Walking on the walls of Jerusalem & Old City – Stap op mure van Jerusalem en Ou Stad - Tours to Israel, Jordan, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Dead sea and Petra
Walking on the walls of Jerusalem & Old City – Stap op mure van Jerusalem en Ou Stad
Exploring the walled Old City of Jerusalem is like peeling back layers of an onion as history unfolds before you with pillars and columns of the Roman era, 2000 years old, yet still standing. The modern walls around the Old City were built in 1540 by Sultan Suleyman and are now more than 460 years old. The modern wall has seven gates which are in use (Jaffa Gate, New Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod Gate, Lions Gate, Dung Gate and Zion Gate). The Eastern gate is bricked closed and the Muslim cemetery is situated in front of it. The walls of the Old City are 40 feet high and 3.8 km around. The Ottoman Turkish sultan had wanted the walls to enclose the southern City of David as well but the architects failed to include Mount Zion or the City of David and they were therefore beheaded.
The Old City is divided into four quarters: Armenian, Jewish, Muslim and Christian quarters. The enclosed area is called the “Old City”.
Jerusalem is surrounded by high peaks; the Mount of Olives in the east, Mount Scopus (north east), Mount of Temptation (south east) and other hills to the south and west. Only the north side has no mountains. Jerusalem itself is situated on the rocky summit of Mount Moriah (temple site)
It is generally accepted that the City Salem of Melchizedek, refers to Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18). This is the first mention of the city in the Bible. It is to this place Abraham had to go to (Mount Moriah) where his faith in God was to be proved (Genesis 22).
When Joshua invaded the land, Adoni-Zedek was the king of Jerusalem. He died, along with five other kings when God sent hail and made the sun stand still over the valley of Gibeon (Joshua 10).
Jerusalem was in the hands of the Jebusites for a long time before King David captured Jerusalem and soon after, David made it the capital and ruled from there.
The City of David was south of the present Old City.
The Temple of Solomon was built on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3).
A large portion of Jesus Christ’s ministry took place in Jerusalem and it is here that He suffered, was crucified, died, was buried, rose again and finally ascended into Heaven.
This is also where His blessed and much anticipated return will occur when He will place His feet on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14).
Verkenning van die Ou Stad van Jerusalem kan vergelyk word met die afskil van lae van ‘n ui soos die geskiedenis voor jou oopvou met pilare en kolomme uit die Romeinse era van 2000 jaar oud wat nou nog staan. Die moderne mure om die Ou Stad is in 1540 gebou deur Sultan Suleyman en is nou meer as 460 jaar oud. Die moderne muur het sewe poorte wat in gebruik is (Jaffa, New Gate, Damascus, Herod, Lions, Dung en Sionpoorte). Die Oospoort is toe gebou met stene en ‘n Muslim begrafplaas is voor die hek geleĕ. Die mure van die Ou Stad is 40 voet hoog en strek oor 3.8 km. Dit Ottoman Turkse sultan wou die suidelike Stad van Dawid ook inkamp maar die argitekte het versuim om dit te doen en ook nie die Sionsberg ingesluit nie. Hulle was dus onthoof.
Die Ou Stad is in vier gedeeltes verdeel: Armeinse, Joodse, Muslim en Christelike kwartiere. Hierdie ingekampte area staan bekend as die “Ou Stad”
Jerusalem is omring deur hoĕ bergspitse – die Olyfberg in die ooste, Scopus (Noord-oos), Berg van Versoeking (suid-oos) en ander heuwels aan die suide and weste. Slegs die noordelike kant het geen berge nie. Jerusalem self is op die rotsagtige toppunt van Mount Moriah (tempel gebied) geleĕ.
Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat the Stad Salem van Melchizedek na Jerusalem verwys (Genesis 14:18). Dit is die eerste melding van die stad in the Bybel. Dit is ook hier waar Abraham moes gaan (Mount Moriah) waar sy geloof in God beproef was (Genesis 22).
Toe Josua die land ingeval het was Adoni-Zedek die koning van Jerusalem. Hy het tesame met vyf ander konings gesterf toe God hael neergevel het en die son laat stil staan het oor die vallei van Gibeon (Josua 10).
Jerusalem was vir ‘n lang tyd onder die beheer van die Jebusiete tot Koning Dawid Jerusalem gevange geneem het. Kort daarna het Dawid dit die hoofstad gemaak en daarvandaan regeer.
Die Stad van Dawid was suid van die huidige Ou Stad.
Die Tempel van Salomo was gebou op Mount Moriah (2 Kronieke 3).
‘n Groot gedeelte van Jesus se prediking het in Jerusalem plaasgevind. Dit is hier waar Hy gely, gekruisig en gesterf het. Hy is hier begrawe, opgestaan en opgevoer na die hemel. Dit is ook hier waar Sy geseĕende terugkeur sal plaasvind en Hy sy voete op die Olyfberg sal plaas (Sagaria 14).