1. 2 Samuel 5:7 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did Jerusalem become the city of David?

2 Samuel 5:7 (ESV)

7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

Having captured Jerusalem, David turned it into his capital city. He moved his capital from Hebron to Jerusalem, relocating from the land of Judah in the south to a town that is closer to the centre that borders the territory of Benjamin.1 If he had continued to rule from Hebron, it would have shown a bias toward Judah. The move to Jerusalem is thus also politically motivated as it established a new city for all the tribes to unite behind.2