Why Jerusalem?

“No city is more important to the peace of the world than Jerusalem” – I believe New York Times bestseller Dore Gold is correct. Since Jerusalem was declared the capital of Israel in 1,000 BCE by King David, more countries have fought over it than any other city in the world. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.

Today, Jerusalem is less than 50 square miles. However, much of the trouble is about an area, just half a square mile in size. It is often referred to as the Old City and is divided into Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters. In this area one would find some of the holiest sites of the world’s three major religions.

Within this half a square mile area is a hilltop platform complex, the 35-acre Temple Mount. Formerly known as Mount Moriah, this is the area Solomon used to build the Temple in 950 BCE (2 Chronicles 3:1). It is the same area where the destroyed Temple was rebuilt, following the Jewish exile in Babylon (516 BCE). As a favor to the Jews, Herod the Great demolished and built a new Temple on that same site in 20 BCE.

It was Herod’s Temple with which Jesus was familiar. That Temple was destroyed by the Romans (70 CE), just as Jesus predicted. In 135, under Emperor Hadrian, the Romans further crushed the Jews. Dio Cassius estimated that more than half a million Jews died during the rebellion. The Jews were kicked out of Jerusalem and the city was renamed. Judea was also renamed Palestine, in order to eradicate permanently the memory of Jewish independence.

For centuries the Romans banned the Jews from Jerusalem. Annually, they were allowed to observe the destruction of the Temple by mourning at the Western Wall, which became known as the Wailing Wall. The Wall was the only symbol left to remind the Jews of the Temple. 

Because of their love for Jerusalem, Jews in other countries built synagogues facing Jerusalem. A similar passion for Jerusalem and what it represented can be seen in Psalm 137, as the writer described life in Babylon, after the first Temple was destroyed. 

Following the destruction of the Temple and the banishment of the Jews from Jerusalem in 135, the memories of the city were preserved in Jewish culture and prayers. These practices placed Jerusalem at the core of Jewish belief and consciousness. Because the Jews were driven from their homeland by force, they always looked forward to returning home. Their bond with the land had never been severed. 

When the Muslims invaded Jerusalem in 637, they headed straight for Jerusalem. Muslims believe the prophet Muhammad had his night vision from Jerusalem - and not just Jerusalem, but from the hilltop complex 35-acre Temple Mount. Muslims believe that in that vision Muhammad was taken to heaven by the Angel Gabriel and saw Abraham, Moses and Jesus, before being ushered into the very presence of God.

As a memorial, Muslims decided to erect the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in 688. In 705, the al-Aqsa mosque was also built on the Temple Mount. Both structures are still at this location, thus making it impossible for the Jews to rebuild the Temple on the same spot where the former temples were built.


The presence of the Muslims in the region launched a reign of terror that lasted for hundreds of years, partially culminating in the Crusades. In 1099 Jerusalem was seized from the Muslims. In 1187, the Muslims recaptured the city. However, the fight for Jerusalem continued for centuries.

When the British defeated the Muslims during World War I, signs of a Jewish homeland appeared more likely. The Holocaust of 1933-45 and the murder of some six million Jews by Germany made it very clear that the Jews needed their own homeland to be able to protect themselves. 

With the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948 and the resurrection of Jerusalem as the capital of the nation, the Arab-Israeli War began in 1948. Subsequent wars and skirmishes, including the recent Gaza battle, all have religious undertones for control of Jerusalem.  

In essence, the historical quest for Jerusalem is religious. The Psalmist was correct in asking that we “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). In addition, when Jesus was asked by His disciples about His return, He said in Luke 21 – watch for developments in Jerusalem, just like you would watch the fig tree sprouting its leaves. 

Interestingly, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all believe that it is only the Prince of Peace who would bring peace to Jerusalem. The big question though, who is this Prince of Peace? In upcoming commentaries we will talk about Him as we approach the Christmas season.