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The Mount of Olives in YEHOVAH God’s Plan 9

In early art Adam is frequently shown as rising up (from the grave) at the very foot of the
cross, holding a chalice or cup to catch the blood of the Messiah as it fell from the tortured body.
Many paintings or drawings of the crucifixion scene show Adam’s SKULL beneath the stauros or
cross of the Messiah.

This belief that Adam’s skull was buried at Golgotha on the Mount of Olives was common
in the early church. Origen speaks of it as a well known fact in his time; and St. Augustine wrote:
“The ancients hold that because Adam was the first man, and was buried there [at Golgotha], it was
called Calvary, because it holds the HEAD of the human race” (De Civitate Dei, cap. 32).

St. Basil said, “probably Noah was not ignorant of the sepulchre of our forefather [Adam]
and that of the first born of all mortals, and in that place, CALVARY, the Lord suffered, the origin
of death there being destroyed” (Isa. Cap. 5).

Clearly, the phrase “the skull” refers to the literal skull of Adam. In fact, Golgotha is named
from Adam’s skull, is the summit of the Mount of Olives, the site of the Red Heifer altar, “the place
where God was worshiped”! Even Hebrew translations of the New Testament use the words ha
rosh to refer directly to the crucifixion site.

The Place “Outside the Camp”

In the Old Testament there are many references to a location called “outside the camp.” This
is where sin sacrifices took place: “But the flesh of the bull...you shall burn with fire OUTSIDE
THE CAMP; it is a sin offering” (Exodus 29:14). Then, in Leviticus –

Then he shall carry the bull OUTSIDE THE CAMP, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It
is a sin offering for the assembly (4:21).

The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to
make atonement in the Holy Place [Temple], shall be carried OUTSIDE THE CAMP. And
they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal (16:27).

Here we see that the place “OUTSIDE THE CAMP”points to a specific location ordained
by YEHOVAH God. During the years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, “outside the camp”
was located directly EAST of the entrance to the Tabernacle -- at a distance of 2,000 cubits (see the
Mishna, Tractate Parah). It was here that all the sin sacrifices were burned -- including those ani-
mals sacrificed inside the Tabernacle. And, note this, it was also the place where the Red Heifer was
sacrificed and burned, its ashes then used in purification rites.

Writes Peter Michas –

Once the Israelites settled in Jerusalem, the Temple was built as a permanent sanctuary to
replace the portable Tabernacle. The place called “outside the camp” retained the same spe-
cific designation in reference to the location of the sanctuary -- 2000 cubits east of the Tem-
ple. Marking the distance (3000 feet, a little over one-half mile), one comes to the summit of

The Berean Voice March-April 2003