The biblical scenes revealed from the shady walkways and spacious outlooks of this southern Jerusalem hilltop have turned it into a prime open-air Scripture “classroom.”
The hill’s harsh name harks back to a Byzantine tradition identifying it as the place where the High Priest Caiphas and his colleagues decided to arrest Jesus (John 11:47-50).
From here you can see everything that makes Jerusalem a goal of Christian travelers: Mount Moriah is the centerpiece. To the west, Mount Zion rises from the Hinnom Valley (Josh. 15:8; Jer. 7:32). On the east is the Kidron Valley (2 Sam. 15:23; John 18:1), and the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:3), with the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot and the Tower of the Ascension (Acts 1:11) at the top.
The City of David is before you, where Kidron and Hinnom meet. Rounding out this incomparable view is the Judean Desert, peeking out over Bethany.