Zedekiah’s Cave (also called Solomon’s Quarries) is a large ancient underground limestone quarry beneath the northern part of Jerusalem’s Old City. It holds historical, archaeological, and symbolic importance, particularly in Jewish, Christian, and Masonic traditions.

Historical Significance

1. Ancient Quarry

• The cave was likely used as a quarry for building stones, especially during the First Temple period (10th–6th century BCE).

• It supplied the distinctive Meleke limestone, used in many of Jerusalem's ancient structures.

• Possibly used in the construction of King Solomon’s Temple, which is why it’s also called Solomon’s Quarries—though this link is traditional, not archaeologically proven.

2. Connection to Zedekiah

• Named after King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest (586 BCE).

• According to tradition, when Jerusalem was under siege by Babylon, Zedekiah fled through this cave, which was believed to have extended outside the city.

• Based on 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 39, Zedekiah was captured near Jericho, and legend says he escaped through this cave system—though the Bible doesn’t mention the cave directly.

• After his capture, his sons were killed, and he was blinded—making the cave a symbol of desperation and downfall.

Jewish Significance

• Associated with the First Temple period, potentially linking it to Solomon and the original Temple Mountconstruction.

• Its vastness and mystery have inspired Jewish traditions connecting it with ancient kingship, judgment, and exile.

Christian Significance

• Not directly mentioned in the New Testament, but the cave’s association with Solomon and Temple building ties it loosely to biblical heritage and messianic expectation.

• Early Christians also viewed Solomon’s temple and reign as typological precursors to Christ and the Church.

Masonic Significance

• Freemasons revere Zedekiah’s Cave as a symbolic and historical site:

  • It has been used for Masonic ceremonies since the 19th century.

  • Freemasonry often draws spiritual symbolism from King Solomon, stonework, and temples.

  • The cave is seen as a symbolic quarry, representing the spiritual work of shaping the soul, much like a stonemason shapes raw stone.

Modern Interest

• Open to the public as a tourist site.

• Its massive chambers, hewn pillars, and echoing darkness fascinate archaeologists, religious pilgrims, and curious visitors.

• It’s the largest man-made cave in Israel, stretching nearly 200 meters under the Old City.