Jerusalem

Jerusalem is one of the most important cities in the Bible, serving as the capital of Israel and a holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is mentioned hundreds of times throughout the Old and New Testaments. The city was originally known as Salem (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 76:2) and was later called Jebus, after the Jebusites who inhabited it (Judges 19:10; 1 Chronicles 11:4). David conquered the city and made it his capital (2 Samuel 5:6-9; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9). Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6-8; 2 Chronicles 3-7), which became the center of Jewish worship. The city was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:1-10; 2 Chronicles 36:17-19) but was later rebuilt after the exile (Ezra 1:1-4; Nehemiah 2:11-20). In the New Testament, Jerusalem is the site of many events in the life of Jesus, including his triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-11), cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-17), and crucifixion (Matthew 27:32-56). The early church also began in Jerusalem (Acts 1-7). Throughout the Bible, Jerusalem is referred to by various names, each highlighting a different aspect of its significance: Ariel (Isaiah 29:1), My Delight Is in Her (Isaiah 62:4), Forsaken and Desolate (Isaiah 62:4), Married (Isaiah 62:4), the City of the Lord (Isaiah 60:14), Zion (Psalm 87:2), and Mount Zion (Psalm 48:1). The name "Jerusalem" itself may mean "foundation of peace" or "possession of peace."