How did King Herod turn the temple of Ezra and Nehemiah into the temple complex at Christ's earthly ministry?
King Herod, though not a believer, was a renowned builder in antiquity. He took the modest, ramshackle temple rebuilt by Ezra and Nehemiah on Mount Moriah, remodeled and enlarged it, and transformed it into the beautiful temple complex standing when Christ began His earthly ministry.
Les explains that after the return from Babylon, Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt a restored temple, but with limited resources they could not make it as beautiful as Solomon’s. Later, King Herod—who was not even a believer but loved to build and was known as a tremendous builder in antiquity—took it upon himself to make the temple on Mount Moriah a wonder of the ancient world. He started with that little ramshackle temple, remodeled and enlarged it, producing the beautiful temple complex present when Christ began His earthly ministry. That temple was later destroyed in A.D. 70 by Roman General Titus.