Valley of Jehoshaphat

The word Jehoshaphat in Hebrew means 'God shall judge', and this narrow furrow of land, located between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives, is where it is said that the events of the Day of Judgement are to take place.

According to belief, all of humanity will be assembled together on the Mount of Olives, with the Judgement Seat on the Haram opposite. Two bridges will appear, spanning the valley, one made of iron and the other made of paper. According to God's judgement each person will be directed to cross one or the other. But there's no suspense, the Bible gives the ending away: the iron bridge will collapse and those sent across it die, while the paper bridge holds up with the promise of eternal life.

At the southern end of the valley are a series of tombs. The northernmost is the Tomb of Jehoshaphat, a 1st-century burial cave notable for the impressive frieze above its entrance. Just in front of the Tomb of Jehoshaphat is Absalom's Pillar, the legendary tomb of David's son (II Samuel 18:17). Just beyond Absalom's Pillar is the Grotto of St James, where St James is believed to have hidden when Jesus was arrested nearby. It is probably the burial place of the B'nei Hezirs a family of Jewish priests. Next to the grotto, carved out of the rock, is the Tomb of Zechariah, where Jewish tradition believes the prophet Zechariah is buried (II Chronicles 24:25).

Despite their names, it's doubtful that any biblical-type characters were interred here - the tombs most likely belong to wealthy noblemen of the Second Temple period.