Lecture 3: Jerusalem as Sacred Place Pt. 2

Today's lecture started where we left off from the previous lecture.

Continued from Jerusalem as Sacred Space:

Jerusalem as a sacred space

Consecration of Sacred Space

Gen 2:4-4

Garden of Eden story

Includes mention of Gihon

Gen 14:17-20

Story of Melchizedek

Both High Priest AND King

Consecrated the land

Gen 22:1-14

Story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac

Land of "Moriah"

2 Chron 3:1

Solomon builds house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah

Sacred Time and Space

Sacred Time

Gen 2:1-3

Creation of the Sabbath

Sacred day of the week

Exodus 20:8-11

Explanation of the Sabbath

"For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth"

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Explanation of the Sabbath

"Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt"

**side note: Prof Cargill explained this difference as evolving priorities of the Hebrew people, i.e. at later times, different things were important. I, however, personally think that these verses are not necessarily in contradiction to each other. I think the Sabbath was created as a way to worship a people's God and these two verses basically explain different reasons to worship God. It would be like a parent having many reasons for a child to follow the parent's instruction.

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Lecture 2: Jerusalem as Sacred Space

Today's lecture asked many questions including:

How is Jerusalem a Great City?

What makes a Great City great?

Is Jerusalem a sacred space?

How does a place become sacred?

It was explained that events and stories and traditions make a place sacred. Cities accumulate legends over time. Jerusalem was seen as sacred because people said God has made it sacred.

1) How is Jerusalem a Great City?

Location

Jerusalem is situated between two major ancient trade routes which run north to south on either side of the city

The Via Maris

The King's Highway

Close to Mediterranean Sea and inland trade routes

Topography

Situated on a relative hilltop

Enemies are forced to attack from valleys to the south or (most likely) from the north

Subsequently walls were built to protect from attacks from the north

Valleys

Kidron Valley - East

Tyropean - Central

Hinnom Valley - West

Water

Gihon Spring

Only source of water in early Jerusalem

2) Is Jerusalem a sacred space?

The idea of Jerusalem as Mount Zion

Psalm 125:2

Isaiah 2:2

Sacred Space must be Founded

Gen 11:1-9

Tower of Babel story

"The LORD came down to see the city.."

Gen 28:10-19

Jacob's Ladder

"house of God" "gate of heaven"

Events of the Jewish temple

Solomon's temple built in the city

2nd Temple

Dome of the Rock

Lecture 1: Class Introduction

Week 1: Jan 4, 2011

Today, Professor Cargill introduced the class to us, the students. We went over the syllabus, Professor Cargill's background, and the objectives for the quarter.