Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Surrounded by a Wall

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Jerusalem, a city of profound historical and theological significance, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as being surrounded by a wall. This wall not only served as a physical fortification but also symbolized divine protection and the spiritual strength of the city, which is central to the narrative of God's chosen people.

Historical Context

The walls of Jerusalem have been built, destroyed, and rebuilt multiple times throughout history. The earliest biblical reference to the walls of Jerusalem can be traced back to the time of King David, who captured the city from the Jebusites and established it as the capital of Israel (2 Samuel 5:6-9). His son, Solomon, further fortified the city, enhancing its defenses and establishing it as a center of worship with the construction of the First Temple (1 Kings 3:1).

The walls of Jerusalem were significantly expanded and strengthened during the reign of King Hezekiah, who prepared the city for an impending Assyrian siege by constructing a broad wall and diverting water into the city through Hezekiah's Tunnel (2 Chronicles 32:2-5). This act of fortification is a testament to the city's strategic importance and the need for divine and physical protection.

Nehemiah's Rebuilding

One of the most notable accounts of Jerusalem's walls is found in the Book of Nehemiah. After the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, was granted permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. The task was daunting, as the city lay in ruins, and the people faced opposition from surrounding enemies. Nevertheless, Nehemiah's leadership and faith in God inspired the people to complete the wall in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). This remarkable achievement is recorded in Nehemiah 4:6 : "So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work."

Symbolic Significance

The walls of Jerusalem hold deep symbolic meaning in the biblical narrative. They represent God's protection and the sanctity of the city as the dwelling place of His name. In Psalm 125:2 , the psalmist writes, "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore." This imagery underscores the divine safeguarding of Jerusalem and its inhabitants.

Moreover, the walls signify the separation between the holy and the profane. In the prophetic vision of the New Jerusalem, described in the Book of Revelation, the city is depicted with a great and high wall, symbolizing the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to dwell among His people in a place of eternal security and holiness (Revelation 21:12).

Prophetic and Eschatological Views

The walls of Jerusalem also play a role in prophetic and eschatological themes within the Bible. The prophets often spoke of the restoration and future glory of Jerusalem, envisioning a time when the city would be a beacon of peace and righteousness. Isaiah 60:18 proclaims, "No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise."

In Christian eschatology, the walls of Jerusalem are seen as part of the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The anticipation of a New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation, reflects the hope of a restored creation where God's presence is fully realized, and His people dwell in everlasting peace and security.

Conclusion

The walls of Jerusalem, both in their historical reality and symbolic representation, are integral to understanding the biblical narrative of God's covenant with His people. They serve as a testament to divine protection, the perseverance of faith, and the ultimate hope of redemption and restoration.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 3:1
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Judah, on the Defeat of the Enemy, Returned to Jerusalem...
... Judah, on the defeat of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem, and bent ... sacred building
was protected, and the temple was surrounded with a wall, while armed ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxii judah on the.htm

Last Journey of Jesus to Jerusalem.
... Jesus was a stranger at Jerusalem. He felt that there was a wall of resistance he
could not penetrate. Surrounded by snares and difficulties, he was ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxi last journey of.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... with palaces and architectural monuments; then, as now, Jerusalem was crowded ... and
the royal gardens - nay, the very wall that had then surrounded the city. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

The Broad Wall
... Brethren, Satan often counts the towers and bulwarks of the New Jerusalem. ... The
Christian is surrounded by the broad wall of God's power. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 57 1911/the broad wall.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... 1. The city of Jerusalem was fortified with three walls ... But on the outsides, these
hills are surrounded by deep ... Now that wall began on the north, at the tower ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ...
... in the case of Ascalon), but the very wall of a ... the spots most sacred were everywhere
surrounded by heathenism ... nay, its traces were visible in Jerusalem itself. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in palestine -.htm

A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... after that gate by which Jesus left Jerusalem when bearing ... able to stand close up
to the wall on either ... took out the right nail, and having surrounded the arm ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlix a description of.htm

Paul in Jerusalem.
... The temple was surrounded with two courts, separated by a wall of three ... Jews from
Asia, who had seen Paul in the streets of Jerusalem, accompanied by ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxv paul in jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... They surrounded the great tower of Antonia where the Roman ... 'Look over the walls,
O people of Jerusalem; the Roman ... The first wall fell, then the second and the ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ix the destruction of.htm

Meditation ii. The Supper-Room.
... in the midst of a spacious court surrounded by strong ... were to be seen adjoining the
wall, particularly to ... When a great part of Jerusalem was destroyed by the ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/meditation ii the supper-room.htm