Q
Curious souls with an eye for detail might notice that just about every time Bible writers talk about going to or from Jerusalem they say they are going “up to Jerusalem” (Galatians 2:1), or they are headed home “down from Jerusalem” (Luke 10:30). It doesn’t matter if the writer is talking about going north, south, east, or west. It’s always “up” to this particular city and “down” again. Care to venture a guess why?
A
One guess is based on the fact that the town sits on the top of the ridge of hills. No matter where you’re coming from or going to, you have to climb the hill to get to Jerusalem and you have to descend the hill to leave. Another guess might spin around the fact that Jewish writers held the city in high regard. In all the world, the one and only Jewish Temple was in this town. Jews built synagogues throughout the world, but just one Temple.
Excerpt from Leader’s Guide & Atlas for Galatians
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Casual English Bible
I admit this caused me some confusion while trying to follow the time line in John chapters 1 and 2
I live in Tokyo, Japan. It’s the same. One goes ‘up to Tokyo’, and when one leaves, he / she goes ‘down’, back to their hometown, regardless of where it may be.