Springs run dry in the Judean Hills
Like Australia, Israel has experienced periods of low-rainfall in recent years. In Israel, successive drought years are having a direct effect on the springs in the Judean Hills. A recent study by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority found that one third of the springs surveyed were dry (Zafrir Rinat, ‘Modern ills threaten ancient Judean Hill’s springs’, Haaretz.com, 27 October 2011). The study also identified a decline in water quality in many of the springs because of pollution by sewage and fertilizer runoff.
Springs in Israel have supported agriculture from earliest times. Deuteronomy describes the land of Israel as “a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills” (8:7), but low-rainfall and urban development is threatening these precious water sources. The increase in paved surfaces such as roads has limited the amount of rainwater feeding underground catchments that supply the springs. If these trends continue, Israel’s ancient springs face a very uncertain future.
Only Christ’s presence will bring the needed blessings to Israel. In that day “in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water” (Isa 35:6–7).
Mapping the Mount of Olives cemetery
A project is underway to map every tombstone in the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, said to be one of the oldest cemeteries in continuous use in the world (Matti Friedman, ‘Israelis mapping Mount of Olives necropolis’, Associated Press, 17 November 2011). The plan is to record information about each grave and make it available online to assist intending visitors. The cemetery has been long neglected and finding your way through the confusion can be difficult.
Using aerial photographs and handwritten burial records dating back to the nineteenth century, members of the mapping team are endeavouring to identify graves in the Jewish cemetery. It is believed that the Jews began burying their dead here at least three thousand years ago.
Among the significant graves in the cemetery are those of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who was largely responsible for reviving Hebrew as a spoken language, and also Menahem Begin. Begin is buried in a modest grave that makes no mention that he was once a prime minister of Israel. He was buried here at his request instead of in Israel’s national cemetery with other Israeli leaders, so that he could be with two of his Irgun comrades. Sentenced to be hanged by the British in 1947, the two killed themselves with grenades moments before they were to be executed.
The mapping is, of course, politically sensitive. Elad, the Jewish group carrying out the project, is affiliated with the settlement movement and attempts to establish Jewish links with east Jerusalem to balance Palestinian claims to the city. By mapping the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives Elad hopes to draw attention to Israel’s historical connection with Jerusalem.
Many are buried on the Mount of Olives because they believe that when Messiah returns to Jerusalem he will split the mount as Zechariah prophesies (14:4) and the dead there will be the first to be resurrected. Christ will certainly come from the east, but when he approaches Jerusalem the responsible dead will have already been raised. And Christ will not be alone, for he comes with ‘ten thousands of his saints’ (Deut 33:2; Zech 14:5) who have been resurrected, judged and changed to immortality. It will be a great blessing to be among Christ’s companions in that day.