What is the Second Temple Period?
The Second Temple period extends from Zerubbabel’s reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple in the late sixth century Before the Common Era (abbreviated BCE and equivalent to BC; Ezra 3:1ff) to the Temple’s final destruction by Titus in year 70 of the Common Era (abbreviated CE and equivalent to AD). While many renovations of the Temple took place during this time–including an almost complete reconstruction in the first century BCE by Herod the Great–the entire era is nevertheless known as the Second Temple period.