The Gate of Heaven: History and Symbolism of the Temple in Jerusalem

103 Pages·1991·5.51 MB·English

by  Margaret Barker

Alsboy M argarBeatr kanedr publisbhyeS dP CK: MargarBeatr ker
TheO ldeTre stament THE GATE
TheS urvivoafTl h emefsr omt he
AncieRnoty aClu litn S ectarJiuadna ism
OF HEAVEN
andE arlCyh ristianity
TheL osPtr ophet
TheB ooko fE noch TheH istoarnyd S ymbolism
andi tisn flueonncC eh ristianity
oft he
Templien J erusalem
:\
.\
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·
TURPUIBNR ARY
·;. DalTlhaeso loSegmiicanla ry
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
t TheH ouseo ft heL ord 5
A BrieHfi sto-ryA ncienTte mpleisn I sra-el
KingD avi-d TheR oc-k ConstructtihneTg e mpl-e
TheT emplaen di tCso ur-ts TheT emplIen ter-ior
TheF urnishionfgt sh eT emplCeo ur-t Sacrif-ices
TheP assov-erT heD ayo fA toneme-ntT heM usic
oft heT empl-e TheE ndo ft heT emple
2 TheG arden 57
Timea ndP lac-e TheG reaSte a- TheT emplaes
Eden- TheP lacoef J udgeme-ntT heK ingi n
Eden- TheS ourcoefL if-e TheE ternCaolv ena-nt
TheG ifotf R ai-n TheR iverosfP aradi-seT he
Treeo fL if-e Odesa ndH ymns
3 TheV eil 104
BetweeHne aveann dE art-h TheH istoorfyt he
Vei-l TheS ymbolisomft heV ei-l TheH igh
Prie-stP hilo's -LogSoosm eG nostiTce xt-s
TheE arlCyh ristWirain tin-gsB eyontdh eV eil
CONTENTS
4 TheT hrone 133
TheP resenocfet heL ord- TheA rk- The
Cherubi-m TheE nthroneme-nTth eG reat
Ligh-t Visioonfst heT hron-e Visioonfst heT hrone ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
int heA pocalyps-eTsh eM ysticVsi's ioonfst he
Thron-e TheF ierAyn gels
5 'BuIts raheald n oM ythology' 178
Bibliography 182
Indeoxf N amesa ndS ubjects 187 Ia m gratefausle ,v ert,ot hosweh om akem y writipnogs sibIl e.
should ltiok teh ankt hes tafaft theU niversiLtiyb rary,
Indeoxf P rimarSyo urces 191 Nottinghawmh,e reI do theg reatpearr to fm y work,a ndt he
frienwdhso h elipn s om anyw aysD:r E rnstB ammela ndR obert
MurraSyJ f orh ospitalaintdty h el oano fm ateriaflrso mt heir
owns helveDsr,S ebastiBarno cfko ra llowimneg t ou ses omeo f
hist ranslatoifoS nts E phrema,n d Dr GeorgeB ebawif rom
whom I havel earnstom ucha boutth eC optiCch urchI.ti st o
himt haIts houlldi kteo d edicatthei bso ok.
MargarBeatr ker
Whitsu1n,9 90
ix
INTRODUCTION
Foro vera thousanyde artsh erwea sa temploef t heL ordi n
Jerusalwehmi chd ominatbeodt ht hec itayn di tpse oplEev.e n
aftetrh eR omand estructiinAo Dn 7 0,i tc ontinuteodi nfluence
thet ho\,lghatn dl iteraotfut rheeJ ewsC.h ristiawnaistb yo rna
fewy earbse fotrhee d estructainodtn h,e f irJsetw isChh ristians,
whow rotmeo sto ft heN ew Testamewnetr,es teepiendi twsa ys.
TheF ourtGho spetlh,e L ettetrot heH ebrewasn dR evelation
werea ldli recitnlsyp irbeydt hew orlodf t het empl.e
.B utw hatw as thiwso rldI?t i se xtraordiyn dairfiflictuol t
reconsttrhuect th eolotghyer, e asonitnhgem, y tholowghya,t ever
itw asw hichg avem eanintgo t haptl acoef w orshiTph.e ries a
reasonaabmloeu notf c ontemporeavriyd enfcoerw hati tl ooked
likaen dw hath appenetdo i ta tv arioutsi mesI.n structions
surviavbeo utth es acrifaincder si tuaalbso,u tth er ightdsu,t ies
andr evenuoefst hep riesatbso,u tth ew orko fb uildianngd
rebuildainndsg o f ortbhu,tt heriesv eryl itatbloeu tth em eaning
oft hiwsh olgei gantsiycs teomfw orshiwph icwha st heh earotf
pre-ChrisJtuidaani sm. Everwyrtihtitanebgn o utth em eaninog f
thet emplhea st ob ed erivferdo ms econadn dt hirhda nda ndw e
havet os iftth es urvivilnigt eratbuorteh,b iblicaanld n on­
biblicfaolra, n ythiwnhgi chm ighbte a na llusiooran m emory.
Theraer ee normoupsr oblemfso ra nyonaet tempttionw gr ite
aboutth et emplaen dI a m onlyt oow elalw areo ft hemT.h ere
aref ewc ertainatnidem sa nyp ossibilities.
I shalble giwni tha brieafc counotf t hee xternalosft he
templteh:e s tructiutrsee hlofw,i tw asb uilatn dr ebuihlotw,i t
wasf urnishheodw,t hes ervicweesr ec onductSeodm.e o ft his
materiwaolu lbde f ounidn a nys tandatrrde atmeonftt h et emple
buts omew ouldn ota ndI t houghitti mportatnhta atn a ccount
oft het emplseh oulpdr eceadney r econstrucotfti hoenm sy this t
1
2 THEG ATEO F HEAVEN INTRODUCTIO3N
expressTehdi.ss e ctiiosin n n ow ayc omprehensbiuvtie n tended templteh,e g reamta joriotfyt het extuss eda reo fJ ewisho r
simplaysa f ramoef r eferetnocl ei nfke aturoefts h em ythtso t he Christoiraing iTnh.e ries a whole asopfet cetm ple swthuidcy h
actuablu ildinTghse. t emplwea s a placweh eret heL ord seektso s ett hea ncietnetm plien t heb roadecro nteoxftt he
appearead g,a rdesna nctuatrhyep, l acoeft hed ivitnher onteh,e ancieNneta r Eaassta wholeb,u tt hiiss a verys peculative
greabtr onzsee at,h ef oundatrioocnak n dt hea ltars. Saicsr ifice busineasnsd o new hichc anl eatdo f oreiigdne abse inugs eda s
mentionientd h eb roadeosutt lisniem plbye cauasney a ccouonft theb asis fors tudyitnhget emple, rtahtahnae sra ni nteresting
thet emplweh icho mittetdh issi gnififceaanttu wroeu ld be sideliugphotni tI.h avet rietdoa voitdh idsa ngeorf i mposing
distortIe mda.k en o attempttoi nterparneyto ft hes acrifices, ideaksn ownt ob ef oreiugpno nt extksn ownt ob eJ ewisho r
exceptth osoef t heD ayo fA tonemensti,n cteh ihsa sb eend one Christian.
inc ountlbeososk asl readNyo.rh aveI d ealwti tht hem anifold Allt heb ibliqcuaolt atiaornefrs o m theR SV,a versiwohni ch
complicatoifot nhsel essoerrd erosft hep riesthsoiondc teh ese, hask epmtu cho ft het empltee rminolOongeyo .f t hep roblems
tooh,a veb eena mplyc overeelds ewhere. withm anym odertnr anslatoifot nhseB ibliest hatth estee rms
My mainc oncerinsw itha specotfst het emplmey thology haveb eenm odernizeodr e venw rittoeunt i nt hei ntereosft
whicha rel eswse lkln owna ndI s halrle constrtuhcetml argely simplificaTthiuostn h.e t emple sehtatsib nege no bscureidn
frome xtra-bibtleixctaasll, s ol eswse llk nown,t os howt he manyc aseasn dt her eadecru to fffr omt het heologciocnatle oxft
extenttow hicha wide raonfgt eh emeasn di magerhya dt heir theo riginTahle.m eaninign s uchc asesf,a rf rom being made
commonr ooitn t het empl'eF.i rtshte,r wei lble e videnfcoert he cleahra,s b eenl ost.
templaes a placoef c reatiaonndr enewatlh;e steh emecse ntre
upont heg ardeonf E den,w hicht het emplwea s builtto
represeSnetc.o ntdh,e rwei lble e videnfcoert het emplaesa p lace
ofm ediatiaonnda tonemetnhte,m eass sociawtietdht hev eiolf
the temple swyhmibcohl itzheedb oundabreyt weetnh em aterial
ands piritwuoarll dTsh.i rdt,h erwei lble e videnfcoetr het emple
as thep lacweh eres omec ouldp assb eyondt hev eialn d
experietnhceve i sioofnG od,s eeiinng ttoh ee ssenocfea ltlh ings
pastp,r eseanntd f uturTeh.e swe eret hev isioonfst hed ivine
thronweh icahr eb esktn ownf romt heR evelatoifoS ntJ ohn.I n
eachc aseI shalgli voen eo rt woe xamplteoss howh ow these
ideapsa ssefdi risntt eoa rlCyh ristian tahnodut ghhetin n ttoh e
imageroyf m anyw ell-knohwynm ns.O neo ft hem oste xtra­
ordinary asopfe tcetmsp le mythoilsot ghya tf,o ra llt he
remotenoesfis t osr igiintsp ,r ovetsob ev erfya miliar.
A smalwlo rks ucha st hicsa nnobte c omprehensiinvdee;e d,
anyd etailsetdu doyf t het emplweo uldr equisreev erlaalr ge
volumeasn,d t hiissn ott hep urposIhe a di nm indw hen writing.
Ih opeo nltyh atth ibso okm ighste rvaes a ni ntroducttoia onn
importasnutb jebcyt revealitnhger ootosf m uch Christian
imagerIy h.a vew orkeddi recfrtolmy ancietnetx twsh ichd eal
witht het emplaen da lpla ssagaerseq uoteidnf ulsli ncIek now
howd ifficiutcl atnb et of incdo pieosfs omeo ft hem.
Sincmey conceirsnw itJhe wisahn dC hristaicaconu ntosft he
;1.:
CHAPTERO NE
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
A BrieHfi story
Therhea veb eent hretee mploefst heL ordi nJ erusaltehmef; i rst
wasb uilbty S olomoinn t hem iddloef t het entche nturBey ( 1
King5s- 82;C hron3.- 4)an dd estroybeytd h eB abyloniiann s
58B5e (2K ing2s 5.8-1t7h)es; e conwda sb uilbty thee xiles
whent herye turnfreodm Babylo(nE zr3a. 8-1a3n)dd edicated
in5 15Be (Ezr6a. 16-1T8h)e'. t hiwrads't het empleen larged
andl argerleyb uiblytH erotdh eG reaitn 2 0B e.T hroughoiutts
longh istotrhye t emplwea st hes cenoef v iolenacned c onflict
becaustee mplweesr ea sm ucha statemeonfpt o litisctaalt auss
they weervei denocfep iettyh;e p owero ft hen ationg'osda nd
kinwga sr eflecitnte hde s plendooufhr i sc ulatn di nt hes uccess
ofh isp eoplCeo.n versetlhyed, e feoafta peoplwea sa sigtnh at
theg odh adb eend isgracaenddh iss anctuadreys ecrated.
Thef irstte mplwea sa partof t hep alacceo mplebxu ilbty
Solomoann df orf ourc enturitehse kiinngJ se rusalweemr e
centrtaoli tcsu ltT.h ew ickedneosfts h ek ingwsa sb lamed for
itdso wnfa(l lK2 i ng2s 4.-34 )o,rs oo neo ft heh istortieelsul ss.
Suchs weepijnugd gemenotnst hek inghsa vec olourmeods to f
thes urviving evfiodrte hnefic res tte mplaen dt hihsa sa lmost
certaidnilsyt orttheedd e scriptniooton nsl oyf t hew orshiopft he
templbeu te veno ft heb uildiintgs ealnfd i tfsu rnishisnignsc,e
no parto f thea ncient tewmapsl teh eologicnaelultyr al.
Everyth-inbgu ildinfgusr,n ishings, liturgies, sacrifices, vest­
mentsc,a lend-are verythiwnags integratbeudt,w hati t
expressweed c ano nlgyu ess.
Two kingosf J udahr eformaendd p urifitehdet emplbeu,t i n
each ctasheem otivewse rep olitiHceazle.k i(ah7 15-6'8d7id)
5
1!.
,• .
·f�
6 THE GATE OF HEAVEN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD 7
whatw asr ighitn t hee yeso ft heL orda'n dr emovesdi gnosf increaesneodr moustlhyep owera ndi nflueonfct eh eJ erusalem
pagawno rshitph:eh igphl acetsh,ep illaarnsdt heA sherathh,e templbeu,t i ta ngertehde p riesotfts h er uraslh rineEvse.r ything
symboolf a goddesHse. a lsdoe stroyae bdr onzsee rpe'nfto r associawtietdh f oreign wowrasshd ieps troyed, intchleu ding
untitlh osdea yst hep eoploefI sraheald b urneidn centsoei t('2 priesatnsd t emplpee rsonn(e2Kl i ng2s3 ). H orsedse dicatteod
King1s8 .4W)e. a ren ott oltdh atth es erpewnats i nt het emple thes una ndr ooftaolpt awresr er emovefdr omt het empliet self,
butt hiiss u sualalsys umeHdi.s r eformatwiaosnn ots implayn andt hew holper ocecsusl minaitenad g reaPta ssovfeera stth e
acto fp ieteyv ent hougthh aits h ow iti sd epictIetdw .a st he likoefw hichha dn otb eens ee'ns intcheed ayso ft hej udgewsh o
king'wsa y ofa sserthiinsgi ndependefnrcoem t he Assyrians judgeIds rae(l2K' i ng2s3 .22S)u.c ha loyasle rvaonftt heL ord
(2K ing1s8 .7T)h.e p resenocfef oreicgunl otb jecwtass ,i nt he shoulhda vep rosperbeudtJ, o siadhi efdi ghtPihnagr aoNhe coa t
anciewnotr lda, w ay ofa cknowledgainn ogv erloarndd,t he Megidd(o2 K ings2 3.29T)h.e f atoef J osiaphr omptemdu ch
purificaotfti hoent emplwea sa na cto fr ebell(iAol no.n gearn d soul-searcwhhiynh ga;d s og reaatn dz ealoau rse formoefrt he
muchm oree laborate aocfct ohuern etf ornmo,ta bovseu spicion templbee enc utd owna tt heh ando fa foreigner?
ofh avinbge ene xaggeraitnoe rdd etro e mphasitzheeg lorayn d Thes agewsh o promulgattehdet eachinogfDs e uteronomy,
puritofyt het emplies,f ounidn 2 Chron2.9 -30)T.h isr eform withi tsv eryp uritanwiacyaslh, a da veryc leavri ewo fw hat
toopkl acient het imoef I saiawhh oh adp romistehda tth eL ord Israerle'lsi ghiaodnb eena nds houlbde .I ti sq uitlei ketlhya t
wouldd efenhdi sc ity':F o.rIw ildle fentdh icsi ttyo s avei tf,o r theihre irtsh,e s o-calDleeudt eronomiwsetrser, e sponsifbolre
my owns akaen df ort hes akeof m y servaDnatv id('I sa3.7 .35; thes uppressoifmo ann yo fI sraemly'tsh asn dt her oyaild eology
cfI.s a1.0 .13-1194;. 24-7S)e.n nachertihbek, i nogf A ssyria, associawtietdht hemS.i ncteh ewyr otoen eo ft het wos urviving
invadeJdu daha ndb egant od evastatthee r ebekli ngdom. accounotfst hem onarchayn dt het empl(e1a nd2 S amuealn d1
Hezekiarhe'sso lwvaev eread h,u geq uantiotfyg oladn ds ilver and2 Kingst,h eD euteronoHmiisct orwye)h avea lwaytsob ear
wasp aidf romt het emplter easuarnyd g olwda se vens tripped theirre formiznegai ln m indw henr eaditnhge stee xtTsh.e yd id
fromi tsd oorsT.h eA ssyriaarnm yr eachetdh ev eryw allosf notf latttheerk ingasn dt hewye rer eticaebnotu cte rtaaisnp ects
Jerusalaenmdt he'n thaen geolf t heL ordw entf ortahn ds lewa oft het emplea,s we shalsle eT.h eivri ewh asc omet ob e
hundreadn de ighftiyv teh ousainndt hec ampo ft heA ssyrians' acceptaesdt hev iewo fw hath appeneadn,dw hatt hecyh osneo t
(2K ing1s 9.35T)h.ee nemyr eturnheodm e,a ndt hep eoploef tor ecoridst houghnte vetro h avee xisteBdu.tt heraer eo ther
Jerusalweemr ec ontetnotb elietvhea tth ep resencteh eto efm ple sourcwehsi chg ivae significdainftfleyr veinetwo fS olomon's
hads avetdh ema ndw ouldc ontintuoed o so.J eremi7a hi sa templaen di tcsu latn,d i ti st ot hesteh awte m ustt urinf w e are
laterre spontsoet hiosv erconfidientn hcete e mplTeh.e p resence tocal l upt hea ncieknitn gTsh.e p ropheatnsd t hep salmasr e full
oft het emplaen di tcsu lsta,i tdh ep rophewta,sn os ubstitfuotre ofc olourifmualg erwyh icmha yo nceh aveb eenm oret hanm ere
real devtoott ihoeLn o rd. imagerMya.n y latetre xtasr et houghtto b e bizargrreo wths
Theo ther refwoarsmJ eors ia(h6 40-60w9h)os ucceeded his upont hep uriotfyt heo ldr eligwihoenn i nf actth eayr em emories
assassinfaattehdae nrd i nherittheecd o smopoliptraons peroift y oft heo ldewra ysa s theyr eallhya d been.M any oft he
hisg randfather MaDnuarsisneMgha .n assehf'isf ty-yfeiavraess 'innovatoifoC nhsr'i stbiealni weefr ei nf acatn ciewnaty sw hich
king( 687-64h2e)h adp ermittmeadn yt hingisnh isk ingdom hadt akeonn a news ignificwaintchte h el ifaen dd eatohf J esus.
whicwhe rer egardaesdp aga(n 2K ing2s1 .1-9H)i.sg randson, TheD euteronomwiesrtefs e rvemnotn otheiwshtisc,hh a sl edu s
influenwceea dr,e t oldb,yt her ediscoovfea rnya ncielnatw book tob elietvhea t all thTee stOalmde ndte scribae sst rictly
(possiab plarty ofD euterono2m yK;i ng2s2 .8-13s)e,ta bout monotheirsetliicg iTohne.ya lssoa itdh aGto dc oulndo tb es een,
implem�nttihnerg e quiremeonftt hsa lta wH.i sm ostf ar-reaching onlhye ardT.h erwee reh,o wevearn,c ietnrta ditiwohnisc sha id
reforwma s thea bolitioofan l lp laceosf sacrifoiuctes ide .o therwiisnee a chc aset;h erwea s,a sw e shalsle ea, b eliienfa
Jerusaleimn,a ccordanwciet hD eut1.2 .5-7T.h ec ulwta s seconddi vibneei nwgh oc oulhda vheu manf orma ndt hibse came
centralainzdet dh erefore madteo c eoanstireTorhl i.ms u sth ave theb asiosf C hristianity.
J:S.
8 THE GATE OF HEAVEN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD 9
Itw asf undamenttoat lh et eachionftg h eD euteronomtihsatts withitnh et emplaer eaT.h eraer em oreovewro nderfaunld
puritoyfw orshiwpa sr ewardebdyt heL ordw itha lonlgi foef indescribcaibsltee runnsd ergrouansdt ,h eyp ointeodu tt o
8).
prosperiintt yh ep romiselda nd( Deut. When Jerusalem me,a ta distanocfef ivfeu rlonaglsla rountdh es itoef t he
wasa ttackaendd d efeatbeyd t heB abyloniiann 5s 9s7c ,t he templea,n de acho ft hemh asc ountlepsisp esso t hatt he
questiobnesc amee venm oreu rgenItt.w asd ecidetdh atth e differsetnrte acmosn vertgoeg eth.e.r.T heyl edm e moret han
destructoifto hne c itayn dt het emplwea sa punishmefnrto m foufru rlonogust sitdheec itayn db adem e peedro wnt oward
(2 24.3-4),
theL ordf ort hes inosf M anasseh Kings whose a certasipno ta ndl istteont hen oisteh awta sm adeb yt he
wickednheassdb eens og reatth aetv etnh eg oodd eedosf J osiah meetinogft hew atersso,t hatth eg reasti zoef t her eservoirs
coulndo tr emovteh eg uilTth.e B abyloniaarnm yr eturniend becammea nifetsotm e ash asa lreabdeye np ointoeudt .
586t;h et emplwea sd estroyaendda lilt tsr easuwreerset aketno (LettoefAr r iste8a3s8, 8- 91)
Babyloanss poiolfsw ar.M anyo ft hep eoplwee nti nteox ile.
In5 38 CByCr uso rderetdh atth ee xileJde wsb ea llowetdo The tempwlaes pillagbeyd t heS yrianssh ortalfyt etrh is;
Heliodortuhsea, g enotf A ntiochEupsi phanweass s entto t ake
returnf romB abylotna,k iwnigt ht hemt het emplvee ssewlhsi ch
thet reasubruet,a sh ea ttemptteode ntetrh et reasuhreyw as
Nebuchadnezhzaadtr a ketno B abyloann dp laceidnt het emple
17.-11.) strucdko wnb y a heavenhloyr sema'nF;o trh eraep pearteod
ther(eE zra Theifri rasctt w ast or ebuitlhde a ltaorf
thema magnificenctalpya risonheodr sew,i tha rideorf
burnotf ferainndgt oc elebrtahteae u tumFne asotf T abernacles
3.2-6). frightenmiinegn ,an di tr ushed furiaotuH sellyi odoraunsd
(Ezra Int hef ollowiynega rt hebye garne buildtihneg (2 3.25).
4.-15). strucakt h im withh isf ront hooveMsa'c e.· The
templbeu,t w erefr ustratbeydl ocaolp posit(iEoznr a
unfortunaagteen wta s lucktyo e scapwei thh isl ifaen,d t he
Eventualtlhye irri ghtto b uilwda s confirmaendd t hek ing treasuwraes s affeo ra whileT.h eni n1 69B et hek ingh imself
ordertehda tth ec osotf r ebuildbienm egt fr om ther oyarle venues
(Ezr6a. -112)T.h e templwea s finalcloym pletiend5 1B5e visittehdet empleen,t ertehde sanctaunadtr oyo akw aya ltlh e
6.16-18). templter easurHees e.v ens tripptehdeg olfdr omt hef ronotft he
(Ezra No descriptoifto hni tse mplseu rvivienst he (1 12.0-4).
templeM ace. Twoy earlsa tehreo rdertehde t emple
OldT estameenvte nt hougthh eraer el isotfsp riesltesv,i taensd
2.36-54), tob e desecraatneddm adei ntao temploef O lympiaZne us
templsee rvanwthso r eturne(dE zra and recoorfd s (2 6.1-6).
7.-1210); Mace. Offeriinngt sh es anctuacreya seadn,d a pagan
thep rovisiomnasd e fors acrifi(cEezsr a Neh.
10.32-9). altawra se rectoendt hea ltaorfb urnotf feriinngt sh et emple
Iti sn otu ntitlh eb eginnionfgt hes econdc entury cour(t1 M ace1.5 .4)I.n1 64B C JudaMsa ccaberuesc aptutrheed
Bet hatth eriesa nyr ecorodft het emplea'psp earanAcrei.s teas, (1 4.36-59).
templaen di tw asr econsecratMeadc e.
a visittooPr a lestfrionme Egyptl,e fat t ourisatc'cso unotfi ts Pompeyb esiegJeedr usalien6m 3B e anda ftetrh remeo nths
marvels:
het ootkh et emploen t heD ayo fA tonemenTth.ep riesctasr ried
When we arriviendt hel ando ft heJ ewsw e sawt hec ity onw itht her iteevse na st heR omansb ursitn :
situatientd h em iddloef t hew holoef J udaeoan t het opo fa
Jusats i ft hec ithya db eenw rapitn p rofoupneda cet,h ed aily
mountaionfc onsideraalbtliet uOdne t.h es ummitth et emple
sacrifitcheees x,p iatiaonndsa llt hec eremonioefws o rship
hadb eenb uilwti tha lli tssp lendoIutrw .a ss urroundbeyd
weres crupuloupselryf ormteodt heh onouorf G od.A tt he
threwea llmso ret hans evenctuyb ithsi gh. .T h.e t emple
verhyo urw hent het emplwea st akenw,h ent hewye reb eing
faceesa satn di tbsa cki st owardtsh ew estT.h ew holoef t he
massacraebdo utt hea ltatrh,e yn evedre sistferdo mt he
flooirsp avewdi ths toneasn,d s lopedso wnt ot hea ppointed religiroiutsef osr t hed ay(.J osephJuesw,i sWha r,1 1.48)
placetsh,a wta temra yb ec onveyteodw asha wayt heb lood
from thes acrififcoemrs a,n yt housanodfbs e astasr es acrificed Thev ictors etnhteenr tehde h olyo fh olie'sA:n dn otl ighwta s
theroen t hef easdta ysA.n dt heriesa ni nexhaustsiubplpel y thes inc ommittaegda intshtes anctuary, bwehfiocrtheh atti me
ofw aterb,e cauasena bundannta tursaplr inggu sheusp f rom hadn evebre ene nteroerds eenF.o rP ompeya ndn ota fewo fh is
10 THE GATE OF HEAVEN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD 11
menw enti ntiota nds aww hati tw asu nlawffuolra nyb utt he adaptesdoa st ob ep ortabalnedt hed escriptcani ontsh erefore
highp riesttoss e e('J osephAunst, iquiXtIiV.e7 s1,- 2P)o.m pey beu sedt os upplemetnhto soef t het emple.
didn ott akaen ythifnrgo mt het emplaen,d t hef ollowdianygh e Finaltlhye,r iest hel argeasntd m ostc ontroverosfai latllh e
orderetdh att het emplbee cleansaendd t hes acrifirciitaels DeadS eaS croltlhseT, e mplSec rolTlh.i st exwta sw rittteonb e
resumed. a sixtbho oko fM osesf,o rminag l ogicsaelq uetloD euteronomy
Herodt heG reabte gaenn largainndgr ebuildtihnetg e mplien andd t;:scribhionwgt het emplwea st ob eb uilotn ceI sraheald
20B C;J osephduess cribiettd h us: reachtehde p romisleadn d.
Despitthei wse altohfi nformatiitio snv ,e rdyi ffictuokl nto w
Hep reparae tdh ousawnadg gontso c arrtyh es tonesse,l ected
exactlwyh ata nyo f thesbeu ildinwgass likea,n d,m ore
tent housaonfdt hem osts killweodr kmenp,u rchasperdi estly
importaenxta,c twlhya tw ento ni nt hemT.h isi sb ecausneo ne
robefso ra thousanpdr iesatnsd t rainseodm ea sm asons,
oft hed escriptiisoa nnse n tiroebljye ctaicvceo unTth.e t emple
otherassc arpentaenrdsb egatnh eco nstructoinolnay f tearl l
was a causoef co ntroverfrsoym thev erys tarNta.t hant he
thesper eparathiaodnb se enm adeb yh im.A fterre movitnhge
prophewta sd ubiouasb ouhta vinag t emplaet a ll( 2S am.7 ).
oldf oundatihoeln as iddo wno thearnsd u pont heshee e rected
TheT hirIds aiaqhue stiotnheedv aluoefa nyt empl(eI sa6.6 .1).
thet emplweh ichw asa hundrecdu bitisnl engt.h .a .n d
Thew ritoefr1 E nocht hougthhta tth ec ulotf t hes econd temple
twentmyo rei nh eighbtu,ti nt heco urseo ft imteh idsr opped
wasi mpure':A ndt heyb egaang aitno b uilads b efor.e. .a nd
ast hef oundatisounbss id.e.d. t het emplwea sb uilotfh ard
thebye gatno p lacber eaodn a tablbee fotrhee t owerb,u ta ltlh e
whitset oneesa cho fw hichw asa bouttw enty-fciuvbei tisn
breaodn itw asp ollutaendd n otp ure('1 E noch8 9.7T3h)e.
lengtehi,g hitnh eighatn dt welvienw idth.
returneedx ilweesr ea lscoa ll'eadan p ostagteen erat(io1En n'o ch
...t hee ntrandcoeo rsw,h ichw itht heilri ntewlesr ee qual
90.9I)t.i sh ardlsyu rprisithnagt moosft t hes urviving
inh eighttot het empliet sehlefa ,d ornewdi thm ulticoloured
descriptrieofnlset chtt;:c ontroverisniw ehsi cht hew ritewra s
hanginwgist hp urplceo louarnsd w ithi nwovedne signosf
involvTehdu.s a,s w es halsle et,h ea ccouonftS olomont'esm ple
pillaArbso.v et hese, utnhdece orr nice, sap groeladde n vine
in1 Kingst,h ougthh em ostd etailheads,s everianlt eresting
withg rape clusters frhoamni gtai nmga rveolf s izaen d
silenwcheisc lhe aodn et os upposteh atth ea uthohra sl efsto me
artisttora yl wlh os aww ithw hatc ostlinoefms ast eriiathl a d
thingusn saiTdh.e a coounti n2 C hronicilnecsl udseisg nificant
beenc onstrucAtnedd h.e s urroundtehdet emplwei thv ery
detaniolti nt he1 K ingasc counTth.ea ccouinntE zekiiesil n t he
largpeo rticoaelslo, f w hichh e madei np roporttioot nh e
formo fa visioofnt her estorteedm plaen,d r aistehse q uestion:
templaen,d h es urpassheidsp redecesisnos rpse ndimnogn ey
'WasE zekideels cribsionmge thihnegk new,o rs omethihneg
sot haittw ast hougthhta nto o nee lshea da dornetdh et emple
envisagfeodrt hef uturWea?s' ita na ctuaolra ni deatle mple?
sos plendiTdhleyt .e mpliet sewlafs b uilbty t hep riesitnsa
Thed escriptoifot nhsed esertta bernaicnlE ex oduasr ec learly
yeaarn ds ixm onthasn da ltlh ep eoplwee ref illweidt jh oya nd
meantto shtohwa tth et emplienJ erusalweams m odelloendt he
offertehda nktsoG od. .A n.d i ti ss aitdh adtu rintgh et ime
earlideers ersth rinbeu,t i ti sg eneraalglrye etdh atth ed esert
whent het emplwea sb einbgu ilnto,r aifne ldlu rintgh ed ay
tabernacwlaes an idealirzeetdr ojectoifot nh el atetre mple,
buto nlya tn ights,ot hatth erwea sn o interrupotfit ohne
designpeedr haptsol egitimtahtete e mplbey r ootiintig n I srael's
work(.A ntiquXiVt.i3 e9s0,- 13;9 4-64;2 14;2 5)
mosta nciepnats tT.h isi ni tseslufg gestthsa tth erwea sa need
Ina ddititootn h esdee scriptoifot nhset emplteh,e raer et wo toj ustitfyh ef ormo ft het emplIef.w e couldd atteh em ateriianl
passagiensE xodu(sc hapt2e5rs- 3a1n d3 6-40w)hi cdhe scribe Exodusw,e s houlbde a blteo k noww hicthe mplteh e' tabernacle'
thed f;setratb ernaTchliees.l abortaetnewt a st hes hrinuese db y wasd escribiInfig tw. a st hef irst teimtcp oluel,bd e v aluable
theI sraeliintt ehse idre serwatn derinTghse.f urnishiwnegrse , additioinnaflo rmattioos nu pplemetnhtea ccounitn1 Kings,
ing eneraal m,i niatuvreer sioofnt hef urnishionftg hse t emple andh elfpo rmulastoem eq uestioanbso utth iasc counitfi; tw as
12 THE GATE OF HEAVEN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD 13
thes econtde mplseo,m ee qually interestinagr iqsTuehe.es tions fore verr,e vealtiont gh emt heh idden thiinwn hgisc ha lIls rael
TempleS croliln,g ivinign structfioornb su ildian gt emple hadg one astHreau yn.f oldbeedf otrhe emh ish olsya bbaths and
differfreonmt a nyo thekrn own temple, tihmapttlh ieee xsi sting hisg lorious f�ehaets etsst,i monoifhe issr ighteousannedst sh e
templbee,c ausietw asi ncorreccotnlsyt rucwtaesdn ,o tc apable wayso fh ist rut(hC'D I IIT)h.e d etaiolfas l tlh esceo ntroversies
off ulfililtissna gc rerdo le. arel oswte;c ano nlgyu esast t hes ignificoaftn hceae r chitecture,
Constacnotn troveirnsdyi cattheastt h et emplwea si ffiportant; thep lacoeft hec alendaanrd t her oloef t hep riests.
thed etaiolfts h osceo ntroversshioewws h att het emplmee antto Thet emplgee neratsetdro nfge elifnogrms a nyc enturies. From
thosien volvientd h ed isputTehsu.sw es eet hatth ea ctusahla pe thet imoef t her estoraitnit ohnes ixtche ntuarcyt ot het imeo f
oft het emplwea s vitaela;c ha specotf t heb uildianngd i ts StJohn'Rse velattihoent ,e mplienJ erusalweams c allae hda rlot
decoratwiaosns ignificEaznetk.i evli'ssi o(nE zek4.0 -48a)n d byt hosweh oh adr easotnoq uarrweilt ht hep riesthoofot dh e
theT emplSec roglilv dee tailsepde cificaftoirto hnebs u ildings. dayT.h eT hirIds aicaohn demnetdh osweh oco ulda ccepPte rsian
Thep uriotfyt hep riesthwoaosdv itaZle;c harihaahda visioofn moneyf ort her ebuildoiftn hge t emplweh ilsetx cludisnogm eo.f
theL ordp urifyintgh eh ighp riesfto rh isn ew dutieisn t he thei ndigenwoourss hippoefrt sh eL ordb ecautshee hya db ecome
restored templ3e .1(-Ze1c0Gh)e.n. e alogwieerser ecordteod technicuanlcllye an: 'aU hpiognha ndl oftmyo untaiyno uh ave
ensurteh at ftahmei llyi nwea sp ure( Neh1.2 .1-2N6e)g.l igent sety ourb eda,n dt hithyeoruw entu pt oo ffesra crif.i.c.fe o r,
prieswtesr ec ondemne(dM al2.. 1-9T)h.o sweh ot olerattheed desertmien,gy ouh aveu ncoveryeodu rb edy,o uh aveg oneu pt o
newG reewka ysi nt hes econcde ntuarcy w erec urse'.d .:.t here ity,o uh avem adei tw ide('I sa5.7 .-78 ).
was sucha n extremoef H ellenisaatnido inn creaisnet he Similatrhlefy i rCshtr istikanneswa templweh ichha db ecome
adoptioofnf oreiwgany sb ecausoeft hes urpasswiincgk edness a markeptl acaen dw heret hep rieshtasd b eenp uppetosft he
ofJ asownh o wasu ngodlayn dn oH ighP ries(t2M' a ce.4 .13). Romansh,a dc rucifiJeeds uasn dc ausetdh ed eatohf m anyo f
Thev illaoiftn h eD eadS eaS crolwlass t he' WickePdr iestth'e, hisf ollowe'rCso:m Iew ill syhoouwt hej udgemeonftt heg reat
'SpoutoefrL iesw'h o' becamper ouda,n dh ef orsoGookd a nd harlwohto i ss eateudp onm anyw ater.s. .d runwki tht heb lood
betraytehdep recepftosrt hes akeo fr ich.e s. a n.d h el iveidn oft hes aintansd w itht heb looodf t hem artyrosfJ esus('R ev.
thew ayso fa bominatiaomnisd setv eruyn cleadne filement' 17.1,6 ).
(CommentaornyH abakkuQkp,H abV IIIT)h.e c alendwahri ch Despistuec hi nvecttihveet ,e mplwea sc entrtaotl h eh opeosf
determintehded ateosf t heg reafte stivwaalssi mportaan t; eveni tfsi erccersitt iTchsi.ps o weorf t het emplmeu sth aveb een
festipvearlf ormoendt hew rongd ayw asn otv aliad r,i tunaolt rooteidn i tsr emotepsats ti,n t het imeb eforietb ecamet he
effectAi vseu.b stantsieaclt ioofnt heB ooko fE nochd escribes subjeocfts uchb ittceorn troveWrhsayt.g ripptehd em indsa nd
howt hea ngeUlr ierle vealtehdet ruoer derionftg h eh eaventso heartosfa lsli deisnt hesdei sputweass n ott hea ctutaelm plien
theS eerT.h osew hoh adi ntroduac ende wc alendhaard a cted Jerusalbeumt,t hei deatlh,e m emoryo fa temple whwiacsh
contratroyt hed ivinoer deirn c reatiTohne.s easonwso uldg o centrtaotl h eh eritaogfIe s raeIlti. st hiisd eatlh,i vsi siaotnt he
astraayn dt hec rops wonuoltdg row: 'Ainntd h ed ayso ft he hearotf t hea nciecnutl wth ichh asb eenl osHto.w sucha thing
sinnetrhsey earssh albles hortenaenddt hem oons halall tehre r coulhda veh appeneids i,n i tsealnf i,m portaqnute stiTohn.e
ordearn dn ota ppeaarth ert ime('1E noch8 0.42),T. h eB ooko f shadowosf t het emplfea lalc rostsh ew ritinogfst hep rophets
Jubileae rse,w riting of inGt ehnese esciosnc de ntuarcy,w arned andt hep salmsa,n df romt heswee havet og uestsh eb eliefs
ofa timwe henI sraweolu ldc ommiat g reasti n':A ndt hewyi ll whichi nspirietdsr ituaalnsd theh eavenwloyr ldw hichi t
go astraays t on ew moonsa nds abbathasn df estivaanlds represenTtheedw .r itinogfts h ev isionaarnidet sh el atmeyrs tics
jubilaenedso rdinanc(eJsu'b1 .. 14). area lssoe ti nt hiwso rlodf t hea ncietnetm plTeo.r econstruct
TheD amascuRsu lef romQ umrana lseom phasiztehden eed thiwso rlwde mustc asotu rn etw idetrh anj ustth oswer itings
fort hec orreccatl end'aBru:wt i tht her emnanwth ichh elfda st whicdhe scritbheet emplwee;m ustl ooakl saot t hosweh icahr e
tot hec ommandmenotfsG odh em adeh isc ovenawnitt hI srael setw ithiintt ,h osienw hicthh eg oldecnh eruboinmt hew allosf