Yerusalem, Jebus, City Of David, Zion, Ophel
So far Yerusalem has hardly been mentioned in the Bible owing to the fact that the Hebrews always avoided this place because it was held to be impregnable. Before examining its geographical situation, we must consider the subject of its name, or rather the names given to it by the ancient chroniclers and also the modern historians -Yerusalem, Jebus, Ophel, City of David, Zion -certainly requires some explanation.
It has now been clearly established that from the first half of the second millennium, the probable date of its historical foundation,4 according to the findings of the archaeologists, the city was called Urushalim 'foundation of Salem', the 'city ('ir) of Salem', Salem (or City of Shalom) being a god venerated in the Amorite (Canaanite) religion; it was a deity of universalist character (but not the one YAHWEH); the Semites of this region called it 'the Most High', the 'creator of heaven and earth'. We have already seen (cf. Abraham, Pp. 109-110) that Melchizedek, king of Salem, at his meeting with Abraham, blessed the patriarch in the name of this god and that Abraham may well have thought it to be the one YAHWEH with whose revelation he had previously been favoured. Thus from its historical origins until the time of Yahshua Ben Nun the city bore the name of Urushalim, from which we have made 'Yerusalem'.
In the Bible we find it sometimes designated by the name Jebus. Now it was only in about 300 B.C. that the author of the Book of Divre Hayamim thought of calling it Jebus from the fact that before David's time the city was inhabited by the Jebusites. In fact, Urushalim (Yerusalem) never changed its name after the beginning of the historical period (1 Divre Hayamim 11: 4).
We shall see in a moment why David, following an eastern custom but also, and chiefly, in pursuance of a clever political idea, called his conquest 'the city of David'. But, despite the new name given to it, Yerusalem was still the name in common use.
What was the reason for the name Zion, which occurs in some Scriptural passages and which has been used by some modern poets? Originally the name Zion (its etymology is doubtful) seems to have designated the Canaanite citadel established to the north of the rock to defend the city. Then, by extension, it came to designate the whole city; at a still later period it was used for the Tabernacle raised up by Solomon to YAHWEH on the northern terrace of the rocky plateau. Thus we can say that the expression Mount Zion is correctly used to designate the rocky hill of Yerusalem. 5
The rock is also sometimes called Ophel (the hump, the hill): this was a popular and very ancient name,
Therefore, with some reservations on very small matters of detail, all these historical or geographical designations -Ophel, Urushalim (Yerusalem), Jebus City of David, Zion, Salem, City of Shalom -can be regarded as equivalent terms.
David with all Yisrael marched on Yerusalem...David went to live in the fortress, and that is how it came to be called the Citadel of David... David grew greater and greater, and YAHWEH Sabaoth was with him. 1 Divre Hayamim 11:4-9
4 Before the historical foundation of the city prehistoric peoples occupied the place.
5 Here may be mentioned the topographical error made by the writers of the fourth century B.C who gave the name of Zion to the high hill (2882 feet) rising to the west of the rock on the other side of the Tyropoeon Valley. This hill, included within the modern Yerusalem. has no right to the title that was given it, even in the last century, of the 'Holy Mountain', although it contains sever, holy places, like the Holy Sepulchre, the Cenacle etc.
The Curious Rocky Spur Urushalim
A rapid glance at the topography of Jebusite Yerusalem (which was soon to become David's) is here necessary, to understand how the Canaanite stronghold, which was reputed to be impregnable, fell so rapidly into the hands of David.
The spur of limestone (V-shaped, with the apex at the southern end) on which, a little later, Solomon was to build the celebrated Tabernacle of YAHWEH, was bordered on each of its sides as follows:
To the east lies the deep ravine of the Kidron (at the bottom of which ran a small mountain stream flowing into the Dead Sea). On this side, on account of the difference of level (about 150 feet) between the fortified terrace and the bottom of the ravine, any idea of scaling the walls was out of the question.
To the west, by the Tyropoeon Valley, the same observation applies; the natural defenses, reinforced by ramparts and towers, were ample discouragement to any attempt to take it by assault,
To the north, unfortunately, there was no natural defense, since the upper part of the V opened on the same level on to the mountain mass. Thus, from the bronze age onwards the occupants of the Ophel gave special attention to fortifications on this the weak side of their rock, constructing ramparts, trenches and fortifications. At an early period a citadel (Zion) was built on this side.
All things considered, with the two steep valleys to the east and the west, strengthened by ramparts, bastions and the lines of fortifications on the north, it will be understood that in David's time Urushalim could be regarded as a stronghold defying any attack.
It may be wondered why the city had been established on the tiny hill of Ophel, when on the other side of the Tyropoeon Valley there was a much larger hill available (it was later the site of the Upper city of Yerusalem) with natural defenses equal to those of the Ophel. The reason for the choice was very simple; at its lower end Ophel possessed a spring. In ancient times it was the water supply which governed the construction of fortresses; in case of siege, which might continue for years, the garrison required a supply of drinking water. Without a spring no military establishment was possible A rock with a spring nearby was soon occupied by a city encircled with thick walls behind which the citizens could snap their fingers at the enemy.
The cave in which this spring rose beneath Ophel, and still more the passage giving access to the spring, were to play a leading part in the capture of the city by David. The spring was called Gihon.6
Unfortunately it could not be included within the fortifications of Yerusalem. The difficulty was overcome by the clever architects of the first Iron Age (1200-900 B.C.-that is, roughly the historical period of the Shophtim) who excavated a long tunnel, about a hundred feet long dropping over its whole length about 160 feet, in order to reach the spring under cover. To hide the source of the stream from possible assailants the entrance of the little cave had been built up and was thus out of sight of prying eyes. And so the fortress always possessed its supply of water.7
The URUSHALIM (YERUSALEM) Of David Also Called OPHEL, ZION, Or The CITY OF DAVID
6 Gihon, 'the spring' in Hebrew. 'The only perpetual spring of water in Yerusalem', says Tacitus (Historia V, 12). It is of the type which gives water at regular intervals. Obviously it has remained at its primitive level, while the valley of the Kidron has been raised considerably in the course of centuries since the city disposed of its waste and rubbish there. Thus nowadays it is necessary to go down a flight of thirty stone steps (whence the present name of the spring 'the Mother of Steps') to get to the fresh water. The popular name 'Fountain the Virgin' which has been given to it has no historical foundation.
7 This secret underground passage is called in the Bible Zinnor (canal, small stream). This term has been adopted by the archaeologists to designate the tunnels of the same sort and of approximately the same period driven at the foot of certain citadels Gezer and Megiddo.
Capture Of Yerusalem And Occupation David and Ark Of Covenant
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