Siloam Located South East of Current Old City Jerusalem Old Testament - Use to be part of the City of David – Referred to as Siloah New Testament – Referred to as Siloam. Mentioned in Pool of Siloam & Tower of Siloam Known for the pools and waters fed by the Gihon Spring Watered King Solomon’s Gardens, Washing and Purification and Water for the Alter in the Temple Contains 50 rock-cut tombs of distinguished calibre Now known as Silwan (Palestinian Town) “But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.” Nehemiah 3:15 Tunnel dug underneath the City of David during the reign of Hezekiah Preparation for an impending siege by the Assyrians (Led by Sennacherib) Block source of water from Gihon and led them straight down west to City of David Tunnel is 533m long using a 30cm gradient altitude difference between each end “And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” 2 Kings 20:20 “And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?... This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David.” 2 Chronicles 32:2-4, 30 Speculation in relation to the use of the tower Part of a Roman aqueduct system connecting the Pool of Siloam – However no evidence suggesting elevated viaducts requiring towers A tower of a fortress to defend the city Excavation has uncovered ruins – Circular Foundation 6 mtrs across – More likely to belong to the rebuilt tower after the events in Luke 13 “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? [3] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?” Luke 13: 1-4 Fed by the Gihon Spring Carried to the Pool by two aqueducts “And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:7 Was reconstructed in 5th Century under Byzantine directors at believed site of the original pool Recent archaeological finds have uncovered what is thought to be the true site (2005) .