S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The crowning achievement of King Solomon's reign was the erection of a magnificent temple in Jerusalem, often called Solomon's temple or the first temple. Solomon's father, King David, had wanted t...

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July 01 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

Solomon’s Temple was Israel’s first temple. Before that, the nation carried about the tabernacle, until David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Lord. However, the Lord decided David could not build it, I Chronicles 28:3, but had Solomon his son build it, I Kings 6:1-2, 37-38. 

In the ensuing history of the kingdom of Judah, the temple was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity, Ezra 1:2-3, and renovated and expanded by Herod, John 2:20. But all these temples were in the same location. 

There are clues in the Bible concerning the location of the temple. One is the prophecy by Jesus that “not one stone would be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down,” Matthew 24:1, 2; Mark 13:1, 2; Luke 19:43, 44; 21:5, 6. The disciples had just directed the Lord’s attention to the buildings, when the Lord shocked them with the prophecy that it would be completely destroyed as it was in AD 70. A couple of years after it was destroyed, observers noted that even the foundations of the temple were dug up. The early Christian writer and historian Eusebius later claimed seeing the whole area being plowed and saw people carting off stones to build idol temples and theaters. He saw that the actual temple site had become a garbage dump, left completely desolate. 

Because of this, the present-day Temple Mount at the Haram al-Sharif, or the Dome of the Rock, must be ruled out because about 10,000 foundation rocks are still there. Some believe it to be instead the remnant of the self-supporting camp of the Roman 10th Legion that sat on 37 acres set up after the temple was destroyed.

According to John 8:59-9:1,7, the temple had to be close to the Pool of Siloam. Jesus had just left the temple when He saw the blind man likely near it as a place to beg, Acts 3:2. Jesus directed him to go to the pool which is located on the west ridge of the southeast hill of Jerusalem’s City of David. This area is now called Silwan, Arabic for Siloam. 

The pool, called the “Priests’ Fountain,” on the southwest side of the hill, may have served the temple built on that hill. The temple was not 700 yards away, but near enough to a water supply for the cleansing needs of the temple. Josephus described how, although the hill was small, it was enclosed with walls of large stones bound together with lead and iron. It was then filled to a smooth level top, making a huge, elevated platform on the ridge, the dizzying height of 600 feet from the valley floor. The temple, with its own walls and colonnade, was like a fortress, visible from afar.

For many centuries, the magnificent and prominent temple in the southeast part of Jerusalem, was an integral part of Israel’s and, later, Judah’s history, culture, and religious life.

April 20 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What Was Solomon's Temple, the First Temple? How Many Temples Were There?

Solomon's Temple, known as the First Temple, was the first permanent place of worship built for the God of Israel in Jerusalem. Before its construction, Israel worshipped at the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary used since Moses' time.

King Solomon built the Temple around 960 BC (1 Kings 6). Built from stone, cedar from Lebanon, and gold, it became Israel's religious centre. The Ark of the Covenant was placed in the Most Holy Place, and at the Temple's dedication the glory of the Lord filled the building (1 Kings 8:10-11).

The Temple remained at the heart of Israel's worship for nearly four centuries. In 586 BC, the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and destroyed it because of Judah's persistent rebellion against God (2 Kings 25:8-10).

After the Babylonian exile, Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple under Zerubbabel. They began construction around 536 BC and completed it in 516 BC (Ezra 6:14-15). This became known as the Second Temple.

The Second Temple was less impressive than Solomon's original structure and did not contain the Ark of the Covenant. Many years later, Herod the Great extensively renovated and enlarged it, creating a magnificent temple complex.

This was the Temple that stood during the ministry of Jesus Christ. He taught there, worshipped there, and foretold its destruction (Matthew 24:1-2).

In AD 70, Roman forces destroyed the Second Temple. No Jewish temple has been built in Jerusalem since.

How Many Temples Were There?

Historically, there were two temples in Jerusalem:

The First Temple

Built by Solomon around 960 BC.
Contained the Ark of the Covenant.
Destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC.

The Second Temple

Rebuilt under Zerubbabel after the exile.
Later enlarged by Herod the Great.
Stood during the life and ministry of Jesus.
Destroyed by Rome in AD 70.
Summary

Solomon built the First Temple, and it served as Israel's central place of worship until its destruction by Babylon. The Second Temple was rebuilt after the exile and later expanded by Herod the Great. It remained the centre of Jewish worship during Christ's time until the Romans destroyed it in AD 70. These two temples mark the major periods of temple worship in Israel's history.

12 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report