Duration of the First and Second Temples in Scripture
Duration of the First and Second Temples
The First Temple, built by Solomon, is believed to have stood for 410 years, according to the Babylonian Talmud [6]. It was constructed in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, around 966 BCE, and was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE [3].
The duration of the Second Temple is a matter of debate among scholars. According to Flavius Josephus, the Second Temple stood for 343 years, from its construction in 516 BCE to its destruction in 173 CE is not correct, as it was actually destroyed in 70 CE [5]. The Babylonian Talmud suggests that the Second Temple stood for 420 years [7].
The construction of the Second Temple began in 536 BCE, during the reign of Cyrus the Great, and was completed in 516 BCE, during the reign of Darius I [1, 2]. The temple underwent significant renovations and expansions during the reign of Herod the Great, starting around 18 BCE and taking approximately 46 years to complete, according to John 2:20 [4].
The discrepancy in the duration of the Second Temple can be attributed to different interpretations of the sources. Some scholars argue that the 420 years mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud includes the period from the completion of the Second Temple to its destruction, while others interpret it as the period from the initial construction to its destruction [7, 8].
The Jewish tradition, as recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, attributes the longer duration of the Second Temple to its greater height and the fact that it was rebuilt and renovated multiple times [8]. However, this interpretation is not universally accepted, and the exact duration of the Second Temple remains a topic of debate among scholars.
The historical records of the First and Second Temples are supported by archaeological findings and extra-biblical sources, including the writings of Flavius Josephus [3, 5]. These sources provide valuable insights into the history and significance of the temples in Jewish tradition.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Temple, the Second — 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 ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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,”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 3, section 1: . Of The Building Of This Temple 1. Solomon began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign, on the second month, which the Macedonians call Artemisius, and the Hebrews Jur, five hundred and ninety-two years after the Exodus out of Egypt; but one thousand and twenty years from Abraham's coming out of Mesopotamia into Canaan, and after the deluge one thousand four hundred and forty years; and from Adam, the first man who was created, until Solomon built the temple, there had passed in all three thousand one hundred and t”
- John “John 2:20 (BBE) — The Jews said, The building of this Temple took forty-six years; and you will put it up in three days!”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 4: he had shut up the gates, he made it entirely inaccessible, insomuch that there remained no longer the least footsteps of any Divine worship that had been in that place. Now the duration of the time from the building of this temple till it was shut up again was three hundred and forty-three years.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 176a.17:4: § Apropos the Second Temple period, when High Priests were frequently replaced, the Gemara cites that Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27)? The fear of the Lord prolongs days; that is a reference to the First Temple, which stood for four hundred and ten years and in which only eighteen High Priests served, as is written in the lists of the genealogy of the priests in the Bible.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Haggai 2:9: shall be greater There was a controversy between Rav and Samuel. One said: In the building; and one said: In the years, that the years of the First Temple were four hundred and ten, and those of the Second Temple were four hundred and twenty.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 3b.1: that it will be greater in years, meaning that the Second Temple will stand for a longer period of time than the First Temple. And the Gemara comments that this is true and that is true, meaning that the Second Temple was taller than the First Temple and also stood for a longer period of time.”