Pool of Siloam

 

Location

 

1. The Pool of Siloam was uncovered in 2004 during a water pipe break.

 

2. It is in the lower part of the City of David.

 

3. It was located on a main road that headed up to the Southern Gate entrance to the temple.

 

Historical Background

 

1. The Pool of Siloam was a large purification mitzvah for the Jewish holy festivals like the Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, Pentecost, etc. 

 

2. The historian, Josephus, who lived during the time of Christ, records that up to a million Jews would make pilgrimages to Jerusalem on these holy festivals. These Jews had to be purified before entering the Temple Mount.

 

3. It was the size of two Olympic sized swimming pools.

 

4. It has the same kind of stones and style as the Southern Stairs.

 

5. Its water source comes from the Gihon Spring in the City of David.

 

6. The water runs through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which was built in 700 BC to prevent Jerusalem’s water source from being cut off by the warring army of the Assyrians.

 

Places of Interest

 

1. Pool of Siloam

 

2. Pilgrim's Road that went from the Pool of Siloam up to the southern entrances to the temple. As they ascended this road, they would sing the songs of ascent found in Psalms 120-134.

 

3. Southern temple entrances (Southern Stairs & Robinson's Arch Stairway)

 

4. Gihon Spring

 

5. City of David

 

6. Temple Mount

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7. Hezekiah's Tunnel

 

Pool of Siloam in the Bible

 

1. Jesus performed an amazing miracle here by healing a blind man.
John 9:1–7: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

 

2. Why did Jesus make clay out of dirt and His saliva? 
To possibly show that He was the Creator and formed Adam and Eve out of the dust of the ground.

 

3. Why the Pool of Siloam?

 

• It was a key purification place, and multitudes of people were likely present to witness the miracle.

• It was an example of living water. John 7:37–38: Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

 

4. Confrontation between the blind man and the religious leaders.
John 9:28–34: And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

 

5. Later this man also received spiritual sight and became a follower of Christ.
John 9:35–38: Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

 

6. Jesus pronounced judgment on those who refuse the light God gives them.
John 9:39–41: Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

 

Faith Lesson from the Pool of Siloam

 

1. The blind man received physical sight because of Jesus.

 

2. Later, he would receive spiritual sight as well and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Have we received spiritual sight by being born-again?

 

3. The blind man was cast out of the synagogue which was an enormous price to pay for a Jew. Are we willing to pay any price to follow Christ?

 

4. If we refuse the light God gives us, we can become spiritually blind like the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day.

 

5. Contrary to what many believe, God does not always heal everyone and has more than one purpose for sickness.

 

Seven Biblical Purposes for Sickness and Ailments

 

1. Sickness for the glory of God.
Example of the blind man Jesus healed at the Pool of Siloam. John 9:3: Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

 

2. Sickness for disciplining believers living in sin.
Example of believers who partook of the Lord’s Supper with sin in their lives. 1 Corinthians 11:30: For this reason, many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.

 

3. Sickness to keep us humble and dependent on God.
Example of the Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 12:7: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

 

4. Sickness that allows us to glorify God in the midst of our suffering as we show our love and devotion to God despite our problems.
Example of the life of Job. Job 13:15: Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

 

5. Sickness for transforming us into the image of Christ.
Romans 8:28–29: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.

 

6. Sickness that will develop within us a greater appreciation for heaven and all its pleasures.
2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

 

7. Sickness unto death.
Eventually, we’re all going to die regardless of what happens. Example of the great Prophet Elisha. 
 

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