Tobit and the 3rd Temple?
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 12:34 pm
I was reading an internet article on the second temple and towards the end, the writer dipped into the topic of those who didn't feel the second temple was the final temple etc.. here is a snippet:
Some Jews during the second-Temple period believed that the second Temple would be replaced by a third, eschatological Temple. The author of the Book of Tobit, writing sometime in the second century BCE, states that the Temple rebuilt under Nehemiah will be replaced by a third Temple, built at the final restoration of Israel to the land. (Although this book purports to be a historical record of events in the late 8th and early 7th centuries, it probably dates from the early 2nd century, before the reign of Antiochus IV, and reflects ideas from that period.) In chap. 13, in a hymn to God, Tobit expresses the hope that, after God has afflicted Israel for its iniquities, God would then show it mercy again by gathering the people from all nations and restoring them to the land; Jerusalem will be restored along with the temple and nations shall come to Jerusalem to worship God. But in 14:1-11, part of the testament of Tobit, it is stated that in fact two Temples will be built, one immediately upon returning to the land and the other "when the times of fulfillment shall come" (14:5). The author explains, "After this they will all return from their exile and rebuild Jerusalem in splendor, and in it the Temple of God will be rebuilt, just as the prophets of Israel have said concerning it" (14:5). At that time the nations of the world will be converted, and abandon all their idols, those who go to Jerusalem will live in safety and the wicked will disappear from the earth. In other words, the author distinguishes between the Temple rebuilt by Ezra and the eschatological Temple foretold by the prophets.
What did Tobit mean when he felt another temple needed to be constructed? Was this in reference to Ezekeil? What about Herods basic demolition of the original second temple and then he reconstruction? How does that play in to Tobit if at all? Does this writing provide any kind of validity that a third temple needs to be built? Or again when he mentions the prophets, is he talking about Ezekiels temple that was not realized at the time of his writing?
If you want to read the whole article for context, here is the link:
http://www.mycrandall.ca/courses/newtes ... temple.htm
Some Jews during the second-Temple period believed that the second Temple would be replaced by a third, eschatological Temple. The author of the Book of Tobit, writing sometime in the second century BCE, states that the Temple rebuilt under Nehemiah will be replaced by a third Temple, built at the final restoration of Israel to the land. (Although this book purports to be a historical record of events in the late 8th and early 7th centuries, it probably dates from the early 2nd century, before the reign of Antiochus IV, and reflects ideas from that period.) In chap. 13, in a hymn to God, Tobit expresses the hope that, after God has afflicted Israel for its iniquities, God would then show it mercy again by gathering the people from all nations and restoring them to the land; Jerusalem will be restored along with the temple and nations shall come to Jerusalem to worship God. But in 14:1-11, part of the testament of Tobit, it is stated that in fact two Temples will be built, one immediately upon returning to the land and the other "when the times of fulfillment shall come" (14:5). The author explains, "After this they will all return from their exile and rebuild Jerusalem in splendor, and in it the Temple of God will be rebuilt, just as the prophets of Israel have said concerning it" (14:5). At that time the nations of the world will be converted, and abandon all their idols, those who go to Jerusalem will live in safety and the wicked will disappear from the earth. In other words, the author distinguishes between the Temple rebuilt by Ezra and the eschatological Temple foretold by the prophets.
What did Tobit mean when he felt another temple needed to be constructed? Was this in reference to Ezekeil? What about Herods basic demolition of the original second temple and then he reconstruction? How does that play in to Tobit if at all? Does this writing provide any kind of validity that a third temple needs to be built? Or again when he mentions the prophets, is he talking about Ezekiels temple that was not realized at the time of his writing?
If you want to read the whole article for context, here is the link:
http://www.mycrandall.ca/courses/newtes ... temple.htm