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The Jerusalem Temple in Pesiqta Rabbati: From Creation to Apocalypse

This article discusses midrashic interpretations in Pesiqta Rabbati that focus upon the Jerusalem Temple. In the author’s view, the enfolding apocalypse in Pesiqta Rabbati is expressed in a meta-narrative that integrates exegetical units concerning the past and the future of the Jerusalem Temple. The homiletic units suggest a timeline from the time of creation, when God contemplated and planned the Temple, to the end of time. The first human being, Adam, and the patriarchs of Israel each played decisive roles in developing ideas about the Temple, when the site of the Temple is discussed. The choice of Solomon over David as the first Temple builder is addressed and interpreted in ways that state that the Temple is named after David. Pesiqta Rabbati evaluates the construction of the Temple, which involved miracles. Major concerns in Pesiqta Rabbati are the Temple dedications and the festival of Hanukkah.  Since the text of Pesiqta Rabbati is arranged according to the Jewish liturgical year, the homilies also mention the Temple service, the direction of prayer, and other liturgical aspects. However, in the apocalyptic vision of Pesiqta Rabbati, the major focus is on the destruction of the Temple. The well-known legend of the keys that are cast toward heaven by the high priest is integrated into the homiletic corpus of Pesiqta Rabbati as well. God himself elected to burn his Temple and suffers, which expresses the idea of co-suffering with the exiles. A specific group of people, who are faithful to God and lament the destruction, are the Mourners for Zion. Pesiqta Rabbati briefly engages in the attempt by Julian the Apostate to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple (in the fourth century), but the text proposes that God will cleanse Jerusalem of idolatry in the time-to-come. The request to rebuild the Temple, the time of redemption, as well as the roof of the Temple on which the Messiah will appear, and the “Pearly Gate” complete the apocalyptic time-line from the beginning of the Temple to the day of the final judgment.