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Last month, I addressed some of the political
issues associated with the Temple ruins on Mount Moriah. Now I will explore the history and consider an ancient Jewish legend associated with the site.
A premier American biblical scholar, Edward Robinson, began the earliest modern investigations of the Temple Mount. His formative archaeological research was conducted during his 1838 expedition to Israel. It proved to be of enormous significance. He set out to identify the visible ancient remains of Jerusalem. In so doing, he located a wide arch extending from the south end of the Western Wall. This structure is commonly known as Robinson’s Arch. It is one of the most impressive remains of King Herod’s building project on the Temple Mount.
Since 1968, careful excavations have revealed important new details about the structures that once existed there. These massive support walls, arched ramps, and fascinating tunnels are still visited by pilgrims to Jerusalem. Many were explored and developed under the direction of my friend, Professor Dan Bahat who is quick to point out that the “Western Wall” is no longer known as the “Wailing Wall.” Since the remains of the Temple Wall has come under Jewish control, our tears at the site are tears of joy. The Wall is a most important site for all pilgrims, Jewish and Christian! If you cannot join us on our upcoming Fall 2001 tour of the Holy Land, perhaps you would like to request the CrossTalk video series featuring Professor Bahat discussing some of Israel’s ancient history. The Temple Mount is one of his favorite subjects.
Herod’s Temple compound was built on one of the largest platforms of the ancient world. The expanse covered more than 172,000 square yards! The holy area was twice as large as the famed Roman forum. One tremendous stone is 40 feet long. Another stone weighs over 100 tons! It is now open to visitors in the tunnel beneath the Western Wall. The emotional experience of praying at the foundation of the Temple cannot be overemphasized. However, the enormity of the foundation stones truly elicit amazement. How did workers in the ancient world manipulate rocks weighing more than 200,000 pounds? It must be seen to be believed.
King Herod was a wise master builder. He employed tens of thousands of workers on this project. According to Josephus, Herod even hired 1,000 priests to insure the religious purity of the site. These spiritual leaders were trained in the required construction techniques to insure that the work could be completed in the holy places of the Temple design. Herod was both a genius and a scoundrel. His lack of personal character was as monumental as his prowess as a real estate developer. He created a moral void in the world, but he constructed great buildings that continue to amaze visitors to the Holy Land.
Contrary to common knowledge, Herod was not the last Jewish leader to attempt to provide our God with a new home. There have been three unsuccessful efforts to rebuild the Temple since the massive destruction by Rome in 70 C.E. The first was connected to the failed Jewish Revolt of 132 C.E. Bar Kochba, a failed messianic figure, led this disastrous revolution. Coins have been discovered memorializing his military escapade that include an image of the façade of the Temple.
The second attempt to recreate the former glory of the Temple was at the misguided direction of a Roman leader. Emperor Julian “the Apostate” intended to create dissension among Christians. He believed it would benefit Roman pagan religions. Therefore he encouraged the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. His goal was to weaken the Christian character developing in and around Jerusalem by permitting more Jewish influence. Construction began in 362 C.E. but was abruptly halted the following year when Julian died.
Since the third attempt to rebuild the Temple came during the Byzantine era, I will share these details in the next article when I discuss the period of Muslim control of the site. Should anyone wish to have this entire series of articles on the Temple Mount, I will provide details how you can request a FREE copy at the end of this article. But first, I wish to turn your attention to a delightful Jewish legend about the Temple Mount.
An ancient story has been passed down through many centuries of Jewish lore. It calls to remembrance a ram sent by God to take the place of Isaac on Mount Moriah. Permit me to recount my paraphrase of The Akedah, a lovely rabbinic tale.
After Isaac, the child of promise, was born to Abraham, Satan went before the Lord with a complaint. Like the account in the book of Job, Satan was similarly critical of Abraham. God defended Abraham as His friend. God reminded Satan that Abraham was upright and lived peacefully among his neighbors. Abraham’s humility and hospitality toward angels was recounted. Finally, God assured Satan that Abraham would hold nothing back if called upon to sacrifice. Satan wagered that Abraham would fail such a test if called to sacrifice his son Isaac.
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his “only son” Isaac. Apparently, Abraham was accustomed to negotiating with God (Gen. 18:26-31). He tried to make a deal with God by allegedly offering Ishmael instead of Isaac. He reminded the Lord that both sons were “only sons” to their mothers. God cleared up any confusion by specifically calling for the sacrifice of Isaac, the “only son” of Sarah.
Abraham asked how he should break the news to Sarah? God ended the discussion in silence leaving Abraham to make up a story for his wife. The legend suggests that Abraham told Sarah that Isaac was not knowledgeable about God and he needed to take him to a special teacher. This aspect of the legend is quite fascinating. Abraham told Sarah they were going to visit Noah’s son Shem. Before this concept is rejected as beyond belief, one should examine the genealogical records of the 11th chapter of Genesis. The possibility of Abraham taking his son to visit Shem is quite plausible. According to my calculations, Shem lived 498 years after the flood. He was therefore a contemporary of Abraham. Have you ever considered that Shem could have taught Isaac about the God of creation?
The legend also discusses two more biblical characters alleged to have gone on the journey with Abraham. Ishmael, the son of Hagar, appears to have been greedy. He hoped to regain the inheritance due a firstborn son. Likewise, Eliezer accompanied them on the long journey to Mount Moriah. He was described as a servant given to Abraham long ago by Nimrod. Eliezer wrongly presumed that since Ishmael had already been previously rejected (Gen. 16:6), the inheritance would be his after Isaac was sacrificed.
Satan, the other central character in the legend, saw the caravan and got nervous. Perhaps he had underestimated Abraham’s dedication to God. Therefore, Satan disguised himself as an old man and criticized Abraham for considering such a horrible crime against his son. Abraham recognized the devil and chased him away.
Satan then disguised himself a young man and tried to warn Isaac about his impending doom. Isaac told his father and together they ran Satan off again.
Finally, Satan changed himself into a raging river nearly drowning the party before Abraham boldly rebuked the devil. This time, Satan fled at his voice not to return again.
Through various signs and wonders, they finally reached Mount Moriah. When Isaac realized that they had no animal to sacrifice, he figured out that he would be the one to lay his life down on God’s altar. Compliant and understanding, Isaac’s only request was that his father carry his ashes back to his mother.
As Abraham raised the knife, tears fell from his face landing on his son’s face. At the same moment, the tears of the Angels of Mercy rained down from heaven dulling the blade as it fell toward Isaac. Isaac was so terrified that he died of fright.
God was moved by the scene. He summoned the angels saying, “Angels, do you see why I created humans? If I had listened to you at the beginning, there would have been no people in the world. You complained, ‘What is man that art mindful of him?’ (Ps. 8:4). Had I listened to you, I would not have known my friend Abraham.”
Then God’s voice thundered from heaven stopping Abraham. At the same time, Isaac heard the voice of God and came back to life declaring, “Blessed is God who revives the dead!” Abraham turned around to find a ram and brought it to the altar for sacrifice.
This ram is the real subject of the legend. It was no ordinary ram. No! This mythical ram was specially created by God during the sixth day of creation in the beginning for this very purpose. Every part of the animal had a planned destiny. The skin of the ram became the garment of Elijah. The sinews became the ten strings on David’s harp. The ashes became part of the altar in Jerusalem. And the most important parts of the ram were his horns. One horn sounded the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. The other will sound at end of age!
In the legend, God called that site, “The holiest spot on earth.” It is where Adam and his children were alleged to make the first sacrifices to God. It was on the same spot that Noah supposedly made a sacrifice to God. Finally, it was the site selected by God for the Holy Temple.
Admittedly, many aspects of the above story are not biblical. It is a myth transmitted by my people from antiquity. What really matters, and the reason I have presented this story, is that someday, the final trumpet will sound. Many believe that it will be a ram’s horn that is heard. The important issue is not the substance of the horn. Rather, it is this . . . when the trump of God signals the return of our Messiah, will you be ready? The Second Coming of Jesus is not a myth! Jesus is Lord and He loves you. Look up. Your redemption draws near.
I hope the history of the Temple Mount, along with this interesting legend has proven to be of interest. If you would like to receive a FREE copy of the entire series, just request it when you contact me at CrossTalk, P.O. Box 2528 Cedar Hill, Texas, 75106. You may e-mail me randy@crosstalk.org or call 1-800-688-3422. If you like, I would love to invite you to join me on my upcoming Holy Land tour to Israel October 23, 2001. We would be delighted to send you a FREE tour brochure. Thanks for reading and I do want to hear your comments about this series.
Copyright 2001 by Randy Weiss
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Randy Weiss, Ph.D., is a Jewish believer in Jesus serving in ministry since 1973. He is a member of the Board of Directors of WME and a contributing editor to World Evangelism. He hosts CrossTalk, a weekly TV program and teaches about the Jewish festivals, Israel, and the Jewish origins of the Church. Dr. Weiss is Dean of Jewish Studies at Columbia Evangelical Seminary and an adjunct faculty member of Global University. Randy is married with 6 children and 3 grandchildren.
If you are interested in visiting Israel, join Randy on his upcoming Holy Land tour October 23, 2001. Call 1-800-688-3422 for a tour brochure. If you would like a FREE copy of this entire series about the Temple Mount, please contact Randy at CrossTalk, P.O. Box 2528, Cedar Hill, Texas 75106-2528. Send e-mail to him at randy@crosstalk.org. Please send him your comments on this article and remember to pray for the ministry of Dr. Weiss.
