Names

I. Names. - "Jerusalem," in Hebrew, means "the possession" or "inheritance of peace." It is called "Salem" in Ps 76:2, and Jewish commentators affirm that it is identical with the Salem of Melchizedek, Gen 14:18; but Jerome and others dispute this. The Jews also believe that it includes the mount upon which Abraham offered Isaac, and which he named" Jehovah-jireh." Gen 22:14. It is called "Jebusi," Josh 18:28, and "Jebus," Judg 19:10-11, and it first appears as "Jerusalem" in Josh 10:1. It was known as "the city of David" and of "Zion," 1 Kgs 8:1; 2 Kgs 14:20; "city of Judah," 2 Chr 25:28; "city of God," Ps 46:4; "city of the great King," Ps 48:2; "the holy city," Neh 11:1; "Ariel," Isa 29:1; in the Latin Version it is "Hierosolyma." By the Roman emperor Hadrian it was named AElia Capitolina; by the Mohammedans, Arabs, and Turks it is now known as el-Khuds, or "the holy," and Beit-el-Makhuddis, or "the holy house" or "the sanctuary." The Moslems regard it as their most holy city, next to Mecca and Medina, and believe that the general judgment will take place in the valley of Jehoshaphat, under the direction of Mohammed and Jesus.