One of the more interesting walks you can take in Jerusalem is on top of the Old City Walls. Rampart's Walk as it is called starts from the Jaffa Gate. You choose which direction you would like to go. Going north from the Jaffa Gate will take you over the Christian Quarter, the New Gate, the Arab Quarter, the Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, and finally Lion's Gate where the walk ends. Going south from the Jaffa Gate takes you through the Armenian Quarter, over Zion Gate, past the Jewish Quarter, and the walk ends at the Dung Gate. Not having any photos for the blog, last Sunday, June 7th, I took the northern route of Rampart's Walk. Below are Arab street vendors and shoppers at the Damascus Gate. The young Arab boy is getting an early start on learning the art of being a vendor.
Below is a close up of one of the Jaffa Gate walls where I started. Looking closely you can see all the bullet holes left from the 1948 and 1967 Wars. Of course, Jerusalem is no stranger to war. About 2600 years ago, Sennacherib of Assyria thought he could conqueor Jerusalem. Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem ... II Chronicles 32:2.
My ascent to the walls.
The entrance to the Old City at Jaffa Gate. This is where General Edmund Allenby and the British Army marched into the Old City during World War I. The British forces, including the ANZACS (Australian - New Zealand Army Corps) had defeated the Ottoman Turks down south at Beersheva and Gaza. The Turks pulled out of Jerusalem and went further north to continue fighting. General Allenby dismounted his horse in order to walk humbly into Jerusalem. He knew it would be a historical moment.
Looking through a defensive "hole in the wall" position. When these walls were built around 1500, the weapon of choice would have been string bows (bows and arrows).
Going up a little higher.
The walls of David's Citadel on the left. That is just the name of it today, these walls would not have been here during the reign of King David. The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. 1st Kings 2:11.
More of David's Citadel from on top of Jaffa Gate.
The beginning of west Jerusalem with the famous hotel named after King David. That is where many presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, etc. stay when in Jerusalem.
Norte Dame is located across the street from the northeast corner of the Old City. This is where the pope stayed when he was here in May. That is the Vatican Flag flying.
This photo catches the crescent moon of Islam from the top of a mosque plus the Vatican Flag. (The flag is actually across the street). At least one half of the world's population are following one or the other of these icons.
Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus north of the Old City.
The steeple of the Lutheran Church in the Old City. Either the steeple is starting to lean or perhaps without a gall bladder, my equilibrium is more to the right than before.
The entrance to the Old City from the New Gate. This is the Christian Quarter and all the stores are closed on Sunday. If I had walked on a Friday, the entrance from the Damascus Gate would have looked like this. The Jewish Quarter would be very quiet on Shabbat (Saturday).
Walking the walls headed east on the northern wall.
This highway is the dividing line between east and west Jerusalem. Prior to 1967, this would have been a border fence. You can see the tracks of Jerusalem's new light rail system adjacent to the highway. The light rail system is supposed to be finished in a couple of years. We'll see. For those of us who know the God of Israel as our Saviour, aren't we grateful that He has removed our sins from as far as the east is from the west. As far as the east is from the west,So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12.
Still headed east.
Still headed east.
Mt. Scopus in the distance.
Plaza area just prior to the Damacus Gate.
Bouganvilla growing on the inside of one section of the walls.
The Damascus Gate is in the center of this photo but a little hard to distinguish. You can see Islamic mosques on the left and right in the Arab neighborhoods.
Thousands of people live in the Old City and still have to hang laundry on their rooftops.
The Islamic Dome of the Rock with the southern portion of the Mt. of Olives in the distance. The Dome of the Rock is located on the Temple Mount where the Lord Jesus will establish His throne for a thousand years. The apostle John records this in Revelation: Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4.
It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. Zechariah 12:3.
At first I thought I had to tightrope the narrow ledge on the left. Then I saw the steps. The lack of a gall bladder apparently affects your mind, too. This is the exit to the Damascus Gate. You could end your walk here. However, it is the same price as going on to the Lion's Gate.
Looking back from where I have walked. That is the Lutheran Church Steeple on the left and Norte Dame on the right. It made me tired to think that I had walked that far.
Arab East Jerusalem.
Arab dress shop at the Damascus Gate entrance. No Macy's here.
Rooftops of the Old City.
Buyers and sellers at Damacus Gate.
Fruits, vegetables, tennis shoes, clothes, etc. Each vendor is selling something different just like a flea market in the states. Zooming in you see many different cultures and faces.
Two Orthodox Jews entering the Damascus Gate next to the soccer balls and other toys.
You could get dizzy taking too many of these photos.
Zoom in on the upper left and there is an Arab lady sitting down asking passers by for help. That is very Biblical. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" John 9:8.
Sunrise from my patio. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
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