00:23:04.106
  • These places are powerful testimonies
  • 00:23:04.106 --> 00:23:06.342
  • To the truth of god's word, and they point us
  • 00:23:06.342 --> 00:23:09.545
  • To an even greater kingdom still to come.
  • 00:23:09.545 --> 00:23:13.115
  • Thanks for watching. god bless you.
  • 00:23:13.115 --> 00:23:15.485
  • We'll see you soon.
  • 00:23:15.485 --> 00:23:15.485