There is perhaps no city on Earth more mythic in emotional scale or more torn by conflict than Jerusalem. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, having been dated to as early as 4000 BCE. Next to Byblos in Lebanon, Jerusalem may be the oldest continually inhabited city in human history. It has been destroyed twice, once by the Babylonian Empire and then by the Roman Empire. It has been under seige, captured, recaptured and otherwise fought over hundreds of times. This makes the origin of its name tragically ironic.
At the root of Jerusalem's Hebrew name, Yerushalayim, are three letters. They are Shin, Lamed and Mem. In all semitic languages, that root pattern and its cousins have the same connotation. Shalom, Salaam, peace.
There are many early references to the city of Jerusalem. Biblically, the first mention of it is in the book of Genesis, chapter 33. As part of his travels, the patriarch Jacob journeys to a country called Shachem, specifically to a city called Shalem. Read more
