Have you ever heard of the Pool of Siloam? It’s a place that slowly faded away and disappeared off the map after the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, but was recently rediscovered – and it’s amazing what scholars have uncovered about this long-lost Israelite landmark. The site appears several times in the Bible, and its reemergence allows us to confirm various biblical accounts. This blog post will explore discoveries at the pool and uncover Biblical history from thousands of years ago!
The pool originated in the siege by the Assyrians on Jerusalem, and King Hezekiah sought to secure a water supply for the city (2 Chronicles 32). Hezekiah redirected the waters to the west side of the city of David, Jerusalem, and the water which was rerouted into the city became the pool of Siloam (2 Kings 20:20).
Mentioned in the Gospels & Other Accounts
The Pool of Siloam was a well-known landmark in Jerusalem mentioned several times in the Bible. It was located by the Temple Mount and was used for ceremonial purposes by the Jews. The Pool of Siloam was also where Jesus healed a blind man, as described in the Gospel of John (9:7).
Outside of the Gospel accounts, the Pool of Siloam is mentioned in the Talmud (Sukk. 4.9) and mentions that during the Feast of Tabernacles (the feast of booths), water was taken in a golden vessel from the Pool of Siloam to the Water Gate and carried towards to Temple. This event is significant because Jesus makes a direct reference in John 7:37-38 about being the “streams of living water,” and may be making a connection with this carrying of water from the pool of Siloam to the Temple.
Rediscovered
The pool’s rediscovery has scholars still uncovering more information. However, it is known that it is a location that can be further studied to understand the life and customs of the Israelites both before and during the first century; specifically, the pool contains some amazing discoveries about Jewish life during the time of the ministry of Jesus.
Affirm Scripture
The discovery of the Pool of Siloam confirms many biblical accounts. For example, the pool gives credibility that biblical texts accounted for a major location in the first century. Additionally, the pool offers new information about life in ancient Israel and sheds light on aspects of biblical history that can be studied further. This confirms our understanding of the Bible and helps us better appreciate its accounts.
This discovery is important not only because they help us fill in some gaps in our understanding of history, but also because they confirm various biblical accounts. This helps to reinforce the idea that the Bible is a reliable historical document. If you’d like to learn more about these discoveries and what they mean for our understanding of the Bible, click the link below.