Description
This plan shows the Rock, which is the top of Mount Moriah, (now inside the Islamic Dome of the Rock), where Abraham was sent to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22.2). The Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) of Solomon’s Temple stood on this mountain top. The walls of Solomon’s Temple are indicated in blue.
When Solomon built the Temple, flat areas needed to be created in order for the rectangular foundation stones to stand perfectly horizontal. The foundation trench of the southern wall of Solomon’s temple can still be detected. The western and northern walls were built against rock scarps.
In the centre of the Holy of Holies is a level depression that was specially made for the Ark of the Covenant (1 Kings 8.6,21).
After the destruction of the First Temple in 486 BC, the Second Temple was built in the same location.