King James Bible Dictionary

First used of the tabernacle, which is called "the temple of the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:9). In the New Testament the word is used figuratively of Christ's human body (John 2:19, 21). Believers are called "the temple of God" (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17). The Church is designated "an holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21). Heaven is also called a temple (Revelation 7:5). We read also of the heathen "temple of the great goddess Diana" (Acts 19:27).

This word is generally used in Scripture of the sacred house erected on the summit of Mount Moriah for the worship of God. It is called "the temple" (1 Kings 6:17); "the temple [R.V., 'house'] of the Lord" (2 Kings 11:10); "thy holy temple" (Psalms 79:1); "the house of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 23:5, 12); "the house of the God of Jacob" (Isaiah 2:3); "the house of my glory" (60:7); an "house of prayer" (56:7; Matthew 21:13); "an house of sacrifice" (2 Chronicles 7:12); "the house of their sanctuary" (2 Chronicles 36:17); "the mountain of the Lord's house" (Isaiah 2:2); "our holy and our beautiful house" (64:11); "the holy mount" (27:13); "the palace for the Lord God" (1 Chronicles 29:1); "the tabernacle of witness" (2 Chronicles 24:6); "Zion" (Psalms 74:2; 84:7). Christ calls it "my Father's house" (John 2:16).

Solomon's Temple:

Called:

Temple of the Lord
2 Kings 11:10

Holy Temple
Psalms 79:1

Holy House
1 Chronicles 29:3

House of God
1 Chronicles 29:2; 2 Chronicles 23:9

House of the Lord
2 Chronicles 23:5; 2 Chronicles 23:12; Jeremiah 28:5

Father's House
John 2:16

House of the God of Jacob
Isaiah 2:3

House of My Glory
Isaiah 60:7

House of Prayer
Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13

House of Sacrifice
2 Chronicles 7:12

House of Their Sanctuary
2 Chronicles 36:17

Holy and Beautiful House
Isaiah 64:11

Holy Mount
Isaiah 27:13

Mountain of the Lord's House
Isaiah 2:2

Palace
1 Chronicles 29:1; 1 Chronicles 29:19

Sanctuary
2 Chronicles 20:8

Tabernacle of Witness
2 Chronicles 24:6

Zion
Psalms 20:2; Psalms 48:12; Psalms 74:2; Psalms 87:2; Isaiah 2:3

Greatness of
2 Chronicles 2:5-6

Beauty of
Isaiah 64:11

Holiness of
1 Kings 8:10; 1 Kings 9:3; Lamentations 1:10; Matthew 23:17; John 2:14-16

Building of:

David undertakes the building of
2 Samuel 7:2-3; 1 Chronicles 22:7; 1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalms 132:2-5; Acts 7:46

David forbidden by God to build a temple because he was a man of war
2 Samuel 7:4-12; 1 Kings 5:3; 1 Chronicles 22:8; 1 Chronicles 28:3

Not asked for by God
2 Samuel 7:7

The building of, committed to Solomon
2 Samuel 7:13

David makes preparation for
2 Samuel 13:22; 1 Chronicles 28:14-18; 1 Chronicles 29:1-5; 2 Chronicles 3:1; 2 Chronicles 5:1

Built by Solomon
Acts 7:47

Solomon makes levies of men for the building of
1 Kings 5:13-16; 2 Chronicles 2:2; 2 Chronicles 2:17-18

Materials for, furnished by Hiram
1 Kings 5:8-18

Pattern and building of
1 Kings 11:6; 1 Kings 7:13-51; 1 Chronicles 28:11-19; 1 Chronicles 14:3; Acts 7:47

Time when begun
1 Kings 6:1; 1 Kings 6:37; 2 Chronicles 3:2

Time when finished
1 Kings 6:38

Site of
1 Chronicles 21:28-30; 1 Chronicles 22:1; 2 Chronicles 3:1

Site of, where Abraham offered Isaac
Genesis 22:2; Genesis 22:4

Materials prepared for
1 Kings 5:17-18

No tools used in the erection of
1 Kings 6:7

Foundations of
1 Kings 5:17-18; Luke 21:5

Oracle, or holy of holies:

Located in
1 Kings 6:19-20; 1 Kings 8:6

Called:

Most Holy House
2 Chronicles 3:8

Inner House
1 Kings 6:27

Holiest of All
Hebrews 9:3

Description of
1 Kings 6:16; 1 Kings 6:19-35; 2 Chronicles 3:8-14; 2 Chronicles 4:22

Gold used in
2 Chronicles 3:8-10

Contents of the holy of holies:
Ark; Cherubim; Veil; Mercy-Seat

Ark
1 Kings 6:19; 1 Kings 8:6; 2 Chronicles 5:2-10

Cherubims
1 Kings 6:23-28; 2 Chronicles 3:10-13; 2 Chronicles 5:7-8

Holy place:

General references
1 Kings 8:8; 1 Kings 8:10

Called:

The Greater House
2 Chronicles 3:5

Temple
1 Kings 6:17

Description of
1 Kings 6:15-18; 2 Chronicles 3:3; 2 Chronicles 3:5-7; 2 Chronicles 3:14-17

Contents of the holy place:
Shewbread, Table of; Candlestick; Altar, Of Incense

The table of shewbread
1 Kings 7:48; 2 Chronicles 29:18

Other tables of gold and silver
1 Chronicles 28:16; 2 Chronicles 4:18-19

Candlesticks and their utensils
1 Kings 7:49-50; 1 Chronicles 28:15; 2 Chronicles 4:7; 2 Chronicles 4:20-22

Altar of incense and its furniture
1 Kings 6:20; 1 Kings 7:48; 1 Kings 7:50; 1 Chronicles 28:17-18; 2 Chronicles 4:19; 2 Chronicles 4:22

Porch of:

Called Porch of the Lord
2 Chronicles 15:8

Dimensions of
1 Kings 6:3; 2 Chronicles 3:4

Doors of
2 Chronicles 29:7

Overlaid with gold
2 Chronicles 3:4

Pillars of
1 Kings 7:15-22; 2 Kings 11:14; 2 Kings 23:3; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:15-17; 2 Chronicles 4:12-13

Chambers of:

General references
1 Kings 6:5-10; 2 Kings 11:2-3

Offerings brought to
Nehemiah 10:37-39

Treasuries in
Treasure

Courts of:

Of the priests
2 Chronicles 4:9

Inner
1 Kings 6:36

Surrounded by rows of stones and cedar beams
1 Kings 6:36; 1 Kings 7:12

Contents of the courts:

Altar of burnt offering
2 Chronicles 15:8

The brazen sea
1 Kings 7:23-37; 1 Kings 7:44; 1 Kings 7:46; 2 Chronicles 4:2-5; 2 Chronicles 4:10

Ten lavers
1 Kings 7:38-46; 2 Chronicles 4:6
Altar

Great court of
2 Chronicles 4:9; Jeremiah 19:14; Jeremiah 26:2

Covered place for the Sabbath and king's entry
2 Kings 16:18

Gates of:

Higher Gate
2 Kings 15:35

New Gate
Jeremiah 26:10; Jeremiah 36:10

Beautiful Gate
Acts 3:2

Eastern Gate, closed on working days, open on the Sabbath
Ezekiel 46:1; Ezekiel 46:12

Gifts received at
2 Chronicles 24:8-11

Uses of the temple:

A dwelling place of the Lord
1 Kings 8:10-11; 1 Kings 8:13; 1 Kings 9:3; 2 Kings 21:7; 1 Chronicles 29:1; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:16; Ezekiel 10:3-4; Micah 1:2

To contain the ark of the covenant
1 Kings 8:21

For the offering of sweet incense
2 Chronicles 2:4

For the continual shewbread and the burnt offerings
2 Chronicles 2:4

For prayer and worship
2 Chronicles 11:8; 2 Kings 19:14-15; 2 Chronicles 30:27; Isaiah 27:13; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:2; Jeremiah 26:2; Ezekiel 46:2-3; Ezekiel 46:9; Zech 7:2-3; Zech 8:21-22; Mark 11:17; Luke 1:10; Luke 2:37; Luke 18:10; Acts 3:1; Acts 22:17

Prayer made toward
1 Kings 8:38; Daniel 6:10; Jonah 2:4

For an armory
2 Kings 11:10; 2 Chronicles 23:9-10

For refuge
2 Kings 11:15; Nehemiah 6:10-11

Facts about:

Dedication of
Nehemiah 11:8; Nehemiah 14:5

Services in, organized by David
1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 23:24

Pillaged by Shishak
1 Kings 14:25-26

Pillaged by Jehoash, king of Israel
2 Kings 14:14

Repaired by Jehoash, king of Judah
2 Kings 12:4-14; 2 Chronicles 24:7-14

Repaired by Josiah
2 Kings 22:3-7; 2 Chronicles 34:8-13

Ahaz changes the pattern of the altar in
2 Kings 16:10-17

Purified by Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 29:15-19

Converted into an idolatrous shrine by Manasseh
2 Kings 21:4-7; 2 Chronicles 33:4-7

Treasures of, used in the purchase of peace:

By Asa, from Ben-Hadad
1 Kings 15:18

By Jehoash, king of Judah, from Hazael
2 Kings 12:18

By Hezekiah, from the king of Assyria
2 Kings 18:15-16

Ezekiel's vision concerning
Ezekiel 8:16

Jews swore by
Matthew 23:16-22

Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and the valuable contents carried to Babylon
2 Kings 24:13; 2 Kings 25:9-17; 2 Chronicles 36:7; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Psalms 79:1; Isaiah 64:11; Jeremiah 27:16; Jeremiah 27:19-22; Jeremiah 28:3; Jeremiah 52:13; Jeremiah 52:17-23; Lamentations 2:7; Lamentations 4:1; Ezra 1:7

Vessels of, used by Belshazzar
Daniel 5:2-3

Destruction of, foretold
Isaiah 66:6; Jeremiah 27:18-22; Ezekiel 7:22; Ezekiel 7:25; Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2

Restoration of, ordered by Cyrus
Ezra 1:7-11

The second temple:

Restored by Zerubbabel
Ezra 1:1-11; Ezra 2:68-69; Ezra 3:2-13; Ezra 15:4; Ezra 5:2-17; Ezra 6:3-5; Nehemiah 7:70-72; Isaiah 44:28; Haggai 2:3

Building of:

Suspended
Haggai 15:4

Resumed
Ezra 4:24; Ezra 15:5; Haggai 1:2-9; Haggai 2:15; Zech 8:9

Finished
Ezra 6:14-15

Dedicated
Ezra 6:15-18

Artaxerxes' favorable action toward
Ezra 7:11-28; Ezra 8:25-34

Prophecies of its restoration
Isaiah 44:28; Daniel 8:13-14; Daniel 37:1; Zech 1:16; Zech 4:8-10; Zech 6:12-15; Zech 8:9-15; Malachi 3:1

Ezekiel's vision of the temple
Ezekiel 37:26; Ezekiel 37:28; Ezekiel 26:40

Herod's temple:

Forty-six years in building
John 2:20

Goodly stones of
Mark 13:1; Luke 21:5

Magnificence of
Matthew 24:1

Beautiful gate of
Acts 3:10

Solomon's porch
John 10:23; Acts 3:11; Acts 5:12

Treasury of
Mark 12:41-44

Zacharias, officiating priest in, has a vision of an angel; receives promise of a son
Luke 1:5-23; Luke 1:57-64

Jesus brought to, according to the law and custom
Luke 2:21-39

Simeon blesses Jesus in
Luke 2:25-35

Anna, the prophetess, dwells in
Luke 2:36-37

Jesus in, when a youth
Luke 2:46

Jesus taken to the pinnacle of, in His temptation
Matthew 4:5-7; Luke 4:9-12

Jesus teaches in
Mark 11:27-33; Mark 12:35-44; Mark 14:49; John 5:14-47; John 7:14-28; John 43:8; John 10:23-38; John 18:20

Jesus performs miracles in
Matthew 21:14-15

Jesus drives money changers from
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:15-16

Captains of
Luke 22:52; Acts 4:1; Acts 5:24; Acts 5:26

Judas casts down the pieces of silver in
Matthew 27:5

Vail of, rent at the time of the crucifixion
Matthew 27:51

The disciples worship in, after the resurrection
Luke 24:53; Acts 2:46; Acts 3:1

Peter heals the lame man at the gate of
Acts 3:1-16

Disciples preach in
Acts 5:20-21; Acts 5:42

Paul's vision in
Acts 22:17-21

Paul observes the rights of
Acts 21:26-30

Paul is apprehended in
Acts 21:33

Prophecies concerning its destruction, by Daniel
Daniel 8:11-15; Daniel 11:30-31

Jesus foretells the destruction of
Daniel 40:24; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6

Figurative:

Of the body of Jesus
Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; John 2:19

Of the indwelling of God
1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16

Of the church
Ephesians 2:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 3:12

Of the kingdom of Christ
Revelation 66:11; Revelation 14:15; Revelation 14:17

Of Christ, the head of the church, sending forth the forces of righteousness against the powers of evil
Revelation 15:5-8; Revelation 16:1-17

Idolatrous:

Of Dagon, at Ashdod
1 Samuel 5:2

Of the calves, at Beth-El
1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 12:33

Of Rimmon, at Damascus
2 Kings 5:18

Of Baal, at Samaria
2 Kings 10:21; 2 Kings 10:27

At Babylon
2 Chronicles 36:7; Daniel 1:2

Of Diana, at Ephesus
Acts 19:27

Trophies stored in
1 Samuel 31:10; 1 Chronicles 10:9-10; Daniel 1:2
Tabernacle

There is perhaps no building of the ancient world which has excited so much attention since the time of its destruction as the temple which Solomon built by Herod. Its spoils were considered worthy of forming the principal illustration of one of the most beautiful of Roman triumphal arches, and Justinian's highest architectural ambition was that he might surpass it. Throughout the middle ages it influenced to a considerable degree the forms of Christian churches, and its peculiarities were the watchwords and rallying-points of all associations of builders. When the French expedition to Egypt, int he first years of this century, had made the world familiar with the wonderful architectural remains of that country, every one jumped to the conclusion that Solomon's temple must have been designed after an Egyptian model. The discoveries in Assyria by Botta and Layard have within the last twenty years given an entirely new direction to the researches of the restorers. Unfortunately, however, no Assyrian temple has yet been exhumed of a nature to throw much light on this subject, and we are still forced to have recourse to the later buildings at Persepolis, or to general deductions from the style of the nearly contemporary secular buildings at Nineveh and elsewhere, for such illustrations as are available. THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON.

It was David who first proposed to replace the tabernacle by a more permanent building, but was forbidden for the reasons assigned by the prophet Nathan, (2 Samuel 7:5) etc.; and though he collected materials and made arrangements, the execution of the task was left for his son Solomon. (The gold and silver alone accumulated by David are at the lowest reckoned to have amounted to between two and three billion dollars, a sum which can be paralleled from secular history.

Lange.) Solomon, with the assistance of Hiram king of Tyre, commenced this great undertaking int he fourth year of his reign, B.C. 1012, and completed it in seven years, B.C. 1005. (There were 183,000 Jews and strangers employed on it

of Jews 30,000, by rotation 10,000 a month; of Canaanites 153,600, of whom 70,000 were bearers of burdens, 80,000 hewers of wood and stone, and 3600 overseers. The parts were all prepared at a distance from the site of the building, and when they were brought together the whole immense structure was erected without the sound of hammer, axe or any tool of iron. (1 Kings 6:7)

Schaff.) The building occupied the site prepared for it by David, which had formerly been the threshing-floor of the Jebusite Ornan or Araunah, on Mount Moriah. The whole area enclosed by the outer walls formed a square of about 600 feet; but the sanctuary itself was comparatively small, inasmuch as it was intended only for the ministrations of the priests, the congregation of the people assembling in the courts. In this and all other essential points the temple followed the model of the tabernacle, from which it differed chiefly by having chambers built about the sanctuary for the abode of the priests and attendants and the keeping of treasures and stores. In all its dimensions, length, breadth and height, the sanctuary itself was exactly double the size of the tabernacle, the ground plan measuring 80 cubits by 40, while that of the tabernacle was 40 by 20, and the height of the temple being 30 cubits, while that of the tabernacle was 15. [The readers would compare the following account with the article TABERNACLE] As in the tabernacle, the temple consisted of three parts, the porch, the holy place, and the holy of holies. The front of the porch was supported, after the manner of some Egyptian temples, by the two great brazen pillars, Jachin and Boaz, 18 cubits high, with capitals of 5 cubits more, adorned with lily-work and pomegranates. (1 Kings 7:15-22) The places of the two "veils" of the tabernacle were occupied by partitions, in which were folding-doors. The whole interior was lines with woodwork richly carved and overlaid with gold. Indeed, both within and without the building was conspicuously chiefly by the lavish use of the gold of Ophir and Parvaim. It glittered in the morning sun (it has been well said) like the sanctuary of an El Dorado. Above the sacred ark, which was placed, as of old, in the most holy place, were made new cherubim, one pair of whose wings met above the ark, and another pair reached to the walls behind them. In the holy place, besides the altar of incense, which was made of cedar overlaid with gold there were seven golden candlesticks in stead of one, and the table of shew-bread was replaced by ten golden tables, bearing, besides the shew bread, the innumerable golden vessels for the service of the sanctuary. The outer court was no doubt double the size of that of the tabernacle; and we may therefore safely assume that if was 10 cubits in height, 100 cubits north and south, and 200 east and west. If contained an inner court, called the "court of the priests;" but the arrangement of the courts and of the porticos and gateways of the enclosure, though described by Josephus, belongs apparently to the temple of Herod. The outer court there was a new altar of burnt offering, much larger than the old one. [ALTAR] Instead of the brazen laver there was "a molten sea" of brass, a masterpiece of Hiram's skill for the ablution of the priests. It was called a "sea" from its great size. [SEA, MOLTEN, MOLTEN] The chambers for the priests were arranged in successive stories against the sides of the sanctuary; not, however, reaching to the top, so as to leave space for the windows to light the holy and the most holy place. We are told by Josephus and the Talmud that there was a superstructure on the temple equal in height to the lower part; and this is confirmed by the statement in the books of Chronicles that Solomon "overlaid the upper chambers with gold." (2 Chronicles 3:9) Moreover, "the altars on the top of the upper chamber," mentioned in the books of the Kings, (2 Kings 23:12) were apparently upon the temple. The dedication of the temple was the grandest ceremony ever performed under the Mosaic dispensation. The temple was destroyed on the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, B.C. 586. TEMPLE OF ZERUBBABEL.

We have very few particulars regarding the temple which the Jews erected after their return from the captivity (about B.C. 520), and no description that would enable us to realize its appearance. But there are some dimensions given in the Bible and elsewhere which are extremely interesting, as affording points of comparison between it and the temple which preceded it and the one erected after it. The first and most authentic are those given in the book of Ezra, (Ezra 6:3) when quoting the decree of Cyrus, wherein it is said, "Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof three-score cubits. and the breadth thereof three-score cubits, with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber." Josephus quotes this passage almost literally, but in doing so enables us to translate with certainty the word here called row as "story"

as indeed the sense would lead us to infer. We see by the description in Ezra that this temple was about one third larger than Solomon's. From these dimensions we gather that if the priests and Levites and elders of families were disconsolate at seeing how much more sumptuous the old temple was than the one which on account of their poverty they had hardly been able to erect, (Ezra 3:12) it certainly was not because it was smaller; but it may have been that the carving and the gold and the other ornaments of Solomon's temple far surpassed this, and the pillars of the portico and the veils may all have been far more splendid; so also probably were the vessels and all this is what a Jew would mourn over far more than mere architectural splendor. In speaking of these temples we must always bear in mind that their dimensions were practically very far inferior to those of the heathen. Even that of Ezra is not larger than an average parish church of the last century; Solomon's was smaller. It was the lavish display of the precious metals, the elaboration of carved ornament, and the beauty of the textile fabrics, which made up their splendor and rendered them so precious in the eyes of the people. TEMPLE OF EZEKIEL.

The vision of a temple which the prophet Ezekiel saw while residing on the banks of the Chebar in Babylonia, in the twenty-fifth year of the captivity, does not add much to our knowledge of the subject. It is not a description of a temple that ever was built or ever could be erected at Jerusalem, and can consequently only be considered as the beau ideal of what a Shemitic temple ought to be. TEMPLE OF HEROD.

Herod the Great announced to the people assembled at the Passover, B.C. 20 or 19, his intention of restoring the temple; (probably a stroke of policy on the part of Herod to gain the favor of the Jews and to make his name great.) if we may believe Josephus, he pulled down the whole edifice to its foundations, and laid them anew on an enlarged scale; but the ruins still exhibit, in some parts, what seem to be the foundations laid by Zerubbable, and beneath them the more massive substructions of Solomon. The new edifice was a stately pile of Gr'co-Roman architecture, built in white marble gilded acroteria . It is minutely described by Josephus, and the New Testament has made us familiar with the pride of the Jews in its magnificence. A different feeling, however, marked the commencement of the work, which met with some opposition from the fear that what Herod had begun he would not be able to finish. he overcame all jealousy by engaging not to pull down any part of the existing buildings till all the materials for the new edifice were collected on its site. Two years appear to have been occupied in preparations

among which Josephus mentions the teaching of some of the priests and Levites to work as masons and carpenters

and then the work began. The holy "house," including the porch, sanctuary and holy of holies, was finished in a year and a half, B.C. 16. Its completion, on the anniversary of Herod's inauguration, was celebrated by lavish sacrifices and a great feast. About B.C. 9

eight years from the commencement

the court and cloisters of the temple were finished, and the bridge between the south cloister and the upper city (demolished by Pompey) was doubtless now rebuilt with that massive masonry of which some remains still survive. (The work, however, was not entirely ended till A.D. 64, under Herod Agrippa II. So the statement in (John 2:20) is correct.

Schaff.) The temple or holy "house" itself was in dimensions and arrangement very similar to that of Solomon, or rather that of Zerubbabel

more like the latter; but this was surrounded by an inner enclosure of great strength and magnificence, measuring as nearly as can be made out 180 cubits by 240, and adorned by porches and ten gateways of great magnificence; and beyond this again was an outer enclosure measuring externally 400 cubits each way, which was adorned with porticos of greater splendor than any we know of as attached to any temple of the ancient world. The temple was certainly situated in the southwest angle of the area now known as the Haram area at Jerusalem, and its dimensions were what Josephus states them to be

400 cubits, or one stadium, each way. At the time when Herod rebuilt it, he enclosed a space "twice as large" as that before occupied by the temple and its courts

an expression that probably must not be taken too literally at least, if we are to depend on the measurements of Hecat'us. According to them, the whole area of Herod's temple was between four and five times greater than that which preceded it. What Herod did apparently, was to take in the whole space between the temple and the city wall on its east side, and to add a considerable space on the north and south to support the porticos which he added there. As the temple terrace thus became the principal defence of the city on the east side, there were no gates or openings in that direction, and being situated on a sort of rocky brow

as evidenced from its appearance in the vaults that bounded it on this side

if was at all later times considered unattackable from the eastward. The north side, too, where not covered by the fortress Antonia, became part of the defenses of the city, and was likewise without external gates. On the south side, which was enclosed by the wall of Ophel, there were notable gates nearly in the centre. These gates still exist at a distance of about 365 feet from the southwestern angle, and are perhaps the only architectural features of the temple of Herod which remain in situ . This entrance consists of a double archway of Cyclopean architecture on the level of the ground, opening into a square vestibule measuring 40 feet each way. From this a double funnel nearly 200 feet in length, leads to a flight of steps which rise to the surface in the court of the temple, exactly at that gateway of the inner temple which led to the altar, and is one of the four gateways on this side by which any one arriving from Ophel would naturally wish to enter the inner enclosure. We learn from the Talmud that the gate of the inner temple to which this passage led was called the "water gate;" and it is interesting to be able to identify a spot so prominent in the description of Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 12:37) Toward the west there were four gateways to the external enclosure of the temple. The most magnificent part of the temple, in an architectural point of view, seems certainly to have been the cloisters which were added to the outer court when it was enlarged by Herod. The cloisters in the west, north and east sides were composed of double rows of Corinthian columns, 25 cubits or 37 feet 6 inches in height, with flat roof, and resting against the outer wall of the temple. These, however, were immeasurably surpassed in magnificence by the royal porch or Stoa Basilica, which overhung the southern wall. It consisted of a nave and two aisled, that toward the temple being open, that toward the country closed by a wall. The breadth of the centre aisle was 95 feet of the side aisles, 30 from centre to centre of the pillars; their height 50 feet, and that of the centre aisle 100 feet. Its section was thus something in excess of that of York Cathedral, while its total length was one stadium or 600 Greek feet, or 100 feet in excess of York or our largest Gothic cathedrals. This magnificent structure was supported by 162 Corinthian columns. The porch on the east was called "Solomon's Porch." The court of the temple was very nearly a square. It may have been exactly so, for we have not the details to enable us to feel quite certain about it. To the eastward of this was the court of the women. The great ornament of these inner courts seems to have been their gateways, the three especially on the north end south leading to the temple court. These according to Josephus, were of great height, strongly fortified and ornamented with great elaboration. But the wonder of all was the great eastern gate leading from the court of the women to the upper court. It was in all probability the one called the "beautiful gate" in the New Testament. immediately within this gateway stood the altar of burnt offerings. Both the altar and the temple were enclosed by a low parapet, one cubit in height, placed so as to keep the people separate from the priests while the latter were performing their functions. Within this last enclosure, toward the westward, stood the temple itself. As before mentioned, its internal dimensions were the same as those of the temple of Solomon. Although these remained the same, however, there seems no reason to doubt that. the whole plan was augmented by the pteromata , or surrounding parts being increased from 10 to 20 cubits, so that the third temple, like the second, measured 60 cubits across and 100 cubits east and west. The width of the facade was also augmented by wings or shoulders projecting 20 cubits each way, making the whole breadth 100 cubits, or equal to the length. There is no reason for doubting that the sanctuary always stood on identically the same spot in which it had been placed by Solomon a thousand years before it was rebuilt by Herod. The temple of Herod was destroyed by the Romans under Titus, Friday, August 9, A.D. 70. A Mohammedan mosque now stands on its site.

TEM'PLE, noun [Latin templum.]

1. A public edifice erected in honor of some deity. Among pagans, a building erected to some pretended deity, and in which the people assembled to worship. Originally, temples were open places, as the Stonehenge in England. In Rome, some of the temples were open, and called sacella; others were roofed, and called oedes. The most celebrated of the ancient pagan temples were that of Belus in Babylon, that of Vulcan at Memphis, that of Jupiter at Thebes, that of Diana at Ephesus, that of Apollo in Miletus, that of Jupiter Olympius in Athens, and that of Apollo at Delphi. The most celebrated and magnificent temple erected to the true God, was that built by Solomon in Jerusalem.

In Scripture, the tabernacle is sometimes called by this name. 1 Samuel 1:9-3.

2. A church; an edifice erected among christians as a place of public worship.

Can he whose life is a perpetual insult to the authority of God, enter with any pleasure a temple consecrated to devotion and sanctified by prayer?

3. A place in which the divine presence specially resides; the church as a collective body. Ephesians 2:21.

4. In England, the Temples are two inns of court, thus called because anciently the dwellings of the knights Templars. They are called the Inner and the Middle temple

TEM'PLE, noun [Latin tempus, tempora. The primary sense of the root of this word is to fall. See Time.]

1. Literally, the fall of the head; the part where the head slopes from the top.

2. In anatomy, the anterior and lateral part of the head, where the skull is covered by the temporal muscles.

TEM'PLE, verb transitive To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to. [Little used.]

The temple erected by the exiles on their return from Babylon had stood for about five hundred years, when Herod the Great became king of Judea. The building had suffered considerably from natural decay as well as from the assaults of hostile armies, and Herod, desirous of gaining the favour of the Jews, proposed to rebuild it. This offer was accepted, and the work was begun (B.C. 18), and carried out at great labour and expense, and on a scale of surpassing splendour. The main part of the building was completed in ten years, but the erection of the outer courts and the embellishment of the whole were carried on during the entire period of our Lord's life on earth (John 2:16, 19-21), and the temple was completed only A.D. 65. But it was not long permitted to exist. Within forty years after our Lord's crucifixion, his prediction of its overthrow was accomplished (Luke 19:41-44). The Roman legions took the city of Jerusalem by storm, and notwithstanding the strenuous efforts Titus made to preserve the temple, his soldiers set fire to it in several places, and it was utterly destroyed (A.D. 70), and was never rebuilt.

Several remains of Herod's stately temple have by recent explorations been brought to light. It had two courts, one intended for the Israelites only, and the other, a large outer court, called "the court of the Gentiles," intended for the use of strangers of all nations. These two courts were separated by a low wall, as Josephus states, some 4 1/2 feet high, with thirteen openings. Along the top of this dividing wall, at regular intervals, were placed pillars bearing in Greek an inscription to the effect that no stranger was, on the pain of death, to pass from the court of the Gentiles into that of the Jews. At the entrance to a graveyard at the north-western angle of the Haram wall, a stone was discovered by M. Ganneau in 1871, built into the wall, bearing the following inscription in Greek capitals- "No stranger is to enter within the partition wall and enclosure around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will be responsible to himself for his death, which will ensue."

There can be no doubt that the stone thus discovered was one of those originally placed on the boundary wall which separated the Jews from the Gentiles, of which Josephus speaks.

It is of importance to notice that the word rendered "sanctuary" in the inscription was used in a specific sense of the inner court, the court of the Israelites, and is the word rendered "temple" in John 2:15 and Acts 21:28, 29. When Paul speaks of the middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14), he probably makes allusion to this dividing wall. Within this partition wall stood the temple proper, consisting of, (1) the court of the women, 8 feet higher than the outer court; (2) 10 feet higher than this court was the court of Israel; (3) the court of the priests, again 3 feet higher; and lastly (4) the temple floor, 8 feet above that; thus in all 29 feet above the level of the outer court.

The summit of Mount Moriah, on which the temple stood, is now occupied by the Haram esh-Sherif, i.e., "the sacred enclosure." This enclosure is about 1,500 feet from north to south, with a breadth of about 1,000 feet, covering in all a space of about 35 acres. About the centre of the enclosure is a raised platform, 16 feet above the surrounding space, and paved with large stone slabs, on which stands the Mohammedan mosque called Kubbet es-Sahkra i.e., the "Dome of the Rock," or the Mosque of Omar. This mosque covers the site of Solomon's temple. In the centre of the dome there is a bare, projecting rock, the highest part of Moriah (q.v.), measuring 60 feet by 40, standing 6 feet above the floor of the mosque, called the sahkra, i.e., "rock." Over this rock the altar of burnt-offerings stood. It was the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. The exact position on this "sacred enclosure" which the temple occupied has not been yet definitely ascertained. Some affirm that Herod's temple covered the site of Solomon's temple and palace, and in addition enclosed a square of 300 feet at the south-western angle. The temple courts thus are supposed to have occupied the southern portion of the "enclosure," forming in all a square of more than 900 feet. It is argued by others that Herod's temple occupied a square of 600 feet at the south-west of the "enclosure."

Before his death David had "with all his might" provided materials in great abundance for the building of the temple on the summit of Mount Moriah (1 Chronicles 22:14; 29:4; 2 Chronicles 3:1), on the east of the city, on the spot where Abraham had offered up Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14). In the beginning of his reign Solomon set about giving effect to the desire that had been so earnestly cherished by his father, and prepared additional materials for the building. From subterranean quarries at Jerusalem he obtained huge blocks of stone for the foundations and walls of the temple. These stones were prepared for their places in the building under the eye of Tyrian master-builders. He also entered into a compact with Hiram II., king of Tyre, for the supply of whatever else was needed for the work, particularly timber from the forests of Lebanon, which was brought in great rafts by the sea to Joppa, whence it was dragged to Jerusalem (1 Kings 5). As the hill on which the temple was to be built did not afford sufficient level space, a huge wall of solid masonry of great height, in some places more than 200 feet high, was raised across the south of the hill, and a similar wall on the eastern side, and in the spaces between were erected many arches and pillars, thus raising up the general surface to the required level. Solomon also provided for a sufficient water supply for the temple by hewing in the rocky hill vast cisterns, into which water was conveyed by channels from the "pools" near Bethlehem. One of these cisterns, the "great sea," was capable of containing three millions of gallons. The overflow was led off by a conduit to the Kidron.

In all these preparatory undertakings a space of about three years was occupied; and now the process of the erection of the great building began, under the direction of skilled Phoenician builders and workmen, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, 480 years after the Exodus (1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3). Many thousands of labourers and skilled artisans were employed in the work. Stones prepared in the quarries underneath the city (1 Kings 5:17, 18) of huge dimension (see QUARRIES) were gradually placed on the massive walls, and closely fitted together without any mortar between, till the whole structure was completed. No sound of hammer or axe or any tool of iron was heard as the structure arose (6:7). "Like some tall palm the noiseless fabric sprang." The building was 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. The engineers of the Palestine Exploration Fund, in their explorations around the temple area, discovered what is believed to have been the "chief corner stone" of the temple, "the most interesting stone in the world." It lies at the bottom of the south-eastern angle, and is 3 feet 8 inches high by 14 feet long. It rests on the solid rock at a depth of 79 feet 3 inches below the present surface. (See PINNACLE.) In examining the walls the engineers were "struck with admiration at the vastness of the blocks and the general excellence of the workmanship."

At length, in the autumn of the eleventh year of his reign, seven and a half years after it had been begun, the temple was completed in all its architectural magnificence and beauty. For thirteen years there it stood, on the summit of Moriah, silent and unused. The reasons for this strange delay in its consecration are unknown. At the close of these thirteen years preparations for the dedication of the temple were made on a scale of the greatest magnificence. The ark was solemnly brought from the tent in which David had deposited it to the place prepared for it in the temple, and the glory-cloud, the symbol of the divine presence, filled the house. Then Solomon ascended a platform which had been erected for him, in the sight of all the people, and lifting up his hands to heaven poured out his heart to God in prayer (1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 6, 7). The feast of dedication, which lasted seven days, followed by the feast of tabernacles, marked a new era in the history of Israel. On the eighth day of the feast of tabernacles, Solomon dismissed the vast assemblage of the people, who returned to their homes filled with joy and gladness, "Had Solomon done no other service beyond the building of the temple, he would still have influenced the religious life of his people down to the latest days. It was to them a perpetual reminder and visible symbol of God's presence and protection, a strong bulwark of all the sacred traditions of the law, a witness to duty, an impulse to historic study, an inspiration of sacred song."

The temple consisted of,

1. The oracle or most holy place (1 Kings 6:19; 8:6), called also the "inner house" (6:27), and the "holiest of all" (Hebrews 9:3). It was 20 cubits in length, breadth, and height. It was floored and wainscotted with cedar (1 Kings 6:16), and its walls and floor were overlaid with gold (6:20, 21, 30). There was a two-leaved door between it and the holy place overlaid with gold (2 Chronicles 4:22); also a veil of blue purple and crimson and fine linen (2 Chronicles 3:14; comp. Exodus 26:33). It had no windows (1 Kings 8:12). It was indeed the dwelling-place of God.

2. The holy place (q.v.), 1 Kings 8:8-10, called also the "greater house" (2 Chronicles 3:5) and the "temple" (1 Kings 6:17).

3. The porch or entrance before the temple on the east (1 Kings 6:3; 2 Chronicles 3:4; 29:7). In the porch stood the two pillars Jachin and Boaz (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Kings 11:14; 23:3).

4. The chambers, which were built about the temple on the southern, western, and northern sides (1 Kings 6:5-10). These formed a part of the building.

Round about the building were,

1. The court of the priests (2 Chronicles 4:9), called the "inner court" (1 Kings 6:36). It contained the altar of burnt-offering (2 Chronicles 15:8), the brazen sea (4:2-5, 10), and ten lavers (1 Kings 7:38, 39).

2. The great court, which surrounded the whole temple (2 Chronicles 4:9). Here the people assembled to worship God (Jeremiah 19:14; 26:2).

This temple erected by Solomon was many times pillaged during the course of its history, (1) 1 Kings 14:25, 26; (2) 2 Kings 14:14; (3) 2 Kings 16:8, 17, 18; (4) 2 Kings 18:15, 16. At last it was pillaged and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chronicles 36:7). He burned the temple, and carried all its treasures with him to Babylon (2 Kings 25:9-17; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Isaiah 64:11). These sacred vessels were at length, at the close of the Captivity, restored to the Jews by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7-11).

After the return from captivity, under Zerubbabel (q.v.) and the high priest Jeshua, arrangements were almost immediately made to reorganize the long-desolated kingdom. The body of pilgrims, forming a band of 42,360, including children, having completed the long and dreary journey of some four months, from the banks of the Euphrates to Jerusalem, were animated in all their proceeding by a strong religious impulse, and therefore one of their first cares was to restore their ancient worship by rebuilding the temple. On the invitation of Zerubbabel, the governor, who showed them a remarkable example of liberality by contributing personally 1,000 golden darics (probably about $6,000), besides other gifts, the people with great enthusiasm poured their gifts into the sacred treasury (Ezra 2). First they erected and dedicated the altar of Jehovah on the exact spot where it had formerly stood, and they then cleared away the charred heaps of debris which occupied the site of the old temple; and in the second month of the second year (B.C. 535), amid great public excitement and rejoicing (Psalms 116; 117; 118), the foundations of the second temple were laid. A wide interest was felt in this great movement, although it was regarded with mingled feelings by the spectators (Haggai 2:3; Zechariah 4:10). The Samaritans made proposals for a co-operation in the work. Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the elders, however, declined all such cooperation- Judah must build the temple without help. Immediately evil reports were spread regarding the Jews. The Samaritans sought to "frustrate their purpose" (Ezra 4:5), and sent messengers to Ecbatana and Susa, with the result that the work was suspended. Seven years after this Cyrus died ingloriously, having killed himself in Syria when on his way back from Egypt to the east, and was succeeded by his son Cambyses (B.C. 529-522), on whose death the "false Smerdis," an imposter, occupied the throne for some seven or eight months, and then Darius Hystaspes became king (B.C. 522). In the second year of this monarch the work of rebuilding the temple was resumed and carried forward to its completion (Ezra 5:6-17; 6:1-15), under the stimulus of the earnest counsels and admonitions of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. It was ready for consecration in the spring of B.C. 516, twenty years after the return from captivity.

This second temple had not the ark, the Urim and Thummim, the holy oil, the sacred fire, the tables of stone, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod. As in the tabernacle, there was in it only one golden lamp for the holy place, one table of shewbread, and the incense altar, with golden censers, and many of the vessels of gold that had belonged to Solomon's temple that had been carried to Babylon but restored by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7-11).

This second temple also differed from the first in that, while in the latter there were numerous "trees planted in the courts of the Lord," there were none in the former. The second temple also had for the first time a space, being a part of the outer court, provided for proselytes who were worshippers of Jehovah, although not subject to the laws of Judaism.

The temple, when completed, was consecrated amid great rejoicings on the part of all the people (Ezra 6:16), although there were not wanting outward evidences that the Jews were no longer an independent people, but were subject to a foreign power.

Haggai 2:9 is rightly rendered in the Revised Version, "The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former," instead of, "The glory of this latter house," etc., in the Authorized Version. The temple, during the different periods of its existence, is regarded as but one house, the one only house of God (comp. 2:3). The glory here predicted is spiritual glory and not material splendour. "Christ himself, present bodily in the temple on Mount Zion during his life on earth, present spiritually in the Church now, present in the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem, of which he is the temple, calling forth spiritual worship and devotion is the glory here predicted" (Perowne).

TEM'PLET, noun A piece of timber in a building; as a templet under a girder.