[This is the first time the name Jerusalem is used in the Bible, although other names (Salem) have been used to refer to the city, see ; . The Hebrew name for Jerusalem is Yeroshalayim. In addition to singular and plural, Hebrew also has dual, which means two – the ending ajim indicates this. The dual form of Jerusalem has sometimes been interpreted as the two mountains on which the city rests, but it can also be taken literally to mean that the city signifies double peace. This also suggests that there are two Jerusalems – the heavenly and the earthly. This is quite clear in the Book of Revelation (, ), but the prophets also hint at it (), and this view is also found in many of the rabbinical interpretations of these verses. In ancient Egyptian sources, the city is called Ursalimmu, which means "foundation of peace/basis of peace." Jerusalem will become Israel's most important city, but it will take a few hundred years until David's time before that happens, see .]
And it came to pass that when Adonitsedek, king of Jerusalem [meaning "my lord is righteousness," synonymous with Melchizedek, see ] heard how Joshua had captured Ai and completely destroyed the city—how he [Joshua] had done to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them—
Therefore, Adonitzedek, king of Jerusalem, sent (messengers) to
Hoham, king of Hebron,
and to Piram, king of Jarmoth,
and to Japhia, king of Lachish,
and to Devir, king of Eglon and said:
