It's not a Fantasy Book

We went on another field study on Saturday which was titled Jerusalem Approaches. The basic idea behind this study was to understand the different routes with which one could leave or enter the city of Jerusalem. These routes are still relevant today, but were even more vital in the ancient world. First I need to clarify my vocabulary. When I say the City of David I am talking about the City of Jerusalem when David reigned, it is located on the Eastern hill just across the Kidron valley from the Mount of Olives. So we have (from east to west) the Mount of Olives as the eastern buffer, the Kidron valley, Eastern Hill (the most settled portion of city in ancient times), just North of the Eastern Hill is the Temple Mount (Mt. Moriah before the temple was built), and for now that is all that is needed.

So David takes Jerusalem from the Jebusites and purchases its threshing floor (first picture is a threshing floor in Bethlehem). His palace sits on the Northern end of the Eastern Hill (so closest to Mt. Moriah you can be on the hill). To the East sits the Mount of Olives which serves as a natural barrier from invaders in the East, but still must be controlled by the Israelites, because from the Mount of Olives anyone gets a commanding view of the entire city. Pompey the Great (a Roman General and contemporary of Julius Caesar) actually set up his headquarters on this hill when he cam to take Jerusalem under the Roman yoke. Now imagine Solomon building the first temple. He builds it on Mt. Moriah which is just North of the Eastern Hill. Logistically it is easiest to approach Jerusalem from the North. The South is more of a back door that involves crossing through the Judean wilderness. The East is guarded by the Mount of Olives and other obstacles, and the West is nearly impossible to cross with an army. From the North one gets to come DOWN right into the city. So think about this Solomon builds the temple on the furthest reaches of the city at the time...... Not a fortress, but the temple of God sits as the first thing any traveler coming from the most frequented route to ancient Jerusalem would see. Now I want you to read Psalms 48 (yeah do it you will appreciate all of this after you read this passage).

This is just a small taste of what it is I am learning here, and the stories continue to come alive. Standing on the Southern Stairs of the temple complex and knowing that Jesus probably preached here when he refers to white-washed (let alone seeing those tombs) is amazing. On this same spot it is argued that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and in these baths the new believers were baptized. The ripples of Christianity started here in this city and then the surrounding countryside and on and on to where it is now.