Source: Margaret Barker, The Hidden Tradition of the Kingdom of God (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2007), 4–28.
First Temple Christian Foundations.pdf
The Traditions of the Jerusalem Temple.wav
This excerpt delves into the lost traditions of the First Jerusalem Temple, arguing that King Josiah’s seventh-century BCE "reform" was actually a radical destruction of the original temple's theology, particularly its focus on a sacral monarchy and divine secrets. The text contrasts the original Solomonic temple, which represented a microcosm of creation with a divine throne and angels, with the Second Temple, which was considered illegitimate and a "harlot" by those who preserved the older faith, such as the communities behind the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Enoch literature. Key elements banished by Josiah—including the anointing oil, the cherub throne, and the concept of Wisdom—later became crucial theological foundations for early Christianity, which the author suggests drew heavily from these neglected temple traditions and apocalyptic texts. Ultimately, the essay attempts to reconstruct the original First Temple theology, revealing a complex world of wordplay, hidden meanings, and the belief that the royal high priest achieved a divine, "Son of God" status, embodying the Kingdom of God on earth.
When my ears heard this great mystery, The world was transformed over me in purity, And my heart was as if I had arrived in a new world; Every day it appeared to my soul As if I was standing in front of the throne of Glory. — Merkavah Rabbah 680
In the traditional history of the West, King Josiah of Judah is celebrated as the ultimate restorer—the righteous monarch who "cleaned up" the Jerusalem Temple in the 7th century BCE, purging it of pagan clutter and returning Israel to the Law of Moses. But a closer look at the debris suggests that Josiah’s "reform" was less a spiritual cleanup and more a lobotomy of Israel’s mystical memory.
What was removed was not merely idolatry, but the "Great Mystery" that defined the original cult of Solomon’s Temple. By stripping away the ancient symbols of the throne and the Lady, Josiah’s party effectively dismantled a world-view where the human and divine were intimately entwined. To understand the "Kingdom of God" as Jesus preached it, we must first recognize that he was not inventing a new religion, but attempting to salvage a sunken one.
Sunday school narratives present Josiah’s actions in 2 Kings as a heroic return to the Book of the Law. However, for those who cherished the older faith, these events were a cultural disaster. Josiah did not just remove idols; he banished the Asherah—the "Great Lady" who was the symbol of the Tree of Life and the Mother of the Messiah. Along with her, he burned the sun chariots and destroyed the incense altars that had stood for generations.
The loss was metaphysical. In the original tradition, the Lady represented Wisdom, and her removal meant that "all who live in the temple shall lose their vision." This purge cast a long shadow, burying the priestly roots that would later resurface in Christian liturgy. For example, the "Tree of Life" (the Lady) that Josiah hacked down finds its restoration in the Eucharist—a "food for the elect" that restores wisdom and "angel status" to those who partake.