Before Jerusalem: The Many Names and Identities of the Ancient City...

A City That Preceded Kings and Kingdoms

Few cities in history carry as much religious, cultural, and political significance as Jerusalem. Considered the spiritual heart of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, it is often seen as the focal point of divine history.

But long before Jerusalem became the city of David, before it housed Solomon’s Temple, before it was the site of Jesus’s crucifixion or the Prophet Muhammad’s ascension, it was a Canaanite stronghold with a completely different name and identity.

What was Jerusalem called before David?

The Bible, archaeological findings, and historical records offer a fascinating look into the ancient city’s past—one that reveals its polytheistic origins, changing rulers, and shifting cultural influences. While today’s Abrahamic faiths emphasize its divine significance, Jerusalem’s earliest identity was linked to a pagan god, Shalem, and its name reflected the power dynamics of the region long before King David captured it.

This article will explore:

  • The ancient names of Jerusalem before the rise of Israelite rule
  • The Canaanite and Egyptian influences on the city
  • The linguistic evolution of the name Jerusalem
  • The impact of King David’s conquest in reshaping the city’s identity
  • The philosophical and theological reluctance to accept its pagan origins

1. The Earliest Names: Urušalim and Jebus

Long before King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel, the city was known by different names in various historical records.

Urusalim/Urušalim: “The City of Shalem”

The oldest known reference to Jerusalem appears in Egyptian texts dating back to the 19th century BCE. These texts, called Execration Texts, were essentially curses written on pottery fragments, meant to invoke misfortune on enemy cities.

In these texts, Jerusalem is referred to as “Urusalim” or “Urušalim”, a name which linguists reconstruct to mean “Foundation of the god Shalem.”

Shalem was a Canaanite deity of dusk, peace, and completeness—a god who personified the cosmic balance of day turning into night. This suggests that Jerusalem was originally dedicated to a deity worshiped by the polytheistic Canaanites, who lived in the region before the arrival of the Israelites.

However, as Abrahamic religions later dominated the city, the idea that a revered holy city was once named after a pagan god became uncomfortable, leading to alternative interpretations of its name.

Jebus: The City of the Jebusites

By the time the Israelites arrived in Canaan, Jerusalem was controlled by a group called the Jebusites, who were a Canaanite tribe mentioned in the Bible.

In biblical texts, before King David conquered the city, Jerusalem was known as “Jebus” (Yevus in Hebrew). The Jebusites, like other Canaanite peoples, practiced polytheistic worship, built fortifications, and established a thriving settlement.

The Book of Judges (1:21) notes that the Israelites initially failed to conquer Jebus, allowing the Jebusites to remain there until David’s conquest centuries later. This period of Jebusite rule suggests that Jerusalem was part of a larger Canaanite cultural and political network before becoming the center of monotheistic faith.

2. The Etymology and Linguistic Evolution of “Jerusalem”

The name Jerusalem itself is a linguistic puzzle, reflecting the layers of cultural and political changes that shaped the city over time.

The Meaning of “Jerusalem”

The most widely accepted etymology suggests that Jerusalem originally meant “City of Shalem”, referring to the Canaanite deity.

However, over time, Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions shifted the interpretation towards a more monotheistic explanation. Instead of associating the city with a pagan god, religious scholars reinterpreted the name as “City of Peace” (Yerushalayim in Hebrew), linking it to the Hebrew word shalom (peace).

This theological shift was not merely linguistic—it was ideological. By reinterpreting its name, Abrahamic traditions distanced Jerusalem from its Canaanite pagan past, reinforcing its identity as a holy city ordained by the God of Israel.

3. The Political and Religious Transformation Under King David

David’s Conquest: A City Reclaimed for Monotheism

Before David’s conquest (c. 1000 BCE), Jerusalem remained a stronghold of the Jebusites, who were likely Canaanite vassals under Egyptian rule. The city was strategically located, heavily fortified, and difficult to attack.

However, according to the Bible (2 Samuel 5:6-10), David successfully captured Jebus by sneaking into the city through an underground water shaft—a military strategy that led to his historic claim over Jerusalem.

Once he seized the city, David made it the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. This marked a turning point in Jerusalem’s identity, as it was no longer a Canaanite city dedicated to a pantheon of gods—it was now the sacred city of Yahweh, the one true God of Israel.

To further solidify this transformation:

  • David established the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem, making it the spiritual center of Israelite worship.
  • His son, King Solomon, built the First Temple, reinforcing monotheistic worship and replacing any previous Canaanite religious structures.
  • Jebusite presence faded, and Jerusalem became synonymous with Jewish faith and governance.

From this moment on, Jerusalem’s history was rewritten to reflect its new status as “God’s chosen city”, erasing most references to its polytheistic past.

4. The Theological and Psychological Resistance to Jerusalem’s Pagan Past

Why Do Many People Reject Jerusalem’s Pagan Origins?

For believers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the idea that Jerusalem was originally dedicated to a pagan god is deeply unsettling.

  • For Jews, Jerusalem is the eternal city of Yahweh, the site of the Temple Mount and the promised land of their ancestors.
  • For Christians, it is the city where Jesus was crucified and resurrected, central to their salvation story.
  • For Muslims, it is the city of the Prophet Muhammad’s miraculous Night Journey (Isra and Miraj) and home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Accepting that Jerusalem originated as a Canaanite city, dedicated to a deity other than Yahweh, Allah, or Jesus’s Father, disrupts the theological narratives that place the city at the center of monotheistic faith.

A Case of Religious Reinterpretation

Religious traditions have always reinterpreted and redefined history to align with their theological frameworks. Just as many pagan festivals were Christianized (such as Saturnalia evolving into Christmas), so too was Jerusalem’s Canaanite identity rewritten to fit into monotheistic history.

This psychological and theological resistance is not unique to Jerusalem—many sacred sites across the world have complex, multi-religious histories that challenge modern beliefs.

Final Thoughts: The Layers of Jerusalem’s Identity

Jerusalem has never belonged to a single culture, religion, or people. From Urusalim to Jebus, from a Canaanite city to the heart of Abrahamic faiths, it has undergone profound transformations.

The city’s earliest names—linked to a pagan deity—remind us that history is fluid, constantly rewritten by those in power. While today’s believers see it as the holy city of God, its pre-Davidic past tells a more complex, multi-religious story.

In the end, Jerusalem’s significance transcends any single interpretation, proving that sacred places evolve, just as human understanding of the divine continues to do.

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