X-Dreamers · Lab sheet

The Temple Mount in Jesus' Day

Climb the southern steps, cross the Court of the Gentiles and stand before the sanctuary of Herod's Temple, where Jesus taught, overturned tables and foretold its fall.

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Key facts

Herod's platform measured about 485 × 470 × 315 × 280 m; its retaining walls, including the Western Wall, still stand.
Gentiles could enter the outer court but not the inner courts; a low balustrade carried warning stones, and two of them survive.
The Royal Stoa ran along the south side with 162 columns in four rows; the money-changers most likely worked there.
Jewish women could go no further than the Court of Women, where the treasury chests stood and the widow gave her two small coins.
The sanctuary was about 100 cubits high and wide at the front, covered with plates of gold.
The Temple was destroyed by Roman forces in AD 70, as Jesus had foretold (Mark 13:1–2).

Key verses

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mark 11:17 · King James Version

1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mark 13:1–2 · King James Version

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Luke 2:49 · King James Version

Talk about it

Jesus said, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer”, yet the nations' court was full of trade. What crowds out prayer in our churches?
The disciples admired the great stones; Jesus said not one would be left on another. What do we admire that will not last?
Walls and gates kept people at different distances from God's house. How does the New Testament speak about that wall coming down (Ephesians 2:14)?

How sure can we be?

The Bible says

Jesus taught in the Temple courts, overturned the tables and spoke of its fall; the Gospels name Solomon's Porch.

Our reconstruction

The plan follows Josephus, the Mishnah and excavation; the platform, the southern steps and Robinson's Arch are strongly supported.
Roofs, ceilings, the number of ritual baths and the size of the Antonia Fortress are reconstructed or illustrative.

Still debated

The exact site of the sanctuary on the Mount, which gate Acts calls “Beautiful”, and where the “pinnacle” was.