A Note on Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Siloam Inscription *

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to solve the problems concerning Hazekiah's tunnel by suggesting that the tunnel was excavated mainly from the spring down. The workers worked down-stream until they reached a point where they realized that they could save precious time by working from both ends, and only then a second team started work. According to the presented scenario the meeting between the two groups of workers took place at the spot where the Siloam inscription, which describes this meeting, was inscribed. This scenario explains, among other things, the location and content of the inscription, the-height of the ceiling at the lower part of the tunnel, the existence of two other rock tablets (without inscriptions) and their location. The markings on the tunnel wall, which according to the prevalent opinion indicate the location of the meeting place, should be seen as a result of a final ‘finish’ conducted only after the course was clear.