Yerusalem

Isixeko esifumaneka kuSirayeli omtsha. Isisixeko esibaluleke ngokugqithileyo kwimbali yebhayibhile. Ezinye zeendawo ezizezona zinyulu zamaKrestu, amaYuda, namaIslam zikwesi sixeko kwaye zindwendwelwa rhoqo ngamakholwa amaninzi athembekileyo. Kusoloko kubhekiswa kuyo njengesixeko esingcwele.

Sakha saziwa njengeSalem (Gen. 14:18; IiNd. 76:2), iYerusalem yayisisixeko samaYebhusi sada sathinjwa nguDavide (Yosh. 10:1; 15:8; Ⅱ Sam. 5:6–7), owasenza ikomkhulu lakhe. Kwada kwangoko ke sathi sasebenza ngokugqithisileyo njengenqaba eyintaba, malunga neenyawo ezinga-2600 (800 eemitha) ngaphezu kolungelelwano nolwandle. Sirhangqwe ziintlambo ezinzulu kuwo onke amacala ngaphandle kwasemantla.

Ngethuba lolawulo lukaKumkani uDavide eYerusalem, wasebenzisa ibhotwe elenziwe ngemithi. Nangona kunjalo, ngethuba lolawulo lukaSolomon, abantu benza izinto ezininzi ukuhombisa isixeko, kubandakanya nokwakhiwa kwebhotwe likakumkani netempile.

Emva kwezikumkani zakwaSirayeli noYuda owahluliweyo, iYerusalem yahlala ilikomkhulu lakwaYuda. Yahlaselwa rhoqo yimikhosi ehlaselayo (Ⅰ OoKum. 14:25; Ⅱ OoKum. 14:13; 16:5; 18–19; 24:10; 25). Phantsi koHezekiya, iYerusalem yaba ngumbindi wonqulo lwenkolo kodwa yayitshatyalaliiswe inxenye ngowama-320 P.K., 168 P.K., na-65 P.K. UHerode wakha kwakhona iindonga netempile, kodwa ngowama-70 E.K. amaRoma ayitshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo.