Is the capital of Israel Tel Aviv or Jerusalem? Which city is the capital of Israel? The Historical Significance of the US Embassy Relocating from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Classical and Folk Music

So, Shomron, Samaria are the most primordial Jewish lands, sung by the Bible along with Judea, and it is this land that the Palestinian Arabs today want to “unify”...
We - three buses accompanied by several dozen Israeli soldiers - arrived in the city of Shomron, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Israel, the city that gives its name to the central mountainous region of our country, with permission from the Palestinian authorities, which they grant several times a year.
Stop at the entrance to zone "B". The jeeps meeting us appeared through the armored window of the bus. There were an unusually large number of them. Shame: we are going to the capital of the Israeli state with a special pass, under escort...
Yellow armored buses pulled into a dusty, unpaved square surrounded by Arab souvenir shops. Part of the convoy remained with the vehicles, while others scattered across the mountain to guard us.
Here, in the northern, second capital of the country (about the same as in Russia - St. Petersburg), complete abandonment now reigns. This place is our terrible shame.
Shame because here the Jewish kings turned the people away from the Torah. This city became a symbol of the schism and dual power of the Jewish state. It's a shame because the modern State of Israel does not allow Jews to travel here. Jews are not allowed to enter their former northern capital!
But this place is unique! On the Shomron mound, ruins from almost all eras of the history of the Promised Land were found. From the era of the Kingdom of Israel, the remains of the royal palace, ivory plates, shards with inscriptions from three thousand years ago, part of the fortress wall have been preserved, and on the edge of the hill are the graves of the prophets Elisha and Obadiah...
The views here - I couldn’t find the right word - are Samarian, such as can only be found in Shiloh, another abandoned Jewish capital.
According to the TaNaKh, Shomron is the only city originally built by Jews in the Land of Israel. The masonry of the walls is impressive (somewhere nine centuries before the Kotel - the western wall of the Temple Mount).
After a short descent along the southern slope we find ourselves on the central Roman street. The colonnade leads to the western gate of the city walls. Archaeologists have found about 600 columns here.
My love is stone carving. Its fragments are very well preserved, despite the softness of the local stone. His naive desire to be like marble makes me smile.
Most of the mountain has not been touched by excavations at all: olive trees and cacti grow lushly on it...
This is how I celebrated Independence Day this year.
Israel's independence day from its former capital.
If only they didn’t give up Jerusalem...

Toldot.ru

Abraham COHEN

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Today we will try to figure out which capital of Israel is: Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. It turns out that those who claim that this is a modern city with the romantic name Hill of Spring, and others who give primacy to the ancient settlement in the Promised Land, are also right.

A little about the country

Before resolving the eternal debate about which Israel is: Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, we will tell you a little about the country itself. The state is located in the Middle East, in the lands mentioned in the Bible. Just over eight million people live here. Having gone through centuries of misfortunes and wanderings, people managed to return to their homeland and revive it. Today this country is considered one of the most highly developed in the world in terms of economy, army, level of medicine, and attractiveness for tourists. And although conflicts with neighbors arise quite often in Israel, hundreds of thousands of immigrants choose to live there. And pilgrims who want to visit the holy places of three world religions at once are not afraid of anything at all.

Two capitals of one state

So which is it, the capital of Israel - Tel Aviv or Jerusalem? Let's figure it out. According to official data, the main political center of the country is ancient Jerusalem. But it is worth noting that only the government and religious centers are located in it. The remaining sectors of human activity (culture, education, business, entertainment, trade) are concentrated in Tel Aviv. This is a young city with a special flavor and unsurpassed charm. Next, we will dwell in more detail on each of these capitals, since they are in no way inferior to each other.

Ancient Jerusalem

So, the reader already knows which capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. The city, which is thousands of years old, today attracts people from all over the globe. Interestingly, there are no mineral resources here; it is quite difficult to grow crops here. So why does humanity strive here, to the land promised by God to all Jews? Hard to say.

The city of Jerusalem was mentioned already in the 18-19 centuries. Over the years of its existence, it has changed hands more than once: Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks, Egyptians, and the British left their traces in these lands. In May 1948, Israel became an independent state and began the countdown to its new life.

Sights of Jerusalem

The debate about which capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem continues even now. But the reader already knows the truth, so we invite him on a virtual journey through the sights of the ancient holy city. And there are a dime a dozen of them here, and, as the locals say, every pebble here is sacred. Therefore, we stop talking about which capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, and go to

• The Dome of the Rock Mosque has a golden dome, 20 meters in diameter, which is visible from every corner of the Old City. This is a functioning shrine, erected on the site of the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven.
• The Western Wall is the only surviving wall of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, destroyed by order of Titus. not part of the temple itself, but the remains of support structures around the mountain. But still, every resident or guest of the city considers it his duty to come here and pray to the Almighty.
• The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the greatest Christian shrine, erected on the site of the crucifixion and burial, as well as the resurrection of Jesus. The first temple was built here by Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine. According to legend, she found a cave in the dungeon where the body of Christ once rested, as well as the cross on which he was crucified.
• Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third most important shrine of Islam. It was in her direction that Muslims turned until the prophet moved the qibla to Mecca.
• Via Dolorosa is the path that Jesus took while carrying his cross to Calvary. This is the road of sorrow, which has 14 stops, where chapels have now been erected.
• Cathedral of St. James in the Armenian Quarter (12th century).
• Tsidkiyahu Cave, or King Solomon's Quarries.
• Church and monastery of St. Mary Magdalene (18th century), erected by order of the Russian emperor
• Citadel of David. This is not a sacred building, but it has served the people as protection and fortress many times.

Now the reader will forever remember which capital of the state of Israel is Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. And we continue our journey and go to another main city of this wonderful country.

Second capital

We continue our discussion about whether the capital of the country of Israel is Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. More than a million people live in the city, which is rightly called the second capital of the state. Its founding date is considered to be 1909, and forty years later it became the capital of Israel. The Hill of Spring, which is how the name of the settlement is translated, unites several cities: Jaffa, Holon, Petach-Tiqva, Ramat Gan, Bat Yam, Bene Baraq. It is in Tel Aviv, and not in Jerusalem, that the Ministry of Defense and many foreign embassies are located. This city is the center of commercial, financial, industrial and cultural life of the country.

Sights of Tel Aviv

Is the capital of Israel Tel Aviv or Jerusalem? The discussion continues, so we take a tour of the modern and vibrant metropolis called Spring Hill. What interesting things await a traveler who decides to stay here?

• Beaches on the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, this is the entire western part of Tel Aviv, divided into sections. Each beach has not only its own name, but also a rescue service. They are equipped with bike paths and sports grounds, and offer peace and quiet.
• Old Jaffa is a port that has well preserved its former appearance. Here, pay attention to the Clock Square with a tower, the History Museum, the Square of Antiquities, the Old Port and the Flea Market.
• The Carmel Market is the heart of local trade, a noisy bazaar with a unique oriental flavor, where you can hear all the languages ​​of the world.
• The Neve Tzedek neighborhood was once a prestigious neighborhood for the city's wealthiest. Today there are museums, galleries, and boutiques here.
• Museum of Art, located on an area of ​​18 thousand square meters.
• Rabin Square. This is the place where they were killed. Today a memorial is opened there, and rallies are held every year.
• Crafts market.
• Rothschild Boulevard is the first in the city.
• Yarkon Park is the largest park in the country, located on the river of the same name.

There is a lot to be said about whether the capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Each city is important and special in its own way. Don't believe me? See for yourself by visiting them and strolling through their streets!

Unlike the Kingdom of Judah, which, after the capture of Jerusalem by King David at the end of the 11th century. BC e., always ruled from one capital, the Kingdom of Israel had several capitals throughout its history: Shechem (Tel Balata), Tirzah (Tel el-Farah), and, finally, Samaria. This latter was founded in 876 BC. e. King Omri (884-873 BC), whose son, Ahab, married the famous Phoenician princess Izebel, terribly hated by the prophets of Israel for her vile influence on the Israeli king. However, nasty influences are one thing, but politics and economics are something else entirely. During the reigns of Kings Omri, Ahab, and then Jerovam II, the Kingdom of Israel as a whole, and its capital Samaria in particular, reached its peak. Fiery fighters for the rights of the oppressed and dispossessed (i.e., the prophets of Israel and Judah) pushed angry accusatory speeches against the Samaritan brothers, who meanwhile reclined on ivory beds, listened to beautiful music, and drank quality drinks. As for the kingdom of the shepherds to the south of the Kingdom of Israel, before the fall of Samaria there were few rich people there, and there was almost nothing to divide.
View from the top of the mountain where the capital of Israel once stood:

View in the other direction, the remains of a wall and towers from the Hellenistic period are visible on the right:


Steps leading to the Temple of Augustus, built by Herod the Great (37-4 BC)


Ruins of the Temple of Augustus. Somewhere down here was the palace of the Kings of Israel:






In the early books of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), "Samaria" is the name of a city, not a region. After in 722/1. BC e. The Kingdom of Israel and its capital Samaria were captured by the Assyrians, the new masters reorganized the territory they had annexed as a new province, and gave it the name "Samerina". The province of Samerina extended from the Jezreel Valley in the north to the Ayalon Valley in the south, and from the Mediterranean coast in the west to the Jordan River in the east. This is where the name of the central part of the Land of Israel came from. Before that, the Assyrians called the Kingdom of Israel "Beit Hamri", after the founder of Samaria, King Omri.
Land of Israel during the reign of Sargon II:


Even more interesting is the fate of the name “Israel” - initially, most likely, it referred only to the northern tribes, and then to the northern kingdom. After his fall, the rulers of the Kingdom of Judah launched a large-scale campaign to integrate the northern population into their kingdom, while simultaneously borrowing and reinterpreting northern traditions (it is known that after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom, a huge number of Israelites sought refuge in the south, in the territory of the Kingdom of Judah). As a result, history was written anew, the eponymous patriarch Jacob-Israel appeared, then the ancient nation of "Israel", then the united Kingdom of Israel, which split in two, and now "Israel" again has the opportunity to reunite under the banner of a common true faith. In other words, in the process of struggle for integration of the inhabitants of the destroyed Kingdom of Israel, the myth of common ancient origins was born, as well as the mythical transcendental category of “Israel”. Interestingly, no Jewish state in ancient times (except for the 100% heterodox Kingdom of Israel) was called "Israel". "Israel", in later periods, was the name of the entire Jewish people - in the metaphysical and transcendental sense. However, please note that this is the name chosen for the modern Jewish state.
Area map:


The ruins of ancient Samaria (n.ts. 168.187) are located at a distance of approx. 13 km northwest of Nablus, in the Palestinian village of Sebastia (see below for the origin of this name), near the settlement of Shavei Shomron. To get there, you need to take road 60 until you turn to Shavei Shomron, continue further to the Tzomet Shomron intersection (near the village of Dir Sharaf), and turn left (this is still road 60). After driving a kilometer, you will see a small hill on the right - this is Tel Shomron. A paved road leads to the top.
This is how it looks from the side of the village of Shavei Shomron:


However, it is worth noting that the road is currently being repaired, and it is difficult to get to the ruins. To avoid disappointment, it is worth agreeing on the planned visit with the army; the officer with whom we spoke told us that every week or two the place is visited by Israelis as part of organized excursions (mostly on Thursdays). They didn’t want to let us in there, so we contrived and went around. This did not go through, since, of course, they noticed us and were waiting for us. In the end, I agreed with the officer that they would allow us to visit the ruins, and in return I would tell them the history of this wonderful place. And so it was. While the division commander issued a ban on our visiting the ruins, we managed to see most of what interested us. The most interesting thing is that, talking with the soldiers, as always, they found a bunch of mutual acquaintances (and I don’t mean Herod and the Hasmoneans).
There was a jeep in front and a Hummer behind. This time our children stayed at home, they were tired of the ruins.






Unfortunately, excavations in the city of Samaria were carried out a long time ago, and therefore, of course, not in the best way. Why, unlike other important places in Judea and Samaria, there was practically no digging there after the end of the 60s, I don’t really understand, but there are probably reasons for this. Excavations in Samaria were carried out in 1908-10. (Schumacher, Reisner and Fischer), in 1931-35. (Crowfoot, Sukenik and Kenyon), in 1965-67. (Zayadin), and 1968 (Hennesey). During the excavations, the ruins of the city's acropolis, city walls, warehouses, a palace, and houses dating back to the First Temple period (as well as 63 ostracons) were discovered. In addition, city towers dating from the Hellenistic period (considered the most impressive ruins of that period preserved in Israel) were excavated, as well as the remains of various buildings built by Herod the Great - the Temple of Augustus, a theater, a forum and a stadium. A temple to the Roman goddess Cora and a columned street dating from the Roman period were also found. Churches were built here during the Byzantine period. Despite the fact that at the moment there are no signs at the site, and it is quite difficult for a non-specialist to understand the ruins, it must be said that the scale of the excavation is very impressive. I would like to hope that archaeologists will return here; I also hope that the ruins of Samaria will one day be put in order and again become an Israeli National Park, as it was in the not so distant past.
Excavation plan:



And here is a plan of buildings dating from the First Temple period:


The Tanakh tells the following about the historical context of the founding of Samaria (hereinafter the synodal translation with my corrections):
...The rest of Zimri's deeds and the conspiracy he formed are described in the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Then the people of Israel were divided in two: half of the people stood for Tivni, the son of Ginatov, to make him king, and half for Omri. And the people who were for Omri prevailed over the people who were for Tivni, the son of Ginatov, and Tivni died, and Omri reigned. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri reigned over Israel and reigned for twelve years. He reigned in Tirez for six years. And Omri bought Mount Shomron from Shemer for two talents of silver, and built up the mountain, and named the city he built Samaria (Shomron), after the name of Shemer, the owner of the mountain. And Omri did what was disgraceful in the sight of Yahweh and did worse than all those who were before him. He walked in everything the way of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and in his sins, with which he caused the Israelites to sin, in order to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, with his idols. The rest of the things Omri did and the courage he showed are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son reigned in his stead. Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years.
And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was displeasing in the sight of Yahweh more than all that were before him. It was not enough for him to fall into the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat; he took Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal the king of Sidon, as his wife, and began to serve and worship Baal. And he built an altar to Baal in the temple of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an oak grove, and more than all the kings of Israel that were before him, Ahab did that which provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel... (Mlahim Aleph 16:20-33)
And Yahweh, the God of Israel, in his Samaritan version, was a bastard. Firstly, he had a woman (a wife, not a wife, it’s not entirely clear). Secondly, he put his treasure on public display. Here is a drawing discovered in the north of Sinai, in a place called Kuntillet Ajrud, it depicts two naked men (scientists believe that these men are the twice depicted Egyptian god Bes - apparently, this is how the author of the picture imagined Yahweh), and a woman playing some musical instrument. The inscription in Hebrew reads: "Said E[...]??? 'Say to Yehal[el] and Joash and [... ... ... I will bless you to Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah."


Larger:


Omri's son, Ahab (873-852 BC), as mentioned above, was very unpopular among fighters for the true faith and social justice, and many chapters of the Hebrew Bible are devoted to the dispute between him and the famous prophet Eliyahu. As for the archaeological evidence associated with the period of his reign, he was perhaps one of the most advanced and active personalities of that period. In other words, the Kingdom of Israel flourished and developed rapidly under him. The buildings discovered in Samaria and dating from his period indicate extraordinary sophistication and quality of construction, which, in all likelihood, can be attributed to the Phoenician stonemasons, builders, and artisans who arrived here as part of the good neighborly relationship between Ahab and the Phoenician king Ethbaal. But not only archaeological finds indicate that Ahab was tough - the so-called "Kurkh Monolith" of Shalmaneser III tells that Ahab took part in the anti-Assyrian coalition, and sent 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 chariots for the famous Battle of Karkar (853). . BC.). Let me explain: this is a lot.
In addition to developing the economy and political connections, Ahab pursued a rather aggressive policy towards his neighbors, and, in the end, died in the battle for Ramot Gilad (northern Transjordan):
... And the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.
And they washed [his war] chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked his blood, and washed the harlots, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke. The rest of Ahab's deeds, all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities that he built, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel... (Mlahim Aleph 22:37-39)
Archaeologists believe that they have discovered the ruins of this very pond. I didn’t see him, or I saw him but didn’t recognize him.
His son, Jehoram (851-842 BC), also died in the war - but this time not at the hands of a foreign enemy, but because of the conspiracy of his own commander Yehu. This Yahoo was secretly anointed for the kingdom (murder) by the disciple of the prophet Eliyahu (after he flew to heaven in a chariot of fire), the prophet Elisha. In general, Elisha was a comrade who was not worth messing with - once, in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, he set bears on the children, who called him “bald.” The bears, obeying the command of the “man of God,” tore the children to pieces:
...And he went [from Jericho] to Beit El. As he walked along the road, small children came out of the city and mocked him and said to him: Go, bald! go bald! He looked back and saw them and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. And two she-bears came out of the forest and tore to pieces forty-two children from them... (Mlahim Bet 2:23-
24)
This is one of the instructive stories in the Bible, for “men of God” should be treated with respect. It is worth noting that it is because of this story that the Hebrew proverb "?? ????? ??? ???" appeared. - like, what kind of bears are there in the Jericho region, and where does the forest come from? Although, of course, defenders of the historicity of Holy Scripture will say that the forest was there, but a long time ago. And now - no, but this does not prove or disprove anything.
So, the initially pious Yehu (842-814 BC) methodically exterminated Ahab’s entire family, and also carried out a religious reform. After, in accordance with the commandment of the Lord, he had already killed several dozen children, Yehu decided to cleanse the Land of Israel from idolatry. Here is how it was:
...Arriving in Samaria, he killed everyone who remained with Ahab in Samaria, so that he completely destroyed him, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke to Eliyahu. And Yehu gathered all the people and said to them: Ahab served Baal little; Yahoo will serve him more. Therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his ministers and all his priests, so that no one will be absent, for I will have a great sacrifice for Baal. And anyone who does not appear will not remain alive. Yahoo did this with cunning intent to destroy the servants of Baal. And Joshua said, Call a festival meeting for Baal's sake. And the meeting was announced. And Yahoo sent throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a single person left who would not come; and they entered into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from end to end. And he said to the keeper of the clothes: Bring clothes for all the servants of Baal. And he brought them clothes. And Yehu entered with Jonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal, and said to the servants of Baal: Scout and see if any of the servants of Yahweh are with you, since only the servants of Baal should be here. And they began to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. And Yehu placed eighty men outside the house and said: The soul of the one from whom any of the people whom I give into your hands will be saved will take the place of the soul of the one who was saved. When the burnt offering was over, Yehu said to the walkers and the leaders: go, beat them, so that not one of them escapes. And they struck them with the edge of the sword, and the marchers and the captains abandoned them, and went to the city where the temple of Baal was. And they took the statues out of the temple of Baal and burned them. And they broke the statue of Baal, and destroyed the temple of Baal; and they made it a latrine until this day. And Yahoo destroyed Baal from the land of Israel. However, from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin, Yehu did not retreat from them - from the golden calves that are in Beth-El and those in Dan. And Yahweh said to Yehu, Because you willingly did what was righteous in My sight, and accomplished for the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons until the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel... (Mlahim Bet 10 : 17-30)
In addition to his atrocities, Yahoo is also famous for the fact that he is depicted kneeling (but wearing a cockerel hat) before the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) on the famous “Black Obelisk”, now in the British Museum :




Samaria reached its peak during the reign of Yehu's grandson, King Yeroham II (789-748 BC), who ruled a huge empire stretching from Lavo Hamat (70 km north of Damascus) to the Dead Sea. It was during his reign that the tragic prophet Hoshea (whom Yahweh ordered to marry a food whore) and an angry prophet (shepherd?) named Amos, who was from the Jewish village of Tkoa (before high-tech appeared, eat there) appeared in Israel there was nothing). Amos repeatedly tried to burn the hearts of the arrogant Samaritan rich with a verb, accusing them of various crimes against morality and social justice.
Archaeologists have discovered many luxury items made of ivory in Samaria, which apparently belonged to similar brothers:




The rich, I believe, blamed Amos and his verbs with the device, although, admittedly, he spoke beautifully (and his speeches were edited competently, I assure you as a true connoisseur of prophetic literature):
...You, who consider the day of disaster to be far off and bring the triumph of violence closer - you, who lie on couches of ivory and bask on your beds, eat the best rams from the herd and bulls from the fat pasture, sing to the sound of the harp, thinking that you wield a musical instrument like David, drink wine from cups, anoint yourself with the best ointments, and are not pained by Joseph’s misfortune! Therefore now they will go into captivity at the head of the captives, and the rejoicing of the pampered will end... (Amos 6: 3-7)
...Thus says Yahweh: For three of Israel's crimes and for four I will not spare him, because they sell the upright for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals. They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the meek out of the way; even father and son go to the same girl to dishonor My holy name. They recline on the clothes taken as pledge at every altar, and they drink the wine exacted from the accused in the house of their gods... Behold... the swift will not have the strength to flee, and the strong will not hold his strength, and the brave will not save his life, neither one who shoots an arrow can stand, nor a walker can run away, nor one sitting on a horse can save his life. And the bravest of the brave will flee naked on that day, says Yahweh... (Amos 2:6-15)
After the death of Jeroboam II, Samaria gradually began to decline. The Assyrians, who gradually began to take over parts of the Kingdom of Israel, turned it into their vassal. After the death of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III (744-727 BC), the last Israelite king Hoshea ben Ela (732-724 BC) rebelled against Assyrian rule, as a result of which the Assyrians decided to finally end with the existence of the Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was besieged by Shalmaneser V, and captured either by Shalmaneser himself in 722 BC. e. (according to the Hebrew Bible), or Sargon II in 721 BC. e. (according to Assyrian sources).
Sargon II (right):

According to the annals of Sargon II, 27,290 people were deported to Mesopotamia, and in their place settlers were brought from Mesopotamia.
Like how it was:


Sargon also boasted that he had rebuilt Samaria better than it was before. The Israelis who remained in place mixed with the newly arrived residents, and (as the biblical authors say), as a result, a new ethnic-religious entity emerged - the Samaritans. The following passage from the Tanakh tells how all this happened:
...In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah reigned in Samaria over Israel and reigned for nine years. And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not like the kings of Israel who were before him. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, came out against him, and Hoshea became subject to him and gave him tribute. And the king of Assyria noticed the treason in Hoshei, since he sent ambassadors to So the king of Egypt, and did not deliver tribute to the king of Assyria every year; and the king of Assyria took him into custody, and shut him up in a prison house. And the king of Assyria went into all the land, and came to Samaria, and kept it under siege for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshei the king of Assyria took Samaria, and deported the Israelites to Assyria, and settled them in Hlah and in Habor, by the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes... (Mlahim Bet 17: 1-6)
The biblical editor further explains that all this happened because of the sins with which the children of Israel did not cease to anger Yahweh. And at the end of the chapter he tells where the Samaritans came from:
...And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, and from Kuta, and from Abba, and from Hamatha, and from Sfarvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and began to live in its cities. And just as at the beginning of their residence there they did not honor Yahweh, Yahweh sent lions to kill them. And they told the king of Assyria, and said: The nations whom you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of that land, and therefore he sends lions against them, and so they kill them, because they do not know the law of the god of that land. . And the king of Assyria commanded and said: Send there one of the priests whom you drove out from there; let him go and live there, and he will teach them the law of the god of that land. And one of the priests who had been driven out of Samaria came and lived in Beit El and taught them how to honor Yahweh. Moreover, each nation made its own gods and placed them in the temples of the high places that the Samaritans had built - each nation in their own cities where they live. The Babylonians made Sukkot-Bnot, the Kutians made Nergal, the Hamatians made Ashima, the Avvians made Nivhaz and Tartak, and the Sfarvaimites burned their sons in fire to Adramelech and Anamelech, the gods of Sfarvaim. Meanwhile, they also honored Yahweh, and made them priests of the high places from among themselves, and they served among them in the temples of the high places. They revered Yahweh, and they served their gods according to the custom of the peoples from which they had evicted them. To this day they act according to their former customs: they do not fear Yahweh and do not act according to the statutes and rites, and according to the law and commandments that Yahweh commanded the sons of Jacob, to whom he gave the name Israel... ...These nations honored Yahweh , but they also served their idols. And their children and their children's children do even to this day just as their fathers did. (Mlahim Bet 17: 30-34; 41)
From this passage comes the famous Hebrew phrase "??? ?????" (“lion proselytes”), that is, people who adopted Judaism out of fear, insincerely.
After the Assyrian conquest, the city of Samaria continued to be the main administrative center of the province (and later satrapy) throughout the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian periods. We learn about how things were in Samaria in the early Persian period (the last third of the 6th – 5th centuries) mainly from the books of Ezra-Nehemiah, which tell about the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity and the restoration of the Jewish settlement in the territory of Judah and Jerusalem. According to the biblical narrative, the ruler of Samaria named Sanballat (along with Tobiah the Ammonite [actually a Jew living in Transjordan] and Geshem the Arabian) was one of the main opponents of building a wall around Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah, who arrived in Jerusalem in 445 BC e. Some scholars even believed that the conflict between the rulers of Samaria and the returning Jews from Babylon, described in the books of Ezra-Nehemiah, occurred because Judea was initially subordinate to Samaria from an administrative point of view.
But then a new era began. After Alexander the Great conquered Syria, he appointed a certain Andromache as its ruler (332 BC). The historian Quintus Curtius Rufus says that while Alexander was in Egypt, the Samaritans burned him alive. Alexander dealt with the inhabitants of Samaria, some of whom were killed and some fled, and on the site of the captured city, Alexander founded the Macedonian colony. Samaria contains the most impressive ruins in all of Israel, dating from the Hellenistic period (namely, watchtowers):








In 108-7. BC e. Jewish ethnarch and high priest Yochanan Hyrcanus besieged, captured and destroyed Samaria. The siege lasted a whole year, after which the cities were razed to the ground and its inhabitants enslaved. In 63 BC. e., after the capture of the Land of Israel by the Romans, Gnaeus Pompey took Samaria from the Jews and returned its independence. In 57-55 BC e. it was rebuilt by Gabinius along with other Hellenistic cities captured and destroyed by the Hasmoneans. Samaria reached its peak of prosperity during the Second Temple period during the reign of Herod the Great (40 - 4 BC), who fell in love with it at the very beginning of his reign. During the siege of Jerusalem in 37 BC. e., he demonstratively went to Samaria in order to celebrate his wedding there with Miriam, the granddaughter of the (former) high priest Hyrcanus II. After a showdown between Mark Antony and Octavian, Herod received Samaria as a gift from the latter, and decided to rebuild it.
The main written evidence regarding Herod's activities in Samaria is Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews. Don't pay attention to how he assesses Herod's motives and actions - Joseph simply drives:
“Now (Herod) decided to build a third fortress to protect himself from the people, namely in Samaria, which he called Sebastia. So, he decided to fortify this place, which was located at a distance of one day’s journey from Jerusalem and represented the convenience that it could serve an excellent means for curbing not only the city, but the entire country. To protect himself from a nationwide uprising, Herod began to rebuild the city, which bore the name of Strato's Tower and was now called Caesarea by Herod. On a wide plain, he erected a fortification and placed in it a detachment of horsemen chosen for that by lot; in Galilee he built Geva, in Perea (Transjordan) Heshbon. Herod erected all these fortresses in different places, constantly taking care to strengthen and secure his position, and trying to keep the whole people in his hands so that they would be less I thought about indignation (however, some slight fermentation was always noticed) and that not the slightest movement would go unnoticed, since there were always forces present that were able to immediately recognize everything and suppress any such attempt. When he went to fortify Samaria, he invited many of his former soldiers to settle there, as well as many of the border residents, and tempted them with the prospect of building a new temple. At the same time, he also wanted to raise the importance of this city, which had not previously been one of the most brilliant. The main reason for these foreigners was that Herod, for the sake of his personal safety, did not skimp on money. At the same time, Herod renamed the city Sebastia and distributed among the inhabitants the closest, best land in the whole country, so that upon their settlement they would immediately enjoy a certain prosperity. He surrounded the city with a strong wall and took advantage of the sloping terrain, and gave the city such a size that it was not inferior in this regard to even the most famous cities. He embraced twenty furlongs. Inside the city, he left a beautiful open square of one and a half stages and erected a temple here, which was among the most outstanding in size and beauty. Certain parts of the city were also constantly decorated with it, and this was caused by considerations of personal safety, the desire to take advantage of the strong walls to turn the entire city into a huge fortress, as well as the desire to leave behind a worthy monument to one’s taste and philanthropy” (Antiquities 15: 292-8).
"Sebastos" is the Greek equivalent of "Augustus," and Herod named the city he rebuilt, which he received as a gift from Augustus, "Sebaste" in honor of his patron. This name was preserved in the name of the Arab village, still located on the ruins of the ancient city.
Monumental steps to the Temple of Augustus, built by Herod the Great:












Sebaste was burned by Jewish rebels during the Great Revolt (namely in 66 AD), but was subsequently rebuilt, and reached a new zenith during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 AD). ). Septimius Severus restored the Temple of Augustus, built by Herod, and the stadium. Also dating from this period are the columned street (about 600 of which survive), the theatre, the forum, the basilica and the aqueduct.
Colonnade (now fat Arabs and their nasty women walk here - all in slippers, with dirty feet, and once upon a time the handsome Herod celebrated his wedding here). Yes, by the way, I can say that, judging by their thighs and bellies, there is plenty to eat in occupied Palestine:




Once upon a time, here the Kings of Israel, Macedonian fighters and Herod's friends moved progress, but now - goats graze sheep:






During the Byzantine period, traditions arose that Sebastia contained the tombs of the prophets Eliyahu and Obadiah, as well as two caves in which Obadiah (Eliyahu's companion) hid a hundred prophets of Yahweh from the wrath of Ahab and Izebel (Mlahim Aleph 18:4).
Here is one of the well-preserved churches (the Arabic inscription above the entrance reads: “there is no god but Allah,” a magendovid is painted inside the church, so we are not much smarter):






Interestingly, somehow a tradition emerged identifying Sebaste as the burial place of John the Baptist, who, according to Josephus, was executed in the fortress of Macheront (Mikhvar), located in Transjordan, east of the Dead Sea. The city begins to decline in the 6th century. n. e., possibly due to the earthquake of 551 AD. e. Medieval travelers mention Sebaste as a village.

Today we will try to figure out which capital of Israel is: Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. It turns out that those who claim that this is a modern city with the romantic name Hill of Spring, and others who give primacy to the ancient settlement in the Promised Land, are also right.

A little about the country

Before resolving the eternal debate about which city is the capital of Israel: Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, we will tell you a little about the country itself. The state is located in the Middle East, in the lands mentioned in the Bible. Just over eight million people live here. Having gone through centuries of misfortunes and wanderings, people managed to return to their homeland and revive it. Today this country is considered one of the most highly developed in the world in terms of economy, army, level of medicine, and attractiveness for tourists. And although conflicts with neighbors arise quite often in Israel, hundreds of thousands of immigrants choose to live there. And pilgrims who want to visit the holy places of three world religions at once are not afraid of anything at all.

Two capitals of one state

So which is it, the capital of Israel - Tel Aviv or Jerusalem? Let's figure it out. According to official data, the main political center of the country is ancient Jerusalem. But it is worth noting that only the government and religious centers are located in it. The remaining sectors of human activity (culture, education, business, entertainment, trade) are concentrated in Tel Aviv. This is a young city with a special flavor and unsurpassed charm. Next, we will dwell in more detail on each of these capitals, since they are in no way inferior to each other.

Ancient Jerusalem

So, the reader already knows which capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. The city, which is thousands of years old, today attracts people from all over the globe. Interestingly, there are no mineral resources here; it is quite difficult to grow crops here. So why does humanity strive here, to the land promised by God to all Jews? Hard to say.

The city of Jerusalem was mentioned already in the 18th and 19th centuries BC. Over the years of its existence, it has changed hands more than once: Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks, Egyptians, and the British have left their traces in these lands. In May 1948, Israel became an independent state and began the countdown to its new life.

Sights of Jerusalem

The debate about which capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem continues even now. But the reader already knows the truth, so we invite him on a virtual journey through the sights of the ancient holy city. And there are a dime a dozen of them here, and, as the locals say, every pebble here is sacred. Therefore, we stop talking about which capital is in Israel - Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, and go to the city of God.

• The Dome of the Rock Mosque has a golden dome, 20 meters in diameter, which is visible from every corner of the Old City. This is a functioning shrine, erected on the site of the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven.
• The Western Wall is the only surviving wall of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, destroyed by order of Titus. True, this is not part of the temple itself, but the remains of supporting structures around the mountain. But still, every resident or guest of the city considers it his duty to come here and pray to the Almighty.
• The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the greatest Christian shrine, erected on the site of the crucifixion and burial, as well as the resurrection of Jesus. The first temple was built here by Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine. According to legend, she found a cave in the dungeon where the body of Christ once rested, as well as the cross on which he was crucified.
• Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third most important shrine of Islam. It was in her direction that Muslims turned until the prophet moved the qibla to Mecca.
• Via Dolorosa is the path that Jesus took while carrying his cross to Calvary. This is the road of sorrow, which has 14 stops, where chapels have now been erected.
• Cathedral of St. James in the Armenian Quarter (12th century).
• Tsidkiyahu Cave, or King Solomon's Quarries.
• Church and monastery of St. Mary Magdalene (18th century), erected by order of the Russian Emperor Alexander III.
• Citadel of David. This is not a sacred building, but it has served the people as protection and fortress many times.

Now the reader will forever remember which capital of the state of Israel is Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. And we continue our journey and go to another main city of this wonderful country.

Second capital

We continue our discussion about whether the capital of the country of Israel is Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. More than a million people live in the city, which is rightly called the second capital of the state. Its founding date is considered to be 1909, and forty years later it became the capital of Israel. The Hill of Spring, which is how the name of the settlement is translated, unites several cities: Jaffa, Holon, Petach-Tiqva, Ramat Gan, Bat Yam, Bene Baraq. It is in Tel Aviv, and not in Jerusalem, that the Ministry of Defense and many foreign embassies are located. This city is the center of commercial, financial, industrial and cultural life of the country.

Sights of Tel Aviv

Is the capital of Israel Tel Aviv or Jerusalem? The discussion continues, so we take a tour of the modern and vibrant metropolis called Spring Hill. What interesting things await a traveler who decides to stay here?

• Beaches on the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, this is the entire western part of Tel Aviv, divided into sections. Each beach has not only its own name, but also a rescue service. They are equipped with bike paths and sports grounds, and offer peace and quiet.
• Old Jaffa is a port that has well preserved its former appearance. Here, pay attention to the Clock Square with a tower, the History Museum, the Square of Antiquities, the Old Port and the Flea Market.
• The Carmel Market is the heart of local trade, a noisy bazaar with a unique oriental flavor, where you can hear all the languages ​​of the world.
• The Neve Tzedek neighborhood was once a prestigious neighborhood for the city's wealthiest. Today there are museums, galleries, and boutiques here.
• Museum of Art, located on an area of ​​18 thousand square meters.
• Rabin Square. This is the place where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Today a memorial is opened there, and rallies are held every year.
• Crafts market.
• Rothschild Boulevard is the first in the city.
• Yarkon Park is the largest park in the country, located on the river of the same name.

There is a lot to be said about whether the capital of Israel is Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Each city is important and special in its own way. Don't believe me? See for yourself by visiting them and strolling through their streets!

On March 14, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, will sign an agreement to move the Capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. So, given this, can we say that the Lord can come anytime?

Jerusalem was declared the capital of the State of Israel on January 23, 1950. At that time, East Jerusalem belonged to Jordan. For now, East Jerusalem is mostly Palestinian territory that Israel conquered from Jordan during the 1967 Mideast War. The international community has still not accepted the annexation of East Jerusalem, nor the status of the capital of Jerusalem. In 1980, the Israeli Parliament passed a law as a result of which Jerusalem was proclaimed the “single and eternal capital” of the country.

Even if the international community did not accept Jerusalem as the capital of the young State of Israel, this city is still the capital of the State of Israel, and here is the center of the modern Israeli government, the headquarters of the Israeli legislative branch and the Supreme Court of Justice.

On December 6, 2017, Donald Trump announced the White House's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. At the same time, Trump demanded that the US State Department begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and announced that Vice President Mike Pence would visit the Middle East in connection with this.

In his speech, Donald Trump mentioned that this statement is nothing more than an admission of reality.

In a speech broadcast from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room, Donald Trump said:

"I decided it was time officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Although previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they have failed to keep the promise. Today I will hold it back."

The decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was made in accordance with a 1995 law that mandated the change. His predecessors, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, delayed the decision to avoid tensions in the Middle East.

The international community is concerned about the implications of the decision, given warnings from Palestinian authorities who have said the decision will undermine any chance of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who see East Jerusalem as the capital of "their future state."

American authorities decided that on May 14, 2018, when the State of Israel will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the State of Israel, the opening ceremony of the US Embassy in Jerusalem will be held in temporary premises, while the permanent premises will be under construction.

If we talk about the fulfillment of prophecies from Revelation, then this event is nothing more than the strengthening of the state of Israel, the process of which began back in 1948. With this event, the American government officially recognized that this territory (Israel, Palestine or Canaan) belongs to the people of Israel, and not to the Palestinians.

Still, we cannot claim that the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem is a turning point in the history of the Israeli people, which would point to the coming of the Lord Jesus. There are other elements that will definitely indicate that the coming of the Lord Jesus is near.

Recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel: importance

To admit that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel is to admit that the country belongs to Israel and not to Palestine; those who are Arabs by nationality say that their ancestors lived on this land from ancient times, and that the country belongs to them. They argue this by the fact that they are descendants of the Philistines, who lived in the south of the land of Canaan. But we know from history and the Bible that the Arab people are different from the Philistines, who lived in southwestern Canaan before God gave that country to the people of Israel.

1400 BC, God gave this country to the people of Israel. Over the course of several centuries, the people of Israel destroyed the Philistines as a nation. It is true that the name "Palestine" comes from the name of this people (from Latin: palaestina). Emperor Hadrian, after suppressing a revolt in the Roman province of Judea in 135, united this province with Syria, another Roman province, and called the region Palestine Syria, thereby wanting to permanently separate the Jews from this territory. Palestine Syria lasted until 390, after which it was divided into three: Palestina Prima (Judea and Samaria with its capital at Caesarea near the sea), Palestina Secunda (Galilee), and Palestina Tertia (Idumea with its capital at Petra). In 638, this territory was conquered by the Arabs, who named it Falastin (the Arabic form of the word "Palestine"). Thus, the majority of Arabs began to live in this territory. In 1947, when it was decided that Great Britain would leave the territory of Palestine, two states were created in this territory: the state of Israel and the Palestinian state. The neighboring Arab countries considered that another Arab state should not be formed in this zone, and planned, immediately after the withdrawal of British troops from Palestine, to occupy this territory, which happened on the second day after the British troops left the country. This incident led to Israel conquering new territories and gradually occupying most of the Arab lands.

Here is what the process of Palestine's transition to the ownership of the State of Israel, formed in 1948, was like:

A short history: how Jerusalem became the capital of Israel

First, I want to mention that Israel is the only nation that has a document of country directly from God, and that document is the Bible. God made a covenant with Abraham, on the basis of which he gave a large territory (which includes Palestine) to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:

On this day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: to your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: Kenites, Kenezites, Kedmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaimites, Amorites, Canaanites, Gergesites and Jebusites. (Genesis 15:18-21)

Jerusalem is the city conquered by David from the Jebusites

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, to Jebus. And there were the Jebusites, the inhabitants of that land. And the men of Jebus said unto David, Thou shalt not come in here. But David took the fortress of Zion; this is the city of David. And David said: Whoever defeats the Jebusites first will be the head and commander of the army. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first of all, and became the head. David lived in that fortress, which is why they called it the city of David. (1 Chronicles 11:4-7)

Jerusalem is the city that God chose for His Name to dwell in.

... and to his son I will give one tribe, that the lamp of David my servant may remain always before me, in the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen for Myself to dwell there for My name.(1 Kings 11:36)

This is in accordance with the Law:

... but to the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, that His name may dwell there, you shall turn, and there you shall come, and there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the offering of your hands, and your vows. and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and your flocks; and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you and your families will rejoice in all that your hands have done, with which the Lord your God has blessed you. (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)

So Jerusalem is the city chosen by God for His Name to be in it, and this city from King David until his destruction in 70 AD. BC, was the capital of Israel. In this city was the throne of King David, Solomon and all the kings of Judah (the Southern Kingdom).

From 70 until May 14, 1948, Israel did not exist as a state. The fact that, for almost 2000 years, a people scattered throughout the world was able to preserve their national identity and culture, and after almost 2000 years to rebuild their country, proves the fidelity of the Bible and the power of God. He promised in the Bible that at the time of the end He would gather the people of Israel from all nations and bring them back into the land, and they would be one people and they would have one king (no more divided kingdom):

Then say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they are, and will gather them from everywhere and bring them into their land. On this land, on the mountains of Israel, I will make them one people, and one King will be king over them all, and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols and their abominations and all their vices, and I will free them from all their places of residence where they have sinned, and I will cleanse them, and they will be My people, and I will be their God. And My servant David will be King over them and Shepherd of them all, and they will walk in My commandments, and they will keep My statutes and do them. And they will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, in which their fathers dwelt; there they and their children and their children’s children will live forever; and my servant David will be their prince forever. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant will be with them. And I will establish them, and multiply them, and set up my sanctuary among them forever. And My dwelling place will be with them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is among them forever. (Ezekiel 37:21-28)

Beginning on May 14, 1948, this prophecy began to be fulfilled: God began to gather Jews from all countries and bring them to Israel, the land God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This means that the time is approaching.

God does this to sanctify His Name among the nations:

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: I will not do this for you, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have come. And I will sanctify My great name, which is dishonored among the nations, among whom you have dishonored it, and the nations will know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I show My holiness to you before their eyes. And I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all countries, and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:22-24)

Translation: Elena Stoler.