The History of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount

Dates:
Jewish /
Common Era

Key People

City of Jerusalem

Temple Mount

c. 1760/
c. 2000 BCE

Abraham

Abraham visits Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest of El Elyon ("God Most High") (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 6:20-7:22)

c. 1760/
c. 2000 BCE

Abraham
Isaac
Jacob/Israel
Joseph

Abraham journeys three days from Beershiva or Garet to Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice in obedience to God's command. God provides a substitute. (Genesis 22, Hebrews 11:8-19)

Mt. Moriah is the site of the Temple Mount.

c. 2360/
c. 1400 BCE

Joshua

After setting up the Ark at Shiloh near Shechem (Nablus), Joshua launches foray into Jerusalem. (Joshua 10:23, 15:63)

c. 2760/
c. 1000 BCE

David

David conquers Jebosite stronghold of Zion, builds city f David south of Temple Mount, reigns 33 years in Jerusalem after 7-year reign at Hebron. (2 Samuel 5:1-15)

David returns Ark to Jerusalem and places it in Tabernacle of Moses erected there. (2 Samuel 6:1-18, 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:43). David plans First Temple, but not permitted to build it. (2 Samuel 7:1-17)

David purchases Threshing Floor of Araunah, site of First Temple and erects altar of sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. (2 Samuel 24:1-25 1 Chronicles 21:1-22:5)

c. 2810/
c. 950 BCE

Solomon

Solomon builds Royal Palace and enlarges city, 13-year period. (I Kings 7:1-12)

Solomon, with help of Hiram of Tyre and 183,600 workers, builds the First Temple and Royal Palace using local limestone, cedar from Lebanon and great amounts of gold and silver. (Temple built in seven years.) (1 Kings 5-9, 2 Chronicles 2)

c. 2850/
c. 910 BCE

Rehoboam
Elijah
Elisha
Obadiah
Jonah

Kingdom divided, 10 northern tribes, 2 southern tribes.

Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt plunders temple carrying off much gold and silver. (1 Kings 14:25-28, 2 Chronicles 12:1-11)

c. 2925/
c. 835 BCE

Joash
Amos
Hosea

Joash, King of Judah

Joash repairs temple, establishes maintenance fund, and brings period of revival and reforms to southern kingdom. (2 Kings 12:5ff).

c. 3040/
c. 720 BCE

Ahaz
Micah

Ahaz, King of Judah

Dismantles Solomon's bronze vessels and places private Syrian altar in the temple. (2 Kings 16:1-20, 2 Chronicles 28ff)

c. 3044/
c. 716 BCE

Hezekiah
Isaiah

Hezekiah, King in Jerusalem, with help of God and the prophet Isaiah resists Assyrian attempt to capture Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32). Wells and springs stopped up.

Restore. Temple and brings period of national reform and revival (2 Chronicles 29-31). Later strips gold to pay tribute to Sennacherib. (2 Kings 18-16)

c. 3120/
c. 640 BCE

Josiah
Nahum
Zephaniah
Habakkuk

Josiah repairs the Temple and brings about national religious reforms. (2 Chronicles 34-35).

c. 3174/
Sunday, 9th of Av, 587 BCE

Jehoichin
Zedekiah
Gedaliah
Jeremiah

Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, burning the city, murdering inhabitants, and carrying a remnant into captivity. (2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36, Josephus)

Temple destroyed and sacred vessels carried off to Babylon. These vessels desecrated in Babylon by Belshazzar. (Daniel 5)

c. 3187/
c. 573 BCE

Ezekiel
Daniel

Jeremiah prophesies a 70-year captivity in Babylon. (Jeremiah 29:1-14)

Ezekiel receives a vision from God describing in detail the great Temple to be built during the reign of the Messiah in an age which is yet to come. (Ezekiel 40-48)

c. 3219/
c. 541 BCE

Zerubbabel
Ezra
Nehemiah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
(Esther)

First Jews return from Babylon in small numbers to rebuild the city and its walls. 70 years of exile terminated. (Daniel 9, Haggai 2:18-19)

Second Temple built despite fierce opposition and delays, beginning with erection of an altar of sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. Temple completed after 15-year delay in 515 BCE.

c. 3428/
c. 332 BCE

Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:21-23, 11:2-4)

Priests from Jerusalem meet invading army of Alexander and dissuade him from destroying Jerusalem by showing him Scriptures that predict his rise to power. After the death of Alexander a series of wars between Syria and Egypt subject the Holy Land to multiple distresses. (Daniel 9:24-27, 11:1-35; Zechariah 9:1-10; Josephus)

c. 3585-3597/
c. 175-163 BCE

Antiochus Ephiphanes IV

The "little horn" of Daniel 8:9, a cruel Syrian (Selicid) king plunders Jerusalem, murdering many Jews. (Daniel 11:21-35)

Antiochus desecrates the temple, offers a sow upon the altar and carries off temple treasuries. Worship and sacrifices haIted, 15 December 167 BCE.

c. 3570/
170 BCE

Maccabees

Godly Jews under Mattathias begin revolt culminating in repossession of Jerusalem. (1 Maccabees)

Temple purified and worship and sacrifices restored in 165 BCE.

c. 3615/
c. 141 BCE

The Roman Akva Fortress is conquered by the Maccabees, thus freeing the Temple from alien supervision.

c. 3697/
c. 63 BCE

Pompey

Roman conquest of the Holy Land. (Daniel 2:40-43)

Pompey brazenly enters Holy of Holies, disappointed to find it empty.

c. 3720/
c. 40 BCE

Herod the Great (d. 4 BCE)

Cruel, despotic Roman ruler, an. Idumean, (who murdered the infants in Bethlehem). Building projects at Jericho, Hebron, and Caesarea to placate the Jews.

Temple Mount vastly enlarged and leveled. Second Temple rebuilt and enlarged, 10,000 workers, 100 priests, 1000 wagons. Temple and courts rebuilt until 63 BCE. City and walls under construction 46 years.

c. 3837/
c. 3 BCE
to
c. 3822/
62 CE

c. 3831/
9th of Av,70 CE

Roman General Titus besieges Jerusalem destroying city and murdering inhabitants, terrible suffering and destruction. (Josephus)

Temple set afire, soldiers tear every stone apart to get melted gold. Menorah and vessels carried to Rome. Treasury robbed.

3896/
c. 136 CE

Hadrian

Undertakes rebuilding of Jerusalem as "Aelia Capitolina" provoking unsuccessful Bar Kochba revolt in 135 by devout Jews.

Hadrian erects Temple of Jupiter on Temple Mount and statue of himself facing east in front. Jewish attempt to build Third Temple fails.

c. 4093/
c. 333 CE

"Traveller of Bordeaux" visits Jerusalem and relates Jews praying on Temple Mount.

c. 4090-4400/
c. 330-640 CE

Constantine

Byzantine Period. Christianity made official religion of Roman Empire. Church of the Holy Sepulchre built. Persian conquest in 614 CE. 37,000 Christians exiled to Persia, Jews later banished from Jerusalem also. Byzantine Emperor Herodius recaptures Jerusalem, 629 CE.

Temple Mount neglected, becomes refuse heap. Herodius proposes building near temple.

c. 4122/
c. 362 CE

Julian

Authorizes Jews to rebuild Temple. Work stopped by fire or earthquake.

c. 4160/
c. 400 CE

Heronymus describes Jews mourning onTemple Mount.

c. 4398/
c. 638 CE

Moslem conquest.

c. 4445-4465/
c. 685-705 CE

Abd el-Malik

Extension of the city and rebuilding of walls and roads.

Islamic tradition alleges that Caliph Omar clears rubbish from temple Mount and prays there in 638 CE. Old wooden El Aksa Mosque constructed, 700 CE, and Dome of the Rock by Abd el-Malik, 684-690 CE.

c. 420-4510/
c. 660-750 CE

Umyyads
Abbasids

Power struggles, revolts and persecutions of Jews and Christians causes Jerusalem to deteriorate.

c. 4496/
c. 746 CE

Earthquake destroys El Aksa Mosque.

c. 4628/
c. 868 CE

Ahmed ibn Tulun

Palestine annexed to Egypt.

831 CE Caliph al-Mamun orders restoration work on the Dome of the Rock.

c. 4700/
c. 940 CE

Fatimid Caliphs role from Egypt, 969 CE, El-Hakem orders destruction of churches and synagogues, 1010 CE.

Karaite scribe Salomon ben Yerucham writes of synagogues within Temple Mount courtyard.

c. 4776/
c. 1016 CE

Earthquake causes structural damage on Temple Mount.

c. 4790/c. 1030 CE

Rabbi Shlomo ben Yehuda describes Jewish custom of encircling Temple Mount.

c. 4859-4947/
c. 1099-1187 CE

Crusaders

Violent conquest of Holy Land in the name of Christianity. Many Jews and Moslems murdered. Jews sold into slavery and banished from Jerusalem.

Dome of the Rock reconsecrated as "Temple Domini" and El Aksa as "Temple Salomonis."

c. 4793/
1033 CE

Earthquake damages El Aksa Mosque.

c. 4860/
1100 CE

Rabbi Avraham bar Chaya writes of synagogues on Temple Mount.

c. 4926/
1165 CE

Maimonides visits Jerusalem and prays on Temple Mount.

c. 4947/
1187 CE

Saladin

Jerusalem recaptured for Islam. Crusaders defeated.

Dome of the Rock and El Aksa restored to Islam. Icons removed. 1190, walls overlaid with marble inscriptions added in Arabic.

c. 4989/
c. 1229 CE

Frederick II

Al-Malik Al-Kamil of Egypt cedes Jerusalem to Frederick II.

c. 5004-5277/
c. 1244-1517 CE

Rule by Tartars, Mongols, Ayybids and Mamelukes.

Moslem control of the holy places 1270-1290 CE. Moslem restoration work on Dome. Brass doors added in 1467. Persian tiles added by Suleiman. Lead sheathing to Dome, 1735 CE. Mosaic removed 1835, 1874 CE.

c. 5277/
c. 1517 CE

Ottoman Period

Turkish rule

5206/c. 1546 CE

Earthquake causes serious damage in Jerusalem.

c. 5592-5600/
c. 1832-1840 CE

Turkish conquest by Sellim I. Suleiman the Magnificent builds walls and improves the city and aqueducts. Jews tolerated, but heavily taxed and property confiscated. Egyptian governorship under Mohamed Ali and Ibrahim Pasha. (1831 CE)

5615/
1855 CE

First acknowledged non-Moslem visitor permitted to enter Temple Mount since 1187 CE.

5626/
1866 CE

Jews become majority in Jerusalem.

5678/
December 1917 CE

British capture of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Temple Mount first opened to Europeans.

5861-5707/
1921-1947 CE

Rule under British Mandate. UN participation in November 1947. Deterioration of British rule. Waves of immigration by Jews under very adverse conditions.

5687/
1927 CE

Earthquake weakens El Aksa Mosque foundations.

5708/
June 1948 CE

Rebirth of the State of Israel. December 1949 Jerusalem made capital city. Kenesset built.

5711/
1951 CE

July 20, King Abdullah assassinated at entrance to El Aksa Mosque.

5715-5725/
1955-1965 CE

Jerusalem divided. Jordanian rule over old city.

Dome foundations strengthened by Jordanians, 1955-1965 CE. Electric lights added.

5727/
June 1967 CE

Jerusalem reunited in 6-day war.

Israeli flag flies temporarily over Temple Mount. Control and stewardship of Temple Mount returned to Moslems. Fire in 1968 destroys pulpit and Mihrab in El Aksa.

5742/
Spring 1982 CE

Union of Third Temple Groups, "To the Mountain of the Lord," "The Faithful of the Temple Mount," and the "Jerusalem Temple Foundation." Planning for the Third Temple.

Early Christian Era Highlights

c. 3757/
c. 3 BCE

Jesus
Simeon
Anna

Herod the Great crowned king, 40 BCE.

Jesus presented at the temple and dedicated to God by his parents, doves offered in sacrifice. (Luke 2:21-24)

c. 3768/
c. 8 CE

Jesus
Mary
Joseph
John the Baptist

Jesus at age 12 talks to priests and teachers in the Second Temple while his parents are in Jerusalem for Passover. Family home at Nazareth (Luke 2:41-50)

c. 3790-3793/
c. 30-33 CE

Jesus

Pilate, 26-36 CE
Herod Antippas, exiled 39 CE
Herod Agrippa, died 44 CE

Jesus tempted by the devil on the pinnacle of the temple, (Luke 4:1-12). Jesus casts out money changers from the temple early in his ministry (John 2:13-16), and again three years later. During his final week of life before the resurrection, he taught in the temple courts and confronted the crowds and Pharisees there. Jesus predicts destruction of the Second Temple. (Matthew 21ff, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12)

c. 3793-3795/
c. 33-35 CE

Peter
John

Jesus leaves his disciples 40 days after the resurrection, ascending from the Mount of Olives. (Acts 1:1-6, John 20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Followers of Jesus gathered in Temple Courts 10 days later on Pentecost Sunday, experience coming of the Spirit of God to give birth to the Church of Jesus Christ. Peter preaches to the crowds and many are healed. (Acts 1ff)

c. 3793-3795/
c. 33-35 CE

Stephen

Martyrdom of Stephen on the Temple Mount, Saul of Tarsus consenting. (Acts 6-7).

c. 3822/
c. 62 CE

James the Just
John (d. 100 CE)

Christians driven from Jerusalem by persecution.

James, brother of Jesus and leader of the Church in Jerusalem, martyred by being thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple Mount.