The mount of the Tel Arad site looks today dry and clearly desert-like. Never-the-less, the House of Yahweh site shows evidence that water had flowed from the mount at the time of the 11th century construction of the water citadel on the east side spring. The dating based upon the fact that the smooth stone surface is found on the original XII Stratum of the house and is the same kind of stone as that of the base stones of the reservoir within the house. The smooth stone surface before the House of Yahweh on the east side is substancial proof to ancient stone decay from a considerate amount of water on the stones for a long period of time. Water levels have lowered since, but til today they run underneath the mount of the House of Yahweh and can be seen in a covered well at the foot of the mount.

Archaeology as shown that at the House of Yahweh a water canal was dug in the 9th century (or Stratum X of the house) which brought the water to cisterns dug in the rock underneath some of the buildings of the fortress. This water supplied the mikvah in the house with natural spring waters from underneath the mount. The reservoir (shown on the left) was constructed to bring some of the water from the spring below the house to the mikvah and the third level of the tabernacle or the "Holy of holies" (shown on the right).

By the construction of the VIII Stratum of the House of Yahweh there was also a canal constructed to lead the water from the house on the west side to down the mount to the lower city well. This remodeling of the house of Yahweh took place in the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah in the 8th century. Also the change in direction of the water coming from the house of Yahweh coincides with the work Hezekiah did with the city of David according to 2Ki:20:20: "And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?", 2Ch:32:3: "He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him." , 2Ch:32:30: "This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works." However Isaiah spoke the word of Yahweh concerning these events at Isa:22:9: "Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool. Isa:22:10: And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. Isa:22:11: Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago."

The word Zion (ZYWN) itself means 'Swim-and-has' or a kind of mikvah for cleanliness. The mount of Zion is well known to have had a water source coming from the house in ancient times that would spring forth again in the future. It was made clear by Zechariah that this was the house of David as written at Zec:13:1: "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." And this same fountain is confirmed to spring from the house of Yahweh upon Zion as stated by Joel at Joe:3:18: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim."

The full detail of this event was described by Ezekiel at Eze:47:1: " Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Eze:47:2: Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. Eze:47:3: And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles. Eze:47:4: Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Eze:47:5: Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. Eze:47:6: And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Eze:47:7: Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Eze:47:8: Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. Eze:47:9: And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. Eze:47:10: And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. Eze:47:11: But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. Eze:47:12: And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."  

The video on the left shows the process of this water coming from the House of Yahweh and following its natural path toward the great sea and down to En-Gedi and the Salt Sea area (press the play button to view its flow). The Image on the right is an Israeli map of the former length of the Salt Sea from 300 B.C. to 618 A.D. and archaeological sites in Israel of those times in this area. If you look closely you will notice that the towns are along the path of the former and futuristic water channel.  

At the land of Judah's present state it is a wilderness and desert. Yet as was said before "all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters" And it makes sense that it was said that "every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live". Therefore the desert and wilderness of Zion and Jerusalem shall be turned into an area full of undying plant life.  

For more information on the Search for Mount Zion visit the page.