Surprisingly, nowhere in the Pentateuch is Jerusalem mentioned by its full name. We encounter “Jerusalem” (Yerushalayim) for the first time in the Book of Yehoshua. Of course, there are innumerable mentions of Jerusalem throughout the rest of the Neviim and Ketuvim. However, while the Torah (i.e., the Chumash) does not mention Jerusalem explicitly, there are several hints to the city.
Why is Jerusalem not mentioned in the Torah by its full name? Aided by classical commentators, we explore a few explanations. Each of these explanations emphasizes a different aspect of the significance of Jerusalem.