It could be more accurate, and beware of commonly misidentified locations. Especially with the chief shrines: for the tomb of Jesus, page 103 points to the Garden Tomb and seems to favor the Church of the alleged “Holy Sepulchre” in the western part of the city of Jerusalem, and west of the Temple. But, the information in the Scripture is not consulted about this, which is common, unfortunately – beware of tour misguides and travel misguides, as well! Does the Biblical description support this location? In the Bible sacrifices were done in front of the Temple (1 Kings 8:62, 64; Tabernacle – Exod. 40:26-9; Lev. 16:18; 17:4), which faced east (Ezek. 47:1; Num. 3:38); the Roman soldiers at the Crucifixion were seeing the front of the Temple – “the veil of the temple was torn in two … the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw .. the things that had happened” (Matt. 27:51, 54). Meaning the Crucifixion was in the east across the front of the Temple where the veil would be seen (across Kidron Valley), in modern Silwan Village; this eliminates the western “Holy Sepulchre” Church and northwestern Gordon’s Calvary/Garden Tomb for the location of the Crucifixion – they are on the west/northwest side of the city and Temple. And, the tomb at the Garden Tomb was not new at the time of Jesus, it dates to at least the 6th century BC (Mat. 27:60; Luke 23:53; John 19:41). Jesus’ tomb was near the crucifixion (John 19:41-2), but the supposed “Holy Sepulchre” Church is on the other side of the city from Temple east, not nearby. This would also put the Garden of Gethsemane further south along the Mount of Olives (Mat. 24:1-3) – the Mishnah explains the heifer (Hebrews 9:13; 13:11-12) was sacrificed on the Mount of Olives as the priest looked at the entrance of the Temple (Middoth 2:4; 1:3).
Page 100 points to the Temple Mount for the location of Solomon’s/Herod’s Temple, which is where the Western Wall/Wailing Wall is. But, again, does the Biblical description support this location? If you think about it, wouldn’t the Holy Temple be in the Holy City? It’s the Holy City! At the Temple dedication, 1 Kings 8:1 says the City of David is the Holy City or political and religious capital (Zion) (also 2 Sam 5:7; 2 Chron. 5:2), which is the original walled Jerusalem before Jerusalem expanded to the later size (2 Samuel 5:9; 1 Chron. 11:4, 5, 7, 8); the City of David is in the southeast corner of modern Jerusalem. The problem is that the misnamed Temple Mount is not in the Holy City, it’s about 600 feet away from the City of David (this would also mean the popular location for Mount Moriah is misidentified). There are clues in the Bible that the Temple was in the City of David. As the Holy City, the City of David seems to be the place for holy buildings (-notice the holy correlation). The Ark of the Covenant was put into a Tabernacle in the City of David before Temple construction (1 Chron. 15:1, 25, 29; 16:1; 1 Kings 8:4), and then placed into the Temple when it was completed (1 Kings 8:6, 21) – the context for this event is the City of David in 1 Kings 8. Under Solomon (after the Temple, 2 Chron 7:11) the house for Solomon’s wife could be built in general Jerusalem since the ark did not reside there, but her house was not allowed in the City of David as that part was considered holy due to the ark’s presence (2 Chron 8:6, 11) – that’s where the ark was, in the Temple (1 Kings 8:20, 21). Outside the City of David her house could be built as the ark did not reside outside the City of David; the ark was in the City of David making the city holy – she was gentile. At that time the ark was in the Temple.
The misnamed Temple Mount fits better as a Roman fortress, that’s why it’s higher than the Temple/City of David. The Roman arrogance that comes with Roman occupation would use it as a symbol of domination over the Jews – we’re elevated above your chief shrines, we’re better than you! A Roman fortress also explains why part of the “Temple Mount” wall still stands today (the Western Wall). Matthew 24:1, 2 says “the buildings [plural] of the temple” and “all these things” would be destroyed – notice the plural terms used, which sounds like more than just the Temple itself, but rather includes the courtyard or supporting structures. Mark 13:1, 2 says “what buildings [plural] are here .. Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another …” The Scripture says the sacred “buildings” (plural) of the Temple are to be destroyed, which sounds like the complex. Think about it – these are the chief shrines. Do you think the Roman army would have left part of the Temple area standing when they destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70? (-Mat. 24:1, 2) That would have given hope/encouragement to the Jews to rebuild. They would not have destroyed their own Roman building. (recommend book: The Jerusalem Temple Mount Myth by Marilyn Sams; recommend forthcoming DVD: A City Lost by Lester Wittenberger)
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