The Bible itself indicates that there is a prehistory to the Solomonic temple: It existed in a portable version during the wilderness years in the shape of the Tabernacle, and that in turn was built after a model shown to Moses on Mt. Sinai by God himself. It is no wonder that the Dead Sea Scrolls give several examples of temple and priesthood being in existence before their Mosaic manifestation on earth: Going back through the Patriarchal age, we see priestly footprints; peeking into heaven, we find the temple there – and going back to the very moment of creation, we learn that it was already around.