Pool of Bethesda at Jerusalem

“Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called … Bethesda, having five porches.” John 5:2. Formerly, many scholars felt that a pool having 5 porches, or porticoes, must have been inaccurate. However, archaeological excavations in 1964 revealed the the Pool of Bethesda consisted of two pools separated by a porch/portico (making 5 porches/porticoes), a lower pool and an upper pool. The above photo is showing one of the porch steps of the upper pool of Bethesda used by the infirm waiting to be healed. The below photo shows how the pools likely looked as built by Herod the Great.

The upper pool contained the spring source which filled the pool. The water would then be funneled down into the lower pool. “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was whole of whatsoever disease he had.” John 5:3-4. As the upper pool contained the spring source, it must have been here that the water appeared troubled at times. Some scholars surmise the spring may have been intermittent causing the “troubling” appearance? In any case, sometime after the Crusader Period the pool dried up, possibly resulting from earthquake ground shifting. Alternatively, some scholars believe that the pools were fed by an aqueduct and not by a spring.

“And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool…. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.” John 5:5-9.

Only about half of the two pools has been excavated, enough to show how the pools were laid out. According to Eusebius (an early Christian historian, 260-339 AD) sheep were washed here, probably in the lower pool, before being sacrificed at the temple. Nearby was the “Sheep Gate” leading directly into the temple complex.