Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 10:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 10:1
"Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;"

I was actually fascinated at the thought of Joshua and the children of Israel taking Jerusalem. I had always thought of Jerusalem belonging to the Jews. I read up on the history of Jerusalem. It appears to be founded by the Jebusites, a Canaanite people. Before it was known as Jerusalem one of its names was Salem, which was ruled by Melchizedek, the great high priest and king of Salem. He is the one Abraham paid tithes to. Adoni-zedek was the king of Jerusalem and the footnote on his name says "Lord of righteousness". They must have carried on that title after Melchizedek, even if it was in name only.

"For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"
(Hebrews 7:1-2)

"Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father."
(Alma 13:17-18)

Day 3811