Chronology of
בית שני
BEIT ŜENI

Intact and scorched limestone, the coat of a living goat, hammered gold, and woven linen on a pale mineral ground.
Symbolic collage for the Second Temple chronology. AI-generated illustration for TJD, 2026-09-22.

יהודים YEHUDIM rebuilt בית שני BEIT ŜENI after exile, recovered its worship from Seleucid profanation, and lost it to Roman destruction. The sequence connects national restoration to the power required to sustain it.1

The rebuilding entries follow the received סדר עולם SEDER OLAM chronology; the linked articles explain competing academic dates. Earlier destruction and exile appear in the chronology of בית ראשון BEIT RIŜON.

Return and rebuilding

כורש KOREŜ permitted rebuilding, and the returned community restored offerings before completing the sanctuary. Imperial permission did not restore an independent kingdom.2

א׳ באלול ג׳ת״ח 1st 𝑜𝑓 Elul, AM 3408Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

חגי ḤAGGAI called on the governor, high priest and community to rebuild.

א׳ באלול ג׳ת״ח 1st 𝑜𝑓 Elul, AM 3408: חגי ḤAGGAI called on the governor, high priest and community to rebuild.

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כ״ד באלול ג׳ת״ח 24th 𝑜𝑓 Elul, AM 3408Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

The community resumed construction.

כ״ד באלול ג׳ת״ח 24th 𝑜𝑓 Elul, AM 3408: The community resumed construction.

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ד׳ בכסלו ג׳ת״י 4th 𝑜𝑓 Kislev, AM 3410Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

A delegation asked whether mourning should continue; זכריה ZECHARIA challenged the purpose of the fasts.

ד׳ בכסלו ג׳ת״י 4th 𝑜𝑓 Kislev, AM 3410: A delegation asked whether mourning should continue; זכריה ZECHARIA challenged the purpose of the fasts.

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Rebuilding reopened the question of how עם ישראל AM YISRAʾEL should carry the memory of destruction.3

ג׳ באדר ג׳תי״ב 3rd 𝑜𝑓 Adar, AM 3412Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

The returned community completed בית שני BEIT ŜENI.

ג׳ באדר ג׳תי״ב 3rd 𝑜𝑓 Adar, AM 3412: The returned community completed בית שני BEIT ŜENI.

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אדר ג׳תי״ב Adar, AM 3412Precision: month · Basis: not-assessed

The returned exiles dedicated the rebuilt sanctuary with joy; its placement within Adar is inferred.

אדר ג׳תי״ב Adar, AM 3412: The returned exiles dedicated the rebuilt sanctuary with joy; its placement within Adar is inferred.

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Recovery under החשמונאים HAʾHAŜMONAʾIM

כ״ה בכסלו 25th 𝑜𝑓 KislevPrecision: recurring-day · Basis: not-assessed

חנוכה ḤANUKA commemorates recovery and rededication after Seleucid authorities suppressed the practices of יהודים YEHUDIM and profaned the sanctuary.

כ״ה בכסלו 25th 𝑜𝑓 Kislev: חנוכה ḤANUKA commemorates recovery and rededication after Seleucid authorities suppressed the practices of יהודים YEHUDIM and profaned the sanctuary.4

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Roman siege and destruction

י״ז בתמוז ג׳תת״ל 17th 𝑜𝑓 Tamuz, AM 3830Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

The rabbinic calendar gathers two distinct losses here: the city's breach and cessation of the daily תמיד TAMID offering.

י״ז בתמוז ג׳תת״ל 17th 𝑜𝑓 Tamuz, AM 3830: The rabbinic calendar gathers two distinct losses here: the city's breach and cessation of the daily תמיד TAMID offering.5

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ב׳ באב ג׳תת״ל 2nd 𝑜𝑓 Av, AM 3830Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

A later calendar places Roman battering of a sanctuary wall here; the exact עברית IVRIT date remains uncertain.

ב׳ באב ג׳תת״ל 2nd 𝑜𝑓 Av, AM 3830: A later calendar places Roman battering of a sanctuary wall here; the exact עברית IVRIT date remains uncertain.6

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ט׳ באב ג׳תת״ל 9th 𝑜𝑓 Av, AM 3830Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

Roman forces destroyed בית שני BEIT ŜENI; this is its rabbinic commemorative date.

ט׳ באב ג׳תת״ל 9th 𝑜𝑓 Av, AM 3830: Roman forces destroyed בית שני BEIT ŜENI; this is its rabbinic commemorative date.7

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ח׳ באלול ג׳תת״ל 8th 𝑜𝑓 Elul, AM 3830Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

The traditional placement of Rome's capture and burning of the Upper City, after destruction of the sanctuary.

ח׳ באלול ג׳תת״ל 8th 𝑜𝑓 Elul, AM 3830: The traditional placement of Rome's capture and burning of the Upper City, after destruction of the sanctuary.8

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 1–6,; 1 Maccabees 4:36–59,; Josephus, Jewish War 6.250, ↩
  2. Ezra 1–6, 1:1–4; 3:1–6. ↩
  3. Zechariah 7:2–14, ↩
  4. 1 Maccabees 1:41–50,; 1 Maccabees 4:36–59, ↩
  5. Mishnah Ta‘anit 4:6, ↩
  6. https://matzav.com/todays-yahrtzeits-history-2-av/ ↩
  7. Mishnah Ta‘anit 4:6, ↩
  8. Josephus, Jewish War 6.392–435,; Lendering, Chronology 66–74, ↩