Faith & Reason Nexus

Solomon’s Temple

• Built: 960 B.C.
• Destroyed:586 B.C.

Zerubbabel’s Temple

• Built: 536-516 B.C.
• Enlarged: 20 B.C. – A.D. 64

Herod’s Temple

• Built: 20 B.C. – A.D. 64
• Destroyed: 70 A.D.

Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.” – 1 Chronicles 28:10

Details About Herod’s Temple

1. Historical Significance – Israel’s third Temple witnessed the times of Jesus and the Apostles, coinciding with the establishment of the Church in Acts 2.

2. Architectural Grandeur – Commissioned by Herod, this architectural marvel featured opulent materials such as marble and gold, standing proudly for 90 years before its eventual demise by Roman General Titus in A.D. 70.

3. Divine Cleansing – Jesus, with a sense of purpose, cleansed the Temple not once but twice, as documented in John 3:22 and Matthew 21:12-16.

4. Strategic Location – The formidable Fortress of Antonia strategically occupied the northwest corner of the Temple area

5. Extended Construction Period – Over a span of forty-six years, the Temple’s construction unfolded, an endeavor noted in John 2:20.

6. Legal Realm within the Complex – The revered Sanhedrin Court found its meeting place within the expansive temple complex.

7. Symbolic Western Wall – The Western Wall, often called the “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem, held profound symbolism as part of the temple’s outer enclosure.