What city was the capital of the ancient Israelites?

Answer 1

Simple Answer

Jerusalem was the first capital of the Israelites after it was captured by King David in about 1000 BCE. It remained the capital of Judah (after whom the Jews are named) and stayed the capital even after the Roman conquests, temporarily being renamed Aelia Capitolina.

More Detail

If you're referring to the United Monarchy of Israel, prior to the capture of Jerusalem, that country was ruled from several different cities. The cities that served as capitals of Ancient Israel include Shiloh during the tribal period, Gibeah (Giv'ah) during the reign of Saul, and Hebron during the early Davidic Kingdom. Once King David conquered Jerusalem, he transferred the capital there and Solomon kept the capital in Jerusalem. After Solomon died, the United Monarchy split into two separate countries, the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Southern Kingdom of Judah.

If you're referring to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (the kingdom of the Ten Tribes) as distinct from that of Judah, it should be noted that after the Kingdom of Israel split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the South Kingdom of Judah, there was a rapid succession of capitals in the North. The capitals of the North included: Shechem (now called Nablus), Penuel, and Tirzah, before settling on Samaria (Shomron). Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah up until the Babylonian Exile and during the Hasmonean Kingdom. Jerusalem is the current capital of the State of Israel although most nations refuse to officially recognize it as such because of its disputed status and maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Answer 2

Well in Egypt it was Memphis because when king Narmer known as Menese united upper Egypt and lower Egypt together he stayed in Memphis on the boarder of upper and lower Egypt but he originally come from upper Egypt which landed on the upper river

Answer 3

Not Applicable.

Canaan is a region of land similar to Germany pre-unification (but after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire). It contains within it a number of different city-states which independently have their own capital cities.

Some of the Important Canaanite/Israelite capital cities include:

Israel (United): Hebron to Jerusalem

Israel (North): Samaria

Judah: Jerusalem

Philistines: Gaza

Answer 4

If you are referring to the United Kingdom of Israel, the capital was initially Hebron, where Saul ruled and where David began his reign. David then conquered Jerusalem and established it as his capital and it continued to serve during Solomon's reign and it remained the capital of Judah until its defeat by Babylon.

If the "Old Kingdom" refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the capital was Samaria.

If the "Old Kingdom" refers to the Old Kingdom Period in Egyptian History, there was no Israelite Kingdom during that time period as the Old Kingdom precedes the Biblical Arrival of the Israelites by nearly 1000 years.

Answer 5

From the time of King David, it was Jerusalem. Later, the kingdom divided into Israel and Judah. The capital of Judah remained Jerusalem, while the kingdom of Israel made Samaria its capital.

Answer 6

Jerusalem