Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem don’t cease to bring the Bible alive! Here are a couple of 2000 year old stone dice from the 1st century AD when the Jewish Holy Temple, originally built by king Solomon, was still standing- before the Romans burned it down. These may be the very kind used by the Roman soldiers who cast dice to see who would get the clothes of Jesus after he was crucified. Biblical reference: “After they had crucified him, they [the Roman soldiers] determined who would get his clothes by throwing dice for them (Mt 27:35 King James)
Doric capital found from Solomon’s Portico in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem…
Discovered! Doric capital from Solomon’s Portico in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem (credit: Vladimir Naychin)
Whether celebrating Passover or Easter, the Paschal lamb sacrifice is a central theme. Here is a recent find from where it all happened 2000 years ago – the Holy Temple itself, that stood on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem! Discovered was a 28” diameter Doric capital from one of the monumental columns of Solomon’s Portico – a 1500 foot long covered colonnade porch that extended along the eastern side of the Temple Mount, and one of four such porticos that enclosed the Outer Court of the Temple. The beautifully preserved Doric capital, the first find of its kind, was sifted from rubble destructively dug up near the El Aksa mosque by the local Moslem religious authorities and dumped outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls.
Doric capital from the Parthenon temple in Athens (450 BC)
Strength, Simplicity, & Unity
The Doric capital is composed of a flared circle at the top (known as the “echinus) which transitions downward to three concentric circles (called “annulets”). It was topped by a square slab called the “abacus” upon which the colonnaded portico roof would sit. The characteristic unity and simplicity of the Doric style can be noticed in the 5th century BC Parthenon in Athens. Doric columns were fluted and tapered, and considered to be the stronger among the three Greek orders of columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian). For this reason, they would be used in the lower level of multistory structures such as the Roman Colosseum, an amphitheater built by the emperor Vespasian and his son Titus, who destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem just a few years earlier.
Athens Doric portico
About Solomon’s Portico
We read about Solomon’s Portico, where the Doric capital came from, in the writings of Josephus Flavius, a kohen (Jewish priest, descendant of Aaron) who witnessed the destruction of the Temple by Titus the Roman in 70 CE: And now it was that the temple [in Jerusalem] was finished. So, when the people saw that the workmen were unemployed, who were above eighteen thousand, and that they, receiving no wages, were in want… they persuaded him [Agrippa, grandson of King Herod] to rebuild the eastern porticos… This was the work of king Solomon, who first of all built the entire temple. (Josephus, Antiquities 20,9,7)
Model of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (destroyed by Titus in 70 AD) with colonnade porticos of outer court
Double row of columns – 42 feet high!
Josephus continues: The porticos [around the Outer Court of the Temple] were double [in width], and the pillars belonging to them were twenty-five cubits in height [~42 feet], and supported the portico. These pillars were of one entire stone each of them, and that stone was white marble; and the roofs [of the portico] were adorned with cedar, curiously graven. The natural magnificence, and excellent polish, and the harmony of the joints in these cloisters, afforded a prospect that was quite remarkable. (Josephus, Wars 5,5,2)
Jesus in Solomon’s Portico on Hanukkah Then came the Festival of Dedication [Hanukkah] at Jerusalem. It was winter and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Portico. (Jn. 10:22-23)
Peter with lame beggar in Solomon’s Portico While the [healed lame] man held on to Peter and John,all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Portico. (Acts 3:11)
Apostles gather in Solomon’s Portico The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Portico. (Acts 5:12)
Come to Israel and discover more about Solomon’s Portico
I invite you to join me here in Israel. Tour with family, friends, or put together a group and save. We’ll experience a 3-D living color Bible. See the Doric capital from Solomon’s Portico and other authentic finds from the Holy Temple. We can even sift earth in search of artifacts and learn more about biblical Israel.
Discovered: Golden Bell from the High Priest robe in Jerusalem’s Holy Temple
Gold bell from hem of Jewish High Priest’s robe. (credit City of David & Israel Antiquities Authority)
Is it possible to hear an actual musical note from bible times? Well, here’s an incredible find that sheds light (photo credit City of David & Israel Antiquities Authority): The Bible and book of Psalms are full of references to musical sounds. We recall Miriam, the sister of Moses, who after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea “took a timbrel in her hand… and sang” (Ex. 25:20) and David who would “take up his “kinor” (harp) and bring relief and solace to King Saul (1Sam.16:23). Ongoing archaeological excavations around Jerusalem in recent years have revealed so much to us from Bible times. In 2011, an actual golden bell, probably one of 72 that were sewn on the hem of the sky-blue “mei-eel” or robe, one of the eight vestments worn by the High Priest in the Holy Temple. We read about the golden bells in the book of Exodus:
Exodus 28:33-35
“And upon the hem of it thou shall make… a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. It shall be on Aaron when he performs the service, and its sound shall be heard when he enters the Holy before the Lord and when he leaves, so that he will not die.” (Ex. 28:33-35)
Call to prayer and repentance
The Sages explain that the whole people gave themselves up to prayer and repentance, while the High Priest stepped into the Holy of Holies to officiate in their name. It was therefore most appropriate that they should all know the moment when he entered the Holy of Holies.
Discovery
The gold bell was discovered in an underground drainage channel dating from the time of Christ, when the Temple was still standing. The finely engraved, pomegranate shaped, gold bell was sealed all around, so it was x-rayed, and archaeologists could see the 4mm clapper, still intact. It was suspended on a gold wire, striking the bell precisely in the middle. The amazing thing is that the bell still rings! So it was sent to a music lab where it was sampled, amplified 72 times, and played back in rapid succession, the way the bells would have sounded on the hem of the vestments when the High Priest walked barefoot into the Holy of Holies of the Temple itself. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and then only on Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, but his movements could, thanks to the bells, be heard..
Why the note “B”?
It’s interesting to note that the frequency of the bell is 240 hz, which corresponds closely to the musical note B. But why “B”? In the ancient world, the note B represented the planet Saturn or Saturday, which was the 7th day of the week. For the Jews of course this is the Sabbath day, known as “Shabbat” in Hebrew. Indeed the word for bell in Hebrew, “pa’amon” has a numeric value of 240. So the ringing of the bells on the hem of the High Priest sounded out a central tenant and message of our biblical faith: The Sabbath, the celebration of life, and belief in a premeditated act of Creation by a Creator.
Visit Israel & see the golden bell remains of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem I invite you to join me here in Israel and experience a 3-D living color Bible- a blessing without measure! Shalom! Shalom! Zack Shavin, Jerusalem
This ancient 7th century BC papyrus is the first mention of Jerusalem in Hebrew outside the Bible (photo Israel Antiquities Authority)
Papyrus mention of Jerusalem (Israel Antiquities Authority)
Jerusalem is indeed famous, mentioned over 800 times in the Bible. But do we have any ancient historical documents that connect the Jews with Jerusalem OUTSIDE of the Bible? The answer is YES! The Israel Antiquities Authority has recently recovered a 2700 year old, 7th century B.C. papyrus fragment written in ancient Hebrew script, language of the Jewish people and Old Testament, and contains the earliest Hebrew mention of Jerusalem outside the Bible.
Royal Wine shipment
The papyrus is part of a royal bill of lading (official shipping document) of jars of wine sent from Na’aratah (vic. Jericho – see Josh. 16:7) to JERUSALEM, capital of the kingdom of Judea.The papyrus fragment, miraculously preserved by the dry Judean desert around the Dead Sea, was sent to the world famous Weizmann Institute for testing and was dated to the 7th century B.C.- over 2600 years old! The period of the papyrus document is that of the Temple of Solomon, the kings of Judaea (probably Josiah, who instituted a religious reform), and the prophet Jeremiah. It predates the 586 BC Babylonian conquest of Judea and subsequent exile of the Jewish people to Babylon.For comparison sake, the papyrus document predates the Dead Sea Scrolls (2nd century BC), by over 500 years!
Jerusalem papyrus (Israel Antiquities Authority)
Hebrew text
Note the last word on left in the 2nd line (yellow): “Yerushalima” (to Jerusalem):
מא]מת. המלך. מנערתה. נבלים. יין. ירשלמה]
Transliteration: [me-a]mat. ha-melekh. me-Na’artah. nevelim. ya’yin. Yerushalima.
Translation: [From the] king’s maidservant, from Na?arat, jars of wine, to Jerusalem
Come to Israel and let me show you this 2,700 year old papyrus from the 7th century BC – the first mention of Jerusalem in Hebrew outside the Bible – as well as the famed Dead Sea Scrolls and other biblical sites. Shalom!!! Zack Shavin
The 2000 year old Arch of Titus celebrates Roman victory over Judea, depicting soldiers carrying Jerusalem Temple treasures into Rome.
With the recent UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization!!!) vote denying any Jewish connection to the Western Wall and Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) where the Mosque of Omar and El Aksa Mosques stand today, I’d like to suggest that the supporters of the resolution visit the Arch of Titus situated close by the Coliseum next time they are in Rome. The 2000 year old arch was built to honor Titus who laid siege to Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D. and destroyed the Jewish Holy Temple that stood on Mount Moriah.
Arch of Titus: Roman soldiers carrying the golden Menorah into Rome
Depicted on the arch are Roman soldiers carrying the Menorah (seven branched golden candelabrum) into Rome, as well as other Temple treasures such as the Golden Trumpets and Show Bread offering table which was made of acacia wood and covered with gold. The Jewish revolt against Roman tyranny and the attempt to reestablish independence broke out in Caesarea (Mediterranean coast) in 66 A.D. and ended seven years later with the fall of Masada in 73 A.D. The Western Wall is a remnant of the massive support walls that encircled and supported the Temple Mount platform and upon which the Moslems later built the Dome of the Rock mosque, also known as the Mosque of Omar.
2000 year old marble floor tiles from the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem brought to light.
Marble floor tile from Holy Temple Jerusalem (credit Zachi Dvira Temple Mount Sifting Project)
For the first time in history, actual decorative elements from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem have been brought to light! Exquisite marble floor tiles, made with meticulously cut stones of different colors – yellow, black, red, purple, white, and more have been recently recovered and pieced together, giving us insight into the great beauty of the Holy Temple of the Jews that stood on Mount Moriah and was destroyed by Titus the Roman in the year 70 AD. Archaeologists have so far been able to identify seven distinct floor tile patterns.
Marble floor tile from Holy Temple Jerusalem (credit Zachi Dvira)
We read about the impressive Temple floor tiles in various literary sources: Josephus Flavius, the Jewish historian who actually served as a priest in the Jerusalem Temple wrote (Jewish Wars V,5,2), “Open courts were laid with stones of various colors.” In the Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra 4a) we read, “It used to be said, He who has not seen the Temple of Herod [in Jerusalem] as never seen a beautiful building. Of what did he build it? Rabbah said: Of yellow and white marble. Some say, of blue, yellow, and white marble.”
Marble floor tile from Holy Temple Jerusalem (credit Zachi Dvira)
Hundreds of colorful marble floor tile pieces have been discovered in a major sifting project undertaken by Israel Antiquities authority after Moslem religious authorities on the Temple Mount (where the golden dome Mosque of Omar and El Aksa mosques are located) illegally removed rubble beneath Mount Moriah, without conducting a proper archaeological excavation. The floor tiles were probably part of the monumental subterranean passageway built by Herod the Great that led up to the Courtyard of the Gentiles on the Temple Mount, and was used by pilgrims – such as Jesus, Mary, & Joseph – when they came to Jerusalem for Passover.
Visit Israel & see remains of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem
I invite you to join me here in Israel and experience a 3-D living color Bible- a blessing without measure! We’ll learn about the Holy Temple that stood on Mount Moriah, visit the Temple Mount excavations, and even help wash the archaeological remains in search of artifacts.
Walking in the Kidron Valley at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem we come across the monumental rock carved Tomb of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the High Priest.
Tomb of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the High Priest who served in Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem
Zechariah murdered:
Zechariah the priest, who lived in Jerusalem at the end of the 9th century BC, dared admonish Joash, king of Judah, for being unfaithful to YHWH and allowing Baal worship to be reintroduced into the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Actually, Joash in the early part of his 40 year reign instituted a wide religious reform, ridding the Temple of Baal worship, but later on lapsed into idolatry. Zechariah the priest spoke out against this and was subsequently murdered by stoning in the courtyard of the Temple of Solomon. We read about it in 2 Chronicles 24:21ff:
Here’s what the Bible’s got to say: “Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you. But they plotted against him, and by order of the king [Joash] they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.”
Joash had been saved as an infant by Zechariah’s father Jehoiada: King Joash apparently did not remember, or did not want to remember, the kindness Zechariah’s father – Jehoiada the High Priest – had shown him when he was an infant: Jehoiada saved Joash from his evil grandmother, Athaliah, daughter of of Ahab and Jezebel: After her son Ahaziah, king of Judea, was killed at Megiddo, she began killing her dead son’s children to assure her position as ruler over Judea! When Joash turned seven, Jehoiada the High Priest brought him out of hiding as the legitimate heir to the throne, descendant of the House of David, and anointed him king over Judea (see II Chronicles 22:11 & II Chronicles 24:21).
Egyptian influence
The the monumental rock carved tomb is from the 2nd century BC and has a pyramid shape, showing Egyptian influence.
Touch biblical Jerusalem! Israel’s Western Wall or Wailing Wall, built by King Herod, supports the huge Temple Mount platform over Mount Moriah where Solomon’s Temple stood. Ask Zack Shavin about visiting and even celebrating your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah there!
Biblical Jerusalem
Imagine a piece of ancient Jerusalem, so authentic, so well preserved, that what you see today is exactly what was seen by the local people and tens of thousands of Passover pilgrims that made their way up to the great Holy Temple 2000 years ago! It is called in Hebrew the Kotel Ma-aravi or Western Wall, and is a perfectly preserved remnant of the massive outer retainer walls that encompassed the Temple itself. Originally over 1500 feet long and 100 feet high, the Western Wall was one of four incredibly massive walls that not only protected the Temple, but also supported a massive platform which covered an area equivalent to 15 football fields and upon which the 200 foot high marble and gold Temple stood.
Wasn’t the Temple destroyed by the Romans?
Indeed, the Temple building itself – considered one of the wonders of the ancient world – was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 A.D. But the platform upon which the Temple stood, covering an area of 15 football fields, and the outer retainer walls, were preserved. It was just too massive to totally demolish. The smallest of the stones in the Western Wall weigh 3 tons each, the largest about 500 tons- as much as 10 fully loaded semi-trailer trucks!
Why do we pray at the Western Wall? Why this spot?
It is important to understand, that this place is Mount Moriahitself, where Abraham brought Isaac, almost 4000 years ago. About 1000 years after Abraham, King Solomon was given the privilege of building the Temple here, permanently replacing the desert Tabernacle. The Bible tells us that upon completing the Temple, ruach elohim- the spirit of God- filled the House. Otherwise it would have remained just a beautiful man-made building.
Shekinah: Divine Presence
In other words, the Shekinah- the Divine Presence- is intimately associated with the area. Indeed, the Temple is called “Beit HaMikdash” in Hebrew, which means “House of Holiness”. God is pure holiness; divine holiness came to rest here. God, Yahweh- HaShem- chose this place- it is unique in all the world! Two thousand years ago Jewish people prayed at the Temple itself. Today, the gold-domed Mosque of Omar stands over the spot and is closed to non-Moslems for prayer purposes. While we cannot pray on the Temple Mount itself, we can do so at the Western Wall. There we literally touch a remnant of the Temple complex and connect with our roots, faith, and heritage.
Imagine opening the Bible here in Israel and standing at the very place where a biblical event unfolded! Today we are at the Abraham & Isaac Overlook in Jerusalem. Here Abraham and Isaac first beheld Moriah – place of the Sacrifice or Binding of Isaac, following a three day journey from Beersheba. Later King Solomon built Solomon’s Temple on Mount Moriah itself.
Jerusalem panorama
View of Moriah
This particular spot on the southern end of Jerusalem is called by locals the Tayelet, which means in Hebrew “promenade”. I like to call it the Abraham and Isaac Overlook overlook since it’s where they beheld Jerusalem and Mount Moriah some 4000 years ago! I’ve been bringing groups here for years- to read and reflect on Abraham’s journey with Isaac from Beersheba, where they lived, to this very spot. God had called Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac and with a heavy but obedient heart sets out on the three day journey, without of course letting Isaac in on the details of exactly what was happening.
Beersheba to Moriah
Here is what the Bible says: “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Then God said, Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.” (Gen. 22:1-4)
Where is the lamb?
Upon arrival here, at this southern overlook of Jerusalem, Abraham leaves his servants behind to keep an eye on the camp, while he continues with Isaac on into Jerusalem itself and on up Mount Moriah. He tells them that he was going “yonder” with Isaac to worship and would be back soon. It’s about a 45 minute brisk walk from where we are standing at the Abraham & Isaac overlook to Moriah. On the way Abe & Isaac obviously had time to talk a bit. Isaac, who was younger, stronger, and therefore carrying the wood for the sacrifice, gets to thinking. He turns to his father, saying, hey dad, haven’t we forgotten something? “Where’s the lamb”? Abraham replies, “God will provide.” The rest is history: The angel stops Abraham’s hand as he raised the knife after binding is son on the altar, indeed providing the lamb:
Binding of Isaac
Here is what happens next: “When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, Abraham! Abraham! Here I am, he replied.Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. (Genesis 22:10-12)
Abraham takes the ram instead
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13)
Solomon’s Temple
Almost 1,000 years later, King Solomon builds the Jerusalem Temple on the very spot on Mount Moriah: “Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.” (2Chronicles 3:1)
