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Each morning I spend 30 minutes, more or less, researching and writing on a passage of scripture. This is principally a form of spiritual self-discipline. But comments and questions are welcome.

Sunday, February 04, 2007



As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ (Mark 13: 1-2)

We are within days of Good Friday. Most scholars place the death of Jesus in or close to the year 29. The temple would be thrown down forty-one years later.

The Temple of Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The Second Temple had been erected under Zerubbabel and considerably expanded by Herod the Great.

Coincident with the life of Jesus was the rise of an anti-Roman, pro-independence movement called the Zealots. In the year 66 the Zealots led a revolt that - after initial success - resulted in nearly total defeat and destruction of the temple in the the year 70.

In the years 132-135 a second Jewish revolt against the Romans resulted in the entire city of Jerusalem being destroyed and rebuilt as Aelia Capitolina. There is some evidence of temples to Jupiter and Aphrodite being built where the Jewish temple once stood.

In about 690 the Islamic rulers of Jerusalem began construction of what would become the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which continues to stand on the site.

Above is a relief from the Arch of Titus showing a victory parade of Temple booty.

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