Zion. The fortified city within Jerusalem containing the residence of the king and the Mount on which it was situated; also known as the City of David and even the City of God. King David and his men captured the fortified city of Zion, the city of the Jebusites. Once he had conquered it, he called it the City of David, and made it his official residence (2 Sam. 5:6-9; 1 Chron. 11:4-9). The name Zion means “fortification.” The Old Testament refers to Zion on several levels: 1) It refers to a mountain, Mount Zion, 2537 feet in elevation (Dictionary of the Bible by William Smith, Horatio Balch Hackett, Ezra Abbot, pp. 1276-1277) (Psalm 2:6; 48:1-2, 11; 74:2; 78:68; 87:1-2; 125:1). 2) It refers to a city, Jerusalem (Psalm 48:2, 12-13; 51:18; 69:35; 87:2-3, 5; 102:21; 128:5; 135:21; 147:12). 3) It refers to the dwelling place of God. Though the Temple Mount is actually on Mount Moriah, to the east and lower than Mount Zion, the general area and Jerusalem are said to be the city of God and His dwelling place (Psalm 9:11; 20:2-3; 74:2-3; 76:2; 78:68-69; 84:7; 87:2-3; 132:13-14; 134:1-3; 135:21). 4) In an even broader sense, Zion refers to the tribe of Judah (Psalm 48:11; 69:35; 78:68) and even the nation of Israel as a whole (Isa. 60:14; Zech. 9:13). 5) In its ultimate sense, according to the New Testament, Zion refers to the city of New Jerusalem, presently located in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 14:1), but in eternity, the capital city which comes down out of heaven to New Earth (Rev. 3:12; 21:2, 10). It is my belief that New Jerusalem is so high (Rev. 21:16) because it contains heavenly Mount Zion.