A site in Israel mentioned in the Bible where Jesus healed the blind, will be opened to the public for the first time in 2,000 years.
The Pool of Siloam, as the place is called, was first built around 2,700 years ago as part of Jerusalem's water system in the 8th century. This site serves as the reservoir for the Gihon Springs, where water is diverted and stored in underground tunnels.
Quoted from the Daily Mail, Siloam Pool will be opened step by step, or after the entire site has been excavated. Excavation of the site is expected to take several years, and opening the site will allow visitors to see first-hand the excavation process and the progress of exploration.
Currently, the local community has access to a small part of the excavated pond area. Apparently, it will be a while longer before people can actually trace the site in the historical footsteps as told in the Bible.
For your information, the Pool of Siloam, which is located in the southern part of the archaeological site of the City of David in Jerusalem, has religious historical value for Christians and Jews.
Plans to open the Siloam pool were announced late December 2022, by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation.
"The Pool of Siloam in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem is a historic site, national and international," said Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion.
"After years of work, we will soon unveil this important site, and make it accessible to the millions of visitors who visit Jerusalem every year," he continued.
According to the City of David Foundation, the construction of this pool began during the reign of King Hezekiah as quoted in the Bible in Book of Kings II, 20:20.
"The excavation of the Pool of Siloam is of great importance to Christians around the world," said American pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christian United for Israel.
"It was in this place that Jesus healed a blind man (John: 9), and it was in this place, 2,000 years ago, that Jewish pilgrims purified themselves before entering the Second Temple," he explained.
He added that the Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road, which are both located within the City of David, are two of the most inspiring affirmations of archeology regarding the Bible.
Ze'ev Orenstein, director of international affairs for the City of David Foundation in Jerusalem, said the site is important to billions of people worldwide and will be fully accessible.
He added that the millions of people who visit the City of David each year will truly be able to follow in the footsteps of the Bible, connecting with their roots, heritage and identity.
Three years ago, Israel opened the 2,000 year old Pilgrimage Road after completing a project of excavations to reveal it from beneath the Palestinian neighborhood.
The Pilgrimage Path was discovered by accident in 2004 by workers repairing a broken pipe in a potato field.
This ancient road served as the main thoroughfare for visitors to the ancient Jewish temple, while Jesus is also said to have used it to reach the temple in Jerusalem. The path led to the shrine from the Pool of Siloam, where pilgrims would cleanse themselves before visiting.