Jerusalem - Kidron Valley

From Et-Tur we return to Gethsemane on one of the paths over the Mount of Olives. A little to the south of the church at Gethsemane the narrow and unsurfaced Siloam Road (Derekh HaShiloah) goes off on the right into the Kidron valley and its southward continuation the valley of Jehoshaphat, between the Mount of Olives and Mount Moriah (Temple Mount). This area is referred to in two Old Testament prophecies, by Zechariah and Joel. In the words of Joel (3,1-2): "For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel", and (3,14) "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." (Jehoshaphat means "God will judge"). The Jews expect, therefore, that the Last Judgment will take place here, and this is also the Muslim belief: a rope will extend from the battlements of the Temple over the valley to the Mount of Olives, and the righteous will cross over, supported by their guardian angels, while the sinners will be cast down into damnation.