Modern Jerusalem with its wide streets, tall buildings and tram train has grown up around Old Jerusalem, mostly on the north side. But, if you exit Old Jerusalem through the south gate, you will see a ridge jutting out between the valleys. It's an even older Jerusalem -- known as the "City of David", the original site of Jerusalem!


The City of David is the oldest area of Jerusalem . King David made it the capital of Israel over 3,000 years ago! Today, the walled city of Old Jerusalem is up the hill from here. Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. These forgotten city ruins were found over 150 years ago. Today, it's an active, ongoing dig site with new discoveries continually being made.

This is a history lesson as told in the scriptures. But, you will find the same events reading secular history, just without the religious references. I will relate it from the religious records because, well, THIS THE HOLY LAND.

 
THE WAY IT WAS
God promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan. Genesis 17:8. The descendants of Abraham became known as ‘Israel’. They were living in Canaan when a great famine hit the land. Many Hebrews (Israelites) went to Egypt and, over a period of time, there were so many that the Pharaoh of Egypt became afraid they would threaten his rule. So, he made them slaves in Egypt for 400 years .

 
Then, Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (1300-1200 BC) back to Canaan, the promised land. This was the beginning of the age of the Judges in Israel. Over the years the Israelites expanded throughout the Land of Israel.
 

But, after 440 years there was still one unconquered non-Jewish city in the heart of a Jewish country. It was called Jerusalem! It's a city-state inhabited by a Canaanite tribe called Jebusites. It remained unconquered because of its great defenses. It was built on a narrow ridge of only about 10 acres in size. But, it was surrounded by deep valleys, except on the north end, where a great wall was built.
 

Enter the era of King David (born in 907 B.C.). Slayer of the giant as a boy, great warrior, poet, singer, and writer of most of the Psalms. He is one of the most important figures in Jewish history.

 
The promised land Moses led the Israelites to, out of slavery, was a small country with Egypt on one side and Mesopotamia (both great ancient civilizations) on the other side . 

 
But, by the time King David takes the throne, they are both in decline and have no interest in expanding. This allows David's armies to conquer the Philistines and then move on toward Jerusalem without interference from those powerful countries. But, how can Jerusalem be defeated after hundreds of years of resistance?

 
KING DAVID'S BATTLE FOR JERUSALEM
Picture It --- Jerusalem is built on a ridge extending into the Kidron Valley with steep ravines on each side where the ridge comes to a point. The only access for invaders is at the north end. So, a great wall was built to protect that boundary. So far so good.
 

But, Jerusalem still has one weakness in it's defenses! Water! The only source of water came from the Gihon Springs, located at the edge of the city but 85 feet below, and 114' away in the Kidron valley. The solution was to build a tower with walls more than 12 feet thick, high over the spring . Then, they connected this tower to the city. They dug a canal from the springs to a large pool they dug under the tower. 
 

Then, they dug a long tunnel from inside the city -- leading to the pool at the end of the tunnel. Then, they enclosed the whole thing with a wall. This way the residents had hidden access to the water if the city was under siege. This is how they had remained the only Canaanite city not conquered by the Israelites in 440 years!
 

HOW DAVID'S ARMY CAPTURED JERUSALEM
King David finally captured the city at about 1,000 BC (2 Samuel 5): "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David".
 

This is how it was done. King David called his army together and told them the way ro conquer Jerusalem was to climb up the shaft. “And David said on that day, ‘Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack .’" Samuel 5:8.
 

No one seems to know exactly what route he took, but many believe Joab led a group of men and went through the stream from the lower part of the Gihon Spring. Once inside the walls, he climbed the steps, went through the tunnel and opened the gates for David's army! So, about 1,000 BC, the Canaanites were driven out and the Israelites inhabited the city later called "The City of David".
 

HEZEKIAH'S TUNNEL & THE POOL of SILOAM
In the 8th century BC, King Hezekiah had a tunnel dug (1/3 mile long) in the city. It went from the Gihon Springs to fill the Pool of Siloam in preparation for an impending siege by the Assyrians. This was the pool where Jesus healed the blind man. Today the tunnel is open for you to walk through. You need to wade through water from a few inches deep to chest deep!
 

KING DAVID'S TOMB
Who is buried in King David's Tomb? Answer: "No one". Not even King David! David is one of the most important figures in Jewish history and ruled for 40 years total . He died at age 70. Inside present day Old Jerusalem is a building built by Christian Crusaders that holds a large, empty, stone cenotaph (a tomb-like monument of someone buried somewhere else). It is draped with a velvet cloth with embroidered stars of David and inscriptions from the Jewish Scriptures. 
 

David was buried in the City of David, down the hill from here, but his tomb has not been found. So, this site has become a memorial to David for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
 

TOMB of ABSALOM
Here's your second chance. Who is buried in Absalom's Tomb? Answer: "Absalom!" He was David's third son. He led a mutiny against his father. After he was defeated, he fled away on a donkey. But, his long hair caught on an oak tree limb and David's soldiers killed him, even though David had ordered he not be harmed.
 
 
He is buried in the tomb he built himself. It is located on the western foothills of The Mount of Olives, facing the old city of Jerusalem . Behind it is a large, important Jewish cemetery with thousands of tombs.
 
 
For centuries it became a custom for fathers in Jerusalem to bring their rebellious sons to Absalom’s Monument to throw stones at the tomb of the boy who "lifted his hand against his father." there were so many “naughty” boys in Jerusalem that by the beginning of the twentieth century, the monument was nearly completely covered with stones!
 

(Update: After leaving Israel, I read where Arab vandals had set fire inside the tomb, damaging much of the ancient structure. When some Jews gathered to pray over the damage, they were pelted with stones by some Arab youth).
 
 
Scriptures:
David captures Jerusalem: 2 Samuel 5:6-7

David sees Bathsheba bathing: 2 Samuel 11:2

King David’s last words: 2 Samuel 23:1-7

 King David’s death: 1 Kings 2:10

 King David’s reign: 1 Chronicles 29:26-30

 King David mourns Absalom: 2 Samuel 18: 32-33

 Hezekiah brings water into the city: 2 Kings 20:20

 Building the Pool of Siloam: Nehemiah 3:15

 Jesus heals a blind man at the Pool of Siloam: John 9:1-41
 
NEXT: "Old Jerusalem Churches"