Herod's Temple
Julian Spriggs, M.A.
The building of Herod's Temple started in 19 BC and it replaced the temple built by Zerubbabel after the return from exile. It was built as an attempt by the King Herod the Great (who was half Idumaean rather than Jewish) to reconcile the Jews, rather than through any desire to glorify God. To avoid the workmen profaning the temple during its construction, Herod trained some priests as stone-masons and carpenters. The Rabbis continually praised the splendour of the temple, but never mentioned in their writings that it was built by Herod.
The main structure was finished within ten years, but work continued until AD 64, only six years before its destruction in AD 70. It was still under construction during Jesus's ministry (Jn 2:20). Jesus predicted its destruction in the Olivet Discourse. From the Mount of Olives, they would have looked across to the temple complex, seeing the glory of the Beautiful Gate and the golden entrance to the Holy Place. Titus' arch in Rome commemorates the destruction of Jerusalem and has reliefs showing the removal of the temple equipment, including the lampstand and trumpets.
Position of the Temple
To provide a flat area to build the temple, a large area on the top of Mount Moriah, measuring almost 300m (1000ft) square, was cleared and levelled. In places the rock surface was cut away, and a large area was built up with rubble supported by columns and enclosed by a wall of massive stone blocks (1m by 5m) (3ft x 16ft). These were the stones which so impressed the disciples (Mk 13:1). Some of this wall still remains today. At the south-eastern corner, above the Kidron Valley, the court was about 45m (150ft) above the rock.
The Fortress of Antonia
This was the Roman garrison and residence of the Roman procurator (including Pontius Pilate) when in residence in Jerusalem. It was tall enough to overlook the temple so the soldiers could quickly subdue any unrest in the temple, as they needed to when Paul was seized by the Jews (Acts 21:31-35). Stairs led down to the northern colonnade of temple area, from where Paul addressed the Jews (Acts 21:40). The fortress was square with a tower at each corner, enclosing a central courtyard. Jesus was brought to the pavement in this central courtyard by the Jews to be questioned by Pilate (Jn 18:28). The High Priest's robes were stored in the fortress at one time as a symbol of the Jewish nation's subjection to Rome, until the Jews appealed to Emperor Claudius.
Approaches to the Temple
The principle entrances to the temple were on the western side. There were four gates. The most northerly was reached by steps from the lower city, the middle two were reached from the suburbs, and the most southerly over the Royal Bridge, which was the main entrance to the temple.
The Tadi (or Todi) Gate on the northern side was not used. There were also gates at the NW and NE corners, giving access from the Fortress of Antonia. There was a single gate in the eastern wall, which was later replaced by the "Golden Gate", which still stands today.
The Royal Bridge took the main route into the temple. It was located at the south-western corner of the temple, over a bridge crossing the Tyropoeon Valley from Mount Zion to Mount Moriah. This led from the old City of David and the king's palace to the temple. This huge bridge was 15m (50ft) wide and 108m (354ft) long, with a series of arches, each 12.5m (41.5ft) wide. From the bridge would have been a tremendous view of the city and the Tyropoeon Valley lying 70m (225ft) below.
The Outer Courts
The Court of the Gentiles was 230m by 230m (750ft), with the inner sanctuary placed within it. It was open to the sky and paved with variegated marble. This court was open to everybody, Jew or Gentile, so the Gentiles could hear worship of Yahweh, and listen to the teaching of the Jewish rabbi's. It could easily hold 200,000 people at a time. Also around this court, were the sleeping apartments of the Levites when on duty. Jesus was angry to find that it was full of the markets of sacrificial animals and money changers (Jn 2:14, Mt 21:12, Lk 19:45), so he overturned their tables and cleared the court. He was upset because the Gentiles had been excluded from the temple. Surrounding the Court of the Gentiles were covered porches or colonnades, which were popular meeting places, benches were provided for religious and social discussions. The schools of the scribes met here. Jesus frequently taught people in these porches (Lk 19:47). This is also where the twelve-year-old Jesus would have been found debating with the scribes and teachers (Lk 2:46), and later being questioned by them (Mk 11:27).
The Royal Porch was one of the finest architectural features of the temple. It was on the site of Solomon's palace, originally built for the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt (1 Kg 7:8). There were four rows of marble pillars, each made out of a single block of stone 1.8m (6ft) in diameter, a total of 162 pillars. The central "nave" was 14m (45ft) wide, with pillars 30m (100ft) high, probably with high windows to let in the light. Each side were "aisles" 9m (30ft) wide, with pillars 15m (50ft) high and supporting an carved cedar roof. The outermost row of pillars was inserted into the outer wall of the temple complex.
From the eastern end of the top of this porch there was an almost vertical drop of 140m (450ft) into the Kidron Valley. Some have suggested that this was the location of "The pinnacle of the temple", where Satan tempted Jesus to throw himself down (Mt 4:5, Lk 4:9). Josephus wrote that the height was such that the valley bottom could not be seen and that if anyone looked down from here, he would be giddy.
Solomon's Porch (or portico) was a smaller version of the Royal Porch, only having two aisles with three rows of pillars. It was situated on the eastern side of the temple and contained the only remnant of the original temple built by Solomon. It became the meeting place of the early church (Acts 2:46, 5:12). It would have been here that Peter preached after healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:11), and where Jesus declared , "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:23)
The Sanctuary
The sanctuary was the inner part of the temple, into which only Jews were allowed. It was surrounded by a marble wall called the Soreg. It stood 1.4m (4.5ft) high, with trellis work and ornamental columns on top. Beyond this no Gentile was allowed. By each gate there were inscriptions in Greek and Latin saying that Gentiles were not to enter under threat of death. Several of these inscriptions have been found. Paul was accused of taking Gentiles beyond this place (Acts 21:28) and probably alludes to it as "the dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14). The inscription read: "No Gentile may enter within the railing around the sanctuary and within the enclosure. Whosoever should be caught will render himself liable to the death penalty which will inevitably follow". A flight of fourteen steps let up to the Chel, which was a Terrace 4.5m (15ft) wide surrounding the inner wall of the temple.
The sanctuary, or inner temple, consisted of three courts, each one higher than the other.
1. The Court of the Women
The first was the Court of the Women. This was open to all Jews, whether male or female, but the court got it name because this was the furthest into the sanctuary that women were allowed, except for making sacrifices. The court was 60m (200ft) square and was open to the air. In each corner there was another unroofed court 18m (60ft) square. In the north-west court the purified lepers washed before presenting themselves to the priests at the Nicanor Gate. In the north-east court the blemished priests, who were fit only for menial tasks, picked out worm eaten wood from the wood for the altar. The south-west court was used for the storage of oil and wine for drink offerings, and the south-east court was the Court of the Nazarites, where they cut their hair and cooked their peace offering
The remainder of the walls of the court of women was surrounded by a colonnade, except on the western side. Balconies were added later, on three sides of the court, so the women could see the ceremonies inside the Court of the Priests.
The eastern gate to the court of women was called The Beautiful Gate. This was the principle way into the sanctuary and was the most magnificent. From the Terrace, there were twelve easy steps up. The dazzling gate was made of richly ornamented Corinthian brass. The doors were so massive that the strength of twenty men was needed to open and close them. Each door was 18m (60ft) high. There were also two other gates into the Court of the Women from the terrace, one on the south side and one on the north side. It was by this gate that the lame man begged for alms and was healed through Peter (Acts 3:1)
The Treasury
Against the wall in this colonnade stood thirteen trumpet shaped chests, where contributions were made toward the upkeep of the temple. The chests were narrow at the mouth and wide at the bottom, so they looked like a trumpet. Coins could be thrown in, making a loud noise as they rolled around. Hence Jesus says not to sound a trumpet when giving alms (Mt 6:2). Each one was labelled for the different contributions:
The first nine were for the obligatory gifts. The first was for the half-shekel temple tax for the current year, and the second for last year’s temple tax. The third was for the money to buy the turtle doves used for the burnt offerings and sin offerings for women's purification after childbirth. For the sake of modesty, women gave the equivalent in money, then the offerings were all done together. Mary would have dropped her money in here for purification after the birth of Jesus (Lk 2:22-24). The fourth was for the offerings of young pigeons. The fifth, sixth and seventh were for contributions for wood, incense and golden vessels used in the temple. The eighth and ninth were for the money left over after buying the sin and trespass offerings. The tenth to thirteenth chests were for voluntary gifts, for the money left over after buying offerings of birds, the Nazarite vow, for cleansed lepers, and for voluntary offerings.
It was in the treasury that Jesus taught on the Feast of Tabernacles, saying
"I am the light of the world", and,
"If you knew me you would know my Father also" (Jn 8:20). He also sat opposite the treasury and watched the crowd giving, the rich in their abundance, and the poor widow, who put in her last two small coins - the widow's mite (Mk 12:41).
From the Court of the Women, there was access to two rooms under the Court of the Israelites, where the Levites kept the musical instruments used in worship.
2. The Court of Men or Court of Israelites
This was a narrow strip 5m (16.5ft) wide, separated from the Court of the Priests by two steps up and a low wall 0.5m (1.5ft) high, beyond which only the priests were allowed to pass.
There were fifteen curved steps rising from the Court of the Women to the Court of the Israelites. On these steps the Levites would sing the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120 - 134) at the Feast of Tabernacles. During the ordinary temple services, the priests sang and played from a low platform in the Court of the Priests. The Gate of Nicanor was the main entrance into the Court of Men, at the top of the steps. It was here that all things to be done "before the Lord" took place, including where a cleansed leper would present himself to the priests (Mk 1:44), offerings for the Purification of women, and the water of jealousy given to an unfaithful wife.
The Court of Men and the Court of the Priests together formed a large court 85.5m (280.5ft) by 62m (202.5ft), within which was the Holy House containing the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
3. The Court of the Priests or The Great Court
There were three gates on both the north and south side leading directly into the Court of the Priests from the terrace. Each were plated with silver and gold. Each door was 14m (45ft) high and 7m (22.5ft) wide.
On the south side was the Water Gate. During the Feast of Tabernacles, a pitcher of water was brought through this gate from the Pool of Siloam to be poured out on the last day of the feast. Above the water gate was a chamber (Abtinas) where the priests kept guard at night, which opened directly out to the Terrace. Also on the south side was the Gate of Firstlings, through which the firstlings to be offered were brought; and the Wood Gate, through which wood to be burned on the altar was brought.
On the north side were the Spark Gate, the Gate of Sacrifices and a gate called Beth Moked. Above the Spark Gate was another guard chamber for the priests, which also opened directly out on to the Terrace.
In the Court of the Priests were various chambers, but the exact location and use of each one cannot be determined for certain, so are not shown on the plan.
The Chamber of Phineas was on the right hand side of the Gate of Nicanor. It contained ninety-six receptacles for the priestly vestments. There was one receptacle for each of the four types of vestments, for each of the twenty-four courses of priesthood. The Chamber of Meat Offering was on the left hand side of the Gate of Nicanor. Here the high priest prepared his daily offering. Each morning, before dawn, the priests met here after inspecting the temple to be told their duties for that day.
The Gazith, or The Hall of Polished Stones, was probably situated at the south-eastern corner of the Great Court, where the Sanhedrin met, It was one of the two largest chambers in the Court of the Priests and may have extended out onto the Terrace. There was also the Golah, which contained the mechanical apparatus for filling and emptying the laver; as well as the Wood Chamber, where wood for altar fires was stored.
Above these chambers were the apartments of the High Priest and the council chamber of the priestly council for running the temple affairs.
The north side of the court was probably the location of several chambers, including the Salting Chamber, where sacrifices were salted; the Parvah, where skins were salted; and another large chamber called Beth-Moked. Above these were the bathrooms for the High Priest.
In the Great Court
Within the Great Court were situated the altar, the laver and the tables where the sacrifices were conducted.
The altar of burnt offering was a made of uncut stone, forming a square of 14.5m (48ft) and 4.5m (15ft) high. There was a circuit or ledge around it, 3m (9ft) up, so the priests could stand on it to reach the top of the altar. They always approached from the right and left from the left side, except the High Priest who left from the right. A slope led up to the circuit from the south. At each corner was a horn. The horn at the south-western corner had two openings, where the drink offerings and the water from Pool of Siloam at Feast of Tabernacles were poured. A red line around the altar indicated where blood from the sacrifices was to be sprinkled. Above the red line for sacrifices to be eaten, and below the red line for sacrifices to be totally burnt.
The animals were killed on eight marble tables situated north of the altar, which were equipped with all the necessary items to tie up the animals, hooks for hanging up the pieces of meat and a system for cleaning the tables and equipment. A heap of salt for salting the sacrifices was situated south of the altar.
The laver was situated between the altar and the temple porch, towards the south. It was a huge brass bowl, supported by twelve lions, where twelve priests could wash at once. There was machinery to fill the laver every morning and drain it in the evening. Water was brought to the temple along a 64 km (40 mile) aqueduct from the hills near Bethlehem and was stored in cisterns in the rock under the temple. Calculations suggest that up to 40 million litres (10 million gallons) of water could be stored there.
The Holy House
The Holy House, or sanctuary was the first part to be rebuilt by Herod, in 20 BC. It was built on huge foundations of solid blocks of polished white marble covered with gold. These measured 20m (67.5ft) by 3m (9ft). A flight of twelve steps led up from the Court of the Priests to the porch, which projected 9m (30 ft) beyond the rest of the building. The roof was made with cedar wood and covered with sharp golden spikes to prevent birds from dirtying it.
The front aspect of the porch was square, 45m wide and 45m high (150ft) and was covered with gold plates. The front face of the porch would have been a brilliant sight from the Mount of Olives. The sides of the porch extended 9m (30ft) beyond the walls of the Holy Place. Inside the porch, on both sides, was the storage place of the sacrificial knives, as well as special gifts such as the golden lampstand given by the queen of Adiabene and two golden crowns given by the Maccabees. There were also two tables, a marble one for the new shewbread and a gold one for the old shewbread, when it was removed from the Holy Place. The entrance of the porch had two gates. The outer gate had no doors and was twice the size of the second gate, being 32m (100ft) high and 11m (37.5ft) wide, the inner gate was later covered by a veil. The entrance to the Holy Place was by doors covered with gold and covered by a Babylonian curtain. Above was the symbol of Israel - a huge golden vine.
The Holy Place measured 18m (60ft) long and 9m (30ft) wide and contained the seven-branched lampstand on the southern side, the table of the Bread of the Presence on the northern side, and the Altar of Incense, by the entrance to the Holy of Holies.
Zechariah the priest was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary (the Holy Place) and offer incense to the Lord. This was a great occasion as he would be chosen only once in his life to burn the incense. An angel appeared to him and announced the birth of his son John (the Baptist) (Lk 1:8-20).
The Holy Place was separated from the Holy of Holies by two veils, 0.5m (1.5ft) apart, one attached to the northern side, and one attached to the southern side. They were made of blue and purple and crimson fabrics. For the priest to enter the Holy of Holies, he had to pass between the two curtains, from south to north. This was the veil torn in two from top to bottom at the time Jesus died on the cross (Mt 27:51, Mk 15:38).
The Holy of Holies
The Holy of Holies was a cube measuring 9m (30ft). It was the most holy place in the temple, only the High Priest was allowed to enter, and only on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16).
In Herod's temple, the Holy of Holies was empty, containing no ark of the covenant. In its place was a large stone slab onto which the High Priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement. In the original tabernacle and then in Solomon's temple, the Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant, with the glory of God between the cherubim above the mercy seat. However, there is no record of the glory of God ever returning to the temple after it departed before its destruction in 586 BC (Ezek 9). When Pompey conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC, he looked into the Holy of Holies and was amazed to find it was empty. The space above was an empty room, from where inspection could be made of the Holy of Holies to see if repairs were necessary.
On each side of the Holy of Holies there were side buildings three stories high, but lower than the Holy Place itself, each story containing five rooms, and eight rooms at the back. These were approached through small doors in either side of the porch.
Sources of information:
Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews (15,11,1-7), Wars of the Jews (5,5,1-8)
Edersheim: The Temple - its ministries and services as they were at the time of Christ.
Article on temple in: Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible.