Shiloah Tunnel

THE SHILOAH TUNNEL
Tenth in the "Views of Jerusalem" Numismatic Bullion Series

The Shiloah Tunnel, also known as "Hezekiah's Tunnel", is considered one of the most impressive water works in the history of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.

Until the period of Hezekiah, King of Judah, the Gihon Spring was the main source of water for the Jerusalem population. However, the exact location of the spring presented a problem because the spring was situated outside the walls of the city and was therefore liable to be not only inaccessible to the Jerusalem residents in the event of a siege around the city, but also in a convenient location for the enemy. Fearing that Sennacharib, King of Assyria was preparing to conquer Jerusalem, Hezekiah made preparations for war and sought a solution in face of the water threat. His aim was to divert the waters of the Gihon Spring, so that they would flow directly into the city of Jerusalem, thus ensuring a constant water supply for the residents and preventing use of the water by the enemy:

"And Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come … directed to wage war against Jerusalem.
And he took counsel … to stop up the waters of the fountains that were outside the city…
And a large multitude gathered and stopped up all the fountains and the stream that flowed in the midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?" 2 Chronicles 32: 2-4

The water was diverted through a tunnel hewn out in the rock and a unique method was applied in order to dig out the tunnel. Two teams of workers began digging from a point of origin on opposite sides and each progressed towards the other, until the two teams met in the middle. The amazing result was a meandering tunnel, approximately 500 meters long. An inscription in ancient Hebrew writing, discovered in 1880 on the eastern side of the tunnel, describes and commemorates the incredible moment when the diggers met in the middle and the tunnel was completed.

The Book of Chronicles bears witness to the excellent work of King Hezekiah:
"…Hezekiah stopped up the source of the waters of the upper Gihon, and he led them straight down … to the City of David, and Hezekiah prospered in all his works."
2 Chronicles 32:30

The 10th Numismatic Bullion in the "Views of Jerusalem" Series features the Shiloah Tunnel, the spectacular engineering achievement of King Hezekiah inscribed in Jewish history.

Design: Face – Aharon Shevo, Common Reverse of the Series – Yaacov Enyedi

Minting: The Holy Land Mint

Description:
Face: In the upper area, the exit from the Shiloah Tunnel, where the water flows into the Shiloah Pool. Across the center, an artistic rendering of the diggers meeting at mid-point to complete the tunnel. Below, the ancient Hebrew script of the inscription discovered in the rock of the tunnel and, over it, wavy lines representing the water flow in the tunnel and inscription “Shiloah Tunnel” in English and Hebrew.

Common Reverse: Lion of Jerusalem and prominent buildings of Jerusalem within the outline of a coat of arms, the Holy Land Mint trademark.