In the Haftara of Mishpatim, Yirmiyahu prophesied a bitter end for King Tzidkiyahu, the last king of the Davidic dynasty until the arrival of Mashiach.0
In fact, as Yerushalayim was being captured by the Babylonians,Tzidkiyahu escaped the city, only to be caught in the plains of Yericho (Melachim II Perek 25 Posuk 5).0
Rashi (Sefer Yechezkel Perek 12 Posuk 13) cites a tradition that Tzidkiyahu escaped through a cave, whose western end was near the royal palace and eastern end at the plains of Yericho.0
What today is called “Tzidkiyahu’s Cave” is located beneath the walls of the Old City of Yerushalayim, between the Damascus gate and Herod’s gate. However, since this cave has no exit, it cannot be the cave through which Tzidkiyahu attempted to escape.0
In fact, the cave is a by-product of quarrying. Based upon the archeological evidence, it is clear that the quarrying was done during the Second Beit Hamikdash period. It is likely that this quarry was the major source of building stones for Herod’s expansion of Har HaBayit, including the Kotel HaMaaravi.0
There are differing opinions concerning the possibility that quarrying was done there during the First Beit HaMikdash period.0
