Alrighty, so let's dive into examining the true meaning of David's words about the lame and blind at Zion.

Prepare to have your mind blown into tiny little smithereens all over the kitchen floor as you read this today.

So let's get started.

To solve this mystery, lemme start by saying we have to apply the principle of progressive revelation to this issue.

In other words, we need to look at the Bible as a whole, not just one part of it.

We need to remember that David points to the future Messiah. 

Whether you follow Judaism or Christianity, David is seen as the model for the Messiah, and both religions believe the Messiah will come from David’s lineage. 

So, when we read about the blind and the lame in 2 Samuel 5, we should think about it like we do with some of David’s Psalms 

In other words, they foreshadow the future Messiah. 

The full meaning of these words doesn’t become clear until we read the New Testament.

Check out these verses:

"Yeshua replied, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have skin afflictions are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.'"-Matthew 11:4-6

And this one: 

"The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing*. And they praised the God of Israel."*-Matthew 15:31

Can you see the connection between David's descendant, Yeshua, entering Jerusalem and healing the lame and blind?

In 2 Samuel 5, the people of Jerusalem are saying to David (and to the Messiah) that unless you can heal the lame and the blind, you are not welcome in Jerusalem. 

Both David and the Messiah show they care about healing the people who are suffering. 

Many translators think David is saying he hates lame and blind people, but that's not true. 

What David really means is that he hates the condition of lameness and blindness, not the people. 

So when Yeshua says in Matthew 11:6, “How blessed is anyone not offended by me” (talking about the blind and lame), it fits perfectly with David’s response in 2 Samuel 5:8.

David goes on to conquer Zion and expand the city's boundaries. 

His first step was to start building at the north end of the city, just outside the city walls. 

This area was called the Millo at that time, and later it was known as the Ophel. 

Homes were built in this open space between the City of David and the top of the hill called Mt. Moriah, where the Temple would be built later. 

Over time, the walls of the City of David were expanded to include the new housing area inside David’s city.

So, the takeaway here should be pretty clear.

The New Testament is organically connected to the Hebrew Bible like peanut butter and jelly.

Or I think a better way to say it is without the "Old" Testament, you haven't got a snowball's chance in hell of understanding the New Testament.

Ya feel me?

I had experiences of Christianity, but had poor mental health. I walked away and I gave up belief in Yeshua as the Messiah. I've been exploring Judaism, however today I read a post about Yeshua being Jewish and following Torah and it made me think I was really wrong to walk away from him.

I've had traumatic things happen including estrangement from my only child.

I'd be really grateful if someone could advise, pray , or talk with me.

Edit: I'm really upset about some bad things that happened to child and I.

"The king and his men went to Yerushalayim to attack the Y’vusi, the inhabitants of that region. They taunted David, 'You won’t get in here! Even the blind and the lame could fend you off!**' — in other words, they were thinking, 'David will never get in here.' Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Tziyon, also known [now] as the City of David.  What David said on that day was, 'In order to attack the Y’vusi, you have to climb up [from the spring outside the city] through the water tunnel. Then you can do away with those [so-called] ‘lame and blind’' (whom David despises — hence the expression, “The ‘blind and lame’ keep him from entering the house”)**.-2 Samuel 5:6-8

Alrighty, let's take a look at the main part of Samuel Chapter 5, which is what the people inside the walled city said to David and his army.

Not very many Bible translations agree with one another on the true meaning of their words.

When we compare, we find slightly different meanings assigned to their words from version to version.

Further, when we look at verse 8, it ends with David uttering another line about the lame and the blind, and it sounds like he is disgusted by them.

Strange, right?

So there are 3 theories as to what's going on here as follows:

Theory 1:

The Jebusite soldiers, safe up on the city walls, are simply throwing insults at David.

And David's comment about hating the lame and blind?

That's just him being sarcastic and throwing the insults right back to them.

Theory 2:

Some think the Jebusites brought lame and blind people to the city walls and had them yell insults at David. 

If that’s true, David might have been saying that when he entered the city, he wouldn’t show mercy to them like a warrior usually would to people with such severe disabilities. 

Theory 3:

This idea comes from the Rabbis. 

They think the "lame and blind" were actually idols or statues. 

The Jebusites might have put these idols on the city walls as a way to curse David and his army.

Rashi, a famous Rabbi, had a different take. 

He said the people in the city were descendants of Abimelech, and the "lame and blind" were statues. 

One represented Jacob, who became lame after wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, and the other represented Isaac, who went blind in his old age and was tricked by Jacob. 

David hated these statues and planned to destroy them.

Some scholars even link this to Hittite myths, while others argue the strange wording might mean the text had been corrupted over time. 

But since the Dead Sea Scrolls say pretty much the same thing, that explanation doesn’t hold up well. 

So to close, instead of a takeaway today, I'd like to pose a question.

What's your take?

What do you think is the most credible theory?

Or you may have a completely different theory.

Either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Leave your answer in the comments below.

The next time we meet, we'll get into the most plausible answer about the meaning of the "lame and the blind" in this story.

“A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.”

Insofar as Deuteronomy is concerned, it contains therein Moses' final address to his people, and the repetition of the law there has precedent in the earlier words of the Law spoken by God to Moses. In this case, God created them with distinctive natural gender (Genesis 1:27; 2:21-24). Thus, to cross-dress would be to confuse genders and act contrary to God's design for human beings. Humanity was created as God's image by being male and female (Genesis 1:27).

Additionally, cross-dressing was known to be practiced in paganism to gain the favor of the gods/goddesses or to invoke them to send a message. Thus, it would reflect the religious practices of the pagan nations surrounding Israel, thus suggesting an association with idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:1-5, 25; Leviticus 18:12).

The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary mentions the androgyny or gender ambiguity of Ishtar in its note on Deuteronomy 22:5 (2009, Vol. 1, p. 493), citing an enlightening source we now turn to—Gender and Aging in Mesopotamia: The Gilgamesh Epic and Other Ancient Literature by Rivkah Harris (2000).

Ishtar, Harris explains, “is androgynous, marginal, ambiguous . . . She is betwixt and between . . . Central to the goddess as paradox is her well-attested psychological and physiological androgyny. Inanna-Ishtar is both female and male . . . [in one place stating] ‘Though I am a woman I am a noble young man’” (pp. 160, 163).

She shattered all gender and socioeconomic distinctions—being both a royal queen and “the harlot of heaven . . . set out for the alehouse” (p. 166). And in all this she was the role model for her followers. Among her powers was this from a Sumerian poem: “To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inanna” (p. 160).

In the Descent of Ishtar we are told of some participants in her cult: “The male prostitutes comb their hair before her . . . They decorate the napes of their necks with colored bands . . . They gird themselves with the sword belt . . . Their right side they adorn with women’s clothing . . . Their left side they cover with men’s clothing . . .” (p. 170). The revel and competition ended in a bloody spectacle of self-cutting (compare 1 King 18:28).

Harris states: “Their transvestitism simulated the androgyny of Inanna-Ishtar. It was perhaps the inversion of the male/female binary opposition that thereby neutralized this opposition. By emulating their goddess who was both female and male, they shattered the boundary between the sexes” (pp. 170-171). This was seen as a way of rising above the prison of the flesh.

I note that as we begin our decent into darkness and the coming of the Antichrist, gender has become blurred. One cannot help but wonder what has happened to transition us from the days of our forebears into where we are now. I think that Deuteronomy 22:5 is wise to apply today, because the Adversary has been pushing this world further and further away from God for some time now.

We can also draw upon the wisdom and experience of our forebears. The Corinthian Congregation had notable struggles with sexual immorality; being located in the same city as the pagan Temple of Aphrodite, they were ideally placed to preach a unique message of hope and holiness to the people, and ran a unique risk of sinful disobedience. As Paul writes:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

So, what does this mean for your interlocutor? Perhaps the simplest thing you can do is remember the conversation Jesus had one night with a Rabbi named Nicodemus. And when you do, you can certainly acknowledge their status as transgender and/or their sexual preference, saying:

“Yes, you were born a certain way. But in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven, you must be born again.”

Let's continue to take a closer look at how the water system in the city of David grew over time.

Following "Warren's Shaft," the next big project was called the Siloam Channel, also known as the Canaanite Tunnel.

It was built at the start of the 2nd millennium B.C.

This channel begins at the Gihon Spring and stretches about a quarter-mile to the south.

It follows the lower, eastern slope of the City of David, curves around the city's southern end, and finally empties into a reservoir in the Tyropoeon Valley.

The northern part of the channel is about three feet deep and covered with big stones, while the southern part is open but turns into a rock-cut tunnel near the end. 

There were openings along the channel that let water flow out to water the terraces on the city’s eastern slope. 

These terraces were used as private gardens, likely by King David himself.

Next, the third and final water system built is one you might have heard of—Hezekiah’s Tunnel. 

It was built during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah, near the end of the 8th century B.C. 

There’s even a six-line inscription, written in early Hebrew, carved into the rock near the tunnel’s exit. 

It tells the story of how the tunnel was made and says something like this:

"Here’s how the breakthrough happened. While the workers were digging with their picks, each group digging toward the other, they were still about three cubits apart. Then, they heard each other’s voices through a crack in the rock—one group was on the south side, and the other was on the north. Finally, the two groups broke through, striking pick against pick. Once the tunnel was connected, water began flowing from the spring all the way to the pool, traveling 1,200 cubits. The rock above the workers was about 100 cubits tall!"

Hezekiah’s Tunnel is the most amazing water system built in the City of David. 

The tunnel was carved into the rock under the city and winds its way in an "S" shape for almost half a mile. 

What’s even more amazing is that the workers started digging from both ends and met perfectly in the middle. 

That’s exactly what the inscription tells us about—and they did it without any modern tools! 

It’s incredible to think about.

If they had dug in a straight line, the distance between the Gihon Spring and the Siloam Pool would have been only a quarter of a mile. 

The tunnel is about 2 feet wide and 6 feet tall in most places, just big enough for someone to walk through.

This last water system is what feeds the recently discovered Pool of Siloam, which we read about in the New Testament. 

I've never been inside the Canaanite Tunnel or Hezekiah’s Tunnel, but from what I heard, it can be quite harrowing.

Nevertheless, the construction is next-level, really beyond its time.

It’s hard to believe they were built using such simple tools.

During the winter, the water flow is really strong. 

So it's not unimaginable to see how a big city like this could grow with just the water from the Gihon Spring. 

Again, quite incredible if you think about it.

So here's the takeaway for today.

Archaeological details like these remind us that the Bible isn’t just a book of stories—it’s rooted in real places, real events, and real people. 

Discoveries like the Siloam Channel and Hezekiah’s Tunnel not only showcase incredible engineering for their time but also align perfectly with what we read in Scripture. 

These ancient water systems bring the Bible to life, proving its accuracy and deep connection to history. 

They encourage us to trust that the Scriptures are more than words—they’re a record of God’s work throughout time.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

"Having said this,
he spit on the ground,
made some mud with the saliva,
and put it on the man’s eyes. ‘
Go,’ he told him, 
‘wash in the Pool of Siloam*’*
So the man went and washed,
and came home seeing." 
-John 9:6-7

When we last left off, we were talking about the Gihon Spring, which was the only water source for the City of David.

This spring flowed out of a cave on the east side of the city, above the Kidron Valley.

Over time, the people living there worked hard to protect this spring. 

They needed to keep their water safe from enemies and make sure there was enough for everyone as the city grew.

To do this, they carved three amazing water systems into the rock underneath the city. 

These systems, all connected to the Gihon Spring, were some of the most advanced of their time! 

During the First Temple period, all three systems worked together to keep the city's water supply running smoothly. 

They also show how determined Jerusalem’s kings were to ensure there was always water—even during a siege.

During times of war, the city's water supply was at risk because the Gihon Spring was outside the city walls in the Kidron Valley. 

To fix this problem, the people of the city created tunnels and shafts to bring water safely inside.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the earliest systems they built was called "Warren’s Shaft."

The entrance to this system is on the eastern slope of the City of David, inside the old city walls. 

It’s a tunnel carved into the rock that ends with a shaft. 

At the entrance, the tunnel slopes steeply down like a staircase, making it easier to reach the water below.

But this makes us wonder: 

How in the world did David’s men get into the water shaft if it was inside the city walls? 

This has puzzled a lot of experts. 

Some think the story in 2 Samuel 5 might not be completely accurate, while others wonder if there’s a mistake in how it was translated.

Well, we'll be getting into all of that jazz later, but for now, it's time for an amazing takeaway!

The story of the Gihon Spring and the water systems under the City of David offers a powerful reminder of the ingenuity and determination of the people of ancient Jerusalem. 

They faced challenges like war, growth, and scarce resources but instead of freaking out, they got creative.

They dug tunnels and shafts, carved into solid rock, to bring the water inside and keep it safe.

This situation teaches us to approach challenges in our own lives with the same determination.

Even seemingly impossible problems have solutions waiting to be uncovered.

The takeaway is clear: 

Faith and resourcefulness can work hand-in-hand to overcome even the toughest obstacles.

So don't let life's curveballs cause you to throw up your hands in defeat!

Ya feel me?

Later homies.

Last year, as I was drawn to spirituality, I also felt the urge to meditate and practice yoga, though I didn’t understand why. Initially, I thought I would have to abandon Christianity and Jesus as I embraced spirituality, but I am beginning to realize that Jesus himself was spiritual. But apparently he also preached yoga, reiki and mediation (and all three of these things work for me) like I said I got the urge several times to meditate and stuff.

This also explains how my grandfather put my friend who could see dead people into a trance months ago and she wrote to give my life to Jesus. (and its real cuz was in the middle of writing something random for me and then suddenly her whole demeanor changed including her handwriting! I still have the paper!!!)

Wow

How do we go from 62 and 7 weeks to 490+/- 10 years, not sure how this conclusion is made?

Please can someone explain the Jewish and messianic approach to the prophecies in this chapter to me (like I’m 5).

*"The king and his men went to Yerushalayim to attack the Y’vusi, the inhabitants of that region. They taunted David, 'You won’t get in here! Even the blind and the lame could fend you off!' — in other words, they were thinking, 'David will never get in here.'"-*2 Samuel 5:6

Verse 6 kicks off with a story about David conquering the Jebusite-held city of Zion.

Biblical battle accounts often lack detail, and this chapter is no exception.

Instead, the emphasis was on the Jebusite's insults toward David while they hid behind their strong fortress walls.

We'll examine those words later, but first, let's turn our attention to the clever means David employed to gain entrance into what was considered an impenetrable stronghold.

He appeared to have used a water tunnel to sneak his men into the city.

This tunnel, more like a shaft, was rediscovered in 1867 by Sir Charles Warren and is now aptly called "Warren's Shaft."

This confirms David's capture of Zion.

Now here's what's cool about this account:

Jerusalem's water system will play an important role again later in history.

I love how archeology confirms the Bible stories!

Let's dive into the details just a little bit more.

The City of David was constructed on a hill made out of hard limestone.

This was where tiny underground caves naturally formed due to flowing water underneath.

Now, the area's only water source was the Gihon Spring.

It flowed in the Kidron Valley on the east side of the City of David.

This spring, often mentioned in the Bible, enabled the City of David (formerly Zion) to thrive for thousands of years.

"Gihon" means "to gush forth" in Hebrew, reflecting the spring's seasonal flow changes.

The spring gathers water in an underground cave that serves as a reservoir.

When the cave fills up, the water pushes through cracks in the rock and rises to the surface.

Since the spring didn’t always flow strongly, people had to collect the water in a pool to use during drier times.

We'll continue with the details about this fascinating water system the next we meet...

But for now, it's time for another exciting takeaway!

Notice I said, the area's only water source was the Gihon Spring.

As we all know, water is essential for life...

Without it, we can die in a day or two.

So, I see God's grace and love being manifested in this Gihon Spring that served as the city's only lifeline.

Without it, no one could've lived there.

Just as the Israelites would've perished in the wilderness had God not miraculously provided water from random boulders lying in the desert. 

Scripture also uses water or MAYYIM as a metaphor for life itself.

I leave you with these words that Yeshua told the Samaritan woman at the well:

"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Yeshua said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?**' (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

 *Yeshua answered her, '*If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'

*^('')*Sir,' the woman said, 'you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?  Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?'

*Yeshua answered, '*Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'

The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw wate**r.'"

And that's your takeaway for today.

See ya all next time.

Today, we're gonna wrap up our study of the history of Jerusalem with a quick overview.

So here's what we learned so far.

FIRST, we learned the oldest known name for this city is Yerushalayim.

Surprisingly, that name isn't Hebrew—it’s Akkadian!

Archaeologists found clay tablets in northern Syria during the late 1960s and early 1970s that used the name Yerushalayim.

These tablets were written in Akkadian about 4,500 years ago, which is about 500 years before Abraham lived.

The name Yerushalayim likely means something like “the foundation of the god Shalem.” 

A shorter name for the city was Shalem, which was one of the names used during Abraham’s time. 

This is the name of the place where Abraham met the mysterious king and priest, Melchizedek.

SECOND, later on, a group called the Jebusites either took over or built up Yerushalayim.

They added walls around part of the city, and both Jebus and Yerushalayim became common names for the area. 

The Jebusites called the walled-off section Zion.

THIRD, in 2 Samuel chapter 5, we read about David and his private army conquering this walled section. 

Afterward, David renamed it The City of David.

Since David didn't use the national tribal army when he took Zion, he felt it was okay to name it after himself—The City of David.

Here’s a clear way to understand the situation: 

Yerushalayim was the name for the larger area, while The City of David was just the name for the walled part of the city. 

This walled section was located on the southern slope of Mt. Moriah, downhill from the rest of the area. 

So, The City of David and Yerushalayim are NOT the same thing.

Keep that in mind! 

That's key to remember as we move forward...

And we're gonna revisit this topic when we get into the era of King Solomon.

He was the first king to build the first temple for the Lord on top of Mount Moriah, which was OUTSIDE the City of David.

So here's what I'm getting for today's takeaway.

2 Samuel chapter 5 is jam-packed with important details that are so easy to miss...

But we shouldn't because they are so crucial to understanding the Biblical narrative.

Ya feeling me here?

So that's your lesson for today.

We usually say, "The devil is in the details."

Well, let me flip that expression on its head by saying "God is in the details."

If we wanna really understand the Lord and His Word in a meaningful way that can be applied to our lives...

Not only is it important to study all of the Bible (not just a few books in the New Testament)...

But it's vital we not skim over the details just because they might seem irrelevant or boring or something...

Ya feel me?

Following on the heels of yesterday's discussion, even in Yeshua's time, the Holy Land was divided into the Roman Provinces of Idumea, Perea, Samaria, Galilee, and Judah.

In other words, Jerusalem was always considered a separate entity.

That's why the New Testament often mentions both Judah (or Judea) and Jerusalem as separate places.

It's interesting how many Jews and Christians today are open to the unscriptural idea that Jerusalem is some kind of international city or something.

While it's located smack dab in the middle of Israel, it's also viewed as a separate area run by outside secular institutions like the UN.

The false idea being promoted is that it can serve as both the capital of Israel and a Palestinian state at the same time.

In fact, over 60 years ago, when the UN split the land into Jewish and Arab states, that was the original intended plan for Jerusalem.

It wasn't meant to belong to either the Jews or the Arabs.

It was to be some kind of neutral space for everyone to enjoy.

Of course, most Jews and Arabs vehemently reject the idea of Jerusalem as some kind of International City.

But the topic may come up again soon, especially as pressure grows for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders. 

Now, if you're wondering if the Bible supports this idea because of King David's actions in 2 Samuel Chapter 5, perish that thought!

Jerusalem was only the capital of Israel—it was NEVER an International City.

David himself didn’t own all of Jerusalem. 

He owned just the City of David, which was his private and secure home, not the capital. 

The true capital was Yerushalayim. 

That’s also why the Temple wasn’t built in the City of David but in Yerushalayim, on Mount Moriah.

Okay, let's move to the takeaway.

It's a pretty fundamental point.

The problem with secular institutions trying to treat Jerusalem as some kind of international tourist attraction is that they don't understand the holy nature of the city.

Jerusalem is NOT common, it is holy.

It possesses special status as defined by the Creator of the Universe.

The same applies to the Jewish people as well.

They are not common like gentiles are.

Gentiles are common and Jews are holy.

Of course, when a gentile is grafted into the commonwealth of Israel by accepting the Jewish Messiah, he or she is accorded holy status.

But until that happens, gentiles are common.

So as we've seen time and time again in the Scriptures, what happens when something that God has deemed holy is violated?

That thing is destroyed.

And that's exactly what's going to happen to any nation, or institution that attempts to trample on the holiness of Jerusalem by treating it like any other gentile city.

Ya feeling me.

I leave you with this verse from the Psalms.

"For the Lord has chosen Zion; 
He has desired it for His dwelling place: 
'This is My resting place forever; 
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.'"
-Psalm 132:13-14

I wanna dive into something that's rarely discussed.

Over and over in the Scriptures, we'll see the two terms "Israel" and "Judah" connected with each other, like twin brothers in a sense.

They're NOT treated as synonyms but as two separate entities related to each other.

This makes perfect sense because individually they represent only a part of Israel.

But when they come together, they represent all of Israel.

Now here's the thing.

The same phenomenon occurs when we're talking about Jerusalem and the City of David.

These are NOT two terms that mean the same thing.

They are separate entities.

The city of David was David's private property, and it was separate from the public city of Jerusalem.

This tells us why David used his army instead of the national military to attack Jebus.

This was important because, in the public's eyes, it would be viewed as a private rather than public undertaking.

Had David used the national army to attack Jebus, the elders would have deemed it a joint mission, making the conquered land public property.

Does this surprise you?

Well, it shouldn't because we have a similar situation in the USA.

Did you know that Washington D.C. is not affiliated with any state?

That's right, folks.

It's an independent entity and remains so to this day.

The District of Columbia is a neutral territory.

That's why it's the perfect location for a central government.

There is one big difference, however.

Washington D.C. isn't privately owned, but the City of David seems to have been David's personal property.

Think of it like this: 

While the City of David was inside Jerusalem, it was like a private, walled-off area that belonged to the king. 

The rest of Jerusalem, outside those walls, was viewed differently.

The takeaway from all this is the importance of property rights as written about in Scripture.

It's kind of like the Tabernacle set-up.

You had the outer courtyard, the Holy Place, and then the Holy of Holies.

Only certain people at certain times were allowed in certain areas to meet God's strict standards of holiness.

Furthermore, a lot of the commandments in the Torah are all about protecting one's property rights...

Especially the laws involving sexual purity...

The commandment forbidding adultery is all about protecting a man's wife from theft from another man.

In this case, his wife is his property as is a daughter the property of her father if she is still living under her roof.

Ya feel me?

See ya all next time.

Hi everyone!

I’m not really looking to debate my beliefs, it’s been a long journey! I’m wondering though if any of you are aware of a group or categorical term for a believer who:

• Believes Yahweh is One, and only One
• does not believe in the trinity
• Does not believe Yeshua is literally “God’s son” or divine, but of the line of David and the chosen Messiah
• Does not believe in the virgin birth
• Believes that Paul was a false apostle and corrupted Messianic Judaism to form Christianity
• does not believe the Bible is “divinely inspired” so to speak

Thank you so much, and Elohim Yavrech

"David lived in the stronghold and called it the City of David. Then David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and working inward*."*-2 Samuel 5:9

Let's dig into verse 9 a bit.

It refers to a place called Millo.

The term means a mound of earth or a rampart, kind of like a terrace in modern terms. 

Many believe it refers to what we now call the Ophel, which is located just outside the ancient wall at the north end of the City of David.

I would agree with them.

"Ophel" is another word for mound or slope.

Looking at a map of ancient Jerusalem, you'll see the City of David, the oldest walled area, sitting lower down the slope from Mount Moriah. 

The City of David was surrounded by canyons and valleys, like the Kidron Valley, which helped protect it from attacks.

Between the northern wall of the City of David and the Temple Mount (later built on Mount Moriah), there’s a wide open space called the Ophel. 

Many villagers built homes there as the city grew. 

The plan was to eventually extend the wall to include this area, making the City of David larger. 

So that’s what verse 9 is describing.

So why did David attack Jerusalem?

Of course, everyone will say to make Jerusalem his capital.

But that misses the point.

See, the problem with Hebron, the current capital, was that it represented the Kingdom of Judah.

This meant the northern tribes would never accept that city as the capital for all of Israel.

I bet the northern leaders agreed with David to set up a new, centrally located capital.

Well, Jerusalem fits the bill perfectly!

Why?

Because it was right on the border between Israel and Judah.

You couldn't find a more central location.

Neither the South nor the North could claim it as its own.

Heck, there weren't even Hebrews living there at this point.

You couldn't find a more neutral spot than that.

So what's the takeaway for today?

Well, we just went over why Jerusalem was the perfect candidate to be Israel's capital because of its neutral location.

Here's another thing to consider.

It's also a perfect candidate to be the world's capital.

Think about it.

It's positioned at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The city is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions.

It's also one of the oldest cities, with a rich history spanning thousands of years.

But the most important reason of all is that Scripture affirms when Messiah returns...

He will return not only as Israel's king but as the King of the world, ruling from Jerusalem!

I leave you with these words from the prophet Isaiah:

"Many people will come and say, 
'Come, let us go up to the 
mountain of the Lord, 
to the temple of the God of Jacob. 
He will teach us his ways, 
so that we may walk in his paths.' 
The law will go out from Zion, 
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem*."*
-Isaiah 2:3

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

"And do not swear by the earth, 
for it is the Lord's, 
and the footstool of His feet; 
nor by Jerusalem, 
for it is the city of the great King*."*
-Matthew 5:35

*"*I saw the Holy City, 
the new Jerusalem, 
coming down out of heaven from Go**d, 
prepared as a bride beautifully 
dressed for her husband. 
And I heard a loud voice 
from the throne saying, 
'Look! God’s dwelling place 
is now among the people, 
and he will dwell with them.'"
-Revelation 21:2-3

*"*Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 
you who kill the prophets 
and stone those sent to you,
how often I have longed 
to gather your children together, 
as a hen gathers her chicks 
under her wings, 
and you were not willing. 
Look, your house is left to you desolate. 
For I tell you, 
you will not see me again until you say, 
'Blessed is he who 
comes in the name of the Lord.'"
-Matthew 23:37-39

It’s easy to see why scholars struggle to spot the many references to Jerusalem in the Scriptures.

The holy city has gone by the names of "Yerushalayim," "Jebus," and the town of "Shalem."

But it doesn't end there.

Once David took Jerusalem by force, it also became known as the "City of David," "the Millo,""Zion," and the "Stronghold."

You may think I'm slicing the onion too thin here.

But I ain't.

Understanding these differences is important, especially when it comes to prophecy.

So here's the first thing you gotta know.

In ancient times, a city was NOT walled.

It started as a tiny, unprotected village.

As the village prospered, it caught the attention of outsiders.

The villagers soon realized their town had become the envy of nearby enemies.

So, in response, they erected walls around their city for protection.

This was no easy undertaking.

It took a lot of money, manpower, and a strong leader to oversee the construction.

So that's the first point ya gotta understand.

Before it became a walled city, Jerusalem was a small, humble area where farmers and herders lived.

On top of that, its borders weren't accurately defined.

In our day and age, we measure our property possessions down to the last millimeter.

But it wasn't like that in ancient times.

Boundaries and borders were defined by loose landmarks, such as a river flowing through the territory... 

Or a boulder that sat in the area, and so on.

However, once walls were erected, they did what natural landmarks couldn't do.

They created precise boundaries.

So here's the second thing ya gotta know.

When a village was transformed into a walled city, it was given a separate name from the area where it was built.

Normally, it was named after some deity or king.

Hence the name the "City of David."

This referred to the city built on land of a different name.

Yerushalayim was the name of the general surrounding area BEFORE the walls were erected.

To date, we haven't unearthed any other name besides this.

So why did the place also become known as Jebus?

Because Jebus was named after a Canaanite tribe that once lived there.

In 2 Samuel Chapter 5, the Jebusites were still living in the area during David's time.

They had also taken control of the walled city named "Zion."

And as I mentioned earlier, it was also called the "Stronghold."

This makes sense because when you build walls around a city, what do you end up with?

You get a stronghold that separates the protected from the unprotected.

This leads to the takeaway for today.

The king, his family, his royal court, and his dedicated merchants, lived inside the city's walls.

These folks were the saved, redeemed, or chosen ones of God.

But outside the walls is where the common, unredeemed people lived.

Are you catching this?

We have a picture of the saved versus the unsaved.

The saved villagers were loyal to the king.

When attacked, the gates would open, letting them inside the city walls for safety.

In other words, the King or Messiah was their "stronghold."

Ya feeling me here?

So to sum up what I explained earlier.

The general area was called "Yerushalayim" or "Jebus"...

But the walled part of the city was called "Zion."

Then, when David captured the city, he renamed it the "City of David."

Yet, the name Zion stuck and was used for other reasons we'll get into later.

And that's it for today.

See ya all next time.

So, let's continue with our mini-study of Jerusalem's little-known but fascinating history.

When we left off, we discovered that the root for Yerushalayim is SHALEM, from which the word for SHALOM (peace) comes.

But when did the word SHALEM first make its appearance in Scripture?

Well, let's travel back to these verses from the Book of Genesis.

"After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer
and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom
came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh
(that is, the King’s Valley).
Then Melchizedek king of Salem 
brought out bread and wine. 
He was priest of God Most High*,* 
 and he blessed Abram, saying,
'Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.'
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
-Genesis 14:17-20

Hmm...very interesting.

Here we learn about Melchizedek, a mysterious king and priest of the city of Shalem. 

This is the same Shalem mentioned in ancient Ebla records by the way.

The story tells us that Melchizedek worshipped the one true Creator God, whom he called El Elyon, meaning “the Most High God.”

Now here's a question for you.

Which language did Abraham speak?

Lemme give you a hint.

It was NOT Hebrew.

It wasn't King James English either by the way.

It was Akkadian!

Akkadian was a language common in Mesopotamia.

Remember, Abraham was an Amorite who had recently moved into the area.

And get this.

This mysterious king called Melchizedek whom he met in the wilderness probably spoke Akkadian too.

Why?

Because Hebrew as a distinct and independent language did NOT exist yet!

Ya feeling me here, homies?

Don't forget that Akkadian is a Semitic language.

Remember, the word "Semitic" is a mispronunciation.

It means to come from the line of Shem, who was one of Noah's three sons.

So properly it should be pronounced anti-SHEMITIC with a "sh" sound.

Interestingly, ancient records outside the Bible show that the city of Shalem had been around for at least 500 years before Abraham lived.

So what's the takeaway for today?

So the word "anti-semitic," which should be pronounced "anti-shemitic" means to be against the sons of Shem.

In Genesis 9:26-27, Noah prophesied blessings for his son Shem, declaring, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem." 

This foretells that Shem's descendants would have a unique relationship with God, as seen in the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom the worship of the one true God was preserved.

The prophecy also states that Canaan, a son of Ham, would serve Shem, foreshadowing the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan. 

Ultimately, Shem’s line becomes central to God’s covenant promises, culminating in the coming of the Messiah. 

This highlights Shem’s privileged role in God’s plan for humanity after the flood.

So what does this mean for you and me?

Or for all of mankind for that matter?

It means any one person or nation who comes against Shem comes against God...

And will be cursed by God.

I pray that is not you.

And I pray for all the poor deluded souls participating in these ridiculous pro-Hamas or pro-Palestinian protests that go against the sons of Shem.

Ya feel me?

I’ve read through some past posts hear on the topic of conversion and honestly was a bit confused. I’ve watched some videos but they were kinda vague and very long. So if a gentile wanted to convert and practice messianic Judaism could they? Is it allowed? And also why do so many here go to the messianic Jewish synagogues but don’t consider themselves a messianic Jew but instead messianic? Sorry if this is a dumb question I’m new to this and I’m very fascinated. I’m lost when it comes to Christian denominations and traditions, I’m considering converting.

I feel like it’s a rare case of “taking something too figuratively”. My thoughts are that you literally shouldn’t boil an animal in its mothers milk because that’s just disturbing. I don’t really stay kosher anyway since I’m messianic. I do like pork but shellfish makes me really sick.

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