The foundations for the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem may be traced back to David's building an altar—on instruction from Yahweh through Gad the prophet—on the threshing floor of Araunah when he pleaded with God to stop the plague, and his purchase of the land afterwards (2 Sam 24:15-25). The building of a temple on the site fell, however, to his son, Solomon (1 Ki 3:1; 5:5). 1 Ki 6:1 provides rather specific detailed date when work on the temple began—In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord—this works out to 966 BC.
Solomon's enterprise (often referred to as First Temple), the dedication of the temple upon its completion, and Yahweh's response to the prayers of Solomon on the occasion is described in 1 Ki 5-9 (five whole chapters reflect how important was the subject to the author of Kings). But, already, the author saw the outline of darker times in the whole affair; in veiled criticism that is easy to miss, he notes that Solomon " had spent seven years building" the temple (6:38) but "thirteen years to complete the construction of his palace" (7:1). (It also pays to compare the dimensions of his palace and the temple.)
Solomon's Temple served the nation for the next four centuries, but its worship became increasingly compromised as later kings added pagan altars and objects of worship to it (see, e.g., 2 Ki 21:5; 2 Ki 23:4, 7). Despite attempts by a number of God-fearing kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah at renewal, by the 6th Cent BC, it seems God had had enough; in a number of powerful visions and oracles given to Ezekiel Yahweh condemned the pollution that had overtaken the temple (8:16ff) and he saw the glory of Yahweh departing the temple (11:22-25). Those oracles found fulfilment when in 586/7 the temple and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and razed. So total was its destruction no archaeological remains from the first temple have been recovered. And so ends the First Temple Era.
The Second Temple Era began with the rebuilding of the temple from its ruins when the exiles led by Zerubbabel returned to the land under the freedom of return granted by Cyrus' edict (Ezr 1:1-2) in 538 BC. Discouraged by opposition from the locals, the work stalled for a while (Ezr 4:1ff). Then goaded by Haggai (whose three sermons can be dated very precisely to the year 520 BC: 1:1-15 to 29 Aug; 2:1-9 to 17 Oct; and 2:10-23 to 18 Dec), they finally completed the rebuilding in 515 BC.
An artist's impression of the Temple, and its courts, after Herod's refurbishment
In an attempt to curry the good will of the people, Herod the Great decided to refurbish the temple, and work began about 20/19 BC (the exact date is uncertain, but see Jn 2:20), promising the priestly community that the services at the temple would not be curtailed in any way. Not only that but he also enlarged the surrounding by erecting a huge "temple mount" around it, and on it he built beautiful courtyards and colonnades. It turned out to be one of the most magnificent structures in the whole of the Roman Empire. Josephus says that one has not seen a beautiful thing who has not seen the Temple. This was, of course, the same wonder that caused Jesus's disciples and exclaimed, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" which elicited Jesus's prediction that "not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down"(Mk 13:1-2; Matt 24:1-2; Lk 21:5-6). In the year the final touches were put on the entire edifice, rebellion broke out among the Jews against the Roman authorities. It ended in the tragic fulfilment of Jesus's prediction when in 70 AD Jerusalem and the temple were razed to the ground and what escaped the inferno, the Roman soldiers destroyed. Thus ended the Second Temple Era.
A street beside the Temple crushed by stone blocks cast down from above by Titus' soldiers.
Many Christians today look forward to the rebuilding of a Jewish temple in modern Jerusalem (what is called Third Temple), believing that "the temple must be rebuilt before Jesus comes back again." This is a strange longing since everything that we know with certainty about Jesus's return is given by Jesus and Jesus said no such thing. Despite all our evangelical proclamation about trusting only in the Word of God, we are not, it seems, above embracing superstitions when it suits us. Given the facts on the ground presently (and also all the inherent ritual difficulties) it is difficult to imagine how modern Jews could possibly pull off such an audacious venture of building another temple on the Temple Mount. History, of course, has a way of kicking the backs of those who think that it is made only of things that are likely. But suppose such a venture does become possible, should Christians support it? Yes, many—and especially North American Christians—would say; it would hasten Jesus's return. My take is, No. (Even if it would hasten Jesus' return though, we noted above, there is no biblical support for such an idea.) To do so, in my view, is to say to the Jews, in effect, "Look, we know salvation is only to be found in accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Works of the law—such as rebuilding the temple that you are embarking on—will not save you. Nonetheless, go ahead, even if you lose your salvation. And we are here to help you lose it." This not something any Christian with a conscience enlivened by the Holy Spirit should or can do.
You may also wish to read about the following:
Temple ♦ — Temple Mount — Royal Stoa — Hulda Gates
Resources:
John Stafford Wright, i>The Building of the Second Temple. London: The Tyndale Press, 1958. pp.20. html N
TIMELINE:
966 BC - Construction begins under King Solomon (1 Ki 6:1; 2 Chron 3:2).
959 BC - Completion and dedication of the temple (1 Ki 6:38).
586/7 BC - Destruction by the Babylonians.
538 BC - Exiles return and Restoration of the Temple begins.
520 BC - Haggai exhorts the people to build the Temple.
515 BC - Temple completed.
c. 20/19 BC - Enlargement and refurbishment by Herod the Great begins.
4 BC - Herod the Great dies.
c.30 AD - Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple.
66 AD - Refurbishment completed.
70 AD - The Temple destroyed by Roman armies under command of General Titus.
©ALBERITH
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