Editing Temple in Jerusalem (section)

== Etymology ==
The Hebrew name given in the [[Hebrew Bible]] for the building complex is either ''Mikdash'' ({{Langx|he|מקדש}}), as used in Exodus,<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|25:8|HE}}</ref> or simply ''Bayt'' / ''Beit Adonai'' ({{Langx|he|בית}}), as used in 1 Chronicles.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|22:11|HE}}</ref>

In [[rabbinic literature]], the temple sanctuary is called ''Beit HaMikdash'' ({{Langx|he|בית המקדש}}), meaning, "The Holy House", and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name.<ref name="JVLtemple">{{Cite web |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-jewish-temple-beit-hamikdash |title=The Jewish Temple (Beit HaMikdash) |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org |language=en |access-date=2018-01-23 |archive-date=2018-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071514/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-jewish-temple-beit-hamikdash |url-status=live}}</ref>{{bsn|date=January 2025}} In classic English texts, however, the word "Temple" is used interchangeably, sometimes having the strict connotation of the Temple precincts, with its courts ({{langx|el|ἱερὸν}}), while at other times having the strict connotation of the Temple Sanctuary ({{langx|el|ναός}}).<ref>{{cite book |title=Josephus – The Jewish War |publisher=The Penguin Classics |year=1980 |editor=Williamson |editor-first=G. A. |editor-link=G. A. Williamson |location=Middlesex, U.K. |page=290 (note 2) |language=en |oclc=633813720 |quote="Throughout this translation 'Sanctuary' represents Greek ''naos'' and denotes the central shrine, while 'Temple' represents ''hieron'' and includes the courts, colonnades, etc. surrounding the shrine."}} ({{OCLC|1170073907}}) (reprint)</ref> While Greek and Hebrew texts make this distinction, English texts do not always do so.

Jewish rabbi and philosopher [[Moses Maimonides|Maimonides]] gave the following definition of "Temple" in his ''[[Mishneh Torah|Mishne Torah]]'' (Hil. ''Beit Ha-Bechirah''):
<blockquote>They are enjoined to make, in what concerns it (i.e. the building of the Temple), a holy site and an inner-sanctum,{{efn|Lit. "holy of holies"}} and where there is positioned in front of the holy site a certain place that is called a 'Hall' ({{Langx|he|אולם}}). The three of these places are called 'Sanctuary' ({{Langx|he|היכל}}). They are [also] enjoined to make a different partition surrounding the Sanctuary, distant from it, similar to the screen-like hangings of the court that were in the wilderness.<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|39:40|HE}}</ref> All that which is surrounded by this partition, which, as noted, is like the court of the [[Tabernacle]], is called 'Courtyard' ({{Langx|he|עזרה}}), whereas all of it together is called 'Temple' ({{Langx|he|מקדש}}) [{{lit|the Holy Place}}].<ref>{{cite book |last=Maimonides |author-link=Maimonides |title=Sefer Mishneh Torah – HaYad Ha-Chazakah (Maimonides' Code of Jewish Law) |publisher=Pe'er HaTorah |volume=4 |date=1974 |location=Jerusalem |language=he}}, s.v. Hil. ''Beit Ha-Bechirah'' 1:5</ref>{{efn|The historian [[Josephus]] echoes this same theme, when he writes ''[[The Jewish War]]'' 5.5.2. (5.193–194): "When one proceeds through the cloisters to the second court of the temple, there was a stone partition all round, whose height was three cubits and of most elegant construction. Upon it stood pillars, at equal distances from one another, declaring the law of purity, some in Greek and some in Roman letters, that 'no foreigner should go within the Holy Place,' for that second [court of the] temple was called 'the Holy Place,' and was ascended to by fourteen steps from the first court."}}</blockquote>