Temple, Jerusalem The representative dwelling place of God and the focal point of Israel’s worship. The temple’s innermost room, called the holy of holies, housed the ark of the covenant. Various kinds of sacrifices were performed at the temple to remove impurities, atone for sins, and make peace with God.

The temple in Jerusalem was the permanent replacement for the tabernacle, the tent where God resided among His people during their wilderness wanderings. The first temple was built by King Solomon around 950 bc and was destroyed in 587/6 bc by the Babylonians. After the fall of Babylon in 539 bc, Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem and, led by Zerubbabel, began to rebuild the temple. The second temple was completed around 518/17 bc and was extensively renovated by Herod the Great starting in 20 bc. The Romans destroyed the second temple in ad 70 during the First Jewish Revolt.

The future temple is the centerpiece of a vision received by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek 40–44).

For further details about specific temple structures, see these articles: Temple, Solomon’s; Temple, Zerubbabel’s; Temple, Herod’s; Temple, Ezekiel’s; Holy of Holies.