Page 84 - Advanced Bible Geography ebook

triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Probably the colt was obtained here for that entry. He abode there
several nights before His betrayal. Coming from Bethany, Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:12-13)

Jerusalem

The city where Jesus was crucified
and raised from the dead is,
perhaps, the most famous city in the
world.

Like Bethlehem, Jerusalem sits atop
the uppermost ridge of the Judean
Mountains. Because of its high
elevation, the writers in the Bible
constantly refer to going “up to
Jerusalem.” Likewise, when Jesus

begins the parable of the Good
Samaritan (Luke 10:30), he says a
man was “down from Jerusalem to
Jericho.”

“Jeru” means “city,” and “Salem”
comes from the Hebrew “Shalom,”
which means peace. However,
“shalom” means much more than
“peace.” It means wholeness,
contentment, blessing, prosperity
and lack of aggression. The name
took on the concept of “the city of
God,” or “the Holy City.” Today
Jerusalem is central to Judaism and
Christianity, and the third-most The Jerusalem Jesus knew was crowned with the most magnificent Temple the
important city to Islam. Jewish people had ever known. The Pool of Siloam is seen at the bottom of the hill.
The Kidron Valley runs along the right side of the city. (Illustration courtesy of the
It is likely that this is also “Salem” of City of David.) Notice that the temple in this picture is located in the city of Zion
Genesis 14:18, the home of (City of David). The Temple mount was probably Fort Antonia, the Roman garrison.
Melchizedek. Abraham gave
Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils he’d taken in battle as he rescued Lot and Melchizedek became known
as an early Christ figure in the Bible.

Psalm 76:2 speaks of God’s “dwelling place in Zion,” for “in Salem is the tabernacle.”

In Judges, one of the more difficult stories to read is of a traveling Levite who stopped for the night at
“Jebus” the same community that would one day be known as Jerusalem (Judges 19:10).

As David gained power, he took the city from the Jebusites and the city was known forever after as
Jerusalem.

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