Introduction

The books of ezra and nehemiah detail how the ancient israelites gave praise to the lord when they rebuilt a temple back jerusalem following the babylonian captivity. Accounts of praying with uplifted hands are recorded multiple times throughout the scriptures, most often in connection to the first temple in jer Jerusalem. When solomon dedicated his temple, he offered the dedicatory prayer before the altar of the lord, with his hands spread up to heaven. Many psalms relating to the temple, such as psalm 63, also describe the temple petitioner praying with their hands stretched towards the heavens.