"the Second Temple" - definition, usage and history

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the Second Temple

Model of the Second Jewish Temple
(larger image)

The Second Temple plan drawn by
the 19th century French architect
and Bible scholar Charles Chipiez.
(larger image)

The Second Temple was the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem which stood between 515 BCE and 70 CE. During this time, it was the center of Jewish worship, which focused on the sacrifices known as the korbanot. Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was destroyed in 586 BCE when the Jews were exiled into the Babylonian Captivity. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its Second Temple circa 70 CE, ending the Great Jewish Revolt that began in 66 CE.

After the return from captivity, under Zerubbabel and the high priest Jeshua, arrangements were almost immediately made to reorganize the desolated Kingdom of Judah after its demise seventy years earlier.

The accession of Cyrus the Great of Persia in 538 BCE made the re-establishment of the city of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple possible.[1] According to the Bible, when the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem following a decree from Cyrus the Great (Ezra 1:1-4, 2 Chron 36:22-23), construction started at the original site, which had remained a devastated heap during the approximate 70 years of captivity (Dan. 9:1-2). After a relatively brief halt, brought about by peoples who had filled the vacuum during the Jewish captivity (Ezra 4), work resumed circa 521 BCE under the Persian King Darius (Ezra 5) and was completed during the sixth year of his reign (circa 515 BCE), with the temple dedication taking place the following year.

Around 20 BCE, Herod the Great renovated the Temple, which became known as the Temple of Herod or Herod's Temple.

Jerusalem Temple Destruction, AD 70, by Nicolas Poussin
(larger image)

The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE under Titus, decidedly ending the Great Jewish Revolt that had began four years earlier. The lower levels of the Western Wall form part of the few surviving remains of Herod's complex.[2]

Titus surrounded the city, with three legions (Legio V Macedonica, Legio XII Fulminata, Legio XV Apollinaris) on the western side, and a fourth (Legio X Fretensis) on the Mount of Olives to the east.

He put pressure on the food & water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing pilgrims to enter the city to celebrate Passover, and then refusing them egress. After Jewish sallies killed a number of Roman soldiers, Titus sent Flavius Josephus, a former Jewish commander, now loyal to Rome , to negotiate with the defenders; this failed, and another sally was launched.

In mid-May, Titus set to destroying the newly built Third Wall with a ram, breaching it as well as the Second Wall, and turning their attention to the Fortress of Antonia, just north of the Temple Mount. The Romans were then drawn into street fighting with the Zealots and sustained heavy enough losses that they were ordered to retreat. Josephus failed in another attempt at negotiations, and Jewish attacks prevented the construction of siege towers at the Fortress of Antonia. Food, water, and other provisions were dwindling, but small foraging parties managed to sneak supplies into the city, harrying Roman forces in the process. A new wall was ordered to be built, to put an end to the success of these foragers, and siege tower construction was restarted as well.[16]

Traditional rabbinic sources state that the Second Temple stood for 420 years and based on the 2nd-century work Seder Olam Rabbah, place construction in 350 BCE (3408 AM), 166 years later than secular estimates, and destruction in 70 CE (3829 AM).[3]

Nation reorganized

A stone (2.43x1 m) with Hebrew
inscription "To the Trumpeting Place"
excavated by B. Mazar at the southern
foot of the Temple Mount is believed to
be a part of the Second Temple.
(larger image)

The body of pilgrims, forming a band of 42,360[4] including children, having completed the long and dreary journey of some four months, from the banks of the Euphrates to Jerusalem, were animated in all their proceedings by a strong religious impulse, and therefore one of their first concerns was to restore their ancient house of worship by rebuilding their destroyed temple and reinstituting the sacrificial rituals known as the korbanot ("sacrifices" in Hebrew).

On the invitation of Zerubbabel, the governor, who showed them a remarkable example of liberality by contributing personally 1,000 golden darics, besides other gifts, the people poured their gifts into the sacred treasury with great enthusiasm [5](Ezra 2).

First they erected and dedicated the altar of God on the exact spot where it had formerly stood, and they then cleared away the charred heaps of debris which occupied the site of the first temple; and in the second month of the second year (535 BCE), amid great public excitement and rejoicing (befitting Psalms 116; 117; 118), the foundations of the second temple were laid. A wide interest was felt in this great movement, although it was regarded with mingled feelings by the spectators [6][7] (Haggai 2:3; Zechariah 4:10).

Samaritans offer

The Samaritans made proposals for co-operation in the work. Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the elders, however, declined all such cooperation, feeling that Judea must build the temple without help. Immediately evil reports were spread regarding the Jews. According to Ezra 4:5, the Samaritans sought to "frustrate their purpose" and sent messengers to Ecbatana and Susa, with the result that the work was suspended.

Monarchs

Seven years after this Cyrus the Great, who ordered and declared the rebuilding of the temple, died [8] (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). He was succeeded by his son Cambyses, on whose death the "false Smerdis," an imposter, occupied the throne for some seven or eight months, and then Darius I of Persia became king (522 BCE). In the second year of this monarch the work of rebuilding the temple was resumed and carried forward to its completion [9] (Ezra 5: 6-17; 6:1-15), under the stimulus of the earnest counsels and admonitions of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. It was ready for consecration in the spring of 515 BCE, more than twenty years after the return from captivity.

"May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence." Ezr 6:12 ESV

A Greek language inscription
from Herod's Temple, late 1st century
BCE. It warns gentiles to refrain from
entering the Temple enclosure,
on pain of death.
(larger image)

This second temple was missing the Ark of the Covenant, the Urim and Thummim, the holy oil, the sacred fire, the Ten Commandments, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod. As in the Tabernacle, there was in it only one golden lamp for the holy place, one table of showbread, and the incense altar, with golden censers, and many of the vessels of gold that had belonged to Solomon's Temple that had been carried to Babylon but restored by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7-11):

⁷ Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.

⁸ Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. ⁹ And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, ¹⁰ 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; ¹¹ all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

This second temple also differed from the first in that, while in the latter there were numerous "trees planted in the courts of the Lord," there were none in the former. The second temple also had for the first time a space, being a part of the outer court, provided for proselytes who were worshippers of God, although not subject to the laws of Judaism.

Completion

The temple, when completed, was consecrated and the sacrificial observances known as the korbanot were commenced once again, amid great rejoicings on the part of all the people [10] (Ezra 6:16), although it was evident that the Jews were no longer an independent people, but were subject to a foreign power. The Book of Haggai records a prediction [11] (Haggai 2:9) that the glory of the second temple would be greater than that of the first. This temple, during the different periods of its existence, is often regarded by believers as but one house, the one only house of God.

Missing articles

Since some of the original artifacts were, according to the biblical account, lost after the destruction of the First Temple, the Second Temple lacked the following holy articles[12]:

The Ark of the Covenant, containing
- the Tablets of Stone,
- the pot of manna,
- and Aaron's rod
The Urim and Thummim (Hoshen jewels)
The holy oil
The Shekinah/Ruach HaKodesh (missing according to Jewish tradition)
The sacred fire.

In the Second Temple, the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies) was separated by curtains rather than a wall as in the First Temple. Still, as in the Tabernacle, the Second Temple included:

The Menorah (golden lamp) for the Hekhal
The Table of Showbread
The golden altar of incense, with golden censers.

The Second Temple also included many of the original vessels of gold that had been taken by the Babylonians but restored by Cyrus the Great.[13]

Rededication by the Maccabees

Following the conquest of Judea by Alexander the Great, it became part of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt until 200 BCE, when King Antiochus III the Great of Syria defeated King Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt at the Battle of Panion.[14] Judea became at that moment part of the Seleucid empire of Syria. When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and its religious services stopped, Judaism was effectively outlawed. In 167 BCE, Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He also banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the Temple.[15]

Following the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid empire, the Second Temple was rededicated and became the religious pillar of the Jewish Hasmonean kingdom, as well as culturally associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Renovation Under Herod

Herod's Gate (Flowers Gate, Sheep's Gate,
Bab-a-Sahairad, Sha'ar Hordos) in
Jerusalem, Israel
(larger image)

Around 19 BCE, Herod the Great began a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple. The resulting structure is sometimes referred to as Herod's Temple.

"Herod's Temple" (The Temple of Herod) in Jerusalem was a massive expansion of the Second Temple along with renovations of the entire Temple Mount. Herod the Great's expansion project began around 19 BCE. The renovation by Herod began with the building of giant underground vaults upon which the temple would be built so it could be larger than the small flat area on top of Mount Moriah. Ground level at the time was at least 20 ft. (6m) below the current level, as can be seen by walking the Western Wall tunnels. The edge of this platform remains everywhere; part of it forms The Western Wall.

In 1948, Jordan destroyed the Jewish Quarter and much more of the wall was revealed along the southern side.

Although we have no biblical information regarding this enormous temple, we do know that in the 49th year of its building program, Jesus' body ("His Temple") was destroyed, (John 2:20). 49-years is 7 x 7, which is a Jubilee.

15 And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

18 So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" (John 20:15-20 ESV)

Destruction

In 66 CE, the Jewish population rebelled against The Roman Empire. Four years later, in 70 CE, Roman legions under Titus reconquered and subsequently destroyed all of Jerusalem, including the Second Temple.

Discovery of quarry

On September 25, 2007 Yuval Baruch, archaeologist with the Israeli Antiquities Authority, announced their discovery of a quarry compound which may have provided King Herod with the stones to construct Herod's Temple. Coins, pottery and an iron stake found indicated the date of the quarrying to be about 19 BCE. Archaeologist Ehud Nesher confirmed that the large outlines of the stone cuts is evidence that it was a massive public project worked by hundreds of slaves.

Jerusalem Features

Notes

« Samuelson, Norbert Max. Revelation and the God of Israel, Cambridge University Press, 2002. pg. 226. ISBN 052181202X
« Porter, J.R. The Illustrated Guide to the Bible, Oxford University Press US, 1998. pg. 91. ISBN 0195214625
« Goldwurm, Hersh. History of the Jewish people: the Second Temple era, Mesorah Publications, 1982. Appendix: Year of the Destruction, pg. 213. ISBN 089906454X
« Ezra 2:65 HE Blue Letter Bible. "The Scribe Ezra 2 - (WLC - Westminster Leningrad Codex)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 19 Jun 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Ezr&c=2&t=WLC > Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Ezra 2 Blue Letter Bible. "The Scribe Ezra 2 - (ESV - English Standard Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 19 Jun 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Ezr&c=2&t=ESV > Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Haggai 2:3 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Zechariah 4:10 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Ezra 5:6-6:15 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Ezra 6:15,16 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Ezra 2:19 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« Jewish Encyclopedia, temple The Second Temple
« Ezra 1:7-11 ESV Biblegateway.com Retrieved 6/19/2010
« De Bellis Antiquitatis (DBA) The Battle of Panion (200 BC)
« Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews Jewish War i. 34
« Siege of Jerusalem (70) Retrieved 6/19/2010

References

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for 'alter of God' in the ESV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.
Quarry for Temple Mount's Giant Rocks - Found (IsraelNN.com) Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.
Archaeologists find quarry used to supply stones for Second Temple haaretz.com Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.
Quarry used to renovate King Herod's Second Temple unearthed israelnews.net Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.
The Two Sardonyx Stones templeinstitute.org Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.
Archaeologists discover 2000 year old source of Jewish temple stones web.israelinsider.com Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.
Two Giant Stones: The Future And The Past israelnationalnews.com Retrieved 21 Jun 2009.

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Timothy Ministries Dictionary of Theology. http://timothyministries.org 2005-2010.
"The Second Temple" < http://timothyministries.org/theologicaldictionary/references.aspx?theword=the second temple > Retrieved: Jul 30 2010 7:18AM

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