The City of Peace
The Epistle to the Hebrews
points out that Salem, the name of Melchizedek's
city, means 'peace' (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:2). Here then, in
a type, we have a "King of righteousness"
ruling the 'city of peace', prophetic of Jerusalem being
"the city of the great King" (Mat. 5:35) in the
millennial age.
The Assyrians used the name Ursalimmu
for Salem (Heb. Shalem), whilst the Tell elAmarna tablets
refer to Ura-Salim, meaning 'city of
Salim', and the Ebla archives mention Urusalim. In
each of these names there is a similarity-with the name Jerusalem
in both its Hebrew and Chaldee (Aramaic) forms Yerushalaim
and Yerushalem. (The Chaldee form is
used only in the books of Ezra and Daniel.) The name
Jerusalem is variously interpreted as 'foundation, vision
or possession of peace'.
Before Jerusalem finally fulfils its appointed destiny as
the city of the Prince of peace, and capital city of a
world at peace, it has had to experience a long period of
being trodden down (trampled, NKJV) by the Gentiles (Luke
21:24). It cannot be a matter of chance that Jerusalem's
former name when under Gentile Canaanite control was Jebus
(Judg. 19:10), a name that translates as a place 'trodden
down' or 'trampled under foot'. Just as King David
captured the city of the Jebusites (1 Chron. 11:4,5) and
made it his capital city, so the greater than David is to
free Jerusalem from being trodden down by the Gentiles
and make it truly the city of peace.
From the time that Jebus was captured by David's army it
is frequently referred to in Scripture as (Mount) Zion.
The very first mention of this name is in the phrase
"strong hold of Zion" (2 Sam. 5:7). We would
expect that the name Zion would be as meaningful as are
the names Jebus and Jerusalem. Three suggested meanings
deserve consideration. as follows:
1. a dry or parched place;
2. a place of defence, fortress;
3. a signpost, monument, guiding pillar
The first two meanings above are based directly on the
Hebrew word siyon (Zion), whilst the third
represents the meaning of the related word siyun,
which bears the sense of something conspicuous.
Do any of these meanings have significance? The first
meaning is not in accord with the purpose of God, for
living waters will flow forth from Jerusalem in the age
to come (Ezek. 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; Zech. 14:8). The
second meaning at first sight does not fit in well with
the fact that Jerusalem will be the city of peace in an age
of peace. However, the idea of the protection of the righteous
through salvation does make a fitting connection, as the following
words of the prophet Isaiah show: "We have a strong city;
God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open
the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the
truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in
You" (Isa. 26:1-3, NKJV).
With regard to the third meaning a signpost, monument, or guiding
pillar, it has been suggested that the name Zion refers
to the 'sign' that was given at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah
when God provided a ram for a sacrifice in place of Isaac
(Gen. 22:13,14). This typical event provides a signpost
to the provision of the Lamb of God that would take away
the sin of the world, a sacrifice that would be
accomplished "at Jerusalem" (Luk. 9:31).
An alternative suggestion relates to the idea of
conspicuousness, for Mount Zion will be "beautiful
in elevation" (Ps. 48:2, NKJV), and "the
mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the
top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the
hills" (Isa. 2:2, NKJV).
By David Green
