Join David Hyman, Israeli professional tour guide, to the monumental tombs of the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem. The most noticeable of them is the one mistakenly called Yad Avshalom ( Absalom's pillar). The name was given throghout the centuries , due to a biblical reference from the 2nd book of Samuel , chapter 18 /18. It is written that King David's rebellious son - Avshalom, had no sons and therefore "The pillar which he named for himself is called Absalom's Monument (Yad) to the present day". For many generations the fathers would take their sons to throw rocks at the pillar , as a punishment for the rebellious son, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 21, vs 18.
In modern times, scholars and archaeologists have noticed that it is not possible for the monument to be from Absaloms days , about 10th century BCE, dew to the style and design of the pillar. The design includes doric and ionic columns and therefore must be much later probably around the 1st century BCE and maybe even later. We can get clues from checking an adjacent burial complex next door. This too is a burial cave with a stone pillar, called NEFESH. The one next door has an inscription in Hebrew that informs us that the tombs and the pillar belong to a family of priests from the 2nd Temple period. The family of HEZIR.
The HEZIR preists are one of the 24 divisions of priest mentioned in the book of Chronicles
chapter 24 vs 15. They were wealthy and arsitocratic residents of Jerusalem during the second Temple perioud (1st Century BCE).
It is possible that "Yad Avshalom" also was built and used by one of the Jerusalem aristocratic families from the 1st century, but who? Many scholars are suggesting options. The most resent suggestion is by Professor Gabriel Barkai who wrote a paper that it could be the tomb of King Agrippa the 1st, Herod's grandson. His main argument is by comparing the design to the one that was found at Herodion and was erected by King Herod the great for his own use. Barkai says that they are so similar that it makes sense that Agrippa copied the style and design of his Grandfathers, for his own tomb.

In 2013 an inscription was spotted on Avshaloms pillar that was never noticed before. It is in Greek and is right above the upper southern entrance. The inscription says this is the tomb of Zachariha the priest, Father of John the baptist. But the letters and the style show that this inscription was added later to the pillar, probably by christian monks who used the pillar for solitude prayer during the 4th century AD byzantine period.

So the mystery continues and until we find out the true owner of the tomb, let us just enjoy its beauty as we pass by it during our Jerusalem strolls.

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Recorded by David Hyman with GoPro Hero 7 black
Edited by David Hyman with Apple Imovie Ipad mini
Music tracks for this video:
Alyssa - The Mini Vandals
Wide Awake - The 126ers

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