Jerusalem

Jerusalem (likely “foundation of peace”) is the central city of Scripture and the most theologically significant city on earth. Known by many names — Salem, the city of Melchizedek, priest-king of God Most High (Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2); Jebus, the Jebusite stronghold; Zion and the City of David; “the city of the great King” (Psalms 48:1-2) — it sits in the hill country of Judah, on a ridge some 2,500 feet above sea level, bounded by the Kidron and Hinnom valleys.

Jerusalem’s story runs the length of the Bible. Tradition links it with Mount Moriah, where Abraham was tested (Genesis 22:2; 2 Chronicles 3:1). David captured the Jebusite citadel and made it his capital (2 Samuel 5:6-9), brought up the ark, and received the promise of an everlasting throne. Solomon built the first temple there (1 Kings 8:10-11), so that the city became the place where God set his Name and the goal of Israel’s pilgrim feasts. After the kingdom divided it remained the capital of Judah; the prophets both rebuked its sin and foresaw its glory as the center of the nations’ gathering (Isaiah 2:2-4). For its idolatry it fell to Babylon and its temple was burned in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-10); after the exile its walls and temple were rebuilt under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:17).

In the New Testament Jerusalem is the stage of redemption’s climax. Jesus was presented in its temple, taught there, and wept over the city that killed the prophets (Luke 19:41-44; Matthew 23:37); just outside its wall he was crucified and rose again, and from it the risen Lord sent his disciples as witnesses “beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). There the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and the church was born (Acts 2:1-4), from which the gospel spread to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Jesus also foretold the city’s coming destruction, fulfilled in AD 70 (Luke 21:20-24).

Above all, earthly Jerusalem points beyond itself. It is the place of God’s dwelling and of atonement, yet the prophets and apostles look to a greater city: “the Jerusalem above… is our mother” (Galatians 4:26), believers have come “to the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22), and John sees “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,” where God dwells with his people and every tear is wiped away (Revelation 21:2-4) — the eternal fulfilment of all that the earthly city signified.