📖 Biblical Definition
Ascending to Jerusalem is the Hebrew idiom aliyah (going up): regardless of which direction one approaches from, one always ascends to Jerusalem because it is the city on the hill. Three times yearly Israel made aliyah for Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The Psalms of Ascent (Ps 120-134) were sung on these climbs. Christ Himself steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51) for His final ascent.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Hebrew aliyah.) Going up to Jerusalem; the direction of all biblical pilgrimage.
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Hebrew aliyah means ascent. Modern Israeli Hebrew preserves the term: Jewish immigration to Israel is called making aliyah; the word retains its directional spirituality.
Psalms of Ascent (Songs of Degrees in KJV, Ps 120-134) were the pilgrimage songs sung on the way up. Each year Israelite men were required to ascend three times. Christ's parents make this trip (Lk 2:41). His ascent in Lk 9:51 was His final.
📖 Key Scripture
Psalm 122:1 — "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122:4 — "Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel."
Luke 9:51 — "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem."
Hebrews 12:22 — "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often misses how directional Scripture's pilgrimage language is; the saint always ascends, never just goes.
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The Psalms of Ascent are pilgrimage songs. Each climbs the spiritual ladder as it climbs the geographic one. Sing them aloud and one feels the ascent: petitions for help (Ps 120), declarations of trust (Ps 121), arrival in Jerusalem (Ps 122), through household and city to the priestly blessing (Ps 134).
Hebrews 12:22 carries the ascent into the New Covenant: ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The saint's spiritual journey is still ascent. Sunday worship is ascent. Prayer is ascent. The whole Christian life is making aliyah to the heavenly city.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew aliyah (going up); shir hama'alot (song of ascents).
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Hebrew aliyah — ascent, going up; from alah, to ascend.
Note: the same word in Genesis 35:1, 13 (Jacob going up to Bethel; God going up from Jacob); inherent direction in encounter with God.
Usage
"The saint always ascends, never just goes."
"Sunday worship is ascent."
"Christ steadfastly set His face to go up to Jerusalem — for the cross."