Jerusalem Timeline

"Jerusalem is for Israel the focal point of Jewish

History: the symbol of ancient glory, of longing,

of prayer, of modern renewal."

(Abba Eban, Israeli Statesperson)

Jerusalem, many will say, is the center of the earth. It is a special city, with no other city in the world like it! This golden city is filled with a history that dates back to the 3rd millennium BC., with control of Jerusalem changing hands time and time again. While the city's biblical and extra-biblical history is rich with colorful detail, the city remained significant for the last 2,000 years as well. For sure, Jerusalem holds within its walls century upon century of stories, both told and untold.

So the challenge to the student of the Bible is to track Jerusalem's history in a way that helps us place significant events in their proper context. The resource below aims to assist you, in a general way, in understanding a chronological order of Jerusalem's history.

Thus, starting with David's conquest of Jerusalem (then called Jebus), although it's history goes back to Genesis 12 (then called Salem), the timeline ends with a concentration upon the most recent history of modern Israel up through 1980.

As it has been said, let it be certain: God's hand has been on Jerusalem in ancient

days. His hand is still upon the golden city. As the psalmist says,

"Sha-allu shalom, Yerushalyim!"

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"

(Psalm 122:5)

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THE JERUSALEM TIMELINE

(B.C. History)

c1005

King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel.

960

King Solomon (David's son) builds the First Temple on site chosen by his father.

922

Kingdom is divided between north (Israel) and south (Judah) with Jerusalem as capital of the Southern kingdom.

701

Senacherib, King of Assyria, unsuccessfully lays siege to Jerusalem.

700

Hezekiah develops water supply at Siloam.

586

Kingdom of Judah eventually falls to Nebuchadnezzer, King of Babylon, who captures and destroys Jerusalem, including the First Temple, and exiles Jews to Babylon.

539-7

Beginning of return from Exile in Babylon--led by Ezra and Nehemiah.

515

City restored, and dedication of Second Temple (during reign of Darius).

444

Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem and its walls

350

Persians capture Jerusalem.

332

Hellenistic domination of region--Alexander the Great

313

Ptolemy I of Egypt rules Jerusalem.

170

Antiochus Epiphanes, King of Syria, plunders Jerusalem.

167-4

Maccabean revolts by Hasmoneans following desecration of Temple by Antiochus.

165

25 Kislev, Jerusalem recaptured and Temple rededicated (celebrated at Chanukah to this day). Restoration of Jewish autonomy under Hasmonean Empire.

Roman invasion led by Pompei.

Kingdom established with Jerusalem as capital under Herod--appointed by Rome.

Herod begins restoration of the Temple

Rule of Roman procurators.

C.E. (The Common Era)

Jerusalem part of Roman province of Judea. Development of Jewish Resistance.

Crucifixion of Jesus (4 B.C.E.-33 C.E.)--by order of Pontius Pilate

66-73

First Jewish revolt.

Siege of Jerusalem for 134 days by Romans under Vespasian. Jerusalem falls. Tisha B'Av--Second Temple destroyed by Titus.

132-5

Second Jewish Revolt--led by Bar Kochba. Large scale slaughter, Jerusalem razed and then rebuilt by Hadrian and renamed "Aelia Capitolina". Jews excluded from Jerusalem.

324

Jerusalem under Byzantine rule.

326

Queen Helena (mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine) visits Jerusalem and begins building major churches-- including Holy Sepulchre.

362

Julian the Apostate allows Jews to resettle in Jerusalem.

614

Jerusalem falls to Persians.

629

Jerusalem retaken by Byzantines.

638

Caliph Omar Ben Hatav captures Jerusalem placing it under Arab Muslim rule.

688-91

Dome of the Rock (Mosque of Omar) built by Abdal- Malik.

1009-10

Caliph Hakim orders destruction of churches and synagogues.

1077

Turks capture Jerusalem

1099

First Crusades Capture of Jerusalem--Jews and Moslems slaughtered. Godfrey Of Bouillon led the attack and was named 'Protector of the Holy Sepulchre'

1141

Yehuda Halevi goes to Jerusalem.

1165

Moses Maimonides (Rambam) visits Jerusalem.

1173

Benjamin of Judea visits Jerusalem.

1187

Saladin captures Jerusalem from Crusaders. Jewish settlement renewed.

1192

Richard the Lionheart fails to conquer Jerusalem.

1212

300 English and French Rabbis settle in Jerusalem.

1244

Jerusalem sacked by Tartars.

1259

Jerusalem sacked by Mongols.

1260

Rule by the Mamelukes--lasting two and a half centuries.

1267

Nachmanides (Ramban) goes to Jerusalem and worships at the Western (Wailing) Wall (The Kotel).

1347

Jerusalem again conquered by Mamelukes.

1488

Rabbi Ovadia Bertinoro in Jerusalem.

1516-17

Turkish Sultan Selim conquers Jerusalem for Ottoman Empire.

1535-8

Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilds city ramparts and wall around Jerusalem.

1541

Muslims seal Golden Gate to prevent Messiah's entrance (as according to Jewish tradition).

1556

Earthquake in the city.

1700

Judah the Pious settles Jerusalem with 1,000 followers.

1705

Jews subjected to restrictions.

1798

Napoleon visits the Holy Land area.

1827

First visit by Sir Moses Montefiore, Anglo-Jewish philanthropist.

1831

Jerusalem conquered by Mehemet Ali of Egypt.

1838

First British Consulate opened in Jerusalem.

1840

Jerusalem again under Turkish rule.

1844

First official census confirms Jewish majority--7120 Jews, 5760 Muslims, 3390 Christians.

1859-60

Mishkenot Sha-ananim--first Jewish settlement built outside Old City walls with assistance of Sir Moses Montefiore. This was followed by Nahlat Shiva (1869).

1873-5

Mea Shearim built.

1892

Yemin Moshe established.

1898

Theodore Herzl meets Kaiser Wilhelm just outside Jerusalem.

1906

Bezalel School of Art founded.

1911

Baedeker's guide confirms two thirds Jewish majority amongst city populace.

1917

British Army enters Jerusalem under General Allenby.

1918

Hebrew University Foundation Stone is laid on Mount Scopus on J.N.F. owned land; first lecture delivered by Albert Einstein (first president of WUJS) in 1923; inaugurated 1925.

1918-20

Jerusalem under British military administration.

1920-21

Arab riots break out in Jerusalem.

1922

Palestine Mandate given to Britain by League of Nations. Haj Amin el-Husseini appointed Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

1929

Disturbances at Western Wall--Arab riots in Jerusalem.

1932

King David Hotel opened. First issue of "Palestine Post" (later becomes "Jerusalem Post").

1947

29th November: United Nations Partition Plan calls for internationalization of Jerusalem (UN Resolution 181).

1948

Febraury

TransJordanian army shells Jewish Quarter.

13th May

Jewish convoy attacked on its way to Mt. Scopus--35 doctors and nurses killed.

14th May

British Mandate ends.

15th May

STATE OF ISRAEL PROCLAIMED.

19th May

Lifting of Arab siege of Old City.

28th May

Jewish Quarter of the Old City falls to Jordanian Legionnaires.

26th July

Western Jerusalem proclaimed Israeli territory.

1949

Knesset (Israeli Parliament) moves to Jerusalem from Tel-Aviv.

Jerusalem proclaimed capital of Israel.

Jordan defies armistice and prevents access to Western Wall and Mount Scopus.

1951

Jordan's King Abdullah assassinated by Arab extremists on Temple Mount.

1953

Establishment of Yad Vashem--Holocaust Memorial Center.

1964

Pope Paul VI visits.

1965

Teddy Kolleck becomes Mayor of Jerusalem.

1966

Inauguration of new Knesset building. Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book established.

1967

5-11 June:

Six Day War

7th June

Old City captured by Israel

28th June

Jerusalem Unified into one city. Free access to all holy sites of all religions.

1978

WUJS headquarters moves from London to Jerusalem.

1980

Jerusalem Basic Law enacted declaring united Jerusalem to be capital of Israel.

"Sha-allu shalom, Yerushalyim!"

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"

(Psalm 122:5)