It started when God chose Abraham. He was from Haman (Iraq) and moved to Canaan (Israel). God called him, "The friend of God". He is the father of many nations by Ishmael, Esau and Isaac. Through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons, God chose the people of Israel for the redemption of humanity.
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, unto a land that I will show you: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed (
Genesis 12:1-3).
David conquered the city from the Jebusites and built the king's palace and capital there. Later, Solomon built the Jewish temple.
Shalom or salem means peace but because it is "The City of God", it has been the center of war. The city is important to three major religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. God chose seven specific
days to fulfill His plan in Jerusalem. Jesus the Messiah died, was buried and resurrected there. Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC and Rome in 70 AD. Despite Israel's sin, God promisted to bring His people back home. In 1948,
Israel became an independent nation and in 1967, Jerusalem was reunited under Israel's control.