The Historic Kidron Valley Below Jerusalem’s Old City
Circe 1900 Photo taken from Mount of Olives Cemetary looking down at group of Jews at The Tomb Of Absalom, with the wall of the Temple Mount In The Distance.
On our Passover stay in the Old City of Jerusalem we at long last experienced so many amazing things we just never took the time for, even having lived in Jerusalem. One of those things was a visit to the Kidron Valley, which is really right across the street from the Kotel, and yet passed over by so many. Admittedly, this area used to be somewhat dangerous, as the area now called The City Of David was an Arab neighborhood, while now it is largely a Jewish one and home to a National Park of sorts. So we may have driven on the road to the Kotel countless times and passed the steps down in to the Kidron Valley, but I guess we never dreamed of actually stopping, or rather I peered out the window in great interest and couldn’t convince the husband that it would be a good idea to stop. Fast forward, and now on a little adventure with my youngest son we ended up in the Kidron Valley, and at long last I got to see some of the things I’d only seen from the car window, namely the Tombs of Absalom and Zechariah which are truly interesting and well worth a little hike to get there! Lets take a peek…….
The path between the bottom of the City of David and the area where you’ll find the ancient tombs, full of gorgeous poppies in bloom in the Spring! There are steps down to the Kidron Valley either from the City of David, or more simply from the main road just down the hill a bit from Dung Gate, the entrance used to visit the Western Wall. Leave the Kotel main gate, cross the street and turn left. Walk down a bit and you’ll see a long staircase going down the hill. Take it! 
Above: The Tomb of Benei Hezir, and on the right the Tomb of Zechariah
As you walk down those stairs this is what you will see!
Three monumental tombs on the eastern side of the Kidron Valley are among the most well-known landmarks of ancient Jerusalem. These are, from north to south, the “Tomb of Absalom” which rises in front of the “Cave” or “Tomb of Jehoshaphat”, the Tomb of Benei Hezir and the “Tomb of Zechariah”, and they are situated at the foot of the Mount of Olives cemetary. The only one of these three that was actually a burial site for those after whom the site is named is the Tomb of Benei Hezir. Niether Zechariah nor Absalom were buried in their monuments, nor were the monuments necessarily built in their time….. but that is what happens over thousands of years of history, things get names that are misleading to later generations. So be it!
The Tomb of Absalom is one of ancient Jerusalem’s most well known landmarks, as seen here and below.
There are so many historical facts about this area of the Kidron Valley, including that it was an important burial site during the eras of both the First Temple and the Second Temple. If you are interested so you can certainly read more courtesy of Google.
I’ll be sharing with you many more photos of each of the tombs this week, so stay tuned, and do include a trip to the Kidron Valley on your next visit to Jerusalem!
