The City of David
There is so much to learn about the ancient City of David (“Ir David”) that I can in no way begin to explain it’s expansive history here. For my purpose, a few words should suffice. From what I understand this city existed long before David came into the picture. We know that it was once a Jebusite city before being conquered by David (1 Sam 5:6-8). This tiny fortified city is the original Jerusalem. Gradually, under the direction of King Solomon and others, Jerusalem expanded northward to Mount Moriah (Temple Mount) and eventually to what we now call “the Old City,” and of course to Jerusalem as it is today, but not before enduring years of war, destruction, and rebuilding.
Recent excavations reveal ruins of ancient homes, the Pool of Siloam where Christ sent a blind man to be healed, tombs (it is believed that David himself was buried here as written in 2 Kings 2:10), an underground water system (Hezekiah’s Tunnel and Warren’s Shaft), walls of defense, and more. It is believed by some that the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi had his residence here around 600 BC due to the fact that it would have been the wealthy who lived in this area of Jerusalem, Lehi himself being a wealthy and well known man (1 Nephi 1:7; 2:4; 3:16). All-in-all Ir David is a very interesting and exciting place to visit and helps one to catch a glimpse into Old Testament times, particularly that of David and Solomon, King Hezekiah, and the prophet Isaiah. |