Topical Bible: Temple: Solomon's: Pattern and Building of

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The construction of Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, is a significant event in biblical history, marking a central place of worship for the Israelites and a dwelling place for the presence of God. The narrative of its pattern and building is primarily found in 1 Kings 5-8 and 2 Chronicles 2-7.

Divine Blueprint and Preparation

The concept of a temple for the Lord was first conceived by King David, Solomon's father. However, God revealed to David that he would not be the one to build the temple due to his history as a warrior. Instead, this task was appointed to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:3-6). David, nonetheless, played a crucial role in the preparation by gathering materials and providing Solomon with a detailed plan, which he received by divine inspiration. As recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:11-19, David gave Solomon the plans for the temple's structure, its courts, and the articles of service.

Construction Under Solomon

Solomon's reign was marked by peace and prosperity, providing the ideal conditions for such an ambitious project. The construction began in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, around 966 BC, and took seven years to complete (1 Kings 6:1, 38). The temple was built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, the site where the Lord appeared to David (2 Chronicles 3:1).

Materials and Labor

The temple's construction required vast resources and labor. Solomon entered into an agreement with Hiram, the king of Tyre, to supply cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon, as well as skilled craftsmen (1 Kings 5:6-10). In exchange, Solomon provided Hiram with wheat and oil. The workforce included 30,000 Israelites conscripted for labor, 70,000 burden-bearers, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,300 supervisors (1 Kings 5:13-16).

Architectural Features

The temple's design was grand and intricate, reflecting the glory of God. The structure was approximately 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2). The interior was lined with cedar and overlaid with pure gold, and the floors were made of cypress wood (1 Kings 6:15, 22). The Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, housed the Ark of the Covenant and was separated by a veil. Two cherubim of olive wood, overlaid with gold, stood within the inner sanctuary (1 Kings 6:23-28).

The temple also featured an outer courtyard, a bronze altar, and a large basin known as the "Sea," supported by twelve oxen (1 Kings 7:23-26). Additionally, ten lampstands of gold and ten tables were placed in the temple, along with numerous other vessels and furnishings crafted by Hiram of Tyre (1 Kings 7:48-50).

Dedication of the Temple

Upon completion, Solomon dedicated the temple with a grand ceremony, inviting the elders of Israel and the heads of the tribes. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Holy of Holies, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple, signifying His presence (1 Kings 8:10-11). Solomon offered a prayer of dedication, acknowledging God's faithfulness and asking for His continued presence and blessing upon Israel (1 Kings 8:22-53).

The dedication was marked by numerous sacrifices and a feast lasting fourteen days, during which Solomon and the people of Israel celebrated the fulfillment of God's promise (1 Kings 8:62-66).

The construction of Solomon's Temple stands as a testament to the fulfillment of God's promises and the centrality of worship in the life of Israel. It served as a focal point for the nation's religious life until its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

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1 Kings 6:1
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
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1 Kings 7:13-51
And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
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1 Chronicles 28:11-19
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
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2 Chronicles 3:1
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
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2 Chronicles 4:1
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.
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Acts 7:47
But Solomon built him an house.
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Library

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... The plan, the elevation, the whole arrangement of this gorgeous temple, proceeded
from the Divine Architect ... David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Great Preparations for a Great Work
... Thou fool!' not the wise king, is the pattern for a ... We note, too, that Solomon was
impelled to his great work ... v.5). The motives of the great temple-builders of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/great preparations for a great.htm

Concerning the Wife of Solomon; Concerning his Wisdom and Riches ...
... He Obtained Of Hiram For The Building Of The Temple. ... writings may know what a difficult
cause Solomon was to ... this sagacity of the king for a pattern, that they ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 concerning the wife.htm

The New Temple and Its Worship
... that our building is 'according to the pattern showed in ... a remembrance of the former
more splendid Temple in the ... were poor, if compared with Solomon's 'two and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the new temple and its.htm

Solomon's Repentance
... and after the dedication of the temple, when once ... even the wise and powerful Solomon
was vanquished ... in every land the true foundation and pattern for character ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 5 solomons repentance.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... was the palatial building which Solomon and his ... cedar and burnished gold, the temple
structure, with its ... in accordance with the divine pattern, with materials ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

That David Made Great Preparations for the House of God; and That ...
... 9. Now when the king had said this, he left off; but gave the description and pattern
of the building of the temple in the sight of them all to Solomon: of the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 that david made.htm

Chronicles
... he collected for the building. He is said to have given Solomon a plan of the temple
with all its furniture and sundry other details, the pattern of which he ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

Christ Glorified as the Builder of his Church
... The Lord, who had shown the pattern of the old tabernacle in the wilderness to Moses,
doubtless showed the pattern of the temple to Solomon, so that the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/christ glorified as the builder.htm

Promises and Threatenings
... the promise of perpetual dwelling in the Temple is conditional ... The promises to Solomon
individually are all contingent ... could be presented as a pattern, as being ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/promises and threatenings.htm