Early 20th Century picture of Jerusalem from South showing City of David (Zion) area in green almost devoid of buildings. Note the Gihon Spring tower.
The name of the occupied site taken by King David was previously Jebus and its inhabitants were known as Jebusites.
The name Jebus gives us an important clue to to God’s ‘modus operandi’. Jebus means trodden underfoot or downtrodden. It had been the site of Ornan’s threshing floor, a place trodden underfoot by men and oxen for the threshing of grain. (The same word is used in Psalm 108:13 and Isaiah14:25 and 63:6)
But it was a site of great importance to God and his people—those known as the Sons of God. It was where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had encountered Yahweh; it was where the mysterious priest/king Melchizedek had resided. It had become known as HaMakom...THE PLACE! But then it had become ‘trodden underfoot’ by the sons of men.
But God doesn’t forget what he has chosen as his own. Typically mankind tramples what God calls sacred, but he loves to take what men have trampled underfoot and to reclaim it.
This is exactly what was occurring when David took the ancient fortress of Jebus and re-named it the City of David. God was again being enthroned on the ancient site, Zion!
The name of the occupied site taken by King David was previously Jebus and its inhabitants were known as Jebusites.
The name Jebus gives us an important clue to to God’s ‘modus operandi’. Jebus means trodden underfoot or downtrodden. It had been the site of Ornan’s threshing floor, a place trodden underfoot by men and oxen for the threshing of grain. (The same word is used in Psalm 108:13 and Isaiah14:25 and 63:6)
But it was a site of great importance to God and his people—those known as the Sons of God. It was where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had encountered Yahweh; it was where the mysterious priest/king Melchizedek had resided. It had become known as HaMakom...THE PLACE! But then it had become ‘trodden underfoot’ by the sons of men.
But God doesn’t forget what he has chosen as his own. Typically mankind tramples what God calls sacred, but he loves to take what men have trampled underfoot and to reclaim it.
This is exactly what was occurring when David took the ancient fortress of Jebus and re-named it the City of David. God was again being enthroned on the ancient site, Zion!
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