Tisha B'Av

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Map of Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Jerusalem

Published in the 18th century

This work depicting Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem was published in a Biblical Dictionary compiled by the French monk and theologian Augustin Calmet in the early 18th century. The map is from the 1732 English translation. The title of the map is "The Siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar" and the notations refer to chapter 25 of Kings II, which tells of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, as well as the exile of Judah.

Jerusalem appears circled by a wall, with a small river separating the city's two hills. The city lies on elevated ground. Within the walls we see an area of even higher ground topped with a large public structure, most likely the Temple. The city's streets are not visible, and each house is unique, resembling European structures and towers from the Middle Ages. The map displays three rivers that merge into one. The assumption is that these rivers correspond to what we refer to today as the Kidron Valley, the Valley of Hinnom and the Tyropoeon Valley. The map's viewpoint is from above, at an angle.

In contrast to the congested and cluttered city, Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army is exceedingly organized. The army is enormous and encircles most or all of Jerusalem. In addition, an embankment is shown surrounding the city (in accordance with Kings II 25:1, "And they built forts against it round about"). The center of the map displays the beginning of the Babylonian attack on Jerusalem, while the city's inhabitants can also be seen, attempting to resist.

This map of Jerusalem is one of many antique maps of the city that underline its importance in Christian doctrine. This piece was drawn by a man of faith who was not present at the event depicted here, and in fact had never even visited Jerusalem. This can be said of many similar drawings and maps of the city.  However, Augustin Calmet's research was of great scientific importance, and he was considered a pioneer in the academic study of the Bible.

Calmet was a French Catholic monk and theologian who published books on history and theology, as well as commentaries on the Old & New Testaments. This biblical dictionary, published between 1725 and 1731, is a compilation of articles and essays, arranged in alphabetical order and containing biographies of various figures, as well as writings on archaeology, geography, and a range of biblical subjects. The dictionary contains approximately 100 engravings that feature maps of Israel and the surrounding areas, as well as depictions of sites from across the country (Jerusalem, Mount Carmel, Mount of Olives, Nazareth, etc.), biblical scenes and characters as well as ritual Jewish customs.