the site of the temple

8/13/2019 The Site of the Temple

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-site-of-the-temple 1/14

Associates for Scriptural Knowledge • P.O. Box 25000, Portland, OR !2 "#0 0 $SA% ASK, Septe&'er 20() • All rig*ts reser+ed • u&'er 9/13

Telephone: 503 292 4352Internet: www.as-el&.co&

E-Mail: as-office as-el&.co&

In Search of King Solomon ! Tem '/ eorge 1esle/ Buc*anan, P*. ., 3itt. ., .S.3., 4une 200

o&position '/ a+id Sielaff, Septe&'er 20()

Read t*e acco&pan/ing ewsletter for Septe&'er 20()

E"itor ! #ote: 6*is article was reprinted fro& eorge 1esle/ Buc*anan7s2) page 'oo-let wit* per&ission fro& A89$, A&ericans for 8iddle 9ast$nderstanding, www.a&eu.org .

ASK reprinted two ot*er articles '/ Professor Buc*anan, 'ot* of w*ic*gi+e powerful e+idence supporting t*e correct site of t*e 6e&ples in4erusale&: ; 6*e 6ower of Siloa& < in ece&'er 200), and ; Running1ater in t*e 6e&ple of =ion < in 4anuar/ 2005. DWS

I $a! !tan"ing alone in the Ki"ron %alle& at the e"ge of 'er(!alem) ga*ing at the l+an, of the alle&) at the place $here the Spring of Siloam (!e" to po(r o(t ton!into .e*e,iah ! T(nnel I ha" +een there man& time! +efore) +(t I ne er +efore hali,e that I !(""enl& remem+ere" E*e,iel chapter 4 an" reali*e" that the templeha e +een locate" right there near the Spring of Siloam an" not (p the hill in thea+o(t 1)000 feet to the north $here the ome of the oc, an" l- !a Mo! (e ar

6*is was +er/ i&portant. > *ad ?ust co&e fro& exa&ining t*e ruins of t*e 6ower of Siloa&, a'out 500feet to t*e sout* and *ad not foreseen t*is experience as part of &/ itinerar/.

6*e reason t*is was so surprising was t*at t*e o&e of t*e Roc-, also -nown as t*e @ara& al#S*ariff or o'le Sanctuar/, *as 'een 'elie+ed for &ore t*an (,000 /ears to 'e on t*e +er/ place w*ere Solo&on7ste&ple was originall/ located. >t is t*e oldest extant >sla&ic 'uilding in t*e world, w*ose construction wasco&pleted in ( A .

6*ere are ultra#Ort*odox 4ews toda/ w*o are intent on re'uilding t*e te&ple, e+en if t*at &eansdestro/ing Al#A sa and t*e o&e of t*e Roc-. 6*is &a-es t*is )5#acre plot of land argua'l/ t*e &ostexplosi+e tinder'ox in t*e world. 6*is was part of $pper 4erusale& t*at is +er/ popular toda/, and t*eancient places were *eld to 'e located as s*own *ere. See Cigure (:



2

(. 6*e itadel of a+id was +er/ close to t*e 4affa ate.

2. 8ount =ion was t*e tallest point of t*e $pper it/,across t*e @inoa& Dalle/ fro& t*e *urc* ofScotland.

). 6*e roo& w*ere 4esus conducted t*e 3ast Supper was

across t*e road fro& t*e place we *ad called 8ount =ion.E. 6*e 6e&ple 8ount w*ere all t*ree of t*e te&ples of

4erusale& *ad 'een erected was t*e large *ea+il/walled area w*ere t*e o&e of t*e Roc- and Al#A sa 8os ue are stationed. 8usli&s call t*is t*e@ara& al#S*ariff.

5. 4ust off t*e nort*west corner of t*e @ara& al#S*ariff to t*e nort* are t*e ruins of a s&all 'uild#ing t*at *as 'een called t*e Ro&an Cortress ofAntonia. 6*e entire cit/ of 4erusale& was called

'ot* ;=ion< and ;t*e it/ of a+id.<6*is is t*e concept of 4erusale& t*at pro&pted @ers*el

S*an-s, founder of t*e Bi'lical Arc*aeolog/ Societ/, to sa/,;9+er/t*ing /ou e+er -new a'out 4erusale& is wrong.< (

6*e Kidron Dalle/ w*ere > was standing, on t*e ot*er*and, *as not 'een well de+eloped. So&e &aps of 4erusale& donot e+en include it, 'ut &ore t*an fort/ /ears ago t*e 9nglis* arc*aeologist Kat*leen Ken/on clai&ed t*iss&all unattracti+e ridge was t*e entire it/ of a+id 'efore it was destro/ed in !0 A .

> *a+e li+ed in 4erusale& at different ti&es and was t*ere in ( !, ?ust a few /ears after Ken/on exposeda part of t*e 4e'usite wall t*at surrounded 4erusale& w*en a+id too- t*e cit/ near t*e end of t*e (( t* cen#tur/ B . Cro& t*is and ot*er arc*aeological finds, Ken/on concluded t*at t*e it/ of a+id excluded all oft*e popular $pper it/ of 4erusale&. >t consisted onl/ of t*is (0#acre ridge alongside of t*e Kidron Dalle/.At first, &ost of us were rat*er s*oc-ed at t*e suggestion and wondered *ow t*at could 'e, 'ut soon &ostsc*olars agreed wit* *er, and arc*aeologists were encouraged to continue directing t*eir attention to t*isridge. >, too, agreed wit* Ken/on and went down to t*e Kidron Dalle/ to see so&e of t*e ruins for &/self.

> did not co&e to 4erusale& to see t*e it/ of a+id, 'ut > *ad learned t*at arc*aeologists *ad onl/recentl/ disco+ered a wall near'/ t*at was 5,000 /ears old, and t*at ena'led t*e& to identif/ so&e ruins ast*ose 'elonging to t*e 6ower of Siloa& reported in 3u-e c*apter (). 8/ purpose in co&ing to 4erusale&was to exa&ine t*ese ruins on t*e western 'an- of t*e Kidron Dalle/. 6*e ruins *ad 'een first unco+ered in( 20 '/ t*e Crenc* arc*aeologist Ra/&ond 1eill, a &e&'er of t*e first 4ewis* arc*aeological initiati+e in4erusale&. At t*at ti&e, *e did not -now w*at t*e/ were, listing t*e& onl/ as ;a circular structure.< 1*ent*e arc*aeologists 9li S*u-ron of t*e >srael Anti uities Aut*orit/ and Ronn/ Reic* of t*e $ni+ersit/ of@aifa disco+ered a wall &ore t*an 5,000 /ears old t*at *ad once circu&scri'ed t*e ridge for&ing t*e west#ern 'an- of t*e Kidron Dalle/, t*e/ realiFed t*at t*is circular structure, wit* its interior dia&eter of ( feet,constituted t*e re&ains of t*e 6ower of Siloa&. 6*e old wall &ade t*e identification certain.

But it was not t*e old wall t*at *eld &/ attention. >t was t*e 6ower of Siloa&. 6*e onl/ ti&e t*e 6owerof Siloa& is actuall/ &entioned in t*e ew 6esta&ent is in 3u-e ():(G5. 4esus was 'eing uestioned a'out

( @. S*an-s, ;9+er/t*ing Hou 9+er Knew a'out 4erusale& >s 1rong,< Biblical Archaeology Review 25. I( J:20G2 , and ;>li&'ed 1arren7s S*aft,< Biblical Archaeology Review 25. I( J: )0G)5. GWB



)

suffering and t*e connection 'etween natural and &oral good and e+il t*e text reads:

“They were going along at that time when some of them mentioned the Galileans whose bloodPilate mixed with their sacrifices. He answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans werethe worst criminals of all Galileans, because they suffered this way !o, but " tell you, if youdo not re#ent all of you will likewise #erish.$ %r those &' on whom the Tower of (iloam fell andkilled them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who li)ed in *eru+

salem !o, " tell you, but unless you re#ent all of you will likewise #erish.• Luke 13:1–5

6*is text was preser+ed in two c*reias L a literar/ for& t*at was not designed to tell an/t*ing new. >twas used onl/ to re&ind readers of so&et*ing t*e/ alread/ -new. *reias were ?ust re&inders. 6*e alile#ans w*ose 'lood Pilate &ixed wit* t*eir sacrifices are now*ere else &entioned in scripture or surroundingliterature. 3i-ewise, t*e (" w*o were -illed w*en t*e 6ower of Siloa& fell are &entioned now*ere else.Bot* e+ents occurred around 4erusale&, not far fro& one anot*er, during 4esus7 &inistr/, w*en Pilate wast*e Ro&an go+ernor I2 G) A J.

1e don7t -now all t*e details: 1*o were t*ese alileansM 1*o were t*e (" on w*o& t*e tower fellM1ere t*e/ 'ot* in+ol+ed in an insurrection against t*e Ro&ans, of w*ic* t*ere were &an/M 6*e detailsaren7t gi+en, 'ecause t*e/ didn7t need to 'e gi+en. >t was t*at da/7s ;*ot news.< 6*ese reports were writtendown at a ti&e w*en t*e people w*o read t*e c*reias -new t*e details, 'ut not e+er/one in t*e world -newt*e&. 6*ese lines were written for conte&porar/ local people.

ow, 2,000 /ears later, we can see t*e connection 'etween t*e alileans, w*ose 'lood Pilate &ixed wit*t*eir sacrifice in t*e te&ple and t*e (" w*o were -illed w*en t*e near'/ tower fell on t*e&. 6*e ruins oft*is tower *a+e 'een disco+ered inside t*e it/ of a+id, near t*e old wall and a'out 500 feet sout* of t*eSpring of Siloa&, confir&ing t*e +alidit/ of 3u-e ():(GE. > *ad co&e to see t*e ruins of t*e tower, 'ut > wassuddenl/ distracted '/ t*e realiFation t*at t*e te&ple *ad to 'e located +er/ close to t*e spring and t*etower see Cigure 2.

6ig(re 2

The Dome of the Rock(Roman Fortress of

Antonia)

Northern boundaryof the City of David

Spring of Si oam(!ihon)

"atchto#erof Si oam

Temp e $ount($ount %phe )

David&s Citade(used by Syrians)



E

After +iewing t*e footings of t*e tower, > stood in t*e Kidron Dalle/, ?ust 500 feet nort* of t*e tower,and loo-ed at t*e area w*ere t*e Spring of Siloa& ran into @eFe-ia*7s 6unnel, t*e (,!50#foot a ueductcar+ed around !0( B to 'ring water to 4erusale&. Suddenl/, > re&e&'ered a passage in 9Fe-iel E!:(:“-ook The water was #ouring out from under the threshold of the tem#le toward the east. 6*at7s w*en t*einsig*t ca&e to &e: Collow t*e waterN

> -new t*e rest of t*e 9Fe-iel account. >t told t*e wa/ t*e water ran all t*e wa/ down t*e strea&'ed to

t*e ead Sea, w*ere it sweetened t*e salt/ water of t*e ead Sea, so t*at fis* could sur+i+e along t*e west#ern 'an- all t*e wa/ fro& Ain 9glai& to Ain edi. 6*ese were t*e two springs on t*e western s*ore of t*e

ead Sea. 6*e strea&'ed 'egan at t*e Kidron Dalle/ and followed all t*e wa/ to t*e ead Sea, ?ust as9Fe-iel said.

> -new at once t*at 9Fe-iel was descri'ing a situation wit* w*ic* *e was fa&iliar, and *e *ad descri'edit accuratel/. 6*e water fro& t*e two springs near t*e ead Sea would *a+e 'een supple&ented '/ t*e *ugeaddition of water fro& t*e Spring of Siloa& in 9Fe-iel7s da/. 9Fe-iel said t*is was possi'le 'ecause of t*ewater t*at flowed out fro& under t*e te&pleJ. 2 6*is &eant t*e te&ple *ad to *a+e 'een ?ust a'o+e t*atSpring of Siloa& t*at ran under t*e te&ple t*res*old. 6*e text s*ows t*at t*e te&ple and t*e 6ower ofSiloa& were not &ore t*an a cit/ 'loc- apart fro& one anot*er.

> realiFed t*at t*ere was &ore to t*is stor/ t*an > could see at once, 'ut it &eant t*at t*e te&ple could not

*a+e 'een on t*e dr/ *ill a'out (,000 feet to t*e nort* t*at *ad 'een called t*e 6e&ple 8ount. 6*e watert*at supplied t*at unit ca&e onl/ fro& t*e )! cisterns in t*e ground under t*e 'uildings. 6*at is w*en &/researc* 'egan. 8/ next step was to searc* t*e scriptures for &ore references to t*e spring and t*e te&ple.

Biblical Evidence6*e first tent Ita'ernacleJ of od t*at a+id 'roug*t up to 4erusale& was placed rig*t t*ere, near t*e

spring. 9+ents t*at occurred w*ile a+id was d/ing s*ow w*ere *e *ad t*e first tent installed. 1*enAdoni?a* was cele'rating *is succession to t*e t*rone at Ain Rogel L a'out (,000 feet sout* of Ain i*on

L Solo&on, at*an, and t*e priest =ado- were gat*ered at Ain i*on. Ain i*on was t*e earliest na&egi+en to t*e spring t*at was later called t*e Spring of Siloa&. 1*ile t*ere, “/adok, the #riest, took the hornof oil from the tent I( Kings (:) J L t*at is t*e tent of t*e 3ord t*at a+id esta'lis*ed for t*e c*est con#taining t*e co+enant 'etween He*owa* and *is people. @e placed t*e tent ad?acent to t*e altar near Ain

i*on, and Solo&on later *ad t*e te&ple 'uilt at t*e sa&e location. 6*is location is confir&ed '/ ot*ertexts.

6*e te&ple was t*e place w*ere “0ehowah sits o)er the flood, w*ere *e is “enthroned as king for theage IPsal& 2 :(0J. “The )oice of 0ehowah is o)er the water1 the God of glory roars1 0ehowah o)er muchwater IPsal& 2 :)J.

6*e flood was t*e *uge fountain of water pouring tons of watert*roug* @eFe-ia*7s tunnel e+er/ &inute under t*e te&ple.@eFe-ia*7s 6unnel is (,!50 feet long, a'out t*ree feet wide, androug*l/ six feet tall see Cigure ). ICift/ /ears ago t*e water in t*attunnel was 'etween waist and s*oulder deep.J 6*is pro&pted t*e

Psal&ist to write, “There is a ri)er whose streams make glad the cityof God, the holy dwelling #lace of the 2ost High IPsal& E :EJ. 6*e “dwelling #lace of the 2ost High was t*e te&ple positioned near t*estrea&s t*at “make glad the city of God. 6*e it/ of od, of

2 9Fe-iel E!:(:“3fterward he brought me again unto the door of the house1 and, behold, waters issued out from under the

threshold of the house eastward4 for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters camedown from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. DWS

6ig(re 3: The 7ihon 8ater 6lo$



5

course, was t*e it/ of a+id, t*e little ridge alongside of t*e Kidron Dalle/, w*ere water flows freel/ fro&t*e spring.

One of t*e factors t*e prop*et =ec*aria* anticipated in t*e future restoration, w*en He*owa* would 'eco&e -ing o+er all t*e land, was *a+ing “the water of life flowing out from *erusalem I=ec*aria* (E:"G J.6*e 4erusale& *e pictured was =ion, near t*e spring of i*on ISiloa&J L not t*e *ill to t*e nort* t*at later

'eca&e @erod7s cit/.

Si&ilarl/, in t*e ew 6esta&ent, w*en t*e seer of t*e Boo- of Re+elation loo-ed forward to a new 4eru#sale&, *e anticipated a *ea+enl/ cit/ t*at *ad co&e to eart* fro& od in *ea+en, prepared as a 'ride for anew wedding contract. >n t*is new cit/ one of t*e 'asic descriptions was, “The ri)er of the water of life goingout from the throne of God IRe+elation 22:(J. 6*e 6*rone of od was one of t*e na&es gi+en for t*e te&#

ple at =ion. >t was -nown 'ot* in ree- and @e'rew.6*ose w*o *ad co&e up out of great tri'ulation would 'e 'efore t*e “throne of God, w*ere “the -amb

would lead them to the s#rings of the water of life IRe+elation !:(5, (!J. 6*ese “s#rings of the water wereAin i*on and Ain Rogel, t*e two springs at t*e 'ase of t*e te&ple &ount in =ion, w*ere t*e Spring of

i*on strea&ed fro& t*e altar of t*e te&ple down t*e Kidron Dalle/ to t*e sout*. 6*e seer related t*e te&# ple to t*e area near t*e spring of i*on, t*e spring t*at was later called Siloa&.

The Contribution of Ernest Martin> *ad not /et 'egun to stud/ t*e Ro&an *istorian 4osep*us, t*e ra''inic literature, t*e apocr/p*a, pseud#

epigrap*a, or ot*er *istorical reports w*en > saw ad+ertised a new 'oo- '/ r. 9rnest 8artin, The Templesthat Jerusalem Forgot IPortland: ASK Pu'lications, 2000J. > *ad -nown 9rnest 8artin for a'out )0 /ears.Cro& ( 0 to ( !2 *e taug*t *istor/, t*eolog/ and ele&entar/ &eteorolog/ at t*e A&'assador ollege inBric-et 1ood, 9ngland, w*ere *e 'eca&e ean of Cacult/. >n ( (, *e +isited 4erusale& w*ere *e &et>sraeli arc*eologist Ben?a&in 8aFar and *is son, Or/. >t was Or/ w*o told *i& t*at 'ot* *e and *is fat*er

'elie+ed t*at t*e 6e&ple of Solo&on was located on t*e Op*el &ound to t*e nort* of t*e original 8ount=ion. Between ( and ( !), A&'assador ollege partnered wit* @e'rew $ni+ersit/ in >srael to under#ta-e a fi+e#/ear arc*aeological exca+ation near t*e 1estern 1all of t*e 6e&ple 8ount.

After > *ad read a'out *alf wa/ t*roug* *is excellent 'oo-, > p*oned r. 8artin. > was delig*ted to learnt*at *e reac*ed so&e of t*e sa&e conclusions t*at > *ad, 'eginning fro& a different perspecti+e. > agreedwit* *i& t*at Solo&on7s te&ple *ad to *a+e 'een west of t*e Spring of Siloa&, rat*er t*an up on t*e o&eof t*e Roc-. > also t*oug*t a+id7s altar and tent *ad to *a+e 'een *ere. At t*at point, *owe+er, > t*oug*tt*at @erod7s te&ple was pro'a'l/ inside @erod7s cit/, and > told *i& t*at. @e said, ;Read t*e rest of t*e

'oo-,< and > did. @e *ad collected literar/ e+idence, 'ot* conte&porar/ and later 4ewis*, *ristian and8usli& literature, and *ad pro+ed t*at @erod7s te&ple was also down, 'e*ind t*e Spring of Siloa&. > s*ould*a+e realiFed t*at at once, 'ut > did not. As soon as t*e it/ of a+id is -nown as onl/ t*at little ridge, it

'eco&es clear t*at all of t*e te&ples 'elonged t*ere. 6*e o&e of t*e Roc- area is out of 'ounds seeCigure E.

> sent 8artin t*e results of &/ researc* at t*at point, and we were 'ot* t*rilled at t*e notion of wor-ingtoget*er to 'ring t*is insig*t to t*e attention of sc*olars. 1e planned to read papers toget*er at acade&ic

&eetings and pu'lis* toget*er. Our first step was to offer papers at t*e next 8iddle Atlantic States regional&eeting of t*e Societ/ of Bi'lical 3iterature in Balti&ore. @e would present t*e arc*eological e+idence, and> would gi+e t*e 'i'lical e+idence for t*e true location of t*e te&ple. > called *i& to &a-e continued plans

'ut, e+en t*oug* *e *ad four telep*one lines and > called t*e& all, > recei+ed no response. > sent *i& e#&ail&essages, 'ut *e did not repl/. So > offered a paper at t*at &eeting alone.

8artin, > learned, *ad died. 3ater, *is assistant, a+id Sielaff, w*o *as proofread se+eral of t*e paperst*at > deli+ered 'efore acade&ic &eetings and later pu'lis*ed, acco&panied &e to 4erusale& to re+isit t*erele+ant area. 1e were 'ot* in+ited to spea- at t*e $ni+ersit/ of undee, Scotland graduate sc*ool. > alsoread ot*er illustrati+e papers at acade&ic &eetings.



6ig(re 4: epre!entation of .ero" ! Temple +& Erne!t Martin

The pict(re a+o e !ho$! the "e!ign that Martin "irecte" a+o(t ten &ear! ago It i! generam !(re if Martin $ere ali e he $o(l" ma,e !ome of the follo$ing interpretation! an" co

In the pict(re of the ntonia) that tall to$er i! correctl& place" on the SE corner of the .left of the to$er i! the !o(thern $all +et$een the ntonia an" the temple) !ho$ing one !the !tair! The $ailing $all $a! the $e!tern $all The long $all $ith the to$er on one coern $all on the Ki"ron %alle& !i"e The ntonia ha" to$er! on all fo(r corner! The one !feet tall The other three !ho(l" +e !ho$n !ome$hat higher) each +eing 5 feet tall The

ntonia $ere 0 feet tall

Martin ! pict(re !ho$! the temple !ite an" the !pace +et$een the temple an" the ntoni

+ri"ge! connecting the temple to the ntonia) a! !ho$n) there $a! one +ri"ge 45 feet $i!(pporte" $ith t$o ro$! of pillar! I thin, there $o(l" ha e +een more altit("e "ifferenctemple an" the ntonia than Martin !ho$!) an" that the temple $o(l" ha e +een place"en" of the temple !ite rather than the $e!tern t the $e!tern en" $a! pro+a+l& .ero" !$a! ! (are) 5 5 feet in !i*e an" 22 feet tall .ero" ! temple $a! correctl& !ho$n a!torie! high) taller than the !(rro(n"ing $all!

>&&ediatel/ after 9aster, 200!, > went again to 4erusale& and spent se+eral da/s ta-ing pictures, c*ec-#ing distances and &easure&ents, co&paring t*e wor- of arc*aeologists wit* t*e facts on t*e ground and t*ea+aila'le literature and *istor/ of t*e area.

But it is nor&al for people to 'e slow in gi+ing up old notions e+en after t*e/ *a+e new data. Ken/on

*erself continued to t*in- t*at a+id7s itadel was near t*e 4affa ate. But 8ount =ion, a+id7s itadel,and t*e 6e&ple 8ount all 'elonged inside of t*at little ridge of land t*at was t*e it/ of a+id. 6*is &a-esit necessar/ to start all o+er again and reexa&ine t*e disco+eries of arc*aeologists and t*e literature relatedto 4erusale& in order to learn w*at was told a'out t*ese units in Bi'lical ti&es.

Changes with HistoryPart of t*e reason t*at it too- so &an/ /ears for an arc*aeologist li-e Ken/on to recogniFe t*e

i&portance of t*at s&all 'od/ of land as t*e earlier fa&ous it/ of a+id is t*at it does not appear +er/attracti+e toda/. >t endured se+eral significant c*anges o+er t*e centuries.

6e&ple SiteBridge 'etween

Cortress and 6e&ple

Kidron Dalle/ Sout*east 6ower

1ailing 1all

Cort Antonia



!

• 6*e >sraelites captured it fro& t*e 4e'usites so&eti&e around (000 B , w*en a+id was -ing.

• uring t*e " t* centur/ B , @eFe-ia* 'uilt *is *uge tunnel fro& t*e spring to a pool in t*e 6/ropoeonDalle/.

• uring t*e 8acca'ean period, t*e S/rians too- control of t*e citadel, t*e point fro& w*ic* it controlledt*e entire cit/. 4ews *ated t*at intrusion, and as soon as t*e @as&onean, Si&on, gained freedo& fro&

S/ria in (E2 B , *e spent t*ree /ears re&o+ing t*e entire *ill, down to 'edroc-, du&ping t*e roc-s andsoil into t*e 6/ropoeon Dalle/ and filling in t*e can/on 'etween =ion and t*e ridge to t*e west. 6*etall 8ount =ion t*at *ad 'een t*e tallest part of t*e ridge and cit/ was re&o+ed and t*e area t*at wasfor&erl/ 8ount =ion 'eca&e t*e lower cit/.

• >n !0 A , t*e Ro&an soldiers destro/ed t*is cit/ so co&pletel/ t*at no one would e+er realiFe t*at acit/ *ad 'een t*ere.

• And after t*e Bar oc*'a Re+olt, t*e Ro&an e&peror, @adrian, co&pleted t*e desolation in ()5 A '/ordering t*at t*e cit/ 'eco&e a place w*ere t*e tras* and gar'age fro& t*e upper cit/ would 'e t*rown.

Bac- w*en t*e 4e'usites first &o+ed into t*is area, *owe+er, t*e/ recogniFed its potential and de+eloped

it wonderfull/. Cro& nature t*e/ in*erited a s&all, (Et*

centur/ B stone ridge on t*e Kidron Dalle/ side,and a perpendicular sin-*ole, a'out E0 feet deep 'etween t*e spring and t*e center of t*e ridge. 6*e/ deep#ened t*e cliff on t*e nort* to &a-e it a deep &oat wit* a wall to t*e sout* of it. According to t*e ree-*istorian Stra'o I E ) B G2E A J, t*e 8acca'ees &ade t*is &oat 0 feet deep. 6*e 4e'usites raised walls(05 feet tall on all t*ree sides of t*e ridge. 6*en t*e/ filled in t*e spaces 'etween t*e walls and t*e ridgewit* roc-s and stones, &a-ing t*e entire cit/ one solid wall see Cigure 5.

6ig(re 5: The 'e+(!ite 8all

6*is was t*e foundation t*at t*e aut*or of @e'rews c*apters (G(2 descri'ed to *is &onaster/ 'rot*ers

w*en *e re&inded t*e&, “0ou ha)e come to /ion, 5ity of the God of life, hea)enly *erusalem. =ion, *e said,was t*e “5ity that had the foundations, whose builder and maker was God. 1*at ot*er cit/ was artificiall/constructed on a foundation suc* as t*isM

6*e 4e'usites 'uilt on t*e floor of t*is tall, solid foundation. 6*ere was no source of water on t*e top oft*at foundation, 'ut t*e/ *ad plans to correct t*at pro'le&. Between t*e spring and t*e ridge t*ere was adeep, natural, perpendicular sin- *ole, a'out fort/ feet deep and 'ig enoug* for a person to crawl t*roug*.6*e/ dug a deep tunnel t*roug* t*at roc-/ ridge fro& t*e floor of t*e cit/ to t*e top of t*e sin-*ole. 6*ent*e/ dug anot*er tunnel at t*e 'otto& of t*e sin-*ole t*at connected it to t*e spring t*at *ad poured out allt*at water into t*e Kidron Dalle/. 6*e/ di+erted t*e spring so t*at t*e water would flow up t*e s*aft,

Walls

Floor of the City

Fill (Melloh)

Ridge



"

t*roug* t*e tunnel, to 'ring fres* water up to t*e floor of t*e cit/, fro& w*ic* it could 'e piped to cisternsw*ere+er t*e/ needed it, wit* t*e surplus flowing down to t*e ead Sea.

6*e sin-*ole is now called ;1arren7s S*aft,< na&ed after t*e 9nglis* arc*aeologist *arles 1arrenw*o first disco+ered it in t*e (" 0s. 8an/ people *a+e wal-ed t*roug* t*e upper tunnel and *a+e seen;1arren7s S*aft< see Cigure .

6ig(re : 8arren ! Shaft

At first sig*t, t*e/ usuall/ dou't t*at t*ere could e+er 'e a spring wit* enoug* power to force water allt*e wa/ up fro& t*e spring to t*e top of t*e tunnel. 6*at is t*e nor&al first response. But t*e literature isconsistent. 6*ere was water 'roug*t up to t*e floor of t*at cit/. 6*at is 'ecause t*e *uge spring t*at pouredout tons of water e+er/ &inute was a sip*on spring. Of all t*e springs in t*e world t*ere are onl/ )0, a'out 2

per cent, t*at are sip*on springs to +ar/ing degrees. >n t*ese cases, t*ere is so&ew*ere upstrea& a su'terra#nean ca+ern, and it is connected downstrea& '/ a ;pipe< or crac- t*at is roug*l/ an upside#down $, li-e

t*is s*ape: . 6*e water feeds into t*e ca+ern slowl/. Once t*e water le+el reac*es t*e top of t*e upside#down $, t*e water is sip*oned out of t*e ca+ern until it reac*es t*e inlet t*at 'rea-s t*e suction. 6*is was a*uge spring, strong enoug* to fill 1arren7s S*aft and 'ring water up to t*e top of t*e ridge.

us*ers, li-e Old Cait*ful in 1/o&ing and t*e Spring of Siloa& at =ion, are related to sip*on springsand are not restricted in t*e extent of t*eir flow to t*e i&&ediatel/ surrounding sea le+el. An/one w*o *asseen Old Cait*ful -nows t*at water can 'e forced to a great *eig*t, regardless of t*e local sea le+el L notonl/ '/ stea& 'ut also '/ sip*on power.

6o 'e a'le to force water to t*e top of t*e ridge, t*ere would *a+e to 'e an airtig*t, watertig*t s/ste&, ast*ere o'+iousl/ is for a sip*on spring. And we -now fro& Aristeas, t*e e&issar/ of King Ptole&/ to Pales#tine in t*e ) rd 2nd centur/ B , t*at t*ere was an ;inex*austi'le< spring water s/ste&, gus*ing into t*e te&plefor sacrifices at t*e it/ of a+id. )

6*is report of Aristeas is supported '/ t*e earlier I500 /earsJ scriptural report of @eFe-ia*7s tunnel.1*en it was constructed, @eFe-ia* *ad to cut off “the u##er outlet of the water of the Gihon I2 *ronicles)2:)0J. 6*ere was 'ot* an upper outlet and a lower outlet for t*e Spring of i*on 'efore @eFe-ia* con#

) ;6*e 3etter of Aristeas< (:""G" , *arles7 ed. I( ()J.“The Tem#le faces the east and its back is toward the west. The whole of the floor is #a)ed with stones and

slo#es down to the a##ointed #laces, that water may be con)eyed to wash away the blood from the sacrifices,for many thousand beasts are sacrificed there on the feast days. 3nd there is an inexhaustible su##ly of water,because an abundant natural s#ring gushes u# from 6"TH"! the tem#le area. DWS



structed t*e tunnel. 6*e upper outlet too- t*e water up 1arren7s S*aft and t*e 4e'usite tunnel to t*e top oft*e ridge. 6*e lower tunnel, now called t*e 6unnel of Siloa&, ran along t*e 'otto& of t*e ridge fro& t*espring to t*e sout* end of t*e ridge. @eFe-ia* planned *is tunnel so t*at t*e water would run down to *istunnel and a+oid t*e ot*er lower tunnel, 'ut *e *ad to 'loc- off t*e upper outlet t*at *ad 'een 'ringingwater up to t*e te&ple area.

6*e sacrifices at t*e te&ple could ne+er *a+e depended on rainwater cisterns, suc* as t*ose )! cisterns

esta'lis*ed at t*e site of toda/7s o&e of t*e Roc- and Al#A sa 8os ue. Aristeas said t*at t*e waters/ste& was under t*e te&ple and t*at it was ;indescri'a'l/< well de+eloped, wit* lead#lined, plastered cis#terns, and countless pipes. Running water could 'e *eard underground e+en fro& t*e surface, directingwater to t*e +arious places t*e cit/ needed. E Aristeas furt*er explained *ow t*e landscape of t*e te&ple areawas designed wit* pa+ed stones and gutters to carr/ awa/ t*e 'lood was*ed down fro& t*e sacrifices. 5

Cro& t*e Boo- of 9noc*, written 'etween 200 B and (00 B , we read t*at t*e prop*et clai&ed to *a+eseen t*e *ol/ &ountain wit* a strea& t*at flowed underneat* t*at &ountain toward t*e sout* I( 9noc*2 :2G)J. 6*ere is no suc* strea& flowing underneat* t*e o&e of t*e Roc-. @eFe-ia*7s tunnel does notflow nort*. 6*e *ol/ &ountain was o'+iousl/ t*e 6e&ple 8ount, located ?ust a'o+e Ain i*on. 6*is is t*elocation of w*ic* 9Fe-iel spo-e, w*ere t*e strea& t*at flowed underneat* t*e &ountain also flowed under#neat* t*e te&ple near Siloa&. 6*is suggests t*at part of t*e te&ple was 'uilt o+er t*e spring or else t*e

te&ple was so close to t*e spring t*at water could 'e directed fro& it into t*e te&ple itself.6*e 6e&ple Scroll gi+es directions for esta'lis*ing a place near t*e te&ple w*ere priests could c*ange

t*eir gar&ents, 'at*e, and c*ange into priestl/ gar&ents 'efore participating in t*e te&ple ser+ices. 6*is 'at**ouse re uired flowing water wit* a canal around it so t*e 'at* water, li-e t*e 'lood, could flow awa/into a drain t*at escaped into t*e ground I(( 6 )2:((G(5J. ! 6*is &ixture s*ould not 'e touc*ed 'efore it+anis*ed into t*e ground, 'ecause it would 'e defiled wit* 'lood. Ra''is said it would flow into t*e 'roo-Kidron I mMiddoth ):2J. "

6*e >sraeli arc*aeologist Higael Hadin noticed t*at t*ere was a great deal of agree&ent a&ong t*esources regarding t*e necessit/ of flowing water for sacrifices, 'ut *e e+identl/ did not t*in- of all t*e ra&i#fications related to *is disco+er/. @e continued to t*in- of t*e @ara& Al#S*ariff as t*e 6e&ple 8ount,

E ;6*e 3etter of Aristeas< (:" G 0:“There are moreo)er wonderful and indescribable cisterns underground, as they #ointed out to me, at a

distance of fi)e furlongs all round the site of the tem#le, and each of them has countless #i#es so that thedifferent streams con)erge together. 3nd all these were fastened with lead at the bottom and at the sidewalls,and o)er them a great 7uantity of #laster had been s#read, and e)ery #art of the work had been most carefullycarried out. There are many o#enings for water at the base 8of the altar9 which are in)isible to all exce#t tothose who are engaged in the ministration, so that all the blood of the sacrifices which is collected in great7uantities is washed away in the twinkling of an eye. DWS

5 See note ) a'o+e. DWS ( 9noc* 2 :2G), *arles7 ed. I( ()J:

“3nd there " saw a holy mountain, and underneath the mountain to the east there was a stream and it flowedtowards the south. 3nd " saw towards the east another mountain higher than this, and between them a dee#and narrow ra)ine4 in it also ran a stream underneath the mountain. DWS

! 6e&ple Scroll:“3bo)e the house of the ... when they come to minister in the sanctuary. 0ou shall make a trench around the

la)er beside its house and the trench shall go 8from the house of9 the la)er to a ca)ity. "t shall descend8ra#id9ly to the ground where the water shall flow and disa##ear. "t shall not be touched by any man for it ismingled with the blood of the holocaust. DWS

" Mish ah Middoth ):2, an'/ translation:“3nd at the south+western corner there were two holes like two narrow nostrils by which the blood that was

#oured o)er the western base and the southern base used to run down and mingle in the water+channel andflow out into the brook :idron. DWS

H. Hadin Ied.J, The Temple Scroll I4erusale&: 6*e >srael 9xploration Societ/, ( ")J, >, 222. GWB



(0

w*ere t*ere is no water flowing. All of t*is literature s*ows t*at t*e 6e&ple 8ount is reall/ 8ount Op*el,near t*e Spring of Siloa&.

Still, we &ust as- t*e uestion: >s t*ere an/ e+idence to s*ow t*at t*e 6e&ple 8ount is under Al#A sa8os ue and t*e o&e of t*e Roc-M

The Antonia1*en @erod 'eca&e -ing Iaround 20 B J, t*e Ro&ans too- control of Palestine. 8ore t*an a centur/

earlier, t*e S/rians *ad strengt*ened a+id7s citadel and used it to su'due t*e 4ews of t*e it/ of a+id.@erod wanted to &a-e t*e cit/ su'?ect to t*e Ro&ans in t*e sa&e wa/ t*e S/rians *ad done &ore t*an a*undred /ears 'efore, 'ut t*e citadel was no longer t*ere. 8ount =ion itself was gone, so @erod was not&oti+ated to reesta'lis* all of t*at, 'ut *e wanted to control t*e it/ of a+id. @e turned *is attention to t*eBaris, a fortress t*at t*e 8acca'ees *ad constructed, t*at was located in a 'etter place and was &uc*stronger t*an a+id7s itadel. 6*e Baris was in a c*oice position for controlling t*e cit/. >t was a'out 00feet nort* of t*e it/ of a+id, and &ore t*an 200 feet *ig*er in altitude.

@erod na&ed *is fortress after *is patron 8ar- Anton/, and it was one of *is crowning ac*ie+e&ents,reflecting t*e grandeur of *is nati+e a'ilit/. 8uc* larger t*an t*e S/rian citadel *ad e+er 'een, its location,*owe+er, could not pro+ide fres* water as Ain Rogel *ad supplied for a+id7s citadel, or t*e Spring ofSiloa& t*at supplied water for t*e te&ple. So eit*er t*e 8acca'eans or @erod *ad )! cisterns installed to

pro+ide water for t*e troops. 6*is was t*e nor&al solution for fortresses wit*out direct water suppl/ fro&springs or underground water +eins.

6*e Antonia *ad all of t*e necessities of a cit/ and rese&'led a palace in spaciousness. >t *ad nu&erousroo&s and apart&ents of e+er/ -ind, including cloisters, 'at*s, and large court/ards for t*e acco&&odationof troops. 6*at &eant t*at t*e troops were uartered t*ere. 4osep*us said t*at t*e Ro&ans ;alwa/s< -ept aw*ole legion of soldiers t*ere. (0

4osep*us also noted t*at w*en @erod 'uilt t*e Antonia *e used stones in t*e walls t*at were )0 feet long,(5 feet wide, and !Q feet deep. 8ost sc*olars used to t*in- 4osep*us *ad exaggerated t*e facts, 'ut t*at istrue no longer. Since t*e >sraeli arc*aeologist Ben?a&in 8aFar7s exca+ation, t*ese stones are t*ere fore+er/one to see, precisel/ t*e siFe t*e Ro&an *istorian descri'ed. One is e+en E2Q feet long. 4osep*usdescri'ed t*ese stones not as t*ose to 'e used for t*e te&ple, 'ut for t*e Ro&an fortress. @ere t*e/ are fore+er/one to see, and t*ose w*o see t*e& -now t*at t*is was t*e Antonia and not t*e 6e&ple 8ount.

6*ere was a wide 'ridge t*at ?oined t*e Antonia to t*e te&ple and stairs t*at led down to t*is 'ridgefro& t*e Antonia t*at ena'led Ro&an guards to co&e down t*e stairs and cross t*e 'ridge to t*e te&ple to

pre+ent an/ -ind of re'ellion, suc* as t*e one t*at occurred w*en Pilate &ixed t*e 'lood of t*e alileanswit* t*eir sacrifices. (( 6*ese were t*e stairs t*at went under Ro'inson7s arc* at t*e sout*western corner oft*e @ara&. 6*e Ro&ans needed troops to deal wit* all of t*e &ilitar/ resistance in 4erusale&. 6*e/ werenot in 4erusale& to defend it fro& outside ene&ies. 6*e/ were t*e outside ene&ies. 6*e/ were t*e in+adersw*o *ad entered t*e area and occupied t*e countr/ '/ force. 4ews resented t*eir presence and would *a+edri+en t*e& out if t*e/ *ad not 'een securel/ defended 'ot* '/ t*e Ro&an troops and t*e fortress.

1*en t*e @ara& was t*oug*t to 'e t*e 6e&ple 8ount, t*e Sisters of =ion, a at*olic order of nuns w*o

exca+ated t*e s&all 'uilding ?ust off t*e nort*west corner of t*e @ara&, declared t*at t*eir little 'uildingwas t*e Ro&an Cortress. But it could not *old e+en 00 troops, &uc* less ,000, as t*e Ro&ans alwa/s -eptin t*e Antonia. >t was also at t*e sa&e le+el as t*e @ara&, so t*e troops could not *a+e gone down to t*e@ara&. 6*ere is no roo& 'etween t*at little 'uilding and t*e @ara& for a 'ridge to *a+e 'een 'uilt. 6*eonl/ siFes, descriptions, and locations t*at fit t*e literature are t*ose t*at place t*e te&ple 'e*ind t*e Spring

(0 4osep*us, Wars o! the Jews 5:2EE, 1*iston translation: “; for there always lay in this tower a <oman legion ree-,tagma . DWS

(( 3u-e ():( and 4osep*us, A ti"uities o! the Jews ( : 0G 2. DWS



((

of Siloa& and t*e Ro&an fortress 00 feet to t*e nort* and &ore t*an 200 feet *ig*er in altitude.Cro& t*e deat* of @erod until t*e end of t*e 4ewis*#Ro&an war in 4erusale& I!0 A J, t*ousands of

4ews foug*t t*ousands of Ro&ans. >n A , 4ews grew so s-illful, &ilitaril/, t*at t*e/ &assacred t*eRo&ans in t*e Antonia and too- o+er t*e fortress. 6*e Ro&ans 'roug*t in four legions of foot soldiers and*undreds of ca+alr/ and spent four /ears in siege to regain control of t*e Antonia. 6*e Antonia is t*e onl/

place in 4erusale& w*ere t*at &an/ soldiers could *a+e 'een uartered.

8oreo+er, arc*aeologists *a+e disco+ered no ruins in t*e @ara& t*at &ig*t *a+e 'elonged to t*e te&ple.>nstead, t*e/ *a+e found an i&age of a soldier on a *orse, a 'ric- wit* t*e &ar- of t*e (0 t* legion on it, andan i&age of 8ars, t*e Ro&an god of war. 6*e/ *a+e also found in t*e @ara& an inscription once car+edo+er an arc*, *onoring 6itus and Despasian for t*eir leaders*ip in t*e war of G!2 A . 6*is would not*a+e 'een &ade until t*e war was o+er in !2 A . Anot*er inscription t*at was intended to fit on t*e interiorwall of t*e @ara& *onored @adrian, t*e Ro&an e&peror w*o defeated Bar oc*'a in t*e re+olt t*at endedin ()5 A .

6*e te&ple was one of t*e earliest 'uildings destro/ed in t*e it/ of a+id Iaround !0 A J. 6*eseinscriptions were &ade and installed after t*e te&ple *ad 'een destro/ed. 6*e/ could not *a+e 'elonged to anon#existent te&ple. 6*e/ were onl/ appropriate in a Ro&an fortress, t*e Antonia. 6*e answer to t*e ues#tion, ;>s t*ere an/ e+idence t*at t*e @ara& was e+er t*e 6e&ple 8ountM< t*e answer is clearl/, ; oN<

After t*e Ro&ans finall/ regained control of t*e Antonia, t*e war was nearl/ o+er. 6*e 4ews fled to t*ete&ple and set it on fire. At t*at ti&e 4osep*us said t*e 4ewis* general, Si&on, and a few of *is soldiers fledunderground. 6*en 4osep*us said, after t*e/ were sufficientl/ star+ed Si&on reappeared a'o+e ground andsurrendered at t*e +er/ place w*ere t*e te&ple *ad for&erl/ stood. 6*is is t*e &ost precise location of t*ete&ple t*at is reported. Si&on *ad o'+iousl/ 'een *iding in t*at tunnel t*at nor&all/ 'roug*t water up tot*e it/ of a+id and t*e te&ple. (2

1*at *appened to t*e water in t*at tunnelM 6*at is easil/ explained. 1it* t*ousands of Ro&an soldiersin t*e @ara&, Pilate -new *e could not rel/ on )! cisterns to pro+ide all t*e water re uired, so *e 'roug*twater fro& sout* of Bet*le*e& t*roug* anats () and pipes. 6*is angered t*e 4ews, 'ecause Pilate used te&#

ple funds to finance t*e pro?ect, and *e pro'a'l/ directed t*e water onl/ to t*e Antonia. (E So&eti&e aftert*e second te&ple *ad 'een 'uilt, t*ere was alread/ an a ueduct s/ste& directed to 4erusale&. Pilate pro'a#

'l/ extended t*at s/ste& to t*e @ara&. 6*at would *a+e di+erted t*at s/ste& fro& t*e cit/ and 'roug*t t*ewater onl/ to t*e Antonia. Recentl/, >sraeli arc*aeologist A&i*ai 8aFar *as traced t*at a ueduct to 4erusa#le& and con?ectured t*at it entered t*e @ara& o+er 1ilson7s Arc*.

uring t*e last /ear of t*e war, t*ere was a serious droug*t in 4erusale&. 6*e Ro&an *istorian assiusio said t*at all of t*e cisterns in t*e @ara& were dr/, and water *ad to 'e *auled fro& ot*er fortresses in

t*e cit/ IBoo- 5J. (5 And 4osep*us said t*at e+en t*e Spring of Siloa& stopped flowing, 'ut t*e Ro&ans

(2 Wars o! the Jews !:25G) . DWS() anats are re&ar-a'le s/ste&s for ancient water deli+er/, used widel/ in t*e 8iddle 9ast. See t*e article ; anats< at

*ttp: water*istor/.org *istories anats . DWS(E 4osep*us, A ti"uities o! the Jews (": 0:

“=ut Pilate undertook to bring an a7ueduct *erusalem, and did it with the sacred money, and took the water ofthe stream from the distance of twenty+fi)e miles. Howe)er, the *ews >a? were not #leased with what had beendone about this water1 and many ten thousands of the #eo#le got together, and made a clamor against him,and insisted that he should sto# that design. (ome of them, also, used re#roaches, and abused the man, ascrowds of such #eo#le usually do. DWS

(5 assius io, Roma #istory$ Boo- 5.E.5 :“; the <omans suffered most hardshi# from the lack of water1 for their su##ly was of #oor 7uality and had to

be brought from a distance. The *ews found in their underground #assages a source of strength1 for they hadthese tunnels dug from inside the city and extending out under the walls to distant #oints in the country, andgoing out through them, they would attack the <omans@ water+carriers and harass any scattered detachments.=ut Titus sto##ed u# all these #assages. DWS



()

fro& all o+er t*e world '/ t*e t*ousands to wors*ip at t*e western wall. (! 6*e/ 'elie+e t*at od will listento t*eir pra/ers, 'ecause *is presence is ?ust on t*e ot*er side of t*e wall. ow, t*e e+idence infor&s us t*aton t*e ot*er side of t*at wall dwelt 8ars, t*e Ro&an god of war. 8ista-es are a part of life. 6*e/ can 'ecorrected.

The "#$ortance of LocationA front page article in t*e 8a/ (0, 200 Sunda/ edition of The &ew 'or% Times$ pages A.( and (0, *as

&ade t*e pu'lication of t*is essa/ necessar/. 6*e article, written '/ 9t*an Bronner and >sa'el Kers*ner,noted t*e ongoing cleansing of Palestinian *o&es fro& t*e land designated '/ Kat*leen Ken/on as t*eancient it/ of a+id. >n referring to t*e site of Solo&on7s 6e&ple, *owe+er, t*e article clai&ed: “There isno scholarly dis#ute about whether the tem#le stood beneath what is today the 3ksa 2os7ue com#ound. ("

6*at is not true.> presented &/ findings at fi+e different regional &eetings of t*e Societ/ of Bi'lical 3iterature, one at

t*e international &eeting of t*e Societ/ of ew 6esta&ent Studies in Ro&ania, and anot*er at t*e graduatesc*ool of t*e $ni+ersit/ of undee, Scotland. At t*e last &eeting of t*e ear 9astern Arc*aeological Soci#et/ in San iego, A. arc*aeologists floc-ed to &e afterward, as-ing for copies. So&e said t*is was t*e 'est

paper read at t*e entire &eeting. But > a& not t*e onl/ sc*olar w*o -nows t*is.>n addition to 8artin, &/ good friend r. Ben?a&in 8aFar, argua'l/ t*e &ost *ig*l/ respected arc*ae#

ologist of *is ti&e in >srael, was t*e first to disco+er t*at t*e *uge roc-s in t*e walls of t*e @ara& wereexactl/ t*e &easure&ents t*at 4osep*us *ad gi+en for t*e roc-s a'out t*e Antonia L not t*e te&ple. 1*en8aFar found t*e inscriptions in t*e @ara& t*at &e&orialiFed t*e +ictories of Despasian, 6itus, and @adrian,*e -new t*ese could not *a+e 'een preser+ed in t*e te&ple t*at *ad 'een destro/ed /ears 'efore. 8aFar7sson, r. Or/ 8aFar, told r. 9rnest 8artin t*at *is fat*er did not 'elie+e t*e @ara& was t*e 6e&ple 8ount.

> *a+e no dou't t*at >sraeli officials are aware of 8aFar7s findings, and realiFe t*at Solo&on7s te&plewas near t*e Spring of Siloa& on 8ount Op*el. e+ert*eless, -nowing t*at, t*e 6i&es reported t*at >sraelis planning to &a-e a par- out of t*e it/ of a+id w*ere t*e te&ple for&erl/ stood. 6*at &eans >srael isnot planning to replace t*e te&ple in its original location. Bot* =ion and t*e te&ples were placed on 8ountOp*el 'ecause of t*e *uge water source, 'ut >srael *as redirected t*e water t*at for&erl/ flowed t*roug* t*ete&ple area lea+ing t*e te&ple area wit*out water for t*e te&ple. 6*e new te&ple designs pro+ided '/arc*aeologists 8ic*ael A+i#Hona* and 3een Rit&e/er no longer follow 'i'lical descriptions. 6i&es *a+ec*anged. ( >srael no longer needs a *uge altar for slaug*tering 'easts, a national treasur/, and a fortress for ate&ple, and all t*e water needed in t*e te&ple toda/ can 'e supplied an/w*ere t*e te&ple is placed, so>srael no longer t*in-s of t*is te&ple location as sacred.

6*e Antonia, of course, is out of 'ounds. 1*at Ort*odox 4ew would want t*e te&ple to 'e placed in t*atRo&an co&pound w*ere 8ars was wors*ipped 2,000 /ears agoM 6*is is t*e area considered so defiled '/4ews t*at t*e/ esta'lis*ed a large mi%wahIcleansing 'asinJ near t*e @ara& so t*at, were an/ of t*e& e+erre uired to enter it, t*e/ could cleanse t*e&sel+es of t*e defile&ent as soon as t*e/ left. 6*e 2( st centur/te&ple needs neit*er t*e @ara& nor t*e it/ of a+id. 6*at w*ic* is left is t*e $pper it/, and >srael *asalread/ &o+ed t*e water to t*at place, per*aps near t*e S*rine of t*e Boo- or t*e Knesset.

Once t*ese facts are -nown it is clear t*at t*ere is no longer a religious reason to 'ulldoFe t*e *ousesand to t*reaten t*e 'eautiful o&e of t*e Roc- or t*e Al#A sa 8os ue t*at 8usli&s treasure.

$nfortunatel/, The &ew 'or% Times refused to print &/ correction to t*eir state&ent t*at t*ere is nosc*olarl/ dispute o+er t*e location of Solo&on7s te&ple. 6*is essa/ offers not onl/ a correction 'ut also arefutation. >t *as 'een distri'uted to &an/ leaders in ongress and to facult/ &e&'ers in 55 different

(! 6*is western wall of t*e @ara& al#S*ariff is also -nown as t*e 1ailing 1all. DWS(" ; Par-s Cortif/ >srael7s lai& to 4erusale& ,< &ew 'or% Times . GWB( See A riti ue '/ r. 3een Rit&e/er and a Re'uttal '/ r. 9rnest 3. 8artin . DWS



(E

t*eological se&inaries. An article su&&ariFing &/ findings was featured in The Washi gto Report oMiddle (ast A!!airs$ a &agaFine t*at reac*es 25,000 people. 20

6*e true location of for&er 4ewis* te&ples is no longer a secret, and t*ere is no longer an/ reasona'le 'asis for t*reatening 8usli& owners*ip and securit/ of t*e @ara& al#S*arif.

Ti#eline Event

1200 ;< 6*e 4e'usites, a anaanite people, w*o *ad 'een in t*e area so&e 2,000 /ears, '/ now *adconstructed t*e fortress cit/ of 4erusale&, w*ic* t*e/ called 4e'us.

1000 ;< a+id con uers t*e 4e'usite cit/ and installs t*e altar and 6ent of od at t*e i*on Springin w*at is now t*e it/ of a+id

9 =>935 ;< Solo&on, a+id7s son, 'uilds *is 6e&ple o+er t*e i*on Spring.

5= ;< Solo&on7s 6e&ple is destro/ed '/ t*e Ba'/lonians.

200>1 0 ;< Aristeas descri'es t*e &assi+e s/ste& suppl/ing water for cleansing and flus*ing t*ete&ple area.

520>51= ;< =eru''a'el, a descendent of a+id, re'uilds t*e Second 6e&ple.

20 ;<> 3 @erod, -ing of 4udaea under t*e Ro&ans, 'uilds t*e Antonia Cortress ?ust nort* of a+id7s

it/, to acco&&odate 5,000 Ro&an soldiers. >n t*e it/, o+er t*e i*on Spring, *ere'uilds t*e 6e&ple.

0 6*e Ro&ans destro/ @erod7s te&ple.

91 o&pletion of t*e o&e of t*e Roc- o+er t*e Antonia Cortress.

eorge 1esle/ Buc*anan, 4une 200a+id Sielaff, Septe&'er 20()

7eorge 8e!le& ;(chanan is Professor 9&eritus of ew 6esta&ent, 1esle/6*eological Se&inar/, 1as*ington, . ., and t*e aut*or of (! 'oo-s and ) arti#cles on 'ot* testa&ents of scripture, t*eolog/, and ra''inic literature. @e is alsoon t*e 9ditorial Ad+isor/ Board of t*e Biblical Archaeological Review .

Professor Buc*anan *as a Byte Show we'page listing *is internet radio progra&swit* eorgeAnn @ug*es. Hou can listen to *is s*ows at:*ttp: www.t*e'/tes*ow.co& eorge1esle/Buc*anan.*t&l .

1rite to *i& '/ e&ail at gwes' co&cast.net . DWS

20 eorge 1esle/ Buc*anan, ; 8isunderstandings a'out 4erusale&7s 6e&ple 8ount < in The Washi gto Report o Middle (ast A!!airs$August 20((, +ol. )0, o. , pp. ( , continued on p. E. A printa'le internet +ersion of t*e article can 'e found at*ttp: issuu.co& was*report docs +olxxxno . DWS

the site of the temple

Documents