Guide
Early Descriptions of the Jerusalem Temple
2nd Century BCE–3rd Century CE
Restricted
By Carol Bakhos
Echoing an established genre found in the Bible (see 1 Kings 5–7 and 2 Chronicles 3–4), several ancient Jewish authors offered descriptions of the Temple, including its dimensions and layout. Each of these authors—or groups of authors, in the case of the rabbis of the Mishnah—paid particular attention to the specific features of the Temple that most impressed them and the details that they considered most important. For images of the Temple Mount and its environs, see THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Aristeas on the Temple
Letter of Aristeas 83–91, 96–104
Therefore I have explained these things to you, assuming that a description of them was necessary. What follows comprises the journey that we made to Eleazar, but first I will explain the setting of…
Primary Source
Construction and Renovation of the Temple
The Jewish War 5.184–237 (selections)
The temple, as I have said, was situated on a commanding hill. At first the level…
Primary Source
The Temple Courts
Against Apion 2.103–107
[The Temple] had four surrounding porticos, and every one of these maintained its own protection in accordance with the law. It used to be permitted for anyone to enter the outer court, even…
Primary Source
Herod’s Renovation of the Temple
Jewish Antiquities 15.391–425
Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities includes a detailed account of Herod’s renovation of the Temple in the late first century BCE. See also “Renovation of the Temple” and the jerusalem temple.
Primary Source
Rabbinic Descriptions of the Second Temple Structure
m. Middot 1–5 (selections)
1:3. There were five gates to the Temple Mount: the two Huldah Gates on the south, which were used for both entrance and exit; the Kiponus Gate on the west, which was used for both entrance and exit…
Primary Source
The Mishnah on the Women’s Balcony
m. Sukkah 5:2
At the conclusion of the first festival day of Sukkot, they [the people] descended to the Women’s Court, and they would make there a great preparation. There were golden candelabras there with four…