Excrutiating Details By Josephus Regarding The AD70 Destruction Of The Stones Of The Temple
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Jesus' Prophecy That The Stones Of The Temple Would Be Thrown Down (also (Mat 24:1 & 2, 2; Luke 21:5, 6 )
Mar 13:1
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Mar 13:2
And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Josephus: exact quotes on the destruction of the Temple and its stones
a. He sad that the Temple and city were leveled to the foundation - Jewish War 6.4.8 (Whiston translation).
Josephus explicitly says the walls were dug up “to the foundation”—no visible stones left in place.-
“Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency…
…but for the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited.” Project Gutenberg
b. Josephus said that the Romans showed NO mercy on the remaining structures on the Temple precinct:- Jewish War 6.3.5.
The Romans destroyed to the extent that nothing remained standing - there was no evidence of any kind of structure that had once been in existence:
“As for all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly destroyed that there was left nothing to afford a monument of it to posterity.” greekdoc.com
c. Josephus said that Titus ordered his army to raze the city - Jewish War 7.1.1.
“Now as soon as Titus had taken the city, and had entirely demolished its walls, he ordered that the whole city and the temple should be razed to the ground, leaving only the highest towers…” greekdoc.com
Other ancient witnesses who wrote about the Temple’s destruction
a. Tacitus (Roman historian)
Tacitus, Histories 5.13, describing the fall of Jerusalem. He briefly confirmed that the Temple itself—not just the city—was destroyed:
:
“…The Temple was famous beyond all other works of men… it was destroyed…” Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
b. Sulpicius Severus (early Christian historian)
Severus is an early Christian historian, wrote in Chronicon 2.30, that Titus intentionally demolished the Temple structure., summarizing Titus’ actions:
“Titus is said to have destroyed the Temple at Jerusalem in order that the Jewish religion might be more completely abolished.” Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Severus' statement is an astonishing fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy that the little horn out of the lamb would cause the daily sacrifices to cease. Titus intentionally destroyed the Jewish temple to cause his demon god Jupiter to appear great in the eyes of the army and Roman citizens:
Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.
And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.
He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
Archaeological evidence: literal Temple stones in Jerusalem (as of 2026)
There is astonishing archeological evidence showing the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy:
“There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Jesus' prophecy referred to the coming destruction of the visible Temple buildings the disciples were admiring. Archaeology shows actual toppled Temple Mount stones, shattered pavement, and no surviving sanctuary structure
Archeology has confirmed Josephus' record that the Romans: “dug up to the foundation…nothing left PLUS
a. Fallen Herodian ashlars at the southwest corner
Excavations at the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount (Benjamin Mazar, later Ronny Reich & Eli Shukron) uncovered massive stones. These are literal stones of the Temple complex, toppled by Roman soldiers—physical confirmation of “not one stone…upon another” in the superstructure:
- Massive Herodian ashlar blocks lying in heaps at the base of the wall
- These stones had been thrown down from the upper courses of the Temple Mount during the Roman destruction
- The impact shattered the street paving stones below, and this evidence is still visible today Biblical Archaeology Society
b. Western Wall: retaining stones, not the Temple building
The Western Wall that stands today:
- Is part of the retaining wall of Herod’s Temple platform, not the Temple building itself
- The actual Temple sanctuary stones (Holy Place, Most Holy) are gone; only platform-support stones remain
- This fits Josephus: the city and Temple structures were razed, while some supporting walls and towers were left Biblical Archaeology Society
c. 2026 archaeological consensus
By 2026, Jerusalem archaeology (Israel Antiquities Authority, Biblical Archaeology Review, etc.) generally agrees:
- The Romans systematically dismantled the Temple superstructure
- The fallen Herodian stones at the southwest corner are direct evidence of that destruction
- No identifiable stones of the Temple sanctuary itself remain in situ; only platform and support structures survive Biblical Archaeology Society
Summary
🧱 Stones That Remain Today (2026)
- These are not stones of the Temple building itself (Holy Place / Most Holy Place).
- They are stones from the Temple Mount's retaining walls, support structures, and surrounding complex.
1. The Western Wall (Kotel) — Retaining Wall Stones, Not Temple Stones
These stones remain in situ today:
Are Herodian ashlars (massive limestone blocks)
Form the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount platform
Were not part of the Temple building Jesus pointed to
Survive because Romans left some retaining walls for military reasons (Josephus, War 6.4.8)
2. Southern Wall Stones — Original Herodian Courses
These stones are original, untouched since AD 70 and are visible today at the southern end of the Temple Mount:
Large Herodian stones with distinctive margins and raised bosses
Part of the southern retaining wall
Include the remains of the Huldah Gates (entrance tunnels)
3. Eastern Wall Stones — Including the “Pinnacle” Area
The eastern retaining wall is not part of the Temple building:
Contains some of the oldest Herodian stones
Includes the area traditionally associated with the “pinnacle of the Temple”
Still stands because it supported the massive platform
4. Fallen Stones at the Southwest Corner — Direct Evidence of Roman Destruction
Archaeologists (Benjamin Mazar, Ronny Reich, Eli Shukron) uncovered stones showing physical proof of the Roman demolition described by Josephus:
:
Huge Herodian stones thrown down by Roman soldiers
Still lying where they fell
Their impact shattered the street pavement below
These stones came from the upper courses of the Temple Mount complex, including the Royal Stoa and surrounding structures
5. Stones From the Temple Building Itself — None Remain
Archaeology is unanimous that the Temple building stones were completely removed:
No stones from the Temple sanctuary (Holy Place / Holy of Holies) survive
The Romans dismantled the Temple to its foundations
Only platform-support stones remain, not the Temple building
This fufills Jesus' prophecy that: “there shall not be left here one stone upon another.”
...As confirmed by Josephus:
“They dug up the foundations… leaving nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited.” — War 7.1.1; 6.4.8
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