Page 65 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

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
important city to Islam.
The Jerusalem Jesus knew was crowned with the most magnificent Temple the
It is likely that this is also “Salem” of Jewish people had ever known. The Pool of Siloam is seen at the bottom of the hill.
Genesis 14:18, the home of The Kidron Valley runs along the right side of the city. (Illustration courtesy of the
Melchizedek. Abraham gave City of David.)
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.

Before anyone lived in the area, Jewish tradition says this is also the location where Abraham nearly
sacrificed Isaac. According to Genesis 22:2, God instructed Abraham to take Isaac to “the region of
Moriah” and sacrifice him there. No other geographic description of the area is given, though the

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