Body: | The Temple in Jerusalem was not located over the Dome of Tablets
Asher S. Kaufman takes the view that the temple was located over the
Dome of the Tablets, also known as the Dome of the Spirits.
The two names of this Islamic structure are suggested to be
connected with the Holy of Holies of the Jewish Temple. It is suggested
that "Dome of the Tablets" traces back to the "Dome of the Tablets of the
Covenant inside the ark in the Holy of Holies". It is suggested that "Dome
of the Spirits" traces back to "Dome of the Spirit of God that dwelt in the
Holy of Holies".
"If it is assumed that the orientation of the Second Temple was
exactly east-west, then the alignment 9° south of west indicates that the
line of the Temple building or complex of buildings associated with it
angled a bit to the south (to the left looking west). One might suppose
that the building was nevertheless rectangular and that its orientation was
simply off east-west by 9°; that is, instead of its being oriented exactly
on an east-west axis, it was oriented slightly to the south of west. But
this supposition is contradicted by another series of ancient objects on
the other (southern) side of the building complex whose plan and location
we are trying to determine. (Asher S. Kaufman, Where the Ancient Temple of
Jerusalem Stood. Extant "foundation stone" for the Ark of the Covenant is
identified." (BAR 9:02, Mar/Apr 1983)
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Above: The "Dome of the Tablets" or "Dome of the Spirits" is pictured with
the dark roof in front of the Dome of the Rock.
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Below is a close up of the rock underneath the Dome of the Tablets"
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Below is where Kaufman would place Herod's Temple:
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Below is where Kaufman would place Solomon's Temple:
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Here is a key to archeology noted by Kaufman overlaid with both Solomon's
(first) and Herod's (second) Temple:
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Key to above blueprint map of Temple located over the Dome of Tablets:
1. hewn rock-mass 9° south of west
2. wall remains 9° south of west
4. wall
5. pavement of large flagstones flush with ground 9° south of west
6. wall remains 9° south of west
9. underground rock-cut cisterns 9° north of west (Wilson)
10. cemented cistern
11. two large slabs of bedrock close to one another that form part of the
eastern retaining wall of the platform of the Dome of the Rock north-south
axis
13. relic of a wall uncovered in 1979 part of the foundation of the parapet
Josephus called the geision
14. rock scarp of the Antonia, and the scarp at the northern end of the
Dome of the Rock platform perpendicular to the Eastern Wall. a crypt
supporting the northeastern angle of the Court of the Priests and part of
the Outer Court
16. rock wall in basement of small domed house 9° north of west
17. underground rock-cut cisterns 9° north of west (Wilson)
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
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