HaMikdash (הַמִּקְדָּשׁ)

HaMikdash (הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, "the Holy" or "the Sanctuary") refers to the Temple in Jerusalem — the central place of worship in biblical and Second Temple Judaism. It was the site of the daily sacrifices (tamid), the pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh Regalim), and the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant (in the First Temple) and the divine Presence (Shekhinah).

Biblical origins

The command to build a sanctuary appears in Exodus 25:8: "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." The Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the wilderness was the portable precursor. The concept of a central place of worship was later fixed in Jerusalem, chosen by God (Deuteronomy 12:5, 1 Kings 8).

First Temple (Solomon's)

King David purchased the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite on Mount Moriah (2 Samuel 24), and King Solomon built the First Temple (Beit HaMikdash) around 957 BCE (1 Kings 5-8). It took seven years. The Temple housed the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies (Kodesh HaKodashim). Solomon's prayer at dedication (1 Kings 8) established it as a house of prayer for all nations.

Destruction of the First Temple

The First Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 BCE, following a siege. The Ark was lost (or hidden, per some traditions). The people were exiled to Babylon. This catastrophe is commemorated on Tisha B'Av and in the Book of Lamentations (Eichah).

Second Temple

After the Persian conquest, Cyrus the Great issued a decree (538 BCE) allowing the Jews to return and rebuild. The Second Temple was completed in 516 BCE (Ezra 6). It was smaller and lacked the Ark, the Urim v'Tumim, and the sacred fire. Yet it remained the center of Jewish worship, sacrifice, and pilgrimage for nearly six centuries.

Herod's renovation

Herod the Great (37-4 BCE) massively expanded and renovated the Temple Mount, creating the platform that exists today. The construction, begun ~20 BCE, continued for decades. The resulting Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world (Josephus, Antiquities 15.11).

Destruction of the Second Temple

The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans under Titus in 70 CE, during the First Jewish-Roman War. The event is commemorated on Tisha B'Av. The destruction transformed Judaism: sacrifice ended, and rabbinic Judaism, centered on Torah study, prayer, and synagogue, emerged. The Western Wall (Kotel) remains a remnant and the holiest accessible site in Judaism.

Structure and layout

• Azarah — the courtyard (Priestly and Israelite courts)
• Ulam — the vestibule/porch
• Heichal — the Sanctuary (Holy Place)
• Kodesh HaKodashim — the Holy of Holies, entered only by the High Priest on Yom Kippur
• Temple Mount platforms — built by Herod, with retaining walls including the Western Wall

Sacred vessels

• Aron HaBrit — Ark of the Covenant (First Temple only)
• Menorah — seven-branched candelabrum
• Shulchan — Table of the Showbread
• Mizbeach HaZahav — Golden (incense) Altar
• Mizbeach HaOlah — Altar of Burnt Offering
• Kiyyor — Laver for priestly washing

Priestly service

The Kohanim (priests) and Levi'im (Levites) performed daily and festival services: the tamid (morning and afternoon sacrifice), incense offering, menorah lighting, and showbread. The High Priest (Kohen Gadol) performed the Yom Kippur service in the Holy of Holies. Pilgrims brought offerings during the three festivals.

Theological meaning

The Mikdash represents God's dwelling among Israel ("I will dwell among them," Exodus 25:8). It is the axis mundi of Jewish sacred geography, the point where heaven and earth meet. Its destruction is the central trauma of Jewish history, and its memory shapes Jewish prayer, longing, and identity to this day (e.g., "Next year in Jerusalem").

The Third Temple

Jewish tradition (and some Christian and Muslim traditions) anticipates a Third Temple (Beit HaMikdash HaShlishi). The prophet Ezekiel (chapters 40-48) describes its dimensions. Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Melachim 12:1) counts building the Temple as a positive commandment. The site today is one of the most contested in the world.

References

1. Exodus 25-27; 1 Kings 5-8; 2 Kings 25; Ezra; Ezekiel 40-48
2. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
3. Mishnah Middot, Tamid, Yoma
4. Maimonides, Mishneh Torah
5. The JPS Bible Commentary
6. Sefaria.org