I don't know how this happened but I logged on to post for chapters 8-10 and I realized that my previous post for chapters 5-7 never made it on here! Anyways, here it is:
In these three chapters, Karen Armstrong breaks down Jerusalem's history in even more detail by talking about it before Jesus came into the picture and even during his appearance. God was present, but in so many different ways and in so many different faiths. The destruction of the temple marked a period in which there wasn't a sense of God and more than anything, the people had lost their sense of faith and hope. Chapter 5 highlights a lot of the Jews' experience and how their return was anticipated where Yahweh's presence was still felt. Not only in Chapter 5, but in the rest of the chapters for this sections reading, the Jews had a continuous effort to protect their land, essentially fighting for their temple. By protecting their beloved temple, they were able to show their undeniable love for it. During this time, other Jewish religious sites were destroyed. Towards the end of the reading, it highlights the invasion of the temple by the Romans. The Jews acted in a gracious manner and did everything they could to protect their temple.
It's amazing to me how rich this history really is. I can't believe that there is so much that I just had no idea about. Reading this book has let me delve into Jerusalem's incredible history but I can't wait until I am able to apply some of this knowledge to what is currently going on in that part of the world.
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