Psalm 122:3: Why call Jerusalem “compact together” when archaeological evidence shows multiple expansions over time?

I. Scriptural Reference and Context

Psalm 122:3 states: “Jerusalem is built up as a city united together.” The entire psalm focuses on the worshiper’s pilgrimage and the anticipation of arriving in a place of communal praise. Though it is sometimes rendered “compact together,” the text highlights both the physical fortification of the city and the communal unity of its inhabitants.

II. The Original Hebrew Terminology

The Hebrew phrase commonly translated as “compact together” or “united together” (חֻבְּרָ֗ה יַחְדָּֽוֽ) conveys the concept of something joined or bound closely. It often indicates a state of completeness—a space where elements fit snugly. As used in Psalm 122:3, the phrase underscores coherence and cohesion, suggesting that the city’s structures, defenses, and spiritual fabric are interwoven.

III. Historical Overview of Jerusalem’s Growth

1. Early Settlement and Davidic City

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a relatively small but well-defended Jerusalem in the time of David (2 Samuel 5:7). Excavations in the City of David, including structures identified through the work of Eilat Mazar, reveal a tightly knit urban center that served as the nucleus for later expansion. Despite its smaller size, it was fortified and compact, protecting strategic access points such as the Gihon Spring.

2. Solomonic and Subsequent Expansions

Under Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 9:15–19), building projects extended city borders to accommodate the Temple and administrative complexes. Further expansions under kings such as Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:2–5) added additional protective walls (as attested in discoveries of broad walls in the area beyond the original City of David). These expansions show that while Jerusalem’s footprint grew, it consistently maintained defensible walls and internal cohesion.

3. Post-Exilic and Hasmonean Periods

After the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah famously spearheaded the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s fortifications (Nehemiah 4:6). Extra-biblical sources like Josephus point to enlargement during the Hasmonean period, including the construction of additional walls and towers. Although the city indeed changed in shape and size according to the needs of its population, each era maintained substantial fortifications to ensure a unified and fortified urban center.

IV. Interpreting “Compact Together” in Light of Archaeology

1. Fortification and Defensive Unity

“Compact together” refers to the fact that Jerusalem, throughout its stages of growth, remained heavily walled and strategically nestled among the surrounding valleys. Archaeological findings—such as Warren’s Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, and various layers of fortifications—show how the city consistently integrated new expansions with previous defenses, rendering a cohesive urban environment rather than a patchwork of unrelated additions.

2. Cultural and Religious Cohesion

Even as the city expanded, citizens and pilgrims gravitated toward a central place of worship and governance. The Temple Mount played a unifying role, drawing diverse tribes and nations into a common religious focal point (Psalm 122:4). In that sense, the city was indeed “compact” as a spiritual hub, consistently bound by the worship of God.

3. Vertical Building and Layered Construction

In addition to outward expansion, Jerusalem often built upwards and reused earlier fortifications and structures, creating layered archaeology—evident in numerous excavations across the Old City. Walls, gates, and ramparts layered on top of each other over centuries did not diminish the city’s unified appearance within successive periods of occupation. Each generation added to what was already firmly joined.

V. Symbolic and Theological Connotations

1. Symbol of Unity Among the Tribes

Psalm 122 celebrates communal worship. The phrase indicates that Jerusalem, as the destination of pilgrimage, fosters unity (Psalm 122:4–5). The city’s physical defenses mirror the spiritual theme of unity: no matter how the city’s boundaries have shifted, it has remained a cohesive center for worship.

2. Foreshadowing a Greater Harmony

The city points, in a prophetic sense, to a peace and harmony that surpasses physical structure (Psalm 122:6–7). This unity foreshadows an ultimate gathering of God’s people, highlighting a deeper bond beyond mere walls or expansions.

VI. Resolving the Apparent Tension

Multiple expansions uncovered by archaeologists do not negate the “compact together” statement. Instead, they illustrate a city whose building phases seamlessly integrated older defenses, walls, and gathering places. Accordingly, the psalm’s description stands unchallenged: Jerusalem remains a city stable in its unity and communal identity, whether in the psalmist’s day or as borne out by layers of historical development.

VII. Conclusion

The expression “compact together” in Psalm 122:3 portrays Jerusalem’s physical cohesion and communal unity. Archaeological evidence of expansions aligns with this description by showing how each phase connected organically with the previous structures, preserving unity at every stage of growth. The city’s ongoing role as a hub of worship underscores its enduring bond, making it “built up as a city united together” both in ancient times and today.