ISRAEL EDUCATION #3

Great events in a historic city

 

(See Attached Map)

 

Some epochal events that have taken place in Jerusalem are shown superimposed on a drawing of the city today.  Near the east wall of the Old City,Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac (1) David (2) made Jerusalem ancient Israel's capital.  Christ's last days, beginning with the Last Supper (3) and ending in the descent form the Cross (6) were spent in Jerusalem.  The Wailing Wall is a remnant of the Second Temple, destroyed in A.D. 70 (7).  From the Dome of the Rock, Mohammed departed for heaven (8) The first Crusaders (9) entered near the Storks' Tower.  Across the present-day no man's land is the King David Hotel, site of a 1946 bombing (10). 

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Richardson Back to School Home Evening

 

 

RICHARDSON BACK TO SCHOOL HOME EVENING

 

Date-  Monday September 1, 2008

 

5:30 to 6 :30 PM  Swimming at grandparent's pool

 

6:30 to 7:30 PM   Picnic at Laguna Park (2 blocks away)

 

7:30       Standards discussed for our grandchildren

 

 

 

FOOD ASSIGNMENTS

 

Mom and Dad—Corn on the Cob, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches,

                            Baby carrots

 

Ellingsons--        Sandwiches for 20, cookies

 

Mortensens--      Sandwiches for 20, cookies

 

Ray--                    Potato Chips

 

Amy--                   Drink

 

 

We look forward to having all of you over for a home evening "back to school" party. 

 

Lots and lots of love,

 

Grandpa and Grandma Richardson

 

 

 

 

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Israel Education #2

Dear Children,
 
I intended to also send this material as an attachment in case this is easier for you to pull up.l
 
So here is the attachment.

Love,
Mom


Subject: Israel Education #2
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:14:40 -0500

Dear Children,
 
I am enclosing information about the Garden Tomb as I follow through on our assignment to learn more about Israel as we plan to travel there as a family. 
 
We are getting excited for the trip.  Look for something to study each week.
 
Love,
Mom
 
 

Garden Tomb Also known as Gordon's Calvary, Gordon's Tomb

Rocky Escarpment In Jerusalem for a visit in 1884, General Charles Gordon spied a prominent rocky crag which looked to him like it could be the "place of the skull" mentioned in the Bible as where Jesus was crucified.   Around the corner Gordon identified an ancient tomb and putting the two together he located the hill of crucifixion and the nearby burial place.

 

The Hill of the Skull The slope has eroded badly in the last hundred years, but some maintain they can still see the eye sockets and the nose bridge.  Regardless, it must be noted that while the Bible locates the crucifixion at the "place of the skull," it never says that it was on a hill, nor that this place bore the resemblance of a skull.  It also could be asked if this hill which resembles a skull looked the same 2000 years ago.

 

The Garden Tomb While officially the Garden Tomb Association only maintains this as a possible site for Christ's burial, some tour guides of the site are convinced of the authenticity.  They note the large cistern nearby, which proves the area must have been a garden in Jesus' day.  They maintain that there are marks of Christian veneration at the tomb which also prove its sanctity throughout the ages.

 

The Resting Place This is the place believed by many to be the resting place of Jesus.  Some archaeologists question the authenticity of this tomb because typological features suggest that it is a tomb originally hewn in the time of the Old Testament and not a "new tomb" as specifically stated in Scripture.

Related Websites

The Garden Tomb (The Garden Tomb [Jerusalem] Association)  The official website.  Learn more about the grounds in the "Garden Tour" link.   Garden Tomb (Christian Travel Study Program)  Presents the merit of the site as a better environment for meditation and worship, but holds to the Holy Sepulcher as the more probable location for the events of the cross. The Garden Tomb (Daily Bible Study)  General information about the area with links to topics related to biblical characters, the process of the crucifixion, and the life of Christ. The Garden Tomb (Orange Street Congregational Church, London)  An interview with the keeper of the tomb in 1965. The Garden Tomb (Good News Ministries)  Focuses on the more spiritual aspects of the resurrection, using the Garden Tomb as a guide.  Garden Tomb Cross and the Place of the Skull (Personal Page)  One visitor's arguments for the Garden Tomb's authenticity. Garden Tomb (Virtual Travel, Israel Diary)  Features an online video tour accompanied by text describing the meditations of another pilgrim at the peaceful garden tomb. Garden Tomb (Personal Page)  Briefly tells the story of Charles Gordon's identification of the site. The Garden Tomb (Adat B'nei HaMelech)  "If not the exact tomb, it is an exact duplicate."

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Israel Education #2

Dear Children,
 
I am enclosing information about the Garden Tomb as I follow through on our assignment to learn more about Israel as we plan to travel there as a family. 
 
We are getting excited for the trip.  Look for something to study each week.
 
Love,
Mom
 
 

Garden Tomb Also known as Gordon's Calvary, Gordon's Tomb

Rocky Escarpment In Jerusalem for a visit in 1884, General Charles Gordon spied a prominent rocky crag which looked to him like it could be the "place of the skull" mentioned in the Bible as where Jesus was crucified.   Around the corner Gordon identified an ancient tomb and putting the two together he located the hill of crucifixion and the nearby burial place.

 

The Hill of the Skull The slope has eroded badly in the last hundred years, but some maintain they can still see the eye sockets and the nose bridge.  Regardless, it must be noted that while the Bible locates the crucifixion at the "place of the skull," it never says that it was on a hill, nor that this place bore the resemblance of a skull.  It also could be asked if this hill which resembles a skull looked the same 2000 years ago.

 

The Garden Tomb While officially the Garden Tomb Association only maintains this as a possible site for Christ's burial, some tour guides of the site are convinced of the authenticity.  They note the large cistern nearby, which proves the area must have been a garden in Jesus' day.  They maintain that there are marks of Christian veneration at the tomb which also prove its sanctity throughout the ages.

 

The Resting Place This is the place believed by many to be the resting place of Jesus.  Some archaeologists question the authenticity of this tomb because typological features suggest that it is a tomb originally hewn in the time of the Old Testament and not a "new tomb" as specifically stated in Scripture.

Related Websites

The Garden Tomb (The Garden Tomb [Jerusalem] Association)  The official website.  Learn more about the grounds in the "Garden Tour" link.   Garden Tomb (Christian Travel Study Program)  Presents the merit of the site as a better environment for meditation and worship, but holds to the Holy Sepulcher as the more probable location for the events of the cross. The Garden Tomb (Daily Bible Study)  General information about the area with links to topics related to biblical characters, the process of the crucifixion, and the life of Christ. The Garden Tomb (Orange Street Congregational Church, London)  An interview with the keeper of the tomb in 1965. The Garden Tomb (Good News Ministries)  Focuses on the more spiritual aspects of the resurrection, using the Garden Tomb as a guide.  Garden Tomb Cross and the Place of the Skull (Personal Page)  One visitor's arguments for the Garden Tomb's authenticity. Garden Tomb (Virtual Travel, Israel Diary)  Features an online video tour accompanied by text describing the meditations of another pilgrim at the peaceful garden tomb. Garden Tomb (Personal Page)  Briefly tells the story of Charles Gordon's identification of the site. The Garden Tomb (Adat B'nei HaMelech)  "If not the exact tomb, it is an exact duplicate."

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Bed time Reading

Problem Sleeping?  Read my paper that just came out in the top accounting academic journal!  See attached.

 

I send it because it is the paper that was the hardest to get published – so I am proudest of it!

 

 

 

Vern Richardson

Department Chair, Accounting

S. Robson Walton Endowed Chair

Walton College of Business

University of Arkansas

479-575-6803 (work) 479-236-0013 (cell)

Richardson Review-- 8-20-08

 

Dear Family,

 

We are so grateful to have another grandson worthy to be set apart as a full time missionary.  It is such a blessing to us that as of now all of our grandsons are  desirous of serving missions.  Parker is our tenth grandchild to give missionary service.  He has been called to the Paraguay Asuncion Mission and joins his three cousins currently serving missions. We look forward to having many more grandchildren serve as they become old enough. 

 

Rauna asked me to make some butterscotch brownies and cherry cheesecake bars to serve all the people that came to their home all weekend to wish Parker well.  We were happy that all of his family could be here with him--Carinne was here on break from BYU Idaho, Adrianne arrived from her service in Mexico and Erin and Dantley drove down from Provo.  We enjoyed being with them and appreciate the service Carinne gave us the couple of days she spent here in our home.

 

Saturday evening over at Rauna and Fred's home I enjoyed the plaque they had displayed above their fireplace that said, "Having somewhere to go is Home, Having someone to love is Family and Having both is a blessing."   I am grateful that you have all made great homes for your families and are busy teaching our grandchildren.

 

Sunday morning Parker gave a great talk in his Sacrament meeting.  He was asked to speak on tithing and then gave a sweet sincere testimony.  He will be a great missionary.

He had many of his friends come from all over to be at Sacrament meeting with us. We were invited to dinner at their home after the farewell. 

 

We were grateful to be invited back to the Mortensen's home on Monday evening when Parker's Stake President, President Bradshaw set him apart as a full time missionary.  Parker's Bishop, Father and both of his grandparents and brother-in-law were asked to stand in the circle. Parker was given a great blessing.

 

Yesterday Rauna and Fred rode up to Provo with Erin and Dantley so Nathan and I got to drive Parker to the airport.  He was really ready to leave and get started on his mission.  As I am writing this letter his parents are probably with him at the Missionary Training Center to see him off on his mission.  Parker will be in the MTC several weeks to learn Spanish before going to Paraguay. 

 

This morning we read a great missionary letter from Travis in Taiwan and yesterday a great letter from Dallas in Ohio and a couple of days ago from Gary in Nebraska.  We so appreciate the great missionary spirit we feel in our home as their parents forward our missionary grandchildren's letters on to us. 

 

Last Thursday I went to the temple with a young person in our ward that will be leaving in a couple of weeks to begin his mission in Mexico.  I was impressed to greet at the temple the other two missionaries from our ward that will also be leaving this month to go to the Dominican Republic and Seattle. The Gospel is true.  We are so blessed to have the truths of the gospel and to be able to share it with our friends and neighbors.  Dad joins me in sending our love and appreciation for the good people you are.

 

Love, Mom, Grandma, Lavona

 

 

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Re: Important Reminder about Israel Education

Karen and Rob Young's e-mail address is:  karebus@msn.com

Jay and Lavona Richardson <jayandlavona@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear Children,
 
Please copy and mail all of your Richardson Israel Education material to Dean since he doesn't have a computer. 
Dean's mailing address is: 18416 NW Chemketa Lane #915, ZPortland, Oregon 97229. Also, Joann please send my #1 Richardson Israel Education to the Youngs and send us all their e-mail address so that we can send it right to them. 
 
Love,
 
Mom

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Important Reminder about Israel Education

Dear Children,
 
Please copy and mail all of your Richardson Israel Education material to Dean since he doesn't have a computer. 
Dean's mailing address is: 18416 NW Chemketa Lane #915, ZPortland, Oregon 97229. Also, Joann please send my #1 Richardson Israel Education to the Youngs and send us all their e-mail address so that we can send it right to them. 
 
Love,
 
Mom

---

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Richardson Israel Education #1 The Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock

Dear Family,
 
I am sending the first of our assigned topic for our Richardson Israel Education.  I have attached and copied below the article about The Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock for you to study. 
 
I know our trip will mean so much more to us if we do our homework before we go.  We are getting so excited for the trip.  Thanks Miriam for giving us zall these Richardson Israel Education assignments.  Look for more to follow.l
 
Love,
 
Mom and Dad
 
 
 
RICHARDSON ISRAEL EDUCATION - #1  (Jay and Lavona Richardson)
                                    Assigned for September 2008

The Temple Mount and The Dome of the Rock

 
New Proposed Location for Solomon's Temple
by John P. Pratt, V. Garth Norman, Lance Harding, and Jason Jones

Newly discovered evidence indicates possible original location of Solomon's temple.

Exactly where was Solomon's temple located? Virtually all investigators agree that it was on the Temple Mount Platform in Jerusalem, but its precise location has been in question.

This article proposes a new location on that platform, where no building presently exists. If correct, then Solomon's temple could be restored without affecting the magnificent Muslim mosque, the Dome of the Rock, which is situated where most scholars believe Solomon's temple had stood.
The evidence presented here was discovered by our team who were sent to Jerusalem last April to research the Temple Mount and surrounding area. Team lead Garth Norman is a professional archaeologist with decades of expertise in archaeoastronomy, Lance Harding is an expert in structural design comparitive study of temples, Jason Jones was our field work engineer and facilitator, having previously lived in Jerusalem, and John Pratt is an astronomer specializing in ancient sacred calendars. The research funding was arranged by Vern Swanson. ¹

Historical Background

King David, the father of Solomon, was commanded by the seer Gad to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite. David purchased the site and obeyed (2 Samuel 24:11-25). David himself was not allowed to build the temple, but was told that his son Solomon would accomplish that great task (1 Kings 5:5). The magnificent temple was seven years in construction and was finished in King Solomon's eleventh year of reign (1 Kings 6:38).

All tradition and evidence indicate that Solomon's Temple was built at or near David's Altar, atop the hill formerly known to Abraham as Mount Moriah. It is believed that it was the location of Abraham's offering of his son as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:2), and hence the mount is sacred to all believers in Abraham, including Muslims, Hebrews and Christians. The Temple Platform is located near the southeast corner of the old walled city of Jerusalem.
Solomon's Temple was built during the tenth century BC ² and lasted until it was destroyed in 587 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He took into captivity those of the Kingdom of Judah who were not slain or scattered, where they remained until the Persians conquered his kingdom.

Soon after the victory of Cyrus of Persia, the Jews were allowed to return to their country, to rebuild their temple and to worship there. The temple was reconstructed (presumably in the same location) and is generally referred to as the "Second Temple." It was desecrated by the Greeks in the third century BC, but then recaptured by the Jews in the second century. Its rededication at that time is celebrated as Hanukkah each year. It remained essentially intact until the time of King Herod, who took it upon himself to expand it in the first century BC by more than doubling its size, adding two more pillars in front (for a total of four), and also by increasing the size of the Temple Mount itself.
Titus of Rome destroyed Herod's temple in AD 70 so thoroughly that not one stone was left upon another, thus fulfilling the Savior's prophecy (Mat. 24:2). ³ That is what has made it so difficult to locate its precise position on the mount. Rome then erected a temple to Jupiter on the mount, symbolizing the superiority of their pagan gods to the Jewish. It in turn was removed when Christianity was adopted as the official religion of the Roman empire in the fourth century AD. Rather than erect a Christian shrine there, the Romans then allowed the mount to become a garbage dump.
Dome of the Rock
The religion of Islam was born in the seventh century AD. Soon afterward, when the Muslims conquered Jerusalem, it was their desire to mark the location where their progenitor Abraham had offered his first born son as a sacrifice. Moreover, it was important in the life of their prophet Mohammed. They restored (and perhaps extended or modified) the original flat area on the Mount called the Temple Platform. They built a magnificent shrine there over the rock which is the highest point on the mount. Hence that mosque today is known as the Dome of the Rock. The structure is a marvel and has stood there since AD 691. ⁴ Humanity owes a great debt of gratitude to the Muslims from having preserved this site until today. Some archaeologists may complain that they would like to have dug it all up, but many are very grateful that the site has been so well preserved. It is generally believed today that the Holy of Holies in Solomon's temple was indeed located around the Rock. Leen Ritmeyer is the foremost proponent of this interpretation. ⁵

Note, however, that the Muslims were concerned about preserving Abraham's sacred Rock altar on Mount Moriah. The Rock may also have been preserved by Solomon to be the altar site for his temple, located southeast of the temple, rather than marking the location of the temple itself.
Dome of the Tablets
Although at least a dozen other locations for the temple have been proposed, today the principal second choice is the Dome of Tablets located near the northwest corner of the Temple Platform (see Fig. 1). This dome marks the location of a hundred square foot patch of what appears to be very flat original bedrock, which is at the level of the entire Temple Platform except for the highest point of the Rock (see Fig. 2). Prof. Asher Kaufman has proposed that it is indeed bedrock and marks the Holy of Holies of Solomon's temple. ⁶ If so, then a future Jewish Temple (the Third Temple) ⁷ could be constructed there without interfering with the mosque at the Dome of the Rock.

Astronomical Orientation
One argument for both of the Dome of the Rock and the Dome of the Tablets has to do with astronomy. When one looks at the long thin layout of Solomon's temple, the astronomer is struck by the fact that it would be perfect for letting the light of the rising morning sun (or moon, planet, or star) shine down its corridors and enter the Holy of Holies on certain sacred occasions.
The current Temple Platform is not oriented due east, nor does the east wall of the city run exactly north and south. The latter is a nearly straight line directed some 6 degrees west of north. The Dome of the Rock has the claim to fame that a line drawn from the Rock perpendicular to the east wall, points nearly exactly to the summit of the Mount of Olives, whose peak is some 4 degrees above the Temple Platform's horizon. This alignment suggests that sacred events might have included the sun rising over the high point of the Mount of Olives and shining down the axis of the temple into the Holy of Holies. Thus Ritmeyer believes that Solomon's temple did not face due east, but rather some 6 degrees north of east to the summit of the Mount of Olives.

The astronomical claim of the Dome of the Tablets is that if the Holy of Holies were located there and if the temple axis did face exactly due east, then that axis also would point directly to the summit of the Mount of Olives. Thus both proposed locations are tied directly to astronomical orientation to the high point of the Mount of Olives.
Is there any reason to think that the orientation to the Mount of Olives was important? Indeed there is. While there is not much on record about looking from the temple toward the mount, there was a very important ceremony where a priest looked in the opposite direction, from the mount back to the temple. The sacred ceremony was the sacrificial offering of the Red Heifer which was done at a location on the Mount of Olives east of the temple such that when the temple doors were opened the priest would be to be able to see the veil which covered the Holy of Holies. He was said to stand "on top the Mount of Olives" at that time. ⁸

Fig. 3 shows the Dome of the Tablets at sunrise on Sat 5 Apr 2008, as seen from very near the peak of the Mount of Olives (from the roof of the Mount of Olives Restaurant, across the street from the Church of the Ascension, said to be located at the peak). Because we were not allowed on the Temple Mount at sunrise to see the sun rise over the Mount of Olives, we felt the next best thing would be to look the opposite direction, from the peak toward the temple. Thus, this picture shows a view similar to what the priest offering the Red Heifer might have seen.

Yet Another Proposed Location

Our research objectives included several points concerning the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. In particular the purpose was to examine certain points of Asher Kaufmann's theory and an extension thereof by Vern Swanson. During that research our team discovered what appears to be significant evidence strong enough to propose yet another location on the Temple Platform for Solomon's temple. Before presenting that evidence, let us briefly summarize some of the key things known about that temple.
Solomon's Temple
The temple of Solomon had a tall front (30 cubits), and was 20 cubits wide by 60 cubits long (1 Kings 6:2). The most sacred room, called the Holy of Holies, a cube 20 cubits on a side located at the rear of the temple. There were two brass pillars in the front which were even named ("Boaz" on the left and "Joachim" on the right, see Fig. 4). These pillars were 18 cubits tall (1 Kings 7:15, 21). The temple faced eastwardly and was on a platform which was said to be 500 cubits square. Most scholars are in agreement that the east wall of the square is identical with the east wall of the city, and it is not pointing due north, but about 6 degrees west of north.

Another point worth noting is that many pictures of Solomon's Temple show it raised up above the platform, as do both of the pictures at the beginning of this article. There is no scriptural basis for that assumption. It is usually made because it has been believed that the temple was situated at the Rock, which would mean that the temple would have to be raised to fit the top of the Rock into the Holy of Holies. Another common idea is that the Holy of Holies itself was raised above the level of the front of the temple for the same reason. Neither assumption finds scriptural support.
Another important detail is that there were drainage channels on either side to allow rain water to be saved in cisterns beneath the platform floor. When Herod enlarged the temple he increased its dimensions, such that the drainage channels were inside of the larger structure (see Fig. 5).

Formerly Proposed Locations
At least twenty locations have been proposed for Solomon's temple. Each was proposed for a different reason to solve different problems and explain various pieces of evidence. A good review of the evidence for each is given in Ritmeyer's book. ⁹ After having reviewed them all, the authors of this article have not found where their new proposed location has been suggested before. Thus we now present evidence for yet another proposed location.
New Proposed Location
There are at least five reasons for proposing a new location, each of which is clearly visible today. Let us examine each of these reasons.
Center Axis
At about 8:30 a.m. on Sun 6 April 2008, we noticed one straight line of stones in the pavement of the Temple Platform. Most of the stones surrounding this line were of various widths and lengths, having obviously been cut to whatever shape best fit into the next space. But the stones in the line were all cut to the same width (see Fig. 6). Moreover, some of these stones appeared to be original bedrock. They looked nearly identical to the floor of the Dome of the Tablets, which may be the largest single flat area of original bedrock, being nearly twelve feet in diameter. Several stones seemed clearly to be bedrock (see Fig. 7). Then other stones were cut to bring the whole area up to the same level. We propose that this line of stones was the center axis of Solomon's Temple, and that it extended far out in front of that temple.

The location of this central axis (and hence our proposed location for Solomon's Temple) is between the Dome of the Tablets and the Dome of the Rock. It is the extended flat area clearly visible in Fig. 1. In that photo, the temple would be facing to the left (east).
As an example of another church having been centered on a single row of stones, look at the photograph of the Church of the Nativity, built by Constantine in AD 335 (see Fig. 8). It also has a center axis indicated in the floor nearly identical to the row of stones we propose as the axis of the temple.

Drainage Channels
There are three drainage channels, one on either side of and parallel to the center axis and a third at the west end of the central axis. Moreover, the platform floor is nearly level between the three channels, but slopes down to them from the north (as can be seen in Fig. 9). These drains are exactly what would be expected around a building centered on that axis and located east of the western channel. Solomon's Temple had such channels, and Herod's extended temple was built around them without disturbing them.

Cisterns
There are large cisterns located beneath this entire area, just as there were beneath the Temple of Solomon. There are holes drilled in the drain channels, to collect the water in the cisterns. One drain hole is clearly visible in Fig. 9, in the center of the west drainage channel. Thus, rain water was collected in them and stored for future use. That exactly matches what was needed for use in sacred washings in Solomon's temple. Thus, these drains and cisterns are just what would be expected to be found at the true location of Solomon's Temple. Also visible in Fig. 9 are three wells, two to the left of the center axis and one very near to what is labeled the pillar base. These wells were built later by the Muslims to get water from the cisterns below, which they also can use for ritual washings. Thus, the drains and cisterns are still working today.

Pillar Base

There is a clover-shaped platform located some 7 paces (10-11 cubits) south of the main axis. It is no doubt a pillar base, and it is at approximately the right distance (about 20 feet) from the center axis to be "Boaz". It has notches carved into it (now filled in), clearly designed to hold a pillar in place. We measured the perimeter of the base to be 556 cm, which is 10.6-12.2 cubits, depending on the cubit used (see Fig. 10). The Bible states that "a line of twelve cubits did compass either of [the pillars] about" (1 Kings 7:15), so it is about the right size. The back of the base is flat, indicating that it was most likely touching the side of a building. The stone is chipped as if it had resisted being moved. It appears to be solidly in place and thus could well be in its original position. If so, the location of Solomon's temple is pinpointed by this stone. That is, the axis determines the orientation and the stone the exact position. Even if the stone is a later addition, it could still mark the original location. This stone is labeled in Fig. 9. It is located to the right (south) of the person standing on the center axis row. The base is partially obscured by a cistern. It is visible in Figure 6 and it also appears between the leftmost two pillars of the Dome of the Tablets in Figure 1.

In the museum next to the Temple Mount, there is a huge a picture of a coin showing the Temple of Herod (see Fig. 11). Note that the pillar bases look very similar to the one we propose might be original to Solomon's temple. Vern Swanson later pointed out that the pillar base is said to be of the same type used by the Knights Templar when they arrived in the Twelfth Century but to us it would not be surprising if they used that form because it was discovered on the Temple Mount. Thus, the authors believe that the pillar base might indeed be the orignal base for the Temple of Solomon. In any case, it certainly appears that there used to be a building with pillars at that location, aligned with an axis embedded in the original bedrock stone, with drainage channels around it, and cisterns beneath it. It would have been about the size, shape and orientation of Solomon's temple.

More Research Necessary
This proposed location is still preliminary because more research is needed to verify it. Unfortunately, at present, most on-site research is strictly prohibited. Additional careful measurements need to be made. Perhaps the pillar base was made for the later Roman temple. Nevertheless, our evidence is much more solid than anything for other proposed locations, much of which is based on groundless speculation. It definitely appears that some ancient building stood there, and it is about the right size, shape and orientation to have been Solomon's temple.

Conclusion

Evidence has been presented for the location of Solomon's temple having been situated between the existing Dome of the Rock and Dome of the Tablets. This evidence consists of 1) a central axis row of stones that may contain original bedrock stones directed nearly perpendicular to the east wall of the Temple Mount, 2) a set of drainage channels on three sides of the location, 3) cisterns located below this area fed by holes in the drainage channels, as would be needed for Solomon's temple, 4) a pillar base in about the correct location for the Boaz pillar, and 5) all of the measurements between these features approximately corresponding to the Biblical dimensions. Thus, it is proposed that this site may indeed have been the original site of Solomon's temple. If this location is indeed correct, then the exact location and orientation have been pinpointed in a place where no building currently stands. Thus the temple could be restored there without impacting the Dome of the Rock in any way.

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Notes
1Special thanks go to Ellie Sonntag, Vern Swanson, and Cedar Fort Inc., of Springville, Utah, for funding the trip and research.
2 The precise date for the dedication of Solomon's temple has been proposed by one of the authors: Sat 19 Sep 972 BC. See Pratt's " The Timing of David and Solomon's Reigns " Meridian Magazine (12 Nov 2003).
3 The date indicated on sacred calendars for the burning of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar is Sun 24 Jul 587 BC, which was 10 Ab (Jer. 52:12) on the Hebrew Calendar and 1 Burning (bpp), the day for burning of Levi and Judah on the Jubilee calendar. In AD 70 the temple was also destroyed on 10 Ab and 1 Burning, on Sun 3 Aug AD 70. See Pratt's " Jubilee Calendar Testifies of Christ ," Meridian Magazine (17 Nov 2004), Section 2.5 "Temple Burnings."
4 See " Dome of the Rock ," in Wikipedia.
5 Ritmeyer, Leen, The Quest: Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Jerusalem: CARTA Jerusalem, 2006) makes a case for the traditional Dome of the Rock site.
6 Kaufman, Asher S. in Proceedings of the International Congress on Biblical Archaeology , A. Biran, ed., (Jerusalem: Biblical Archaeology Today, 1985), p. 484. See also Kaufman, A.S., The Temple Mount: Where is the Holy of Holies? (Jerusalem: Temple of Jerusalem, 2004). Ritmeyer dismisses Kaufman's claim that the floor is bedrock on the grounds that Warren's 1884 estimate put the bedrock perhaps 10 feet lower. He also says it looks like other paving stones, but its size is over a hundred square feet, whereas the nearby stones are rectangles of two to four square feet. Clearly the Dome is there to preserve something important, and it looks to Kaufman and to us that it is to preserve a large patch of original bedrock. Kaufman chooses this location as that of the Holy of Holies of Solomon's Temple. Ritmeyer's other objection to this spot is that Josephus says that the temple was at the "top" of the temple mount. Ritmeyer takes this literally to mean it must have included the Sacred Rock, which projects up from the Mount some 15 feet. To us the less strained interpretation is that the Temple was located on the flat surface of the Temple Platform all of which is atop the Mount. After all, it had been a "threshing floor." See Ritmeyer, p. 163.
7 Solomon's Temple is the First, the rebuilding after the exile is called the Second, but neither the Hasmonian restoration nor Herod's expansion is called the Third. That appellation is usually reserved for the future temple. See, for example, Robert Reiland, Jesus and the Third Temple (Silver Springs, NV: Your Own World Books, 2007), which favors Kaufman's theory.
8Middot 2.4 quoted by Ritmeyer, p. 267. See also Karen Boren, Messiah of the Winepress: Christ and the Red Heifer (Beit Parah, 2002).
9 Ritmeyer, p. 147 has an illustration of twelve proposed locations for Solomon's temple: De Vogue 1864, Fegusson 1878, Warren 1880, Conder 1884, Schick 1896, Watson 1896, Mommert 1903, Dalman 1909, Mollis 1934, Simons 1952, Vincent 1954, and Ritmeyer 1985. The only one close to the position proposed in this article is the first, that of De Vogue.

 

 
 
 

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Richardson Review 8-11-08

 

Dear Children and Grandchildren,

I was happy to be included in the great Colorado Retreat that Margie planned for all of us this past weekend.  It was special to be with seven of my daughters.  We missed Amy and Connie and hope that they can come to our Sister's Retreat planned for 2010.  I appreciate so much Amy spending time with her Dad so that he wasn't left alone.

 

Last Monday night the Ellingson's came over after we had both had our Home Evening lessons to go swimming and tell Janae goodbye. We took a crazy picture with us all using our towels for turbans.   We did enjoy having our granddaughter here.  The couple of days that Janae spent with us she helped me label many of my scrapbooks so that they can be seen on the shelf.  Tuesday morning I took her back to the airport to fly to Columbus, Ohio so that she could baby-sit her younger brothers while her Mother came to our Colorado Retreat.  Tuesday morning also I took Ray to the airport to be with friends for a week in Puerto Rico.  Carinne came over and spent the day with us on Wednesday.  We enjoy so much the visits from our grandchildren.

 

We had a great reunion in Colorado when we all arrived on Thursday.  Marlene and Rauna flew to Albuquerque where they spent the night with Kenneth and Jenni and family and then Jenni drove them all to Colorado.  Miriam drove from Council Bluffs, Iowa and Tami and Joann flew into Denver.  Their flight got in several hours before my flight so I flew into Colorado Springs.  They rented a car and drove down to the Colorado Springs Airport to pick me up. We met Margie and Lucy at the Olympic Training Center, which was packed since it was only one day before the Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing.  Margie and Lucy drove up several days early to have everything ready for us.   We didn't have time to take the tour so came back after we checked out from our lodge on Saturday and took the Olynpic Training Center Tour.  We also enjoyed going to the Garden of the Gods and the Current Outlet Store in Colorado Springs before our flights left from Denver.  We had time in Denver to drive by the US Mint and State Capitol before heading for the airport.

 

Margie did a great job of organizing our Sisters Retreat.  We had a great lodge out among the pine trees and even had deer visit us in our back yard.  Margie planned all the food and had some great gourmet meals filled with lots of fruits and vegetables.  Margie also made aprons for us with cute different material for each one that she said matched our personality or interests.  She made a cute apron matching mine for Lucy.  Lucy is such a cute 15 months old and kept us all entertained.  We enjoyed visiting, playing games, visiting, eating, visiting, doing our nails and having facials, visiting, eating, enjoying the hot tub, visiting, doing a personality survey, eating, visiting and watching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.  I brought United States flags for us so that we could cheer on our United States teams.  It was a great relaxing time and an opportunity to strengthen family ties as we learned more about each one and sought advice from each other on child rearing, recipes, etc.

 

School started today for our Mesa grandchildren.  I hope our grandchildren got my letter encouraging you to make good friends, thank your parents and teachers, enjoy reading good books and be grateful for the opportunity of an education.  We have in our family four graduates this past year from BYU, four missionaries, 12 enrolled in BYU Provo for next year, and two in BYU Idaho and one at ASU.  We have 8 grandchildren in high school, 9 in Middle School, 4 in elementary school, four grandchildren starting kindergarten this year and eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren being taught at home.  We pray that you will all have a great year and know that you are loved by your Richardson grandparents.

Lots and lots of love, Mom, Grandma, Lavona

 

 

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