Refine Search

Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon

IT WAS called “the perfection of prettiness” and “the town of the grand King.” (Ps 48:2; 50:2; La 2:15) Jerusalem was the capital of God’s nation. (Ps 76:2) After David seized the city from the Jebusites and made it his capital, it was called “the City of David,” or just “Zion.”​—2Sa 5:7.

While not enjoying a very strategic location, Jerusalem gained fame because God placed his name there. (De 26:2) It was the religious and administrative center of the nation.

Jerusalem is at an altitude of 2,500 feet [750 m] in the central mountains of Judea. The Bible refers to its “loftiness” and to worshipers as ‘going up’ to reach it. (Ps 48:2; 122:3, 4) The ancient city was surrounded by valleys: the Valley of Hinnom on the west and south and the torrent valley of Kidron on the east. (2Ki 23:10; Jer 31:40) The spring of Gihona in the Kidron Valley and En-rogel to the south supplied fresh water, especially vital during enemy attacks.​—2Sa 17:17.

On the diagram on page 21, the City of David is in red. During the reigns of David and Solomon, the city extended northward to include Ophel (green) and Mount Moriah (blue). (2Sa 5:7-9; 24:16-25) Solomon built a magnificent temple to Jehovah on that higher spur. Imagine throngs of worshipers streaming up to “the mountain of Jehovah” for the annual festivals! (Zec 8:3) The road network represented on page 17 facilitated such travel.

Solomon’s temple, decorated with gold and precious stones, was one of the costliest buildings ever constructed. Significantly, Jehovah provided its architectural plan. As you see from the painting, the temple was flanked by large courtyards and administrative buildings. Its details are worthy of your study.​—1Ki 6:1–7:51; 1Ch 28:11-19; Heb 9:23, 24.

[Footnote]

[Box on page 21]

In time, Jerusalem expanded to the west and north. Judean kings after Solomon added walls and gates. Ongoing archaeological research may shed light on the exact line and extent of some parts of the walls. The city was destroyed in 607 B.C.E. and remained desolate for 70 years. About 80 years after the Jews’ return, Nehemiah embarked on an extensive rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.

[Diagram/Picture on page 21]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Jerusalem/Solomon’s Temple

TEMPLE AREA IN SOLOMON’S TIME

Temple Features

1. Most Holy

2. Holy

3. Porch

4. Boaz

5. Jachin

6. Copper Altar

7. Molten Sea

8. Carriages

9. Side Chambers

10. Dining Rooms

11. Inner Courtyard

TEMPLE AREA

Mt. Moriah

Dining Rooms

Carriages

Side Chambers

Most Boaz

Holy Holy Porch Copper Inner

Jachin Altar Courtyard

Carriages Molten

Sea

Ophel

Public Square?

Water Gate?

CITY OF DAVID

Mt. Zion

David’s Palace

Fountain Gate

Manasseh’s Wall?

Tower of Hananel

Tower of Meah

Sheep Gate

Gate of the Guard

Inspection Gate

Horse Gate

KIDRON VALLEY

Lower Wall?

Gihon

Later water tunnel

TYROPOEON VALLEY

Gate of the Ash-heaps (Potsherds) (Dung)

En-rogel

Valley Gate

VALLEY OF HINNOM

Corner Gate

Tower of the Bake Ovens

Broad Wall

Gate of Ephraim

Public Square

Gate of the Old City

Early North Wall

SECOND QUARTER

Fish Gate

[Picture]

Ophel

House of Pharaoh’s Daughter

Solomon’s Palace

House of the Forest of Lebanon

Porch of Pillars

Porch of the Throne

Mt. Moriah

Great Courtyard

Temple

[Picture on page 20]

Foreground area is where “the City of David” was located. The temple was in the flat area (background)

[Picture on page 20]

Computer rendering of the ancient “City of David” and the temple of Solomon