Overview
After the Babylonian captivity, the Jewish people returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel (c. 516 BC). This Second Temple lacked some glory of Solomon's original structure but remained the spiritual center of Jewish worship for nearly 600 years. Jesus himself walked its courts and drove out money changers, affirming its intended holiness.
Key Scriptures
"Now when the beggar was placed at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful..." (Acts 3:2, NASB). "Then King Darius issued a decree, and search was made in the Babylonian archives..." (Ezra 6:1-2, ESV). "Jesus walked in the temple, in the portico of Solomon" (John 10:22, ESV).
Application
Understanding the Second Temple's history reminds us that God's purposes continue through seasons of loss and restoration, and that authentic worship transcends physical structures.
✦ Scripture References 40 references
✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 151 verses
Beautiful gate of, mentioned
Built on the site of the first temple
Cleansed and rededicated by Judas Maccabaeus after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes
Considered it blasphemy to speak against
Dedication of, celebrated with joy and thankfulness
Desecrated by selling oxen, &c in
Desecrated by the Romans
Desecration of, foretold
Divine worship commenced before the foundation was laid
Finished the third of the twelfth month in the sixth year of Darius
Foundation of, laid the second month of second year after the captivity
Frequently taught in
Furnished means for building
Future glory of, predicted
Gave a decree for building, in the first year of his reign
Gave permission to the Jews to go to Jerusalem to build
Gave the vessels of the first temple for
Grief of those who had seen the first temple
His decree for building, predicted
Its completion by Zerubbabel foretold, to encourage the Jews
Its dimensions
Joy of those who had not seen the first temple
Materials for building procured from Tyre and Sidon
Miraculously transported to a pinnacle of
No Gentile allowed to enter the inner courts of
Ordered those who remained in Babylon to contribute to the building of
Prayed without, while the priest offered incense within
Predicted its destruction
Presented in
Procured its interruption for fifteen years
Proposed to assist in building
Purified, and the commencement of his ministry
Purified, at the close of his ministry
Repaired and beautified by Herod, which occupied forty-six years
Resumed by Zerubbabel and Jeshua
Separation between the outer or Gentile court and that of the Jews alluded to
Solemnities connected with laying the foundation of
Solomon's porch connected with
Tatnai the governor wrote to Darius to know if the building had his sanction
The decree of Cyrus found and confirmed by Darius
The Jews encouraged to proceed in building
The Jews punished for not persevering in building
The Jews reproved for not building
The magnificence of its building and ornaments
The vail of, rent at our Lord's death
Their help refused by the Jews
To appear in
Weakened the hands of the Jews in building
Wrote to Artaxerxes Smerdis to interrupt the building