Build the fortress of Zion, then go in through the gate and climb up to the flag.
A city, step by step.
Model · the hill of Zion
The City of DavidThe City of David
We're building the City of David
On a hill in Jerusalem stood a fortress, Zion. David took it and called it “the city of David.” Build it too, step by step, then go inside.
Choose a piece, then drag it to the golden spot. You can also use the “Place the piece” button. Turn the scene with “Look”.
Press “Walk around” to step onto the plain. When the city is finished, press “Enter the city”: walk along the road, go under the gate, climb the stone stairs and reach the top, next to the cedar house and the flag. Walk with W A S D or the arrow keys, and hold the right mouse button to look around. On a touch screen, walk with the joystick and swipe on the right side to look around. Press “Done” to go back to the model.
The Bible says David took the stronghold of Zion, lived in it and built walls all around. It doesn't say what the city looked like. The terraces, towers and houses are choices made for the model. There are no people in the scene.
2 Samuel 5:7
7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
David had been a shepherd. The sheepfold at the foot of the hill reminds us where the Lord took him from. How many sheep there are is a choice made for the model.
Psalm 78:70
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Stone was taken from the quarry and lifted with pulleys. Hiram, king of Tyre, sent David cedar wood, carpenters and stonemasons.
2 Samuel 5:11
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
David built walls “from Millo and inward.” We don't know for sure what the Millo was, so the model shows it as a stone terrace.
2 Samuel 5:9
9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
Cities had walls, towers and a gate. Psalm 48 says, “Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.” We chose the number of towers in the model.
Psalm 48:12
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
David's house was made of cedar, with Hiram's help. The harp reminds us that David played music; it is a choice made for the model.
1 Samuel 16:23
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
The city wasn't strong only because of its walls. The Bible says David grew great, “and the LORD God of hosts was with him.”
2 Samuel 5:10
10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
Later, people sang on the road to Jerusalem: “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.”
Psalm 122:2
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.