Background Information Old Testament New Testament New Testament (cont.) Gentile Period (cont.)
1-Biblical Jerusalem 16-Salem, Jebus 33-Ashlar Stones 51-Bethesda Pool 68-Saint Anne's Church
2-History of Jerusalem 17-Milo, Jebusite Wall 34-Temple Mount 52-Holy Sepulcher 69-Sultan's Pool
3a-Map of Today's City 18-Gihon Springs 35-NE of End of Wall 53-Garden Tomb 70-Citadel
3b-The Four Quarters 19-City of David 36-SE End of Wall 54-Fort Antonia 71-Colonnade Column
3c-Photos 20-David's Palace 37-Western Wall 55-Phasael Tower  
3d-Silwan 21-Temple Mount 38-West Wall Tunnel 56-Struthion Pool  
4-The Walls Today 22-Solomon's Walls 39-Mikvah, Ritual Baths 57-Gethsemane  
5-The Gates Today 23-Solomon's Quarries 40-The Large Mikvah 58-Tombs in Hinnom Miscellaneous
6-Archaeology Periods 24-Broad Wall 41-Wilson's Arch 59-Jerusalem Tombs Archaeological Finds
7-Archaeology History 25-Hezekiah's Tunnel 42-Warren's Gate Gentile Period Jason's Tomb
8-Old Ancient Core 26-Middle Gate 43-Barclay's Gate 60-Ecce Homo Lazarus' Tomb
9-Kidron Valley 27-Nehemiah's Wall 44-Robinson's Arch 61-Roman Inscription Tomb of David
10-Central Valley Hasmonean 45-Western Wall Street 62-Cardo Maximus Via Dolorosa
11-Hinnom Valley 28-Walls and Towers 46-Western Wall Shops 63-East Cardo:Roman Road Bazaars
12-Mount of Olives 29-Aqueduct 47-South Temple Wall 64-Nea Church Hezekiah's Pool
13-Mount Moriah 30-Acra 48-Archaeology Park 65-Al Aqsa Mosque Lachish and Assyria
14-Western Hill Mt Zion 31-Temple Mount 49-Siloam Road 66-Dome of the Rock Ancient Artifacts, Period Pieces
15-Ophel 32-Tombs in Kidron 50-Siloam Pool 67-Temple Mount  
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32- Tombs in the Kidron Valley

Go to map of tombs here

Since the Jews would not bury their dead inside the city walls, Jerusalem is surrounded by tombs. There are tombs to the west in the Hinnom Valley,
tombs to the south where the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys meet, tombs to the north of today’s Old City walls and, of course, tombs to the east in the
Kidron Valley where the Messiah is to appear to raise the dead, judge mankind and enter his Temple on Mount Moriah. During the days of the
Hasmoneans, Hellenistic culture influenced the building of elaborate tombs, and this practice continued into the days of the New Testament.
Eight hundred tombs from the time of Herod have been discovered within a 3 mile radius around the city. Jesus was buried in a tomb that was being cut for a
Sanhedrin member outside the city walls to the west. The tombs in the Kidron Valley shown in the photos below were present in the days of Jesus, who would
have walked past them many times and constantly viewed them whenever his eyes scanned the Kidron Valley or the Mount of Olives. He even spoke about
them in the Gospels, calling them “beautiful” when he addressed the religious leaders on the Temple Mount:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,
which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.
- Matthew 23:27

Zechariah’s Tomb and "sons of Hezir" tomb
Three tombs are visible in this photo taken from the eastern wall of the Temple Mount.

  1. To the left is a tomb with two Doric columns identified as belonging to a family of priests by an inscription inside the tomb that mentions the "sons of Hezir”;
  2. In the middle is a tomb known as Zechariah’s Tomb (about 30 people in the Bible are called Zechariah);
  3. To the far right, south of "Zechariah’s Tomb,” is an unfinished tomb cut in the rock.

(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)

tomb of priestly family Bene Hezir in Kidron Valley

Here is a close up of the tomb belonging to a family of priests named Bene Hezir (or, sons of Hezir). 1 Chronicles 24:1 and 15 mention a priest named
Hezir from the line of Aaron serving in the days of David. An inscription written in Hebrew found on the tomb says: This is the tomb and the monument of
Alexander, Hanniah, Yo’ezer, Judah, Simon, Johanan, the sons of Joseph son of Oved. Joseph and Eliezer sons of Hanniah – priests of the Hezir family.
The inscription mentions a monument that may have been located to the left of the tomb entrance on the wall. Below is a view of the same tomb when standing in the Kidron.

tomb belonging to a family of priests named Bene Hezir (or, sons of Hezir). 1 Chronicles 24:1
 
Looking out Bene_Hezir_tomb
 
Looking out Bene_Hezir_tomb
 
Looking into Bene Hezir Tomb in Kidron Valley
The entrance into the Bene Hezir Tomb found behind the decorative pillars that are seen in front of the Bene Hezir Tomb from the Kidron Valley and Jerusalem.
Burial Bench and Kokhim or Loculi in Ben Hezir Tomb in Kidron Valley
The burial bench around the inside of the Bene Hezir tomb in the Kidron Valley with three shafts called Kokhim, or loculi, to place the wrapped body of the deceased.
Burial Bench in Ben Hezir Tomb in Kidron Valley
Burial bench where the deceased was placed to be wrapped with spices before being placed in the kokhim in the Bene Hezir Tomb in the Kidron Valley.
Kokhim or Loculi in Bene Hezir Tomb in Kidron Valley
A kokhim shaft where the deceased was placed in the Bene Hezir Tomb in the Kidron Valley.
Kokhim, or loculi, are long, narrow recesses cut into rock tombs that served as burial niches for the deceased.
Zechariah's Tomb in Kidron Valley with labels
This tomb, known as Zechariah's Tomb, was cut during the life of Jesus. Below is the same tomb as seen when standing in the Kidron Valley.
Zechariah's Tomb is a cube cut out of the rock with Ionic pilasters and a pyramid top. "A" in the photo marks a corridor with steps that provides access to the tomb of the Bene Hezir family to the left. "B" marks a small chamber cut under the base to serve as a tomb. “C” is placed on one of the three rock walls that remained when the stone was cut away to shape this tomb or monument out of the bedrock of Mount of Olives. To the right (south) the letter “D” marks a tomb that was never finished. We may assume the Roman Wars beginning in 66 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD interrupted this unfinished tomb’s building process. This monument (called “Zechariah’s Tomb”) in the middle with the pyramid top may have been built to honor those who would be buried in the unfinished tomb to the south.

 

 

 

 

 

Zechariah's Tomb is a cube cut out of the rock with Ionic pilasters and a
pyramid top. "A" in the photo marks a corridor with steps that provides
access to the tomb of the Hezir family to the left. "B" marks a small
chamber cut under the base to serve as a tomb. To the right (south)
is a tomb that was never finished. This monument (called “Zechariah’s
Tomb”) may have been built to honor those who would be buried in
the unfinished tomb to the south.

 

Zechariah's Tomb in Kidron Valley
Zechariah's Tomb was cut during the life of Jesus. This photo is a view of Zechariah's Tomb as seen when standing in the Kidron Valley.

(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)
Stone cutting on side of Zechariah's Tomb in Kidron Valley
This is a view looking between the rock wall and the side of Zechariah’s Tomb. The remaining rock wall is to the left (north) and the tomb/monument is to the right (south). The back corner and back wall (which is the bedrock of the Mount of Olives) can also be seen.
Carved stone pillars on front of Zechariah's Tomb in Kidron Valley
 
(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)
Hebrew inscription carved into stone pillar of Zechariah's Tomb
 
Tombs in the Kidron Valley
The three tombs as viewed from the Kidron Valley (from left to right): Ben Hezir, Zechariah and an unfinished tomb.
Unfinished Tomb south of Zechariah's Tomb in Kidron Valley
Unfinished Tomb south of Zechariah's Tomb in Kidron Valley
(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)
Photos and map of tombs around Jerusalem
Photos and map of tombs around Jerusalem

This tomb is just a little further north of the three previously mentioned tombs in the Kidron Valley. It was constructed during Jesus’ lifetime. Today it is
traditionally called the Pillar of Absalom or Absalom’s Monument.
The Bordeaux Pilgrim referred to it as the Tomb of Hezekiah in 333 AD. It was first associated
with Absalom by Benjamin of Tudela in 1170 because of 2 Samuel 18:18. The actual person or family for whom this tomb was prepared is unknown. The architectural
style includes both Egyptian and Greek influences, which would have come from the two kingdoms that dominated Judea between 300-100 BC. The Egyptian
influence came from the Ptolemys of Egypt, and the Hellenistic style from the Seleucids, who were Greeks ruling in Syria. The lower square is cut from
the bedrock. It is topped with a finely-cut circular stone with a conical top that was cut from one single stone. Directly to the left of this tomb is an eight-chambered
catacomb with well-preserved carved stone. The catacomb is called the Cave of Jehoshaphat. The Pillar of Absalom may have been a monument for the burial
chambers in the Cave of Jehoshaphat, cut into the cliff behind it. There are two inscriptions in this monument. A two-line inscription above the door is from around
400 AD that says: “This is the tomb of Zachary, martyr, most holy priest, father of John the Baptist.” A later inscription can be seen to the right of the door but only the word “simon’ can be made out. Neither inscription is historically valuable or accurate.
Absalom's Monument or Pillar of Absalom in Kidron Valley Labeled
Pillar of Absalom in Kidron Valley
Galyn climbs the base of the NT tomb known as the Pillar of Absalom in the Kidron Valley on the side of the Mount of Olives
A view from above the Tomb of Absalom looking south with the Pharoah's Daughter's Tomb in the background in the Kidron Valley
A view from above the Tomb of Absalom looking south with the Pharoah's Daughter's Tomb in the background in the Kidron Valley

Stone carving of the Tomb of Absalom from the rock on the side of the Mount of Olives

Stone carving of the Tomb of Absalom from the rock on the side of the Mount of Olives
(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)

Pharaoh's Daughter Tomb in Silwan
This tomb is further south under the village of Silwan and is known as the Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter. This tomb was cut during, or right after, the
Hasmonean age but is unidentified. Originally this tomb, which looks like a small house, was topped with a pyramid roof cut from a single rock.
Sometime after 700 AD the pyramid roof was cut up into blocks to be reused. The process caused great damage to the tomb. More damage was
caused by a hermit who used this tomb as a home. There was an ancient Hebrew inscription in the upper left corner of the entrance, but now
only two letters remain. The rest of the inscription was destroyed when the hermit widened the doorway. (back to the top)

Pharaoh's Daughter's Tomb
Pharaoh's Daughter's Tomb
Pharaoh's Daughter's Tomb
Pharaoh's Daughter's Tomb
Pharaoh's Daughter's Tomb plus 5 more burial caves from 950-586 BC
Pharaoh's Daughter's Tomb plus 5 more burial caves from 950-586 BC
Silwan Tombs 950-586 BC
Silwan Tombs 950-586 BC
(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)
Silwan Tombs fro 950-586 BC
Silwan Tombs fro 950-586 BC
Detail map showing the location of the tombs located around Jerusalem:
Ossuary - stone boxes kept in tombs to hold bones after flesh has decayed
Ossuary - stone boxes kept in tombs to hold bones after flesh has decayed
Decorated Ossuary - stone boxes kept in tombs to hold bones after flesh has decayed
Decorated Ossuary - stone boxes kept in tombs to hold bones after flesh has decayed
Decorated Ossuary - stone boxes kept in tombs to hold bones after flesh has decayed
Decorated Ossuary - stone boxes kept in tombs to hold bones after flesh has decayed
(CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER IMAGE)
(back to the top)


These tombs in the photo above and below date from the time Isaiah would have spoken to one of the royal stewards. Isaiah 22:15 says:

"This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: 'Go, say to this steward, to Shebna, who is in charge of the palace: What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock? Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, O you might man. He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country."

These tombs (above and below photos) are on the east side of the Kidron Valley south of the Temple Mount and across from the
City of David in the city of Silwan.

 
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
           Galyn's video of the Kidron Graves.
 
    Watch Galyn's video as he walks in the Kidron Valley past the tombs.
 

 

   
"Jerusalem: History, Archaeology and Apologetic Proof of Scripture - Revised Edition" 2022, Galyn Wiemers

 

 

UPDATED! 2022 -
JERUSALEM: HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND APOLOGETIC
PROOF OF SCRIPTURE - Revised Edition (2022)


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JERUSALEM: HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND
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