The Land- W

Western Hill of Jerusalem. The north-south hill spur west of the Tyropoeon Valley, parallel to the Temple Mount and the City of David. Hezekiah incorporated part of this area when he extended the city walls in the late eighth century B.C. Many families lived on this hill in elegant homes. The southern part of this hill is called “Zion Hill” by some.

Western Wall, Wailing Wall Remnant of part of the retaining wall that held the Second Temple. One of the most sacred sites in the Jewish world. Men and women pray in separate prayer courts. To the north is the Kotel Tunell or Rabbi’s Tunnel, that travels underground, parallel to the Wall for 1650 feet. This would have been a well traveled path for men and women entering the Temple. Visitors to both the Western Wall and the Kotel Tunnel sometimes write prayers on small scraps of paper to place in the cracks between the large stones of the wall. The object is to get their prayer as close to what might have been the site of the Holy of Holies of the Temple.

Wildernes, Southern. Southern desert area of Israel, and border with Egypt. After crossing the Red Sea from Egypt, into the wilderness, Moses led the people in a song of praise, while Miriam led the women with timbrels and dance (Ex.14:31-15:21). See Miriam’s song (Ex. 15:21). The people wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Before going into the Promise Land the daughters of Zelophehad were granted the right to inherit the land allotted of their dead father. The custom was to pass on all property and family rights to the sons. Zelophehad had no sons. God directed Moses to allow the daughters to retain the property with the stipulations that they had to marry within the tribe of their father. This was first recorded instance of women having property rights(Num. 26:33; 27:1; 36:3-11: Josh. 17:3-10).

Yotvata, Jotbathah. The Israelites stopped here for water on their wilderness wanderings. Twenty eight miles north of Eliat, this modern city and active archaeological site may be the oasis of Deut. 10:7. Where there is water there are men, women and children.