Zion

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(mount, sunny). Zion or Sion in its literal and restricted sense was the celebrated mount in Jerusalem, the highest and southernmost or southwesternmost of the city. It was the original hill of the Jebusites (Josh. 15:6363As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day. (Joshua 15:63)). After David became king, he captured it, “the stronghold of Zion,” from the Jebusites, dwelt in the fort there, and greatly enlarged and strengthened its fortifications, calling it “the city of David” (2 Sam. 5:6-96And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. 8And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. 9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. (2 Samuel 5:6‑9); 1 Chron. 11:5-85And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. 6And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. 7And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city. (1 Chronicles 11:5‑8)). Despite David’s prestige the name of Zion still clung to it (1 Kings 8:11Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. (1 Kings 8:1); 2 Kings 19:21,3121This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. (2 Kings 19:21)
31For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. (2 Kings 19:31); 2 Chron. 5:22Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. (2 Chronicles 5:2)). The O. T. poets and prophets exalted the word Zion by frequent use and gave it a sacred turn, so that in time it came to type a sacred capital (Psa. 2:66Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6)); holy place (Psa. 87:2; 149:22The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. (Psalm 87:2)
2Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. (Psalm 149:2); Isa. 30:1919For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. (Isaiah 30:19)); God’s chosen people (Psa. 51:18; 87:518Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalm 51:18)
5And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5)); the Christian church (Heb. 12:2222But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)); the heavenly city (Rev. 14:11And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)).