The Hebrew words
"לבית התקיעה להכריז" mean "To the house of trumpeting to announce". The "house of trumpeting" indicates the location where a priest would blow a trumpet to announce the beginning and end of the Sabbath. This trumpet blast was a signal to the merchants in the marketplace below to close their shops, since business was forbidden on the Sabbath.
The significance of the inscription
This stone was originally part of the portico which surrounded the Second Temple and was pushed down during the Roman destruction of the year 70 AD. Because archaeologists have never been able to dig on the Temple Mount itself, this is one of the only tangible remnants we have of the Temple. Fascinatingly, these ancient words are still relevant today. In modern Jerusalem, every Friday afternoon a siren still signals the beginning of the Sabbath. And the Hebrew word "tekiah" is the same word today used in modern Hebrew to refer to blowing a shofar.
Fresh perspective on ancient texts
Looking at the land of Israel in the times of Jesus gives us a deeper understanding of the Biblical stories we all know. And to be able to read these texts in the original language takes your experience to a new level!
