Jerusalem Temple mount

Just to the East of Jerusalem is the Kidron valley. To the East of the valley is the Mount of Olives. To the West of the Kidron valley is Mount Moraih or now know as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Much history is recorded here, more than I can show with this web page.

MORIAH (Moh ri' uh) Place name of uncertain meaning translated in various ways, including “Amorites” by earliest translators. The rocky outcropping in Jerusalem located just North of the ancient city of David. It was on this rock that Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac as a burnt offering, but God intervened and provided a ram (Gen. 22:2, 13). Later, the Jebusite city of Salem was built adjacent to the hill. After David captured the site, he purposed to build there a Temple for the ark of the covenant. However, God gave that task to his son Solomon (1 Chron. 28:3-6). It may be modern khirbet Beth-Lejj.

Left: The temple Mount looking from the just South of the Mount of Olives. The gold dome you see in the center of the picture is (according to tradition) where Abraham offer up Isaac on the Mount of Moraih. This is a holy place both to the Moslem and Jew. The wall that faces you in this picture is the eastern wall. This is where Jesus will make his entry when he comes back.

Zech 14:4 (KJS) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the East, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the West, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the North, and half of it toward the South.

Left: The South entrance to the Temple. This entrance was used by all the people in Jesus's day to enter into the Temple. It is hard to see in this picture but some of the original steps to the entrance doors are still there. In the past 2000 years many different kinds of people have occupied Jerusalem. They all have, in some way, altered the original appearance of the Temple. The original Temple had Twelve doors to enter from. Four sets of three doors.All entrances had their significance. At the Southwest corner of the Temple is where the priest blew the Shofar horn to call all the people to pray.

Left: Looking at the North side of the Temple Mount. See the four square columns in the middle left? This is called the fortress of Antonia.

Below Holman's Bible Dictionary definition:

ANTONIA, TOWER OF names a fortress near the Temple built around A.D. 6 that served as a palace residence for King Herod, barracks for the Roman troops, a safe deposit for the robe of the high priest, and a central courtyard for public speaking. The tower of Antonia is not mentioned directly in the Bible. It served various functions between A.D. 6 and A.D. 66, the time of its destruction by Titus. Herod the Great built the tower at the Northwest corner of the Temple court to replace the Maccabean fort. The tower was 75 feet high and was named for Herod’s friend, Mark Anthony. Although the name “Antonia” is not used in the Bible, several references from the first century Jewish historian, Josephus, describe the appearance and function of the tower of Antonia.

Josephus describes the splendor of the tower with spacious apartments, elaborate baths, and beautiful courtyards. The tower served as an official residence for the Roman procurators. Capable of accommodating at least a Roman cohort (500-600 men), the tower housed portions of the Roman army used to guard the Jews inside the Temple court. Herod required that the vestments of the high priest be kept in the tower to maintain control over the worship festivals of the Jews.

The pavement beneath the modern convent of Notre Dame de Sion has been thought to be the place of the tower’s courtyard, traditionally considered the site of Jesus’ trial before Pilate (John 19:13). Recent archeological evidence, however, has shown that the pavement dates from the second century and not the time of Jesus.

Left: Just behind Antionia's fortress is the Temple itself. You can see from the model that the temple was very large & extravagant. No one knows the exact cost King Herod used to build the Temple, but compared to todays values it would be in the billions. This Temple was built on top of Solomon's Temple. The story behind the construction of this Temple would fill volumes.

Left: The temple itself. looking from the East to West. Below is an excerpt from the Holman's Bible Dictionary about the Temple itself.

The Jerusalem Temple is the focus of many New Testament events. The birth of John the Baptist was announced there (Luke 1:11-20). The offering by Joseph and Mary at the circumcision of baby Jesus was brought there. Simeon and Anna greeted Jesus there (2:22-38). Jesus came there as a boy of twelve (2:42-51) and later taught there during His ministry (John 7:14). His cleansing of the Temple was instrumental in precipitating His death. He knew no earthly temple was necessary to the worship of God (4:21-24). He predicted the Temple’s destruction by the Romans, and His warnings to His followers to flee when this happened actually saved many Christians’ lives (Mark 13:2, 14-23). Early Christians continued to worship there, and Paul was arrested there (Acts 3; 21:27-33).

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