Temple History

A Brief History of the Temple[1]

An Altar Under the Mount  (Exo. 24:4)

1491 BC

The first step toward a place of worship where God would meet (Exo. 25:22) with Israel was taken at Mt. Sinai, when, after receiving the Law, Moses builds both “an altar under the mount,” representing Jehovah “and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Exo. 24:4).

The Tent of Meeting (Exo. 33:7 )

1491 BC

This “tent” was not yet the Tabernacle Proper, but served an interim purpose. The ark was not yet made; a priesthood was not yet appointed; it was “without the camp”; Joshua was the sole minister (Exo. 33:11).

The Tabernacle Proper (Exo. 40:33-38)

1492 BC

The central idea of the structure is given in the words, “Make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exo. 25:8). It was the dwelling-place of the holy Yahweh in the midst of His people; also the place of His “meeting” with them (Exo. 25:22).

(1) top

From the East of Jordan to Gilgal (Joshua 4:17-20)

1451 BC

When, at last, the Jordan was crossed, the first consideration, presumably, was to find a place on which to pitch the sacred tent, a place hitherto uninhabited and free from possible defilement by human graves. Such a place was found in the neighborhood of Jericho, and came to be known as Gilgal (Jos. 4:19; Jos. 5:10; Jos. 9:6; Jos. 10:6, Jos. 10:43).

 (2) top

From Gilgal to Shiloh (Jos 18:1)

1443 BC

Gilgal, however, was always regarded as a temporary site. The tabernacle is not directly mentioned in connection with it. The question of a permanent location was the occasion of mutual jealousy among the tribes, and was at last settled by the removal of the tabernacle to Shiloh, (Jos 18:1) in the territory of Ephraim, a place conveniently central for attendance of all adult males at the three yearly festivals, without the zone of war, and also of some strategic importance

 (3) top

The Ark taken by the Philistines

1430 -1320 BC

During the period of the Judges the nation lost the fervor of its earlier years and was in imminent danger of apostasy. The daily services of the tabernacle were doubtless observed after a mechanical manner, and seem to have had little effect upon the people, either to soften their manners or raise their morals. In the early days of Samuel war broke out afresh with the Philistines. At a council of war the unprecedented proposal was made to fetch the ark of the covenant from Shiloh (1Sam 4:1 ff). Accompanied by the two sons of Eli - Hophni and Phinehas - it arrived in the camp and was welcomed by a shout which was heard in the hostile camp. It was no longer Yahweh but the material ark that was the hope of Israel, so low had the people fallen. Eli himself, at that time high priest, must at least have acquiesced in this superstition. It ended in disaster. The ark was taken by the Philistines, its two guardians were slain, and Israel was helpless before its enemies.

(4) top

 (5) top

The tabernacle moved to Nob then to Gibeon

998 BC

Nob and Gibeon:

We next hear of the tabernacle at Nob, with Ahimelech, a tool of Saul (probably the Ahijah the son of Ahitub of 1Sam. 14:3), as High Priest (1Sam. 21:1 ff). This Nob was 4 miles to the North of Jerusalem and was more-over a high place, 30 ft. higher than Zion. It does not follow that the tabernacle was placed at the top of the hill. Here it remained a few years, till after the massacre by Saul of all the priests at Nob save one, Abiathar (1Sam. 22:11 ff). Subsequently, possibly by Saul himself, it was removed to Gibeon (1Chr. 16:39; 1Chr. 21:29).(6) Gibeon was 6 miles from Jerusalem, and 7 from Beth-el, and may have been chosen for its strategic advantage as well as for the fact that it was already inhabited by priests, and was Saul's ancestral city.

 (7) top

David pitched a tent on Zion for the Ark (tabernacle still at Gibeon)

950 BC

Restoration of the Ark:

This removal by Saul, if he was the author of it, was recognized afterward by David as a thing done, with which he did not think it wise to interfere (of 1Chr. 16:40). On his capturing the fortress of Jebus (later Jerusalem), and building himself a “house” there, David prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent on Zion in imitation of the tabernacle at Gibeon (2Sam. 6:17 ff; 1Chr. 16:1). He must also have provided an altar, for we read of burnt offerings and peace offerings being made there. Meanwhile the ark had been brought from Kiriath-jearim, where it had lain so long; it was restored in the presence of a concourse of people representing the whole nation, the soldiery and civilians delivering it to the priests (2Sam. 6:1 ff). On this journey Uzzah was smitten for touching the ark. Arrived near Jerusalem, the ark was carried into the house of Obed-edom, a Levite, and remained there for 3 months. At the end of this time it was carried into David's tabernacle with all fitting solemnity and honor.

 (8) top

The Two Tabernacles: Gibeon and Jerusalem

Hence, it was that there were now two tabernacles, the original one with its altar at Gibeon, and the new one with the original ark in Jerusalem, both under the protection of the king. Both, however, were soon to be superseded by the building of a temple. The altar at Gibeon continued in use till the time of Solomon. Of all the actual material of the tabernacle, the ark alone remained unchanged in the temple. The tabernacle itself, with its sacred vessels, was brought up to Jerusalem, and was preserved, apparently, as a sacred relic in the temple (1Kings 8:4).

Thus, after a history of more than 200 years (~1000 BC), the tabernacle ceases to appear in history.

917 BC

Solomon’s Temple:

Solomon (reigned  920[2]-880[3] BCE), with the assistance of Hiram, king of Tyre, commenced this great undertaking, in the fourth year of his reign (1 Kings 6:1), B.C. 917, and completed it in seven years. As in the Tabernacle, the Temple consisted of three parts, the porch, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.

520 BC

Temple of Zerubbabel

We have very few particulars regarding the Temple, which the Jews erected, after their return from the captivity.

20/19 BC

Temple of Herod

Herod the Great announced to the people assembled at the Passover, 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 Zerubbabel, and beneath them, the more massive foundation of Solomon.

26/27 AD

John 2:20

The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"

When Jesus said that he would rebuild the Temple in three days if it was destroyed, his hearers said that it had taken forty-six years to build the Temple to that point. If one begins from 20/19 BCE, then Jesus' conversation took place around 26/27 AD.