“Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people and he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:9-10
Artists rendering of what the City of David on Mt Zion probably looked liked according to archeological and biblical sources.
The Redemption of Zion has been spoken of and written about for thousands of years. Zion is a name that is interchangeable with Jerusalem and sometimes refers to the entirety of Israel itself. The prophet Isaiah reminded his people of the oppression the Jewish nation had endured at the hands of the Egyptians and then more recently, the Assyrians (8th c. BCE). He encouraged Jerusalem to “Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength!” Isaiah 52:1 He was encouraging Israel to be strong and courageous. For those who were taken captive and exiled, they would need to shake off the dust and look toward their return to Zion.
Another exile took place after the Babylonian invasion in 586 BCE. Not long after, though, the Jews did return to Zion and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem. But they still lived under the oppression of other governments. For a short time (about 100 years), however, the Jews had freedom and independence until they were overtaken, this time by the Roman Empire. It was during this time that the Jews decided to revolt and take back their freedom. This revolt is referred to as the Great Jewish Revolt. It spanned over seven years from 66 CE to 73 CE. The climax of the revolt happened in the year 70 when the Temple was destroyed and the city of Jerusalem was burned to the ground.
It is this time period that has recently come to life through modern-day archaeological excavations. This week, a rare bronze coin was found dating to the fourth year of the Great Jewish Revolt. It was discovered at an archaeological sifting site at Emek Zurim National Park in Jerusalem. The source of the ground that was being sifted: the drainage canal at the ancient City of David. Wow…it is incredible to live in a time when archaeology meets the Bible! The stories we have read, the history that has been passed down from generation to generation comes alive when these discoveries happen. And we can glean so much more than what the history books can tell us.
The coin found in the drainage canals~City of David Archive
For instance, the design of this rare coin is very different from the design of the coins found from the first three years of the revolt. The inscription on the coins in the first three years read “Freedom of Zion,” implying that the Jews were fighting for autonomous freedom in their ancestral homeland. In short, the Jews were tired of being oppressed, and they wanted the Romans out. But in year four (69 CE), the year before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple, the words “For the Redemption of Zion” appear on the coin. On the other side of the coin is an image of the Four Species and the words “Year Four.”
So why did they change the inscription? Eli Shukrun, the lead archaeologist on the project, explained that “the difference between ‘freedom’ and ‘redemption’ expresses the change that took place both in their mindset and in reality, at that time.” We know through the writings of Josephus that Jews trying to flee the city hid in the drainage canal which flowed from the Temple Mount, through the streets of Jerusalem and down to the City of David. So it is very likely that one of those people fleeing the city almost 2,000 years ago could have dropped this coin along the way!
The harsh reality after three years of fighting was that the Jews knew they were not fighting for freedom anymore, they were praying for the redemption of Zion. This reality can only now be more fully understood due to the discovery of this one small coin. How difficult it must have been for Jews living in those days to shift from the hope of freedom to the hope that Zion would be restored one day in the future.
Blossoms at Emek Tzurim National Park.
What we see in this story is that the Jews had “hoped” for many years that their situation would change and they would be free. But at some point, they embraced the fact that it was not going to happen, and so they switched their focus to the restoration of Zion in the future. It is remarkable that despite the harsh reality that they were going to lose Jerusalem, they chose to focus on the positive; redemption. Some 2,000 years later, we have seen the redemption of Zion occur in our lifetime, as the Jews have returned in freedom to their homeland. Oh to live in such a time as this!
We can always look at history and glean some pearl of truth or revelation. We can ask ourselves how we might have dealt with the Roman problem, or better yet, how we can deal with personal oppression or even a difficult personal situation. This story can be used as a personal challenge to us all…pray for what we desire, but be willing to accept the reality with courage and faith.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
