This artist rendition of the Canaanite fortification around the Gihon Spring, is located in an archaeological dig in the City of David—Jerusalem (Click on photo to enlarge it)
Jerusalem was no different than other cities in the ancient world—water meant survival and life. That means Jerusalem was inexorably linked to its source of water, the Gihon Spring.
Gihon means “gushing” or "pulsing," and its name reflects how it provided water to the city. It was not a continuously flowing spring but rather, an "intermittent" spring—increasing and decreasing in its flow.
To protect their water, the Canaanites built massive guard towers around it as far back as 1,800 BC (800 years before David conquered the city).
The spring was not only used for drinking, but also for irrigating crops in the adjacent Kidron Valley. In order to irrigate, they cut a system of tunnels from within their city walls, which channeled the water southeastward in underground aqueducts.
One of my favorite things to do in the City of David is to walk through one of those ancient tunnels, which exits very near the Pool of Siloam.
Gihon means “gushing” or "pulsing," and its name reflects how it provided water to the city. It was not a continuously flowing spring but rather, an "intermittent" spring—increasing and decreasing in its flow.
To protect their water, the Canaanites built massive guard towers around it as far back as 1,800 BC (800 years before David conquered the city).
The spring was not only used for drinking, but also for irrigating crops in the adjacent Kidron Valley. In order to irrigate, they cut a system of tunnels from within their city walls, which channeled the water southeastward in underground aqueducts.
One of my favorite things to do in the City of David is to walk through one of those ancient tunnels, which exits very near the Pool of Siloam.
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