I have no idea which is correct. What I do know is that what is now called the City of David is a national park near Jerusalem where some people believe the biblical King David built his capital. You don’t have to believe that, but there is definitely a large archeological site there that dates to that period. That’s enough for me to find it interesting. I enjoy going to places like this because they hold meaning for the people who treasure them. I don’t believe in Jesus, yet I enjoyed walking the Via Dolorosa and seeing how people venerate the place. The fact that it is considered so holy is what makes it more than just another picturesque old city. I’m not going to go tap pilgrims on the shoulder and say “You know, this isn’t where Jesus walked,” partly because I don’t know for sure, and partly because it would be disrespectful and, frankly, pointless to argue with what people believe.

Dear Rachel,

The whole thing is like the blind leading the blind. The Gospel of Luke (the Christmas story) says that the City of David is Bethlehem, a good four miles south of the Haram. Anyone who suggests that the City of David lies only a few hundred feet below the Haram is out to lunch. I perceive that you are a seeker. As such, you will be lied to, but never by me.

James

Hi James, thanks for your comments. I’m no expert in this, and I realize that the Via Dolorosa is only what Christians believe to be the route. Nevertheless it’s fascinating to walk the route to see the strength of that belief in action. My understanding is that the Temple Mount did exist at the time of Jesus and already had a plaza built on top of it. There are archeological remains going back several thousand years just south of the old city in what is now called the City of David. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t also a settlement north of the city on Mt. Scopus. As I said, I’m no expert. Thanks for commenting!

Dear Rachel,
With your kind permission, I would like to rock the boat. The Old City did not exist in the time of Jesus. It was built about AD130 by the Romans as a political gesture and named Aelia Capitolina. I doubt, therefore, that the Via Dolorosa is anything but a sasquatch story.

The platform known as the Temple Mount did not exist either, until it was laid out by Constantine in the 300s. His mission was to establish the cave, the Well of Souls, now enclosed beneath the Dome of the Rock, as the tomb of Christ. I think he got it right.

The true Old City, with its citadel and royal residence, I place a mile north atop Mt Scopus, principally because of military advantage. The Temple stood west of Scopus, at Ammunition Hill.

The only difference between me and an atheist is that I am not an atheist.

Amen to that!

Yes, I’m keeping out of harm’s way so far (knock on wood). Experienced my first siren today, which I’ll probably blog about tomorrow! Thanks for commenting!

What is very clear since I got here is that the media coverage is grossly oversimplified; there are far more sides to this situation than just one united Israel and one united Hamas.

Thanks for commenting!