What Does it Mean that Jerusalem was 'Built as a City which is Compact Together?' A Geographical and Archaeological Reading of Psalm 122:3"

One of the most famous but obscure biblical phrases associated with Jerusalem comes from Psalm 122, which describes the city as “built compact together” or “bound firmly together.” Three basic interpretations of this phrase have emerged in commentaries on this text. In our presentation, we will explore Psalm 122 and review each of these suggestions. Our tour around Psalm 122:3 will conclude with an additional, lesser-known interpretation that is related to Jerusalem's urban plan during the time of the Judahite kings. We will argue that the Psalm 122 is best understood against the backdrop of physical changes in the city during this period. This presentation will introduce participants to Jerusalem's basic geography.

Chandler Collins

Chandler Collins is a faculty member and former Dean of Administration at Jerusalem University College. He lived, studied, and worked in the historic basin of Jerusalem for more than five years, during which his research and explorations took him to many of the city’s lesser-known sites. Chandler is a Ph.D. candidate in Hebrew Bible at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, and holds two M.A. degrees from Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL) in the intersecting fields of Semitic languages, Hebrew Bible, and archaeology.

He is also a member of ARCH Jerusalem, a non-governmental organization devoted to preserving at-risk cultural heritage in Jerusalem. Chandler currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his family, where he enjoys foraging in local parks and tending his backyard garden.