Biblical Maps • New Testament

Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus

Understand the city’s valleys, ridges, Temple complex, and surrounding landmarks while keeping secure geography separate from later traditional site identifications.

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Map note: This uses a modern base layer to anchor enduring geographic features. It is not a reconstruction of first-century streets, walls, gates, or neighborhoods. Dashed valley lines are schematic guides following the general terrain.

Accuracy note: Jerusalem’s major ridges, valleys, the Temple Mount, City of David, and Mount of Olives are geographically well established. Some specific locations connected with Jesus’ arrest, Roman trial, crucifixion, burial, and the Last Supper remain debated or depend on later tradition. NLDG does not label one debated site as certain simply because it is familiar.

Geographic anchors

Start with what we can locate confidently.

Temple Mount

Herod’s expanded Temple platform dominated the city and forms the setting for major Gospel teaching and conflict during Jesus’ final week.

Matthew 21–23; Mark 11–13; Luke 19–21

City of David

The ancient southeastern ridge of Jerusalem, south of the Temple Mount, preserving the core geography of the earlier city.

2 Samuel 5:6–10; historical context

Kidron Valley

The valley east of Jerusalem separating the city from the Mount of Olives. Jesus crossed the Kidron on the night of His arrest.

John 18:1

Mount of Olives

Prominent ridge east of Jerusalem associated with Jesus’ approach to the city, teaching, prayer, and ascension.

Matthew 21:1; 24:3; Luke 22:39; Acts 1:12

Hinnom Valley

Valley along the south and west of ancient Jerusalem, important for understanding the city’s natural topography and biblical imagery.

Joshua 15:8; Jeremiah 7:31–32

Bethany

Village beyond the Mount of Olives associated with Martha, Mary, Lazarus, and Jesus’ final approach to Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:17; John 11–12

Sites that require caution: The exact Roman praetorium location involved in Jesus’ trial, the precise route from trial to crucifixion, and the exact sites of Golgotha and Jesus’ tomb are debated among historians and archaeologists. Traditional sites can be shown as traditions, but should not be presented as archaeologically certain.

Why geography matters

Holy Week moves through a real landscape.

The descent from the Mount of Olives, the crossing of the Kidron, the climb into the city, and the centrality of the Temple all shape how the final Gospel narratives read. A responsible map helps us visualize those movements without filling gaps in Scripture with false certainty.

Use this map with

Walking With Jesus • Final Weeks

Reference sources

Geographic cross-checks

Coordinates for enduring geographic features are cross-checked against OpenBible.info’s Bible geography data and broader historical-geography references. The interactive map distinguishes modern terrain orientation from first-century reconstruction.