Israel 2001 Photos

Jerusalem Photos

Biblical references: Jerusalem was in existence in the middle of the second millennium BC, as is shown by the Tell el-Amarna letters. It was quite probably the Salem of Genesis 14.18, and the mountain in the "land of Moriah" of 22.2. When the Israelites entered Canaan, Jerusalem was in the hands of the Jebusites under king Adonizedek.. This king formed an alliance against Joshua, who defeated them, but did not take the city. Comparing Judges 1.8 and 21, it would appear that Judah overcame the part of the city outside the fortress walls, and that Benjamin occupied this part, with Jebusites still holding the fort. David took the city (1 Samuel 5.6-8), making it his capital and bringing the ark there. Under Solomon the first Temple was built and the fortified city extended. When the kingdom was divided after Solomon's death, Jerusalem continued as the capital of the southern kingdom, Judah. Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon destroyed the city and Temple in 587 BC. At the end of that century the Jews, now under )Persian rule, were allowed to return to their land and city, and they rebuilt the temple, but the city walls remained in ruins until Nehemiah restored them in the middle of the 5th century BC. After the death of Alexander the Great, his general Ptolemy entered Jerusalem and included it in his realm. In 198 BC Palestine fell to Antiochus II, the Seleucid king of Syria. About 30 years later, Antiochus IV entered Jerusalem, destroying its walls and plundering and desecrating the Temple; and he installed a Syrian garrison in the city. Judas the Maccabee led a Jewish revolt, and in 165 BC the Temple was rededicated. He and his successors gradually won independence for Judaea, and the Hasmonaean dynasty ruled a free Jerusalem until the middle of the 1st century BC, when Rome intervened. Roman generals forced their way into the city in 63 and 54; a Parthian army plundered it in 40; and 3 years after that Herod the Great had to fight his way into it, to take control. He first had to repair the damage created by these various incursions; then he launched a big building programme, erecting some notable towers. He commenced the rebuilding of the Temple on a much grander scale, although this was not finished within his lifetime. One of his towers was Antonia, commanding the Temple area (it housed the Roman garrison which came to Paul’s aid, Acts 21:34). In 70 AD the Roman general Titus systematically forced his way into Jerusalem, and destroyed the fortifications and the Temple.
The baby Jesus was presented to the Lord in Jerusalem - Joseph and Mary were greeted by Simeon and Anna (Luke 2.21-40). When Jesus was twelve he lingered behind in the Temple when they were in Jerusalem for a Passover feast (vv. 41-52). The last week of the ministry of Jesus was focussed in Jerusalem - the events of Palm Sunday, teaching in the Temple, the last supper, Gethsemane, the trial, crucifixion and resurrection all took place here (Matthew 21-28). At a feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem the Holy Spirit was poured out and the Christian church was born (Acts 2). The first Christian council met in Jerusalem to discuss the issue of circumcision (Acts 15). Paul was arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21).

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View from Gerald Halbert Park and Observation Plaza. Mount of Olives.

Excavations outside southern wall, Jerusalem. Alan does a spot of shopping in Old Jerusalem.

An upper room from Crusader times. The Valley of Hinnom.

Temple Mount with Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Towards the Mount of Olives.

St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem. The Knesset, Jerusalem.

Sculpture at entrance to Knesset grounds. Bronze Menorah across the road from the Knesset, Jerusalem.

View from Gerald Halbert Park and Observation Plaza.	Mount of Olives.
Excavations outside southern wall, Jerusalem.	Alan does a spot of shopping in Old Jerusalem.
An upper room from Crusader times.	The Valley of Hinnom.
Temple Mount with Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.	Towards the Mount of Olives.
St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem.	The Knesset, Jerusalem.
Sculpture at entrance to Knesset grounds.	Bronze Menorah across the road from the Knesset, Jerusalem.