We were fortunate at the time we were Israel to be able to walk the entire length of the Hezekiah tunnel. In the year 700 B.C. Hezekiah, king of Jerusalem in order to protect the water supply of his city from the invading Asyrians, cut a tunnel in the solid rock. This was to channel the water, of the Gihon Spring, located outside the walled city, into the pool of Siloam which was within the walls of the city. The outlet was closed and hidden from the eyes of the invaders. Jerusalem was saved since the Assyrian army's thirst without water, failed to conquer the city and withdrew.
Hezekiah's Tunnel is 600 yards and roughly in a "S" shape. The workmen began tunneling at each end and accomplished the remarkable engineering feat of meeting in the middle within 4 feet of each other. The workmen recorded their joyous meeting by an inscription which was found in 1880. This inscription written in old Hebrew, tells how working from opposite ends, the two groups managed to meet.
The Pool of Siloam was probably constructed by King Hezekiah as a reservoir at the southern end of the tunnel to receive the water of the Gihon Spring. This is the pool that Jesus sent the blind man to wash the clay from his eyes (John 9).
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