The Temple at the Dome of the Rock

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The Temple Mount

Modern Destruction By Richard Benkin, Ph.D. (May 2003) - In 1886, British explorer Captain Charles Wilson undertook the most comprehensive survey of Jerusalem in modern times, noting, “No one has ever questioned that the [Jewish] Temple formerly stood within the Haram-es-Sherif [Moslem name for the Temple Mount].”¹ It would be difficult to think of a more absurd notion. To deny that reality denies the essence of both Jewish and Christian scripture. They both contain voluminous reference to the temples, from their construction to the events in the life of Jesus. In fact, Moslem and Arab history also confirms Warren’s declaration. Before 638 CE—a rather late date in the history of that region—there was no Islamic presence in Jerusalem. Its conqueror, the Umayyad Caliph, Umar, asked its Byzantine Patriarch, Sophronius, to show him the site of the Jewish Temples almost immediately upon entering the city. Sophronius did so and said, “Here is that appalling abomination.” Umar was indeed appalled—but not by the Temple itself. He was incensed at the accumulated garbage and debris, which he believed desecrated that Jewish holy site. He ordered the site cleansed immediately in a manner befitting its holy purpose. Soon thereafter, he commissioned The Dome of the Rock on the Mount, and his son had Al-Aqsa mosque built there as well. These edifices were not constructed to mark a Moslem holy site but to advertise Moslem hegemony over Jerusalem with its Jewish and Christian holy sites. more...

The traditional location places the Holy of Holies on the rock over which the Dome of the Rock was built. It is believed to be the site where Abraham offered Isaac and the threshingfloor David purchased and built a temple to the Lord on.

Certain historical accounts say that this building was built by the Moslems to overlay the location of the original Jewish Temple(s) and most rabbis in Israel today associate the original Temple location with this site. Dr. Leen Ritmeyer has researched and written on the original 500 cubit square boundaries of the original Temple Mount site based on this assumption. Recent journal articles still support this view. (1) Former Jerusalem District archaeologist Dr. Dan Bahat vigorously defends the traditional location - drawing on his years of experience and study of the entire city and its history. - Templemount.org

Arguments For

Pending research...

Research Links For the theory:

• Dr. Ritmeyer Interview: What is the Archeological Evidence on the Temple Mount?
  • Book: Jerusalem - The Temple Mount - The authoritative text of JERUSALEM: THE TEMPLE MOUNT contains priceless information and is richly documented with detailed maps, plans and stunningly evocative reconstructive illustrations. An artistic masterpiece in itself, this important addition to the scant literature on the Temple Mount will be equally appreciated by Jerusalem residents, tourists and armchair travellers.
  • Book: The Quest: Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem - No book is better suited to the study, understanding and development of the manmade plateau that is the focus of the world s interest the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Ritmeyer's experience as architect of the Temple Mount Excavations following the Six-Day War, coupled with his exploration of parts of the mount now hardly accessible and his doctoral research into the problems of the Temple Mount make him singularly qualified for the task.

Arguments Against

Pending research...

Research Links Against the Theory: