A growing number of online voices are claiming the ancient Jewish temples once stood in the City of David, not on the Temple Mount. But according to prophecy experts Tom Hughes and Mondo Gonzales, that theory falls apart when examined through the lens of archaeology and history.
Their conversation traced the roots of the idea back to author Ernest Martin, who argued in the 1990s that the Temple Mount was actually the Roman Antonia Fortress and that the real temple stood further south. Martin’s work relied heavily on older interpretations of the historian Josephus, but Hughes and Gonzales explained that advancements in archaeological excavations have since corrected these misunderstandings.
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Excavation in the City of David, particularly work done by Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar, has revealed structures dating back to the time of King David, yet no evidence of a large temple complex has been uncovered. The area lacks the space needed to support the scale of Solomon’s or Herod’s Temple, as well as the crowds of worshippers who traveled there for feasts and sacrifices. Topographically, the City of David sits too low between valleys to match the biblical description of the temple’s elevated position.
Water supply further complicates the theory. While the Gihon Spring runs through the City of David, it couldn’t have supported the immense water demands of temple sacrifices. In contrast, the Temple Mount was connected to vast reservoirs like Solomon’s Pools, which transported millions of gallons of water from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
Gonzales emphasized that this theory persists largely because many rely on sensational videos rather than verified excavation reports or peer-reviewed journals. The clarity brought by decades of archaeology has shown why early interpretations of Josephus were flawed.
Historical records also confirm the traditional Temple Mount location. Roman Emperor Hadrian, after crushing the Bar Kokhba revolt, built a shrine to Jupiter on the Temple Mount, an act widely seen as a deliberate insult to Jewish religious identity. This would have made little sense if the area had only been a military garrison.
Although some debate remains over the temple’s exact placement within the Temple Mount, whether to the north near the Dome of the Spirits or directly beneath the Dome of the Rock, experts agree: the temple was not in the City of David. If permission is ever granted for formal excavations on the Temple Mount, the mystery of its exact location may finally be resolved.
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The evidence from archaeology, ancient texts and historical accounts paints a consistent picture. Misleading theories may capture attention, but serious investigation continues to confirm the temple’s true location on the mount.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
