The Kidron Valley

The Kidron Valley, which runs between eastern Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, plummets rapidly into a ravine that is dry much of the year. The bridge that joined the two is probably what Jesus and the disciples used on their way to Gethsemane.


The Kidron Valley - that dark splotch on the pathway at the bottom is a person. Just the other side of the path the Mount of Olives begins.

The Highest Point of the Temple
Jerusalem is split and surrounded by valleys. To the east is the Kidron Valley, to the south of the Old City is the Valley of Hinnom, and the Tyropoeon Valley ran southeast through the Old City.

The Temple was in the northeastern 15% of Jerusalem, and the Kidron Valley plummeted down beside it.

Satan tempted Jesus in three ways: telling stones to become bread when he hadn't eaten in forty days, taking him to a very high mountain and showing him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and taking him to the highest point of the Temple. "If you are the Son of God," the devil said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' Jesus answered him, 'It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.''

A candidate for the furthest drop is the area of the Temple just above the Kidron Valley.

The Red Heifer
On the annual Day of Atonement, a red heifer carrying the weight of the sins for all Israel was sent out of the Temple courts to cross this bridge and wander into the netherlands of the nearby hills.

The eastern gate of the Temple opened almost directly into the Kidron Valley. I believe that the eastern, or Shushan, Gate, was used expressly for VIPs, and the other peons most of us would have been would have had to circle two miles to the main entrance at the Double Gate, near the commercial area.

Crossing the Bridge to Gethsemane
Jesus and the disciples almost certainly crossed the Kidron Bridge after departing the 'large upper room' the Last Supper was held in, and leaving for Gethsemane. Judas and the soldiers almost certainly used this bridge to follow them. All of them almost certainly used this bridge on their way to the high priests mansion.

A Garbage Pit
I believe that in Jesus' time this ravine was used as a garbage pit, and several centuries before that the zealous King Josiah burned all the pagan statues in it.

Travelogue
There is a nice tourists walkway going through the Kidron Valley, which fortunately for tourists is nice and deceptive. I'm not sure I would have made the climb down if I knew how far down - and up! - it was. The real killer is that once you're on the other side, it's a pretty empty area, so you're stuck going all the way back down - and all the way back up!


The Kidron Valley walkway, facing the Mt. Olives.

I tried crossing this at the wrong time of day, being quite unconcerned about it - it was still light, and there were people around. The problem is the church closed at 5, and thus departed all the taxis! I waited and walked and walked and waited and walked back and waited - finally wound up walking way, way far into a completely non-touristy area where I felt anything but safe. Dumb taxi wouldn't come, no matter what! Thought I was gong to get run over in the process, but - clearly! - I fared a bit better than that.

People!
Afterwards I returned to my hotel. The night before the waiter got upset with me for inadequate tipping, so this time I had the remains of a free basket of fruit provided the first night. It's a nice trick I figured out - when that runs out I'll just order room service for another basket. $10 initially, but any dinner in a tourist place is $10 or more, and it will serve me several nights. Plus, I don't have to be surrounded with people I don't know celebrating a holiday I don't understand in a language I don't speak. (Instead I go crazy being locked up between four walls. My second hotel in Tiberias had a beautiful view that encouraged writing and gave an illusion of space that prevented claustrophobia. Unfortunately that's harder to find in a city.)

I also saw the Mt. of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane today.

Last Updated: August 23, 2008