The Gate of Heaven: The History and Symbolism of the Temple in JerusalemIn this book, first published in 1991, the prolific and innovative British biblical scholar Margaret Barker sets out to explore the origins and the afterlife of traditions about the Temple in Judaism. Using evidence from the deutero-canonical and pseudepigraphic texts, Qumran and rabbinic material, as well as early Christian texts and liturgies, she advances a host of radical and suggestive theories, including the following: 1. Apocalyptic writing was the temple tradition. 2. Temple buildings were aligned to establish a solar calendar, thus explaining the astronomical texts incorporated in 1 Enoch 3. The temple symbolism of priest and sanctuary antedated the Eden stories of Genesis. 4. The temple buildings depicted heaven and earth separated by a veil of created matter. 5. The throne visions, the basis of the later Merkavah mysticism, originated as high priestly sanctuary experiences, first attested in Isaiah but originating in the royal cult when king figures passed beyond the temple veil from earth into heaven, from immortality to the resurrected state, and then returned. |
Contents
A Brief History | 5 |
The Garden | 61 |
The Gift of Rain The Rivers of Paradise | 69 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
The Gate of Heaven: The History and Symbolism of the Temple in Jerusalem Margaret Barker No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
altar ancient angel appeared associated became become belief blood brought built called century chariot cherubim Christian court covenant created creation cult curtain described divine dwell early earth Enoch enter Eternal Exod Ezek Ezekiel face figure fire four garden given gives glory gnostic gold hand heaven heavenly Hebrew high priest holy holy of holies hosts human idea imagery incense Isaiah Israel Jerusalem Jesus judge judgement king known lamp later light living looked Lord material means Metatron midst Moses mountain myth offering Old Testament older original Paradise passed Philo presence Prince prophets represented revealed ritual river robe role sanctuary says seen separated seven shows similar Spirit standing story suggests symbolism tabernacle taken temple tent texts things thou thought throne took tradition tree veil visible vision waters whole Wisdom