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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,
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"(Psalm 122:5)
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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.
63
Roman invasion led by Pompei.
37
Kingdom established with Jerusalem as capital under Herod--appointed by Rome.
20
Herod begins restoration of the Temple
0
Rule of Roman procurators.
C.E. (The Common Era)
6
Jerusalem part of Roman province of Judea. Development of Jewish Resistance.
30
Crucifixion of Jesus (4 B.C.E.-33 C.E.)--by order of Pontius Pilate
66-73
First Jewish revolt.
70
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
February
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.
(Psalm 122:5)
"Journey of a Lifetime"