Herod’s Temple: Dimensions and History
Quick Summary
Herod’s Temple was a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple, creating one of the most extraordinary sacred complexes of the ancient world. Its enlarged platform reached roughly five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits, supported by monumental retaining walls and bordered by vast colonnades. Drawing from Scripture, Josephus, and archaeological experts such as Leen Ritmeyer, Benjamin Mazar, and Ehud Netzer, a clearer picture of its scale and development emerges. Herod’s Temple shaped the religious, social, and cultural world in which Jesus and the early church lived.
Introduction
Herod the Great began rebuilding the Second Temple around 20 BCE. His goal was both political and devotional. He sought stability for his rule while creating a sanctuary worthy of Israel’s God. Archaeological studies, including the Temple Mount Excavations directed by Benjamin Mazar and later analysis by Leen Ritmeyer, reveal how Herod transformed the earlier structure into a monumental complex that towered over Jerusalem.
Understanding its dimensions and history helps place New Testament events within their physical environment. The Temple courts hosted crowds listening to Jesus. The colonnades provided settings for teaching, healing, and gathering. The architecture influenced the movements of pilgrims and the rhythms of prayer. The blend of biblical texts and archaeological evidence helps illuminate what Herod’s Temple looked like and why it mattered.
Dimensions of the Temple Platform
Herod’s most dramatic achievement was the expansion of the Temple Mount platform. According to Josephus and confirmed by modern archaeological analysis, the platform measured roughly five hundred cubits on each side. Excavations at the southwest corner, documented by Mazar and later by Ronny Reich, show stones weighing hundreds of tons. Some reach more than thirty feet in length.
Archaeological reconstruction by Leen Ritmeyer suggests that Herod doubled the size of the earlier Hasmonean platform, creating a vast manmade rectangle supported by retaining walls. The western and southern walls visible today preserve parts of Herod’s construction. Their scale demonstrates the engineering skill of his builders.
The platform created level space for courts, colonnades, and gates. Its size made the Temple a defining feature of Jerusalem’s skyline.
The Outer Courts
The Court of the Gentiles formed the broadest open space. Josephus describes it as large enough to accommodate crowds during festivals. Archaeological findings at the southern steps and discovery of mikva’ot in the area indicate heavy foot traffic as worshipers entered the complex.
Colonnades, especially the Royal Stoa along the southern edge, framed the court. The Royal Stoa, highlighted by Ritmeyer and Netzer, contained multiple rows of columns supporting a massive roofed structure. It served as a gathering place and a location for teaching and administrative activity.
Closer to the sanctuary were the inner courts: the Court of Women, the Court of Israel, and the Court of the Priests. Each court’s size reflected increasing levels of holiness. Though exact measurements vary among sources, the progression of courts revealed a movement toward the sanctuary’s center.
The Sanctuary
Herod preserved the central dimensions of the sanctuary. Based on the biblical pattern, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place followed a layout sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. Herod heightened the façade, creating an even more imposing structure.
Inside, according to Josephus, the sanctuary’s surfaces were covered with gold and embroidered fabrics. The Holy Place held lampstands, the table for the bread of the Presence, and the altar of incense. The Most Holy Place remained a perfect cube. Although the Ark of the Covenant was no longer present, the room retained its meaning as the symbolic dwelling of God.
The sanctuary’s measurements aligned with the earlier First Temple and the Tabernacle, offering continuity amid Herod’s broader expansion.
Gates and Colonnades
Archaeological and literary sources describe several monumental gates. The Beautiful Gate on the eastern side opened into the Court of Women. Large gates connected the inner courts. These gates balanced functional movement with symbolic importance.
The Royal Stoa stands out as one of Herod’s most impressive added structures. Ritmeyer and other archaeologists identify it as a basilica-style building with tall columns and a high roof. It provided space for meeting, teaching, and commerce.
The colonnades communicated both grandeur and accessibility. They organized the flow of worshipers while offering shaded areas for conversation.
The History of Herod’s Temple
Herod began the Temple project in 20 BCE. Josephus notes that the sanctuary was completed in about eighteen months, though exterior buildings and courts continued for decades. Skilled priests trained as builders worked on the sanctuary to ensure ritual purity.
After Herod’s death, construction continued under his successors. By the first century CE, the Temple had become a central gathering place for Jewish life. Pilgrims from across the region visited during festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.
Jesus taught in the Temple courts, and early believers gathered there after the resurrection. The Temple’s destruction in 70 CE by the Romans marked a profound shift in Jewish worship and identity.
Archaeological research, especially after the 1967 excavations around the Temple Mount, has clarified the scale of the complex. Ritmeyer’s architectural drawings, Mazar’s discoveries, and analysis by scholars such as Dan Bahat and Gabriel Barkay contribute to understanding its appearance.
Dimensions That Shape Understanding
The dimensions of Herod’s Temple help explain many New Testament scenes. The vast Court of the Gentiles allowed large crowds to listen to Jesus. The colonnades supported teaching and healing. The inner courts structured the movement of worshipers. The platform’s height and size emphasized the Temple’s role as the heart of Jerusalem.
Combining biblical texts with archaeological evidence enriches the picture. The Temple was not only an impressive structure. It shaped the world in which Jesus and the early church lived.
FAQ
What archaeological sources help reconstruct Herod’s Temple?
Excavations by Benjamin Mazar, drawings by Leen Ritmeyer, and analysis by scholars such as Ehud Netzer and Dan Bahat provide significant insight. Josephus also offers a literary description.
Did Herod change the sanctuary itself?
Herod preserved the traditional dimensions of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place while expanding the courts and platform.
How large was the Temple platform?
Around five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits, supported by massive retaining walls documented by archaeological excavations.
Why is Herod’s Temple important for understanding the New Testament?
Many scenes from Jesus’ ministry and the early church took place within its courts. The dimensions help explain the scale and setting of these moments.
