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In the early years of the Israelite kingdom, the Ark of the Covenant was periodically moved about among several sanctuaries, especially those of Shechem and Shiloh. After King David’s capture of Jerusalem, however, the Ark was moved to that city. This action joined Israel’s major religious object with the monarchy and the city itself into a central symbol of union of the Israelite tribes. As the site for a future temple, David chose Mount Moriah, or the Temple Mount, where it was believed Abraham had built the altar on which to sacrifice his son Isaac.
The First Temple was constructed during the reign of David’s son, Solomon, and completed in 957 bce. Other sanctuaries retained their religious functions, however, until Josiah (reigned c. 640–609 bce) abolished them and established the Temple of Jerusalem as the only place of sacrifice in the Kingdom of Judah.