THE PHOTOS
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Mount Zion is a hill just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. The term “Zion” became a synonym referring to the entire city of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel.
There is reason to believe that in Biblical times the name Mount Zion referred to the area of what today is called the Temple Mount. However, as early as the first century the hill today called Mount Zion had acquired the name for unknown reasons.
On Mount Zion is King David’s Tomb and that of the other kings of Isreal. An unexpected opportunity to investigate this building occured in 1948, during Israel’s War of Independence. A mortar shell hit the site, and Israeli archaeologist Jacob Pinkerfeld was sent to repair the damage. In the course of repairs, he removed the marble floor slabs and dug two pits revealing three earlier floors, shown in the lower left drawing. Five inches below the present floor was a 12th-century Crusader floor; 1.5 feet below that, Pinkerfeld discovered a mosaic floor with geometric designs dating to the Byzantine period (fifth century); 4 inches below the mosaic, he uncovered the remains of a Roman floor (end of the first century), consisting of plaster fragments and stones from a possible pavement. A foundation ledge projecting into the hall at this final level indicated that this earlier Roman floor was the original building’s floor. Pinkerfeld observed that the niche in the northern wall, behind the cenotaph, was Part of the original construction Standing 6 feet above the earliest floor Level, the niche resembles other niches in ancient synagogues. He noted that the niche was oriented towards the Temple Mount and concluded that the building was originally a synagogue and the niche was the aron (ark for Torah scrolls).Pinkerfeld concluded that the original building was a Roman-period synagogue or early Byzantine.
. The thousand-year-old building that houses the Tomb of King David on Mount Zion in Jerusalem is almost always thronging; some have come to pray and pay homage to Israel’s famous king and ancestor of the Messiah, while others pour over sacred texts all day long in the anteroom next to the tomb. Jewish tradition has identified the tomb of King David on “Mount Zion”, a few hundred meters from the Zion Gate for more than one thousand years. The earliest mention of the Tomb of David as identified today appears in the writings of the Moslem geographer al-Makadasi, in the 10th century. However, al-Makadasi based this identification on the tradition of “the People of the Book”, that is, Jews and Christians. The first Jewish source to commit this tradition to writing is the travel diary of the “Jewish Marco Polo”, Binyamin of Tudela [1160 – 1173]. He writes Two Jewish workers employed to reconstruct a damaged monument on Mount Zion accidentally happened upon a secret passage andfound themselves in a palace made of marble columns.Within the palace was a table upon which rested a golden scepter and golden crown, with riches all around. The workers decided this was King David’s Tomb. Suddenly, they were struck down by a fierce wind and heard voices that told them to leave immediately. Three days later, the two workmen were sick in bed and could not be persuaded to return to the site.
The tomb itself is a burial cave, which is not accessible. What is accessible is a cenotaph (stone marker) over the entrance to the cave. The cenotaph is located within a complex of buildings which date to the Crusader Period [12th century], though some of the buildings were added during the Ottoman Period [16th century and later], and may have served as a caravanserai (inn for traders on the caravan routes). The building housing David’s tomb incorporates much more ancient elements. The southern wall includes stones which are quite large and obviously older than the rest of the building. Josephus reports that Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.) secretly tried to rob the treasure hidden in David’s tomb. When two of Herod’s clandestine diggers met a mysterious death, fear overcame Herod and he ordered a tomb-memorial erected at the site.
Jews have streamed here for centuries to recite the Psalms written by David, whose life teaches many lessons about human nature.
The tomb is covered with a velvet cloth embroidered with the words David Melech Israel Hai Vekayam, the first song many Jewish children learn, which evokes the sense that David’s spirit is still with us.
Prayers at King David’s tomb also turn to Jerusalem, which David made the united capital of the tribes of Israel. The anniversary of David’s death coincides with the eve of Shavuot, when it is customary to pray and study all night at the tomb.
Behind the marker of King David’s tomb, the cenotaph there used to be stairs going down to the actual burial cave. Workers were sent down to look by Rabbi Goldstein, they came up terrified saying they saw down there amazing ancient things. This area was sealed with cement by Rabbi Goldstein.
Now we will look at what is to come in the future according to the vision given to us from the Creator by our beloved prophets. From this we will see the great good which our Beloved Creator wishes to bestow on the world, and on the nation of Israel in particular physically and spiritually. Then we will look at what the prophets have given to us as instruction for these later days to merit these blessings. I ask you my beloved friend to take to heart these teachings and act upon them immediately. Sharing them with those who have an ear to hear, as the hour is late. Now let us proceed with ” GREAT DAYS ”, explanation and description of the Messianic revelation, these being words of consolation and comfort telling us of the time to come, the reward for the righteous. It is out of such great kindness that the largest parts of the writings of the Prophets are filled with messianic imagery,” Blessed is his Holy name because his kindness endures forever”. Now we shall look at Israel inheriting the land, the miracles, signs and wonders and the revelation of The Messiah in the messianic era.
The Prophet Isaiah states:
“ For YHVH will have mercy on Jacob and will in addition choose Israel and will set them in their own land and the stranger shall be joined to them and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob ” (14:1)
Rashi says concerning the phrase ” and will choose in addition Israel ” This refers to the time in the future when Hashem shall redeem Israel in a complete redemption. Metsudat David adds that Israel’s deliverance from the oppression of Bavel will seem a small thing compared to the redemption in the days of Messiah. As this will be a redemption off all Israel in a complete redemption, and also to everything that rests upon the earth. At this time converts will be added to Israel.
The personal providence of Hashem’s redemption of the Hebrew people from their troubles is described in the words of the prophet Malachi:
“ For they who feared YHVH spoke with one another and hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared YHVH and took heed of his name, and they shall be mine says YHVH. On that day I appoint as my particular day. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him ”. (3:16-18)
Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra comments ”Those who fear Hashem” are the Tsadekem, ”they who heed his name” are the wise of heart that know the secret of the glorious and awesome name. In Perke de Rebbe Eleazer, Rabban Gamliel teaches the Heavens and earth are destined to pass away, as it is written ” And the Hosts of Heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll”. All the inhabitants shall taste the taste of death for two days. On the third day he shall renew them all and revive the dead. There shall be no more evil or plague. Now lets look at the detail that can be known with the help of Hashem. We get more of an overview of the wondrous protection Hashem affords Israel from the words of Isaiah:
“ In that day shall the plant of YHVH shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and beautiful for those that remain of Israel. And it will come to pass that he that remains in Zion and He that remains in Jerusalem shall be called Holy, everyone in Jerusalem that is written to life. For YHVH will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day, and the shinning of a flaming fire by night. There shall be a marriage canopy and there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge and cover from the storm and from the rain ” (4:2-6)
The Radak explains that ” The plant ” this is Messiach. Rashi explains the fruit of the land are those Tsadekem who are the fruit of the Tree Of Life. The Radak says with the arrival of Messiach man will rejoice in the creation. Then Messiach will be victorious in the war against Gog. Then there will be Peace and quiet in the earth, and the world will be in awe. After this his genius and beauty will be revealed on the nations. Rashi says the Chuppah (Marriage canopy) on the people will be the Shechinah. The Radak explains first there will be a cloud of glory of mercy in Miscanot (Tabernacles), and in the Holy Temple. The Zohar says the Temple will be built before the exiles are gathered. So that the Shechinah first returns to the “mikdosh.” But if we are then only returning from exile the cloud of glory will be seen on the wise, great and Chassidim. In the day will be a cloud and burning and at night a glowing consuming fire, like there was with the tabernacle in the desert. The Vilna Goan explains that the smoke and glowing consuming fire is like at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Torah. The cloud prevents one from looking on the glory of Hashem as none can look and live. The Succah (tabernacle) will be shade by day to protect from the burning heat of the sun and from the sword. The Scoch (Roof of the Succah) will be the cloud of glory. Explaining further we turn to the Gomorra in Tractate Bava Metzia1 where Rabba says in the name of Rabbi Yochanan That the Holy one in the future will make a Succah for the righteous to protect from the sun, and it will be made of the skin of the Leviathan. If a man will be worthy a succah will be made for him, if not a mere covering, if He is not worthy of this a necklace will be made for him, if he doesn’t merit this a Amulet will be made for him. The rest of the Leviathan will be spread out over the hills of Jerusalem by the Holy One, and its splendor will shine from one end of the world to the other as it is written ” The nations shall rise in your light and kings in the brightness of your rising ”
Also concerning the Leviathan Rabba said in the name of rabbi Yochanan The Holy one in the future will make a feast of the flesh of the Leviathan. Rav Dimi said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan the angel Gavreal will in the future hunt the leviathan, and if the Holy One does not help him, he will not be able to prevail over him.
1. 1Tractate Bava Batra 74b,Zohar Chayah Sara p28
