Topical Bible: Dedication: Second Temple

◄ Dedication: Second Temple ►

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The Dedication of the Second Temple marks a significant event in Jewish history, symbolizing the restoration of worship and religious life after the Babylonian exile. This event is rooted in the historical and prophetic narratives of the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Haggai.

Historical Context

The First Temple, built by King Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, leading to the exile of the Jewish people. The return from exile began under the decree of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This return is chronicled in the book of Ezra, which details the efforts to restore the temple and reestablish the Jewish community.

Construction and Challenges

The rebuilding of the Second Temple began around 536 BC under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest. The initial efforts faced significant opposition from surrounding peoples and internal discouragement. The work was halted for several years until the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah inspired the people to resume construction. Haggai 1:8 records God's command: "Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD."

Completion and Dedication

The Second Temple was completed in 516 BC, during the sixth year of King Darius's reign. The dedication of the temple is described in Ezra 6:16-18 : "Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. For the dedication of this house of God, they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they installed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses."

Religious Significance

The dedication of the Second Temple was not merely a physical restoration but a spiritual renewal for the Jewish people. It signified the reestablishment of the sacrificial system and the observance of the Mosaic Law, which were central to Jewish worship and identity. The temple served as the focal point of Jewish religious life until its destruction by the Romans in AD 70.

Prophetic Fulfillment and Messianic Hope

The Second Temple period is also significant in biblical prophecy and messianic expectation. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah spoke of a future glory for the temple, with Haggai 2:9 declaring, "The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares the LORD of Hosts." This prophecy is often interpreted as pointing to the coming of the Messiah, who would bring ultimate peace and fulfillment.

The dedication of the Second Temple thus stands as a testament to God's faithfulness in restoring His people and His dwelling place among them, while also pointing forward to the greater fulfillment in the coming of Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezra 6:16,17
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

At the Dedication of a Church
... THE INNER WAY SERMON XXXVI At the Dedication of a Church. The Second Sermon ... thoughts
and infirmities, which carry on their business in this temple, and which may ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxxvi at the dedication.htm

"Not by Might, nor by Power"
... The second temple did not equal the first in ... divine presence which pertained to the
first temple. ... manifestation of supernatural power to mark its dedication. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 48 not by might.htm

At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.
... eight days on the anniversary of its Dedication.' [4389] The ... in Christ's former
Discourse in the Temple (John 10 ... it is all promise, and the second clause only ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiv at the feast.htm

First and Second Chronicles.
... Analysis of Second Chronicles. I. The Reign of Solomon, Chs.1-9. 1. Building
of the temple, Cha.1-4. 2. Dedication of the temple, Chs.5-7. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter x first and second.htm

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
... passover (vi.4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii.2); 5, dedication (x.22); 6 ... The
second temple, built by Zerubbabel and Jeshua (bc520), had been torn down and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiv jesus attends the first.htm

Altar and Temple
... of destruction, and of the glories of Solomon's dedication, and of the ... The second
part of the passage narrates the laying of the foundations of the Temple. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

Christians, Temples of the Living God
... in that admirable prayer which he put up to God at the dedication of the temple ... And
what was said of the first, our Lord applies to the second temple, "My house ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/christians temples of the living.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... But the second temple had not equaled the first in ... of the divine presence which
pertained to the first temple. ... of supernatural power to mark its dedication. ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... But the second temple had not equaled the first in ... of the divine presence which
pertained to the first temple. ... of supernatural power to mark its dedication. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

The Later Hebrew Histories.
... to keep the law; the narrative of the dedication of the ... the rebuilding of their city
and their temple, and of ... were written by Ezra, and of the second book by ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vi the later hebrew.htm