The Mt. of Olives is located east of Jerusalem and across the Kidron Valley. It offers the most picturesque view of the Old City, and from different vista points, one can see as far as Bethlehem to the south and the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab in the East. The two-mile long ridge has three summits each of which has a tower built on it.
The closeness of the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem's walls made this series of hills a strategic danger. The Roman general Titus had his headquarters on the northern extension of the ridge during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. He named the place Mount Scopus, or "Lookout Hill," because of the view that it offered over the city walls. The entire hill provided a platform for the Roman catapults to hurl heavy objects over the Jewish fortifications into the City.
In ancient times the entire mount would have been heavily wooded as its name implies, covered with dense olive groves. However, from the 3rd millennium B.C. until the present, this 2,900-foot hill has served as one of the main burial grounds for the city.
The Mt. of Olives is associated with some of the most important events in Jesus' life, in particular the week of His passion. It was from the Mt. of Olives that Jesus spoke of the future destruction of Jerusalem, taught His disciples to pray, and wept over the city. If was from the slopes of the Mt. of Olives that Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem to the “Hosannas” of the people. In a garden on its hillside, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and delivered to His enemies.
After His crucifixion and resurrection, the last “footprints of Jesus” are seen on its peak, as it was from the Mt. of Olives, near Bethany, that Jesus ascended into heaven.
Comments
Post a Comment