US declares Jerusalem the Capital of Israel -- will move Embassy there

[gideon123]

I think that all political solutions will fail in Jerusalem. Yes certainly, both Israelis and Muslims are trying to possess the same land. And both sides want it completely. But God is not a Cosmic Real Etate Agent - and it's not possible to own the title deed for Heaven.

Anyone who kills for the land will lose his soul. Anyone who advocates a conflict-driven approach, a polarized approach, an "us versus them" approach ... that will only lead to bigger wars.

Here is the answer, and in this polarized, hate-driven world, I wonder how many Christians will even be counted with this message.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers
for they will be called children of God."

JESUS CHRIST

 

[Yekcidmij]

Historically;
Philistines began migrating to Israel's promised lands.

I think historically the Canaanites occupied the cities, including Jerusalem, before Israel did.

Seems that the Jebusites and then a combination of Benjamin and Jebusite originally controlled the city:

Josh 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.

Jdg 1:21 The men of Benjamin, however, did not conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this very day.

Also strange is that it was originally the inheritance of Benjamin, not Judah. It wasn't controlled by Judah until Saul's general (Abner) and oldest son (ie, the heir to the throne) were assassinated by David's men and a couple of resident foreigners, probably hired by David, and David marched on their city (2 Sam 3-5).

 

[SBC]

I think historically the Canaanites occupied the cities, including Jerusalem, before Israel did.

Seems that the Jebusites and then a combination of Benjamin and Jebusite originally controlled the city:

Josh 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath – a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.

Jdg 1:21 The men of Benjamin, however, did not conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this very day.

Also strange is that it was originally the inheritance of Benjamin, not Judah. It wasn't controlled by Judah until Saul's general (Abner) and oldest son (ie, the heir to the throne) were assassinated by David's men and a couple of resident foreigners, probably hired by David, and David marched on their city (2 Sam 3-5).

The city of Jerusalem, requires an in depth study, as does the study of the People,
Because so many names of the city, the People, the areas have been created, changed, renamed, depending on WHO (government-wise) controlled the area.

What men do, has nothing to do with what God pronounces.

The Earth (ie LAND) belongs to God.
God dictates, WHO SHALL occupy the Land.
God has already revealed, the certain LAND is promied to Abraham, and His Descendants, WHO, become Abraham's children, BY, having become Born of God.

In the mean time- WHILE men have brute strength to over-take and occupy ANY Land, They identify the name of the controller (ie government), government head, they name the lands, name the cities, name the people occupying the land, name who is and who is not a citizen.

Mean time- Men in relationship with God - sometimes have control of the land, sometimes men without God have control of the land.
Ultimately, regardless of what men have done, or shall do; the Land will be occupied, by men who are Born of God.

And to note - even land "given" to men, ie the Twelve Tribes, all brothers, from the same "father" Jacob, such "brothers" fell into "contention" against each other, whereby the Scripture indicates, jealously, among the brothers over, their father favoritism toward the two sons, born of Jacobs Wife, he loved most, ie Rachel, (even though Jacob had other wives, which bore his first 10 sons).

(Simeon was Leah's 2nd son).

After Solomons' death, the Tribes split.
South - Called Judah
...Tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin
North - Called Israel
...Remainer of the other Tribes

Yes, the city now so called, Jerusalem, was established within the area of the Tribe of Benjamin.

Cannon was an area, the people called generally Cannites, yet others also occupied the Land, having their own "names", revealed by the name, whoever headed their "tribe", not to be confused with the 12 Tribes God pronounced, regarding Jacob's 12 sons.

God Bless,
SBC

 

[Yekcidmij]

After Solomons' death, the Tribes split.

Seems to me they were probably split all along. In Judges you basically have a civil war against Benjamin. In Samuel, it seems David and Solomon are in a constant state of civil war. It's David v. Saul and Jonathan, David v. Ishbosheth, David v. Absalom, David v. Shimei , David v. Sheba (lots of trouble from the tribe of Benjamin), Solomon v. Adonijah, Solomon v. Jeroboam, Rehoboam v. Jeroboam.

South - Called Judah
...Tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin

It's strange that Benjamin would be a part of "Judah" in David's time since we see them literally fighting Judah and we see David seizing their city.

North - Called Israel
...Remainer of the other Tribes

There seems to me to have always been some sort of split between the North and South (with Benjamin at least starting out as a Northern tribe, 2 Sam 2:8-9). They don't seem to have been very united at any point, regardless of the fact that the North was defeated in some battles - defeat in battle doesn't automatically mean political unity. The fact that the North resists David and Solomon tells the story of disunity. It seems Solomon had to forcibly control the North though his own appointed governors (1 Kings 4:7-19) and some sort of forced labor (1 Kings 11), and even then they break away at the first opportunity (when Solomon dies).

I dunno, the story of Jerusalem seems to be more complex. It seems to me that after the Jebusites lost sole control of the city, the Benjamites have some sort of joint control with the Jebusites. This lasts until David kills Saul, Jonathan, Abinadab, Malki-Shua, Isbosheth, and Abner, leaving the Benjamite leadership decimated and opening up an opportunity to take Jerusalem by force - force against an Israelite tribe. It seems the city was originally Jebusite, then Israelite/Benjamite (not Judahite) then taken by Judah.

I guess one of the relevant questions for this thread would be how the modern state of Israel is related to biblical Israel? Jerusalem seems to have initially belonged to Benjamin and Northern Israel, not Judah. Is the modern state of Israel the biblical North or South? If we're talking about modern Israel being the equivalent of Judah, then it seems Jerusalem was not allotted to them.

And how do the Samaritans near Nablus play into all of this (they're always forgotten by the evangelicals promoting modern Israel theologies)?

Yes, the city now so called, Jerusalem, was established within the area of the Tribe of Benjamin.

Yup. And I think that may present a problem for modern political application of biblical-political history.