The Shrine of the Book and Second Temple Model
The Israel Museum is replete with artifacts that shed light on the history and background of the Scriptures. From bronze bulls that reveal secrets of Canaanite fertility religion to large murals that record the military feats of individuals such as Sennacherib, thousands of years of history come to life. However, photography is not allowed in the museum.
The Israel Museum was built in 1965. A significant part of the museum is the Shrine of the Book. This is the new resting place of many of the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered near the Dead Sea in the years following 1947. Later, we will visit Qumran, the settlement on the Dead Sea where these manuscripts originated.
Below is the roof of the Shrine of the Book. It is intended to imitate the lids which were on the clay jars in which many of the scrolls were found. The actual exhibit is beneath the white roof, underground.
Much of the Qumran literature speaks of the distinction between the "Sons of Light" and the "Sons of Darkness." Therefore, standing across the way from the white roof of the exhibit, is this black monument, representing the Qumran references and reminding us of the reality of evil in the world.
Here, you can enjoy a rare look into the interior of the Shrine of the Book. This is what lies beneath the white dome. The display in the center is designed to look like the end of a scroll handle. A reproduction of the great Isaiah Scroll, found in Qumran cave one, is on display wrapped around it. Fragments of other scrolls are displayed around the wall of the museum.
Photo Copyright the Israel
Museum, Jerusalem
From the Israel Museum grounds, one can see the Israeli seat of government, the Knesset:
Before we begin to move toward Jerusalem, it will be very helpful to visit a model of what Jerusalem would have looked like at the time of Jesus. At the Holyland Hotel, there is such a model, 1:50 in scale. It helps give an idea of the Jerusalem Jesus would have seen.
Here we begin by standing at the rear of the Old City of Jerusalem (looking eastward). The prominent feature in the center is the Jewish Temple, gloriously rebuilt by Herod the Great. On that spot now stands the Muslim Dome of the Rock mosque, which we will see later.
We will now zoom in on the left hand side of the above photo, just on this side of the prominent four towers which are Herod's Antonio Fortress. The exposed white rock that sticks up out of the ground is Golgotha - the flinty chunk of rock left exposed due to quarrying where Jesus was crucified after his trial. Notice that at this time, Golgotha was outside the main city wall.
Now we will begin to walk to the right around the city. Notice the large arched walkway at the corner of the city wall. After 19th century archaeologist Edward Robinson, this formation is called Robinson's Arch. It would have been a popular means of entering the city. The modern Western Wall is the section between the large four towers and the straight, multi-arched crosswalk emerging from the wall.
We are now standing in view of the southern city wall. The slender, pie-shaped grouping of structures coming down from the wall represents the Old City of David, which predates anything within the walls.
A closer look at the southern wall reveals a wide staircase of steps. These steps were where Jesus did a great deal of teaching, and are thus called the Teaching Steps.
Now we will walk around toward the front of the city as it is viewed from the Mount of Olives.
And now we will zoom in on the temple. The area outside the front wall with the half-visible golden doors was the Court of the Women. Only men could enter the golden doors to the square area in front of the temple, and only the priests could go through the black, arched doorway and approach the temple, inside of which was the Holy of Holies. As remodeled by Herod, this temple was truly spectacular in appointment and size.
And now as we leave the model, we take one last look at the city.
