Chronology of the Temple

c.1871BC Abraham sacrifices on a mountain in the land of Moriah. Gen 22.

c.1446 One place of worship commanded by God. Deut 12.

c.1048 Jerusalem taken by David.

c.1040 Ark brought to David's tent in Jerusalem. 2 Sam 6, 1 Chron 13. Construction of the First Temple proposed by David. 1 Chron 17, 2 Sam 7.

c.1035 Altar constructed on Arunah's threshing floor. 2 Sam 24. Materials prepared. 1 Chron 22, 29.

c.1020 Gatekeepers for 5 gates, priests etc., appointed. 1 Chron 23-6.

c.1015 Plans for the Temple given to Solomon. 1 Chron 28.

c.1011 Construction begun. Huram site architect. 1 Kings 6 - 2 Chron 3-4, 13.

c.1004 First Temple (Solomon's Temple) dedicated. 1 Kings 18 - 2, Chron 5 - 6.

946 Temple to be a gauge of Israel's spiritual health. 1 Kings 9.

926 Plundered by Pharaoh Shishak. 1 Kings 14, 2 Chron 12.

910-869 Altar repaired by Asa, treasury enriched but emptied to pay Ben Hadad. 1 Kings 15, 2 Chron 15.

841 Joash hidden in the temple by Jehoiada. 2 Chron 22, 2 Kings 11.

835 Joash crowned by the pillar and altar. Athaliah deposed. 2 Chron 23.

812 Restoration by Joash. 2 Kings 12, 2 Chron 24.

c.800 Zechariah stoned in the inner court. Joash abandons the Temple. 2 Chron 24, 23 Matt 35.

c.792 Plundered by Jehoash, N wall demolished. 2 Chron 25.

750 Uzziah gets leprosy for illegally trying to burn incense. 2 Chron 26.

740 Temple is the setting for Isaiah's vision. Is 6.

730s Upper gate rebuilt by Jotham. Ophel wall repaired. 2 Kings 15, 2 Chron 27.

734 Robbed by Ahaz to pay Tiglath Pileser. Altar moved, sea and basins altered, royal entrance and canopy removed, heathen altar added. Staircase and upper room added. (2 Kings 20, 23).

720s Temple gates shut by Ahaz. 2 Kings 16, 2 Chron 28.

715 Reopened, restored and reconsecrated by Hezekiah, who destroys Moses' bronze snake and builds storerooms. 2 Kings 18, 2 Chron 29-31.

701 Doors stripped of new gold plating and silver from treasury paid to Sennacherib, outer wall built. 2 Chron 32.

696- Idol and altars in both courts erected by Manasseh. 2 Kings 21, 2 Chron 33.

c.650 Altar repaired, idol and altars removed. Walls strengthened. 2 Chron 34.

622 Restoration by Josiah; removal of prostitutes' quarters, idol and altars in courts and on upper rooms.

619 Discovery of the Book of the Law. Ark of the Covenant is permanently installed in Temple. 2 Kings 22-3, 2 Chron 34-5.

604, 597 Temple and treasury looted including Solomon's gold articles, by Nebuchadnezzar (twice). 2 Chron 24, 2 Chron 36.

587 (9 Ab) Looted and burned by Nebuzaradan. Pillars, Sea and basins broken up (Ark of the Covenant disappears).

538 Rebuilding of the Temple decreed by Cyrus. 2 Chron 36, Ezra 1.

537 Altar and foundations restored. Ezra 3.

530 Restoration blocked under Artaxerxes. Ezra 4.

520 Restoration resumed when Darius confirms the original decree. Ezra 5, Hag 1.

516 (3 Adar) Second Temple (also known as Zerubbabel's Temple) finally completed and dedicated. Ezra 6.

458 Temple service reformed by Ezra. Ezra 7.

332 Alexander the Great received at the Temple by high priest Jaddua.

302 Ptolemy, Alexander's successor in Egypt, enters Jerusalem.

217 Ptolemy IV visits the Temple after defeating Aniochus III near Gaza.

201 Respect for the Temple pledged by Antiochus III; grants tax exemption to priests on recapture of Jerusalem. Temple "full of infinite sums of money" according to Simon, opposing high priest Onias III: Heliodorus, sent to rob it by Selucus IV, but miraculously prevented.

198 Selucids take Jerusalem.

170 Gymnasium built near the Temple. Onias replaced by Jason. Lysimachus killed by a mob in the treasury. Jason replaced by Menelaus with "The fury of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage beast".

168 (15 Kislev) Temple desecrated by Antiochus Ephiphanes, who stops sacrifices and erects a statue of Jupiter Olympus.

167 Revolt of the Maccabees. Macc 6.

165 (25 Kislev) Temple cleansed and re-dedicated by Judah Maccabee; the Feast of Dedication. Hasmonean Rule begins. Macc 10, (John 10).

94 Riot in Temple when Alexander Janneus (103-76) assumes high priesthood and supports Saducees; civil war won by Pharisees with Selucid support at the Battle at Shechem (88 BC).

66 Aristobolus beseiged in the Temple by his brother Hyrcanus, while sacrifices continue.

63 Temple captured by Pompey for Rome, after 3 months seige, from ramps at N and W sides. Holy Place desecrated. Hyrcanus confirmed as High Priest and Ethnarch.

57 c.10,000 talents stolen from the Temple treasury by Crassus. Uprising in Judea causes division into 5 districts. Pithalus' rebellion.

c.48 Caesar confirms Hyrcanus as Jewish High Priest, with Idumean (Arab) Antipater as commissioner and his sons, Phasael and Herod, as governors of Judaea and Galilee.

40 Parthian invaders imprison Hyrcanus and cut his ears off, and make Antigonus son of Aristobolus high priest.

37 Herod retakes Judea for Rome and despite support for Mark Anthony, is confirmed king. Executes High Priest Hyrcanus and his successor, Jonathan

23 Herod rebuilds the sanctuary at the cave of the Machpelah, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at Hebron.

19 Restoration of the Second Temple begun by Herod, who trains 1000 priests.

9-10 Main structure of Herod's restored Second Temple completed and dedicated.

7 6,000 Pharisees refuse to swear allegiance to Octavian.

5 Herod's golden eagle is pulled down from the porch of the Temple: 2 instigating rabbis burned alive.

?5 Zechariah's vision while offering incense in the Temple. Luke 1.

4 Jesus the Christ / Messiah born in Bethlehem. Simeon and Anna prophesy in the Temple courts at his dedication. Luke 2. Magi visit Herod; Joseph, Mary and Jesus become refugees until Herod dies (?March / April). Matt.1-2, Luke 2.

3 AD Porches fired by Sabinus' troops in Shavuoth riot. He steals 400 talents.

6 Ethnarch Archelaus exiled. Direct Roman rule begins under Procurator Coponius, then Gratus.

c.8 Jesus is found in the Temple, which he calls his 'father's house'. Luke 2.

26 Idolatrous display of Roman standards at the Temple provoke riot. Pilate appointed Prefect of Judea (-36). War 2.

26/27 Temple courts cleared of commerce by Jesus, who refers to his body as 'this temple' and prophesies his resurrection after 3 days. Restoration had taken 46 years so far. John 2, Antiq 18.

28 Temple treasury robbed by Pilate to fund aqueduct.

29 (Hannukah) Jesus nearly stoned while teaching in Solomon's colonnade. John 10. Fear of losing the Temple fuels the plot to kill Jesus.

30 (Passover / Pesach) Jesus again clears the Temple of traders and moneychangers; declares: 'you have made it a den of robbers'; teaches and heals blind and lame there. Matt 21, Mk 11-12, Lk 19-20. Destruction and defilement of the Temple prophesied by Jesus. Matt 24, Mk 13, Lk 21. Jesus crucified by Pilate. Curtain of the Temple is ripped in half. Matt 21, Luke 23. Tacitus Annals XV,44.

c.31 Lame beggar is healed at the Temple by Peter. Acts 3. Solomon's colonnade used as meeting place by first Christians, including many of the Temple priests. Acts 5, 6.

40 Caligula (37-41) is persuaded not to erect his statue in the temple. Agrippa I becomes king of Judaea

c.45 Pauls's vision in the Temple, in which he is commanded to preach to the Gentiles. Acts12.25.

58 Paul dragged from temple by mob, preaches under arrest from staircase. Acts 21.

63-4 Restoration workforce of 18,000 is finally dismissed. Antiq 20.

66 Following robbery of silver from temple by Procurator Florus, and desecration of vestments, Eliezar son of High Priest Annanias stops sacrifice for the emperor and the Antonia Fortress is captured, starting First Jewish Revolt. Christians flee to Pella in obedience to Jesus' prophetic warning (Matt. 24).

67 Nero persecutes Christians for burning Rome (July 64).

70 Surrender of the Temple by John of Gischala is urged by Josephus after 6 months siege of city during the First Jewish Revolt. Temple the last part of Jerusalem to fall after 6 days assault including attempt to undermine N gate. Gates and colonnades burn while Zealots throw golden spikes from the roof. On 9 Ab the Second Temple, 'one of the wonders of the Roman world' is looted, burnt and demolished after Titus has seen the Holiest Place.

115 War of Quietus -Jewish rebellion against Trajan, in Egypt, Lybia and Cyprus. Quietus later transferred as governor of Syria.

117 Rebuilding of Temple possibly promised by Hadrian, who executes Quietus but later bans circumcision.

131 Temple Mount proposed by Hadrian as site for a temple to Capitoline Jupiter, sparking the Second Jewish Revolt begins in 132.

132 -134 Representations of Temple and Ark of the Covenant feature on Bar Kochba's 'coins of liberation'. Sacrifices probably restored.

134 Jerusalem recaptured by Rome.

135 (9 Ab) Bar Kochbar killed at Bethar and Rabbi Akiba who had declared him the Messiah, is tortured and killed.

136 Temple Mount renamed the Quadra, with a Temple to Capitoline Jupiter. Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitolina, without walls but with gates. Jews forbidden to enter the city. Temple of Venus constructed on Holy Sepulchre site.

212 Jews granted Roman citizenship by Caracalla.

200s Gentile church established in Jerusalem, pilgrimages begin.

300s Bordeaux pilgrim, Etheria, Palladius. Jerome sees statues on the Temple Mount (possibly from the Temple of Jupiter?).

312 Constantine’s Edict of Milan legalises Christianity.

325 Sacred sites excavated by Macarius for Empress mother Helena and Holy Sepulchre and True Cross discovered. Shrines built in Jerusalem (including on the Temple Mount?). Constantine revives the ban on Jews visiting Jerusalem except on 9 Ab.

336 Holy Sepulchre church built by Helena and Constantine, similar in design to the Dome of the Rock.

363 Foundations of the Third Temple laid by Jews with aid of Emperor Julian's architect Alypius of Antioch but construction prevented by underground fires and an earthquake (May 27).

379 Christianity becomes Roman state religion under Theodosius I (379-395).

440-460 Restoration of city walls completed by Eudocia after being exiled to Jerusalem by Theodosius II. She spends 20,480 pounds of gold on the city.

532 Churches at Holy Sepulchre and Bethlehem built by Justinian, possibly also the Dome of the Rock, the design being a close parallel to S. Vitale (Ravenna) and Diocletian's mausoleum (Split).

537 S. Sophia completed in Byzantium by Emperor Justinian the Great (483- 565): 'Glory be to God who has thought me worthy to accomplish such a great work! O Solomon, I have surpassed you!'.

550 Nea Basilica erected in Jerusalem by Justinan, possibly replacing Herod's Royal Stoa Basilica.

614 Jerusalem captured by Persians under Chosroes II, with help of Jews.

620 Mohammed (570-632) dreams he visits the Temple Mount: Muslims pray facing Jerusalem but qibla changed to Mecca after Jews reject him in 624.

630 (March 23) Golden Gate of the Temple Mount used by Emperor Heraclius (610-641) to celebrate the defeat of the Persians (627), entering the city with the recaptured True Cross. (Document of 830).

633 Restoration of Jerusalem monuments by Sophronius, possibly including the Temple Mount.

637/8 Sophronius forced to grovel in dust, mourns the 'abomination of desolation' when Jerusalem falls to Arab army under Caliph Umar abu ibn Khattab (Omar) (582-644) after 4 month siege (in Feb.). Umar (or Suleiman 70 years later) clears the Temple Mount of rubble and rubbish. (10th century tradition).

650 Quran completed including tradition of Muhammed's night journey to 'the further mosque', assumed to mean the Temple Mount (Sura 17.1).

680(?) Pilgrim Arculf descibes "a square house of prayer, roughly built of vertical boards and of a large beam..." on the Temple Mount.

687- 691 Dome of the Rock redecorated (or possibly constructed) by Abd al-Malik on the Temple Mount, renamed Haram es-Sharif (as Gk. hieron, temple) and banned to non-Moslems.

700 Jewish prayers at the Western Wall common.

709 -15 Al-Aqsa mosque, restored (or constructed) by Walid al-Malik I, to provide a rival pilgrimage attraction to Mecca and Medina.

746 Aqsa Mosque destroyed by 2 earthquakes during Caliph al-Mansur's reign.

749 Abbasid (Baghdad) coup displaces Ummayad (Damascus) rule of Jerusalem.

770's Aqsa rebuilt again, smaller, by al Mahdi.

813-33 Fatimids (Egyptian) take over Jeruisalem. Al-Mamun's name replaces al-Malik on the kufic inscription round the Dome of the Rock "Has built this dome the servant of god Abdullah al-Imam al-Mamun, commander of the believers, in the year 72..."

837 Jews allowed to pray at the Temple Mount gates in return for refuse collection.

903 Ibn al Fakih records 6 stairways to the Dome of the Rock platform.

935 Mosque built in court of Holy Sepulcre, which was burned in 967.

c.950 Synogogue built by Wailing Wall.

c.969 Jerusalem again taken by Egyptian caliphate.

980's Al-Mukaddasi describes 4 stairways, opposite each door.

985 Aqsa mosque destroyed by earthquake and rebuilt.

1009 'Mad' Sultan Al-Hakim orders all Jewish and Christian buildings destroyed.

1010 Hakim orders Jews to wear 6 pound wooden blocks and bells.

1014 Hakim banishes Jews and Christians.

1016 Dome of Rock damaged by earthquake.

1034 Aqsa mosque damaged by earthquake and rebuilt enlarged to hold 5000.

1060 Great lantern in the Dome of the Rock falls.

1084-91 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem. Ortok Emir of Jerusalem, followed in 1091 by sons Ilghazy and Sukamn - Christians persecuted, eg. c.1060 Abp. of Mainz and 7000 Christian pilgrims attacked nr. Ramalah.

1090 Assasins formed at Alamut to murder Christian leaders.

1095 Pope Urban II preaches the First Crusade.

1096 Peter the Hermit leads the People's Crusade to massacre by the Turks.

1099 (July 15) Frankish (W European) First Crusade captures Jerusalem after 5 weeks siege, governor Ifitkhar and soldiers escape and inhabitants massacred. Dome of the Rock is thought to be Solomon's Temple, the Aqsa mosque his palace.

1100 Baldwin I (1100-1118) crowned king of Jerusalem.

1119 Military order of 'Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ', or Knights Templar, is founded by Hugh de Payns (d1136) and Geoffrey de Saint Omer to protect pilgrims with headquarters on the Temple Mount, including Solomon's Stables, (SE substructure) which they may have roofed over.

1100's Single Gate, hall, church and cloisters constructed adjoining Aqsa, which is used as a storehouse.

1124 Tyre falls to Crusaders, eliminating Egyptian rule of Palestine for 63 years.

1139 Usamah ibn Munqidh describes the church beside Aqsa. 700 Christian pilgrims attacked, 300 killed, between Jerusalem and Jordan. Pope takes sole control of Templars.

1147 Second Crusade sets out in response to conquests of Zangi and his son Nur ed-din.

1149 Rebuilt Holy Sepulchre church dedicated.

1169-75 Jews possibly expelled from Jerusalem.

1170 Theoderich describes stores in Aqsa, with stables below, palace, new hall and a large church adjacent.

1174 Salah ed-Din Yusuf (Saladin), a Kurd, establishes Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt.

1187 Frankish army defeated at the Horns of Hattin in Galilee. Saladin takes Jerusalem on 2 October after several weeks siege and enslaves 15,000. Templars summarily executed. Jews allowed to return. Dome of Rock and Aqsa 'restored' using materials pillaged from churches including the church of the Nativity at Bethlehem.

1191 Third Crusade recaptures Acre.

1229-31 Franks control Jerusalem but not the Temple Mount, by treaty with the Ayyubids, but Pope Gregory IX does not approve the "insult to Christianity".

1243-4 Franks again control Jerusalem, until its capture by the Khwarzmian Tartars in 1244.

1247 Ayyubids (Egyptians) again take Jerusalem.

1250 St Louis and 10000 crusaders captured at the end of 7th Crusade, returning to France 1254.

1258 Baghdad falls to Mongols, who decide to adopt Islam.

1260 Mamluk (Turkish) coup replaces Ayyubids in Egypt and Sultan Beibars captures Jerusalem.

1277 Jerusalem annexed to kingdom of Sicily for several years.

1291 Beibars captures Acre (Antioch 1263, Tripoli, 1289), expelling Franks from Palestine.

1420 Turks under Tamerlaine capture Jerusalem.

1448 Dome of Rock burnt but restored "so as to be more beautiful even than it had been afore times". Pilgrimages decline at the Reformation.

1516 -7 Ottoman Turk Selim I takes Jerusalem, having taken Constantinople in 1453.

1538 - 1542 Modern walls of Jerusalem built by Suleiman the Magnificent (1495-1566).

1541 Suleiman blocks up the Golden Gate to the temple Mount due to myth of a Christian conqueror entering by it, possibly ref. to Ezekiel 44.

1832 - 42 Jerusalem controlled by Egyptian Mohammed Ali and Ibrahim Pasha.

1833 Captain Frederick Catherwood enters the Temple Mount and prepares first measured survey.

1838 British consulate opened in Jerusalem -first European representation.

1840 British policy to protect Jews in Palestine. Anglican Cathedral f. 1841.

1855 First Europeans allowed to enter Temple Mount. 1856 Ottoman edict of religious toleration.

1864 - 5 Captain Wilson, British Royal Engineers, carries out first and only comprehensive measured survey of the Temple Mount for the PEF and Ordance Survey.

1867 Mark Twain visits Mosque of Umar. Until just a year or two before 1867: "no Christian could gain admission to it or its court for love or money" The Innocents Abroad, or the New Pilgrim's Progress.

1898 Wilhelm II 'Der Reise-Kaiser' (The Travelling Kaiser) visits Jerusalem and becomes, 1899, 'protector of the Moslem world'.

1896 Herzl's The Jewish State is published.

1897 First Zionist congress: Bar Kochba coins illustrating the First Temple distributed among participants.

1911 April 9- Captain Montague Parker excavates secretly for a week on the Temple Mount, inclduing inside the Dome of the Rock, but is stopped by a riot, narrowly escaping with his life.

1917 Foreign Secretary Balfour's British Declaration of support for a national home for Jews in Palestine followed by General Allenby's capture of Jerusalem from the Turks (December 11).

1920 British Mandate rule of Palestine begins. Al Omariyya school on site of Roman Antonia fortress becomes British barracks.

1929 Anti-Jewish riot prompted by false rumour that Jews planned to take over the Dome of the Rock.

1947 UN partition of Palestine: State of Israel established.

1948 British Mandate ends 15 May. War in Palestine: Arabs capture Old City of Jerusalem and deny access to Wailing / Western Wall to Jews. Ceasefire 3 April 1949.

1951 King Abdullah of Jordan assassinated on the Temple Mount at the entrance of the al-Aqsa mosque. His grandson, King Hussein, opens Temple Mount to non-Muslims.

1967 Six day war: Israel retakes Jerusalem and Temple Mount, but leaves it under Muslim waqf control. Egypt donates a new gold annodised dome for the Dome of the Rock.

1969 Saladin's minbar (pulpit) destroyed by an Australian tourist and Aqsa damaged by fire.

1973 Western Wall tunnel dug by Ministry of Religious Affairs after Yom Kippur War causes subsidence of some buildings in the Old City and provokes protests from 19 Islamic nations in 1978.

1986 Israeli soldiers patrol the Temple Mount for the first time in 2000 years to ensure Jews do not pray there after attempts by armed zealots to do so.

1995 Aqsa re-roofed with lead dome and Dome of Rock covered in $1M of gold leaf donated by Saudi Arabia.

1997-2003 (August) During Arab intafada and after, access to Temple Mount is again denied to non-Moslems.

2007 Application to build a synagogue on the Temple Mount.