The term "City of Bloodshed" is a biblical designation primarily associated with the city of Jerusalem during periods of moral and spiritual decline. This term is used to describe the city's involvement in acts of violence, idolatry, and injustice, which led to divine judgment. The prophet Ezekiel prominently uses this term to convey God's displeasure with Jerusalem's inhabitants and their actions.

Biblical References:

1. Ezekiel 22:2-4 : "As for you, son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her abominations and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: O city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defiles herself with idols, you have become guilty of the blood you have shed and defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the lands.'"

In this passage, God commands Ezekiel to confront Jerusalem with its sins, specifically highlighting the shedding of innocent blood and the worship of idols. The city's actions have brought about its own downfall, and as a result, it will face scorn and derision from surrounding nations.

2. Ezekiel 24:6-9 : "Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot whose corrosion is in it and whose rust has not been removed! Take out the pieces at random; do not choose them. For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust. So I have poured out My wrath on the bare rock, that it may not be covered. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.'"

Here, the imagery of a corroded pot is used to describe Jerusalem's corruption. The bloodshed is so blatant that it is likened to blood poured on a bare rock, visible and uncovered. God's wrath is depicted as inevitable and just, a response to the city's persistent sinfulness.

Historical and Theological Context:

The designation "City of Bloodshed" reflects a period in Israel's history when Jerusalem, the center of religious and political life, had strayed far from its covenantal obligations. The prophets, including Ezekiel, were tasked with calling the people back to faithfulness and warning them of the consequences of their actions. The shedding of innocent blood, often associated with unjust killings and child sacrifices to pagan deities, was a grave sin that defiled the land and provoked divine judgment.

Jerusalem's role as the "City of Bloodshed" serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. The prophetic messages emphasize the need for repentance and the restoration of justice and righteousness. The city's eventual destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC is seen as the fulfillment of these prophetic warnings, underscoring the seriousness with which God views sin and the importance of maintaining covenant faithfulness.

Symbolic Significance:

In a broader theological sense, the "City of Bloodshed" symbolizes the human propensity towards sin and the need for divine intervention. It highlights the tension between God's holiness and human rebellion, a theme that runs throughout the biblical narrative. The call to repentance and the promise of restoration are central to the prophetic message, offering hope even in the midst of judgment.

The term also serves as a warning to future generations about the dangers of moral and spiritual complacency. It underscores the importance of upholding justice, mercy, and faithfulness, values that are central to the biblical understanding of a righteous community.