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1-Page Summary of Jerusalem

Overview

Jerusalem is said to be the city that changed history. It is also known as a holy city because of its significance in three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. These days it continues to be a conflicted area for many people.

So how did Jerusalem become so important to the three major religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam? To answer that question, we’ll start at the beginning.

In this article, you’ll learn about the Temple of Solomon and how it became so important to Jews and Judaism. You’ll also find out why Christians and Muslims see Jerusalem as central to their religions. Finally, you’ll discover how foreign powers have influenced Jerusalem throughout history.

Big Idea #1: Jerusalem was inhabited as early as 5000 BC, and the Israelites arrived 4000 years later.

The Bible is an ancient holy text that was written by the Christian community. However, it’s not a reliable factual account because there are many contradictions in its pages. Therefore, we need to use archaeology and other historical texts to verify certain biblical events. For example, the name of Jerusalem dates back to ancient Egyptian texts that refer to “URSALIM,” which means “god of the evening star.” Archaeological research has found evidence of people who lived in this area as early as 5000 B.C., but excavation work is limited due to religious restrictions on excavating holy land.

The earliest texts from Jerusalem date back to 1458 BC, when the Egyptian empire occupied modern-day Palestine. Those texts show that King Abdi-Heba requested archers for defense of the city.

The first Hebrews arrived in Canaan a century after the Egyptians. These newcomers were different from the Egyptians because they worshiped a single God, not many gods like the Egyptians did. Moses helped them escape from Egypt, but it was his successor Joshua who brought them to Jerusalem and led them for more than a century. The Philistines defeated them in battle and stole their Ark of the Covenant, which contained their most sacred object: tablets with Ten Commandments written on them.

David, the future king of Israel, was born after this battle. He would go on to defeat Goliath and unite the tribes of Israel to win back the Ark from their enemies.

After David’s victory, Jerusalem grew but not by much. A settlement called City of David was built just outside the old city walls, along with a palace that wasn’t completed until after his death. During this time he planned to build the first temple in Jerusalem, although it wouldn’t be finished until after his son Solomon took over as king.

Big Idea #2: Jerusalem’s first two temples offered a connection to God and played a central role in the development of Judaism.

The first temple in Jerusalem was built around 900 BC. It had a room called the “holy of holies” that was intended for the Ark of the Covenant and God.

The Ark of the Covenant is said to have been placed in a room, and God filled the room with his presence. His presence was so strong that he spoke to Solomon, saying that he would establish Solomon’s kingdom forever. This inspired Jerusalem as a holy city for divine communication. However, since the temple housed gold, it became a tempting prize for warlords who eventually destroyed it around 587 BC when Nebuchadnezzar leveled the temple and burned down Jerusalem.

The destruction of the first temple resulted in a new beginning for the Jewish people. Since they were alienated from their city and their temple, they moved to Babylon where they felt guilty about failing to strictly adhere to Judaism. Because of this guilt, it was in Babylon that the Israelites truly became practicing Jews.