Living Your Little Life with Your Big God
In moments of honesty, it’s easy to see our lives as, well—insignificant. What we do often seems to matter very, very little. Whether it’s pushing...
When people picture Jerusalem, they usually think of the historic Western Wall, or the Old City, or the Temple Mount crowned with the Golden Dome of the Rock.
But most folks are surprised to learn that the original city of Jerusalem lay just south of the Temple Mount on a small spur of land that encompassed about only ten acres.
(Photo: City of David seen from the Observation Platform. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Crammed with houses and punctured with archaeological digs, the original area of Jerusalem looks much different today than it did three thousand years ago when King David conquered it.
But you can still get a sense of its drama.
Let me show you.
After Israel crowned David king of all twelve tribes, he moved his capital city from Hebron—located in his own tribe of Judah—to Jerusalem in the tribe of Benjamin.
Jerusalem took a number of other names throughout history. In fact, the account of David conquering Jerusalem mentions three other names in one verse—Jebus, Zion, and the City of David (1 Chronicles 11:5).
Moving the capital to Jerusalem showed remarkable wisdom on David’s part.
The City of David Visitor’s Center features a 3-D film—very well done—that provides a helpful overview of the city’s history.
Watch it here:
The best way to view the area is to ascend the stairs just inside the entrance to the Visitor’s Center and stand atop the observation platform.
[slideshow id=47]
(All pics courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Flanked on two sides by steep valleys, the ancient City of David enjoyed a tremendous military advantage—making it relatively easy to defend.
Ironically, however, the steep slopes also proved David’s undoing.
(Photo: The village of Silwan, across from the City of David. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Today, this part of Jerusalem retains the name, “The City of David,” and offers an archeological connection to the monarch.
In 1838 Edward Robinson discovered Hezekiah’s Tunnel—a marvelous find and one of the few archaeological discoveries visitors can interact with. The related Siloam Inscription was discovered later in 1880.
(Photo: Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Modern archaeological excavations began in the late 1970s and continue today under the capable eyes of Ronny Reich and Eli Shukrun. If you’d like a good overview of the site’s archaeology, pick up Reich’s excellent volume, Excavating the City of David.
Two relatively recent finds are nothing short of thrilling.
(Photo: Siloam street. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)
Not surprisingly, a number of archaeologists today express their doubts that the entire City of David ever was included in the original Jerusalem.
(Map of Old Testament Jerusalem, courtesy of Satellite Bible Atlas)
Of course, the city expanded to the north during David’s time when he purchased the hill that would become the Temple Mount under Solomon’s rule.
The walls of Jerusalem have expanded and contracted through the centuries like the breathing of a living being.
Arguably the most important city in history had its infancy in an area that today hardly reflects its grandeur.
Tell me what you think: What lesson can you draw from the fact that Jerusalem’s place of significant beginning is today so obscured? To leave a comment, just click here.
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