Early 20th Century image of steps to Gihon Spring
In Psalm 76:2 why did Asaph the Psalmist use this ancient name of the site where Melchizedek had dwelt? Then, in Hebrew parallelism, Asaph repeats the thought saying, ‘and his dwelling place in Zion.’
He knew that Salem and Zion were identical.
Asaph was aware that where David had pitched the tent for the ark and the sacred items was the site of ancient Salem, known through the ages as HaMakom, The Place.
That ancient enclave or settlement known as Salem was sited as near as possible to that even-more-ancient spring of living water known as Gihon. The settlement would not have been way up the hill to the north at what has become erroneously known as Temple Mount today. Why would anyone choose to live a distance of hundreds
of metres up a steep hill from the only water source and up which they would have to carry water at least once a day?
No, Salem—to become later known as Zion was just near and just above this spring called ‘Gushing Forth’ and whose water was later piped up, under its pressure into the temple above—at Zion!
Over and over the scriptures declare ‘the Lord dwells in ZION’ ‘the Lord speaks from ZION’ and in both Joel and Amos, ‘the Lord roars from ZION.’
Read about this ancient site known as HaMakom throughout the Old Testament in
'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood'
Available from Amazon
Or from Amazon Australia
Or good bookstores.
Ian Heard's other books can be seen here
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