Ophel

Ophel is a fortified spur in Jerusalem, built up successively by the kings of Judah and resettled after the exile. The references gather around a wall, a hill that bears the same name, and a quarter populated by the temple servants.

The Wall of Ophel under the Kings

Jotham strengthens the area as part of his temple-and-city building program: "He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and on the wall of Ophel he built much" (2Ch 27:3). Manasseh, after his return from exile in Babylon, takes the work further with an outer fortification: "Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he surrounded Ophel [with it], and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah" (2Ch 33:14).

Ophel after the Return

In Nehemiah's wall-building Ophel is a stretch of fortification on the east side, reached by following the line from the water gate. "And those given [to temple service], they were living on Ophel, to the place across from the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out" (Ne 3:26). The Tekoites carry their second section up the same line: "After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, across from the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel" (Ne 3:27).

A Quarter for the Temple Servants

Ophel is also a settlement, not just a wall. The list of those who returned and resettled places the same group there: "But those given [to temple service] dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over those given [to temple service]" (Ne 11:21).