Perhaps Zion is not just a section of Jerusalem. Maybe it’s the city itself. Let’s uncover some history at Pe’er David. This place stands as a testament to ancient Jerusalem. It echoes with tales of King David’s conquest.
Pe’er David is closely connected to the City of David. This is considered the original settlement core of Jerusalem. This dates back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Most scholars agree on this location. It sits on the southern part of the eastern ridge. It is west of the Kidron Valley and east of the Tyropoeon Valley. The Temple Mount is just to the immediate south.
The name City of David comes from the Bible. King David conquered Jerusalem. At the time, it was known as Jebus. The Bible describes this conquest in Samuel and Chronicles. The details vary slightly between the two books. Josephus, a Jewish-Roman historian, also retold the story. Historians debate the Bible’s accuracy for this period.
According to the Hebrew Bible, the name “City of David” was given to Jerusalem. This happened after David’s conquest around 1000 BCE. This is not to be confused with the modern organization of the same name. This organization showcases small excavated portions of the larger city. The Bible mentions it first in 1 Kings 11:27. It’s also in 2 Samuel 5:9, 2 Chronicles 32:30, and Nehemiah 3:15–16. King David is said to have ruled here for 33 years.
Locally, Palestinian Arab residents call the area Wadi Hilweh. Israeli authorities renamed it City of David after 1967. French archaeologist Raymond Weill first used the name in 1913. Rannfrid Thelle wrote that “City of David” favors a Jewish national agenda. It also appeals to Christian supporters.
Archaeologists generally agree on the location of the ancient City of David. It was on a spur running north to south. This is outside the Old City walls. It’s south of the southeastern corner. This is on the eastern ridge near the Gihon Spring. The City of David was the ancient center of Jerusalem. Its boundaries stretched from the Temple Mount south to the Pool of Siloam. It included the Kidron brook to the east and the adjacent dale to the west. Its area is about 12.3 acres.
Settlement began here in the Chalcolithic period. It continued into the Early Bronze Age. It largely built up around the natural spring. Back then, it wasn’t known as the City of David. The Old Testament says that after the conquest of Jerusalem, the name Jebus was replaced by “City of David”. David’s son, Solomon, extended the wall to the north. He added the Temple Mount area. He built a temple to God there. From the eighth century BCE, the city expanded westward.
The debate about whether this site is the biblical Jebus and City of David began in the late 19th century. Charles Warren and Hermann Guthe conducted excavations. Louis-Hugues Vincent and Montagu Brownlow Parker’s work identified early settlement traces. These traces date back to the Bronze Age.
Today, the excavated parts of the City of David are part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority manages the site. The Ir David Foundation operates it. It’s located in Wadi Hilweh. This is an extension of the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. It’s intertwined with an Israeli settlement. The PEF aimed to find the biblical “City of David”. But after 130 years, key targets remain unknown. The tombs of David and Solomon are still a mystery.
Considered one of the most excavated sites in the country, even today the City of David continues to reveal its secrets through ongoing digs. The digs have uncovered city walls, water systems, and building remains. Each artifact whispers stories of ancient lives. This place links us to narratives etched in time.