Who built the Hebrew capital at Jerusalem?

Answer 1

According to the Jewish bible, a city called 'Shalem' existed in the land of Canaan when Abraham arrived from Ur, the origins of which is unknown, therefore it would be the Canaanites who originally build it. The top of mount Moriya where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Yitzhak (Isaac) is just outside of Shalem.

When the Israelites arrived in Canaan after their exodus from Egypt, the city was populated by the Canaanite people called 'Yevus.' King David conquered the city from the Yevusites and made it into his capital. The city was then added to, and the first Jewish temple was build on the top of mount Moriya which was then part of the city by David's sun Shelomo (Solomon.

The city was destroyed when Judea was laid waste by Babylon, but was rebuilt a century later when Babylon was vanquish by the Persians. The city was rebuilt by Jewish exiles led by prophets Ezra and Nehemiah and the second temple was erected.

The city grew in size during the Hasmonean kingdom (Hanukah's Maccabees) and then was made marvellous by their roman successor - Herod, who made the second temple into a sight to marvel (this is the temple visited by Jesus). The city was laid waste by the Romans during 'The great rebellion' of 72 AD and later during Bar Kokhva's rebellion of 135 AD and its Jewish inhabitants were exiled.

The only rememnant of Herod's huge temple mount is the wailing wall, the temple itself was completely ruined.

The city as it is seen today was mostly built by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the great in the 15th century - including the modern day wall and "David's Citadel."

Visitors to the modern 'dome of the rock' on top of mount Morya can see the remains of an altar which according to tradition is both the resting place of the art of the covenant during Jewish times, and the alter used by Abraham to (nearly) sacrifice his son Yitzhak.