Temple, the Second

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 (Ps. 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 (Hag. 2:3; Zech. 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.

Hag. 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).

• Built on the site of the first temple Ezr 6:2-12
• CYRUS
  • His decree for building, predicted Isa 44:28
  • Gave a decree for building, in the first year of his reign Ezr 1:1,2; 6:3
  • Gave permission to the Jews to go to Jerusalem to build Ezr 1:3
  • Furnished means for building Ezr 6:4
  • Ordered those who remained in Babylon to contribute to the building of Ezr 1:4
  • Gave the vessels of the first temple for Ezr 1:7-11; 6:5
• Divine worship commenced before the foundation was laid Ezr 3:1-6
• Materials for building procured from Tyre and Sidon Ezr 3:7
• Foundation of, laid the second month of second year after the captivity Ezr 3:8
• Solemnities connected with laying the foundation of Ezr 3:9-11
• Its dimensions Ezr 6:3,4
• Grief of those who had seen the first temple Ezr 3:12; Hag 2:3
• Joy of those who had not seen the first temple Ezr 3:13
• THE SAMARITANS
  • Proposed to assist in building Ezr 4:1,2
  • Their help refused by the Jews Ezr 4:3
  • Weakened the hands of the Jews in building Ezr 4:4,5
  • Wrote to Artaxerxes Smerdis to interrupt the building Ezr 4:6-16
  • Procured its interruption for fifteen years Ezr 4:24
• The Jews reproved for not building Hag 1:1-5
• The Jews punished for not persevering in building Hag 1:6,9-11; 2:15,17; Zec 8:10
• The Jews encouraged to proceed in building Hag 1:8; 2:19; Zec 8:9
• Resumed by Zerubbabel and Jeshua Ezr 5:2
• Its completion by Zerubbabel foretold, to encourage the Jews Zec 4:4-10
• Future glory of, predicted Hag 2:7-9
• Tatnai the governor wrote to Darius to know if the building had his sanction Ezr 5:3-17
• The decree of Cyrus found and confirmed by Darius Ezr 6:1,2,6-12
• Finished the third of the twelfth month in the sixth year of Darius Ezr 6:15
• Dedication of, celebrated with joy and thankfulness Ezr 6:16-18
• Repaired and beautified by Herod, which occupied forty-six years Joh 2:20
• The magnificence of its building and ornaments Joh 2:20; Mr 13:1; Lu 21:5
• Beautiful gate of, mentioned Ac 3:2
• Solomon's porch connected with Joh 10:23; Ac 3:11
• CHRIST
  • To appear in Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1
  • Presented in Lu 2:22,27
  • Miraculously transported to a pinnacle of Mt 4:5; Lu 4:9
  • Frequently taught in Mr 14:49
  • Purified, and the commencement of his ministry Joh 2:15-17
  • Purified, at the close of his ministry Mt 21:12,13
  • Predicted its destruction Mt 24:2; Mr 13:2; Lu 21:6
  • The vail of, rent at our Lord's death Mt 27:51
• Separation between the outer or Gentile court and that of the Jews alluded to Eph 2:13,14
• No Gentile allowed to enter the inner courts of Ac 21:27-30
• THE JEWS
  • Prayed without, while the priest offered incense within Lu 1:10; 18:10
  • Considered it blasphemy to speak against Mt 26:61; Ac 6:13; 21:28
  • Desecrated by selling oxen, &c in Joh 2:14
• Desecration of, foretold Da 9:27; 11:31
• Cleansed and rededicated by Judas Maccabaeus after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes Joh 10:22
• Desecrated by the Romans Da 9:27; Mt 24:15