Topical Bible: Temple: Solomon's: Sanctuary

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The sanctuary of Solomon's Temple, often referred to as the First Temple, holds a significant place in biblical history as the central place of worship for the Israelites. Constructed under the reign of King Solomon, the son of David, the temple was completed in the 10th century BC and served as the dwelling place of the Ark of the Covenant and the center of Israelite religious life.

Construction and Design

The construction of the temple is detailed in 1 Kings 6-7 and 2 Chronicles 3-4. Solomon's Temple was built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, a site of profound historical and spiritual significance. The sanctuary itself was a marvel of ancient architecture, reflecting the grandeur and holiness of the God of Israel. The dimensions of the temple were approximately 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2).

The interior of the sanctuary was divided into two main sections: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies. The Holy Place contained the golden lampstand, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant, which was overshadowed by two cherubim crafted from olive wood and overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:23-28).

Materials and Symbolism

The temple was constructed using the finest materials available, including cedar from Lebanon, gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones. The use of these materials not only demonstrated the wealth and resources of Solomon's kingdom but also symbolized the glory and majesty of God. The walls and floors of the sanctuary were overlaid with gold, and intricate carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers adorned the interior (1 Kings 6:29-30).

The temple's design and furnishings were rich in symbolism, reflecting the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Ark of the Covenant, located in the Most Holy Place, represented God's throne on earth and His presence among the Israelites. The veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place symbolized the holiness of God and the separation between God and humanity due to sin.

Dedication and Divine Presence

The dedication of Solomon's Temple is recorded in 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5-7. During the dedication ceremony, Solomon offered prayers and sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple, signifying God's acceptance of the sanctuary as His dwelling place. "When the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD" (1 Kings 8:10-11).

Solomon's prayer of dedication emphasized the temple as a place of prayer and supplication, where the Israelites could seek God's forgiveness and favor. The temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations, reflecting God's desire for all people to know Him.

Historical Significance

Solomon's Temple stood for nearly four centuries as the spiritual heart of Israel. It was a place where the Israelites gathered for worship, sacrifices, and festivals. However, due to the nation's disobedience and idolatry, the temple was eventually destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, as prophesied by the prophets.

The sanctuary of Solomon's Temple remains a powerful symbol of God's presence and the centrality of worship in the life of His people. Its legacy continues to influence Jewish and Christian thought, serving as a reminder of the holiness of God and the importance of maintaining a covenant relationship with Him.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 20:8
And they dwelled therein, and have built you a sanctuary therein for your name, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Strong's Hebrew

1687. debir -- perhaps (a place of) speaking (the innermost room ...
... Origin perhaps from dabar Definition perhaps (a place of) speaking (the innermost
room of Solomon's temple) NASB Word Usage inner sanctuary (15), sanctuary (1 ...
/hebrew/1687.htm - 6k

Library

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... queen of Sheba, who came to prove Solomon's wisdom, saw ... how then shall they go into
the temple that carry ... in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary' (Ezekiel 44:9 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
... the Court of the Women,' and so into the Sanctuary. ... the great wall which formed the
Temple-enclosure ran a ... from the western entrance to Solomon's Porch), known ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi at the feast.htm

That in These Two Portions of the Soul There are Four Different ...
... There were three courts in Solomon's temple. ... of men from women not being made by
Solomon); the third ... fine, besides all this, there was the sanctuary or sacred ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii that in these.htm

Altar and Temple
... if the work is to last and the sanctuary is to be ... If either the grey beards of Solomon's
court or the hot ... sound of weeping and joy from the Temple hill tells a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

The Kingdom of all Israel.
... to build and adorn the Temple, Solomon's great work. ... glorious light which descended
at Solomon's prayer of consecration, and filled the Sanctuary with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vi the kingdom of.htm

Results of Transgression
... For the building of the sanctuary, great and extensive ... was made when David turned
over to Solomon the responsibility of building the temple. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... this gate, it must have been in Solomon's Porch ... and it formed the principal access
into the Sanctuary. The Temple-market was undoubtedly somewhere in the Court ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

A Little Sanctuary
... I will bow down to their littleness, and I will be to each little one of them a
little sanctuary." Even the temple which Solomon builded was not a fit ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a little sanctuary.htm

'Then Shall the Lame Man Leap as an Hart'
... crowd, waiting in the court for their emergence from the sanctuary. Solomon's porch
was, like the Beautiful gate, on the east side of the Temple enclosure, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/then shall the lame man.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... from many foreign nations, assembled in the temple courts. ... Solomon, with the elders
of Israel and the most ... From the sanctuary on the heights of Gibeon had been ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm