Get to Know Bible Places: Mount Zion (Part One)

Location

Mount Zion, or the Temple Mount is one of the most sought-after and prominent locations in the city of Jerusalem. It is located in the modern state of Israel, but the temple mount is controlled by the Palestinians. The mount was originally a Jebusite fortress. This location is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:6-9 (Tenney, 914). 

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and smite the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul. Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house. And David dwelt in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

From this time this location would be known as the city of David, thus belonging to Judah. It was the site of the Jewish Temple. It remained in the capital of the Southern Kingdom during the period of the divided kingdom.  Pfeiffer explains, “Mount Zion was originally, the scarp of rock on the tip of the ridge between the Kidron and the Tyropoeon valleys of Jerusalem. After the construction of the Temple on the northeastern hill (commonly called Mount Moriah, the term Zion was applied to that hill also.” (Pfeiffer, 32).  The same general area encompasses at least the two mounts and is often referred to by the Jews as Mount Moriah as well.

Geographical Significance

Why is this location so important? Jerusalem is not regarded as the most ideal location for a capital city. It had many liabilities which are explained by Wright, 

One might note that the geographical setting was not unique to ancient Jerusalem, but typical of most of the other capital cities of the region. Israel’s Samaria, Ammon’s Rabbah, Moab Kir-Hareseth, Dibon (Dibhan), and Edom's Bozrah were all located on defensible rises; each was partially or completely surrounded by higher hills. And in every case but Jerusalem, the hills surrounding, these capitals were far enough away so that an attacking army would not feel as though they could look (and shoot) directly down into the besieged city’s streets. (Wright, 136-137)

It is so very interesting to think about this. This vulnerability was all the more reason that the people of Israel would need to remember that they were to depend on God.  McGarvey added, “The northwestern part of the ground thus inclosed was higher than the summit of Mount Zion. It has an elevation of 2570 feet, according to Conder, while that of Mount Zion is 2540 feet” (McGarvey, 156). 

This Mount has become one of the most significant pieces of real estate in the world. It is widely recognizable to many this day with the Western Wall (a retaining wall built by Herod) also known as the “Wailing Wall”. The most recognizable feature is likely the Al-Aqsa Mosque (the Dome on the Rock), which the Muslims call the mount Haram al-Sharif. Pfeiffer suggests, “The sacred rock under the dome is probably the site of the ancient Jewish altar of burnt offering.” (Pfeiffer, 135). This mount has significance to Jews, Muslims, and Christians (more so Christendom) alike.  This overemphasis of this rock has caused great religious and geopolitical conflict from Bible times to the present. We must recall the words of Jesus again to the Samaritan woman that a physical mountain, not Gerizim or Zion would matter under the New Covenant, but rather all who assemble to worship in Spirit and Truth would be the worshippers that Jehovah desired regardless of location (cf. John 4:19-24). 

Old Testament History

A significant event related to this location is found in 2 Samuel 24 In this instance the three-day pestilence has plagued Israel slaying 70,000 from Dan to Beersheba as a result of David’s unauthorized census.  The Spirit says, “And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite” (2 Sam. 24:16).  It is then afterward that Jehovah commands David through the word of His prophet Gad to build an altar at that site. It was God who selected this site. 

This land in which the temple came to be built was acquired by King David "And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will verily buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing. So, David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Sam 24:24). However, the ties to God’s people appear to go further back than David’s purchase. Pfeiffer adds, “It is traditionally associated with the place where Abraham offered Isaac-Mount Moriah (Gen 22:2; 2 Chron 3:1)” (Pfeiffer, 135). Not all agree with this exact location of the Abrahamic sacrifice and the temple, but it is certainly possible and seems to build a pattern. 

Another instance shows God’s approval of this location and the building of which He accommodated Solomon to build. 

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Jehovah filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of Jehovah, because the glory of Jehovah filled Jehovah's house. And all the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Jehovah was upon the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and gave thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 

(2 Chron. 7:1-3). 

Much could be said about the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity on this Mount. What we would conclude is that from the Biblical historical record, this location was a site of many important instances for the people of Israel. 

Works Cited: 

McGarvey, J. W. Lands of the Bible.  Gospel Advocate, 1966.

Pfeiffer, Charles F., et al. Baker’s Bible Atlas. Baker Book House, 2003.

Tenney, Merrill C. The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary. Zondervan Publishing House 1977.

Wright, Paul H. Holman Illustrated Guide to Biblical Geography: Reading the Land. B&H Publishing Group, 2020.