The Destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash

The destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash occurred on Tisha B'Av in the year 3338 [423 B.C.E.].

The verse (Kings II 25:8) states: In the fifth month, on the seventh of the month, in the nineteenth year of the reign of Nevuchadnetzar King of Babylonia, Nevuzaraden the murderer, servant of the King of Babylonia, came upon Jerusalem and burned the House of G-d. In Yirmeyahu, however, we find (52:12): And in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, in the nineteenth year of the reign of Nevuchadnetzar King of Babylonia, Nevuzaraden the murderer came and stood before the King of Babylonia in Jerusalem. The Sages taught: One cannot say that he came on the seventh, for the verse states on the tenth. And one cannot say that he came on the tenth, for the other verse states on the seventh. How can we reconcile this? On the seventh, the gentiles entered the Sanctuary and despoiled it on the seventh, eighth, and ninth. Towards evening they set it aflame and it burned for the entire day [the tenth], as the verse (Yirmeyahu 6:4) states: Woe to us, for the day is ending and the shadows of evening approach. This is consistent with the opinion of R. Yochanan, who said: Had I lived in that generation, I would have established it [the day of mourning] on the tenth, for most of the Sanctuary was burned then.

The Sages taught: Merit transpires on a day of merit, while The destruction of the Bet Hamikdash tragedy transpires on a day of tragedy. When the first Beis haMikdash was destroyed, the day was Tishah b'Av, it was a Saturday night, it was in the seventh year of the shemittah cycle, it was during the watch of [the family of] Yehoyariv, and the Leviyim were standing on their dais and singing. What was the song that they sang? [Instead of the regular song of the day, they sang:] He brought upon them their iniquity and because of their wickedness He destroys them (Psalms 94:23). And before they managed to conclude, They are destroyed by G-d our Lord [the final phrase of that verse], the gentiles came and captured them. And the same was true of the second [Bet Hamikdash] (Ta'anit 29a).

When the Bet Hamikdash was built, its construction was accompanied by song [as the verse (ibid. 30:1) states:] A song of praise upon the consecration of the House by David. And when it was destroyed, there was also accompanying song, as the verse (ibid. 89:1) states: A song by Asaf, L-rd, nations have come into Your inheritance (Yalkut Shimoni 843, Psalms).

Our Sages taught: When the first Bet Hamikdash was destroyed, groups of young kohanim gathered with the keys to the Sanctuary in their hands. They ascended the roof and declared: Master of the World! Since we have not merited to be trustworthy custodians, let the keys be given back to You. They then threw the keys toward Heaven, a hand emerged and received them, and the kohanim then threw themselves into the fire (Ta'anit 29b).

The Book of Our Heritage
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