Jerusalem, history of

Jerusalem was originally a Jebusite city, occupied by Israel at the time of David. At this stage, it became the capital city of Israel. Following the disintegration of the united kingdom, the city became the capital of the southern kindom of Judah.

Pre-Israelite Jerusalem

Inhabited by Jebusites

Judges 19:9–12 See also Genesis 10:15–16, Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 3:7–8, Exodus 23:23, Exodus 34:11; Numbers 13:29; Deuteronomy 7:1–2; Joshua 3:10, Joshua 9:1–2, Joshua 10:1–7, Joshua 15:7–8, Joshua 18:28

When the man got up to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey home.” But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine. When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Please, let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here.” But his master replied, “We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners, where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.”

Israelites unable to occupy Jerusalem

Joshua 15:63 See also Judges 1:4–8 Although the men of Judah defeated the Jebusites in this battle, their victory was not sufficient to conquer them nor to gain permanent control over the city; Judges 1:21

But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.

Jerusalem conquered by David

1 Chronicles 11:4–9 parallel 2 Samuel 5:6–10

Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land. The people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Nevertheless , David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief. So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

Jerusalem as the site of the ark

See also 2 Samuel 6:12–19 parallel 1 Chronicles 15:25–16:3

Jerusalem capital city of David and Solomon

2 Samuel 5:4–5 See also 2 Samuel 9:13, 2 Samuel 11:1, 2 Samuel 12:29–31 parallel 1 Chronicles 20:1–3; 2 Samuel 14:23–24, 2 Samuel 15:13–14; 1 Kings 2:10–12, 1 Kings 2:36–45, 1 Kings 3:1, 1 Kings 8:1, 1 Kings 10:1–5, 1 Kings 10:26–27, 1 Kings 11:41–43

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

Jerusalem capital of the southern kingdom

Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

Jerusalem conquered by the Babylonians

2 Kings 24:18–25:12 parallels 2 Chronicles 36:11–20, Jeremiah 39:1–10, Jeremiah 52:1–16

The rebuilding of Jerusalem

Jerusalem capital of Persian province of Judah

Nehemiah 1:1–3 See also Ezra 3:1, Ezra 4:4–6, Ezra 10:7; Nehemiah 13:6–7, Nehemiah 13:15–16

These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

Jerusalem in NT times

Matthew 2:1–3 See also Matthew 3:1–6 parallel Mark 1:3–5; Matthew 4:25, Matthew 15:1 parallel Mark 7:1; Luke 2:22, Luke 2:41, Luke 4:9; John 11:55; Acts 9:1–2, Acts 25:1–3

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Prophetic warning of the destruction of Jerusalem

Luke 21:20–24 See also Luke 23:26–31

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.