The Pool of Siloam

The Pool of Siloam was a spring-fed pool cut from rock southeast of the Old City of Jerusalem (outside the walls).

This area was the old City of David where King David had his capital. The water was fed into the pool by two aqueducts.

King Hezekiah had remodeled the pool to protect it from invaders. The Hasmonean dynasty (which was still in power when the Romans came in) also did some remodeling. At the time of Christ, people would have been able to refresh themselves there and maybe even swim. It was too big to be used as a mikveh, but some scholars think it may indeed have been used for ritual purification.

Archaeologists haven’t fully examined the pool, but so far they’ve found steps going down into it on three sides. The pool is 225 feet wide.

                                                                                                 Wikipedia Image by Yoav Dothan

The Pool of Siloam is featured in the story of Christ healing the blind man (John 9), but there is another reason that it is important in our study of the Savior.

Jesus used the symbolism of the Jewish holy days to testify of Himself — that He is the Son of God and Savior of the World. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) contains much imagery of the coming of Christ in glory (His Second Coming). It’s the final fall holiday and follows the Feast of Trumpets (awake, arise, and gather, for the righteous are being separated from the wicked), and the Day of Atonement (last chance to repent). 

During the Feast of Tabernacles there is a water libation wherein water is carried from the Pool of Siloam to the temple. The priests carried out the libation, but crowds of rejoicing pilgrims followed them. Jesus inserted Himself into this tradition to declare Himself the living water. This made a big impression on everyone. It made the high priests want to kill Him (this was the fall before His crucifixion) and it made some pilgrims begin to believe in Him.