Note XXVII. When the news of the discovery of the fountain spread over Jerusalem, all the people gathered in crowds to see it, but the most eager were the Israelites. They rejoiced at the sight of it, and pressed forward, anxious to touch the rock, to taste the water, or to take a little of it in small pitchers, some in order to preserve it as a relic, others to carry it to the infirm who could not crawl to the spot. From the chief Rabbi to the old women, all ran to the place, and all gave vent to cries of joy, or were moved even to tears. Why was all this? The Israelites were influenced by a tradition deeply graven on their hearts, to the effect that when certain springs in Jerusalem had been discovered, the coming of Messiah was at hand, the temple should rise again from its ruins, and with it the glory of their nation.
Note XXVIII. The sites where the stones are found greatest in length and in cubical content in the walls of Jerusalem, are the following:
In the wall, which starts from the line of the eastern enclosure, at the north-east corner of the quadrilateral of the Haram (Plate XVII.); one is found which is about 23 feet in length and 3-1/2 in height.
Between this and the golden gate, in the wall, is another 12 feet long and 5 feet high: and in the inner jamb of the golden gate, on the north, one is found of nearly the same dimensions as the preceding.
At the south-east corner of the Haram there are some of large dimensions; there are none greater in the whole city. Of the stones of 20 cubits in length, and 10 in height, of which Josephus writes (Wars, V. 4, § 2), I have not found a single one on the soil of Jerusalem.
Note XXIX. It seems that the use of the two gates may be attributed to their being situated in the most frequented part of the city; they served for the passage, the one of persons going out, the other of persons coming in, so as to avoid all crowding, and the stoppages which might result from it. Indeed, on the eastern side of the temple, where a great part of the Court of the Gentiles was, there must always have been a great multitude of people. The real ground for its being closed (though so many ridiculous causes are alleged) is that the Turks consider the temple enclosure sacred in all its parts. Therefore, they do not allow any trade to be carried on there, nor any buying or selling, or transaction of business, or even walking for pleasure: accordingly, the gate on that side becomes entirely useless, the more so, that there is in its neighbourhood the gate of S. Mary.