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We all remember the proverb that a picture is worth a thousand words. This is so true. When we are able to view a site that we have been reading or hearing about, the historical and architectural information associated with the area becomes much more meaningful and the subject better understood. That is certainly the case with the Temple built by Herod the Great that existed in the time of Christ Jesus along with the adjacent fortress that dominated the landscape known as Fort Antonia.
The Temple Mount and Fort Antonia
By Ernest L. Martin, PH. D., April 1998
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Near the passages in Josephus describing the Temple, I noticed another passage describing a Roman fortress overlooking the Temple called Antonia...
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A Roman legion was always based there, and armed men stood round the porticoes during the festivals to keep watch on the people and prevent any revolt. 245 For the temple guarded the city, and the Antonia tower the temple, and within the tower were the guardians of all three.
Josephus
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I wondered if the Roman Legion was the Tenth, and of course it was, and I found Ernest L. Martin's web page. It has a wonderful pen and ink illustration, the 'picture worth a thousand words' of the Temple and Fort, and his depiction of all that happened then and there a must read. The view of the illustration is from the Mount of Olives, the best place to view Jerusalem even today. And looking, I found that I could mouse over things, and over a small bridge in the foreground, this little caption appears:
"This is the bridge of the Red Heifer that leads to the Mount of Olives"
Had a feeling I hadn't heard the last of the Red Heifer!
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The Red Heifer bridge would have ended between Zechariah's tomb and the road to Jericho, straight across from the blocked up gate in the east wall of the Temple Mount. The place of stoning for the Jews would have been near by the end of the bridge, so that when a person died they would be before God (represented by the Holy of Holies) and they would be responsible for their own sins. It is said that the Centurion that stood guard across from Jesus at his crucifixion saw the torn veil of the Holy of Holies at the time, which means this is the same area the Roman's crucified Jewish prisoners. Jesus was one of three being hung on a cross that day, which further indicates this as a place regularly used by them. The Roman's always crucified people on the main roads going into cities that they ruled over as a warning to travelers, and this was sort of a crossroads with one road leading to the city and another leading to the Red Heifer bridge which lead to the Temple. They may have chosen a place above the road where He could be mocked by the travelers.
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The Red Heifer bridge would have ended between Zechariah's tomb and the road to Jericho, straight across from the blocked up gate in the east wall of the Temple Mount. The place of stoning for the Jews would have been near by the end of the bridge, so that when a person died they would be before God (represented by the Holy of Holies) and they would be responsible for their own sins. It is said that the Centurion that stood guard across from Jesus at his crucifixion saw the torn veil of the Holy of Holies at the time, which means this is the same area the Roman's crucified Jewish prisoners. Jesus was one of three being hung on a cross that day, which further indicates this as a place regularly used by them. The Roman's always crucified people on the main roads going into cities that they ruled over as a warning to travelers, and this was sort of a crossroads with one road leading to the city and another leading to the Red Heifer bridge which lead to the Temple. They may have chosen a place above the road where He could be mocked by the travelers.
Locating Solomon's Temple
The Red Heifer Bridge
http://templemountlocation.com/redHeiferBridge.html
The author of that site has it that the Temple was aligned so the rising sun on a certain day would shine through the Temple's doorways. And relates the rituals associated. The sun's rays would pass along the Bridge to the Temple, and the sacrifice of the Red Heifer took place on an alter on the Mount of Olives. One web page thought the Red Heifer is a hark back to the Golden Calf that the Israelites fell to worshiping while Moses was on Mt. Sinai. The gold used for the Calf would have been alloyed with other metals, and would have had a red sheen. I might add here, that those worshipping the Golden Calf were put to death in horrific scene, and this whole Red Heifer sacrifice a hark back to their deaths, and sacrifice.
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25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.
27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”
Exodus
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That, that is grim...
DavidDavid
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