The Jewish Temple That Operated Concurrently with the First Temple - and Excites Researchers | Weekend Special

At Tel Motza, west of Jerusalem, a monumental temple from the First Temple period has been uncovered, which operated concurrently with the First Temple. The temple includes a courtyard, an altar, and cultic vessels, raising questions about the centralization of worship in ancient Judah. The findings include clay figurines, and the temple was closed in the 8th century BCE without signs of destruction.

Several kilometers west of Jerusalem, at Tel Motza, a monumental temple from the First Temple period (9th-10th centuries BCE) has been uncovered, which operated concurrently with the First Temple. The temple includes a courtyard, an altar, and cultic vessels, and was built in an architectural tradition similar to the description of Solomon's Temple. The findings, which include clay figurines of human figures and horses, raise questions about the centralization of worship in ancient Judah. Researchers speculate that the temple operated in coordination with the establishment in Jerusalem and was closed in the 8th century BCE without signs of destruction, possibly due to religious reforms by Kings Hezekiah or Josiah. The article presents the temple as evidence of the religious complexity during the First Temple period.