Topical Bible: Temple: Solomon's: The Building of, Committed to Solomon

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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 pivotal moment in the religious and cultural life of ancient Israel. The building of the Temple was committed to King Solomon, the son of King David, and is detailed primarily in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

Divine Commission and Preparation

The concept of a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant and the worship of Yahweh was first conceived by King David. However, due to his history as a warrior, God did not permit David to build the Temple. Instead, this task was entrusted to his son Solomon. In 1 Chronicles 28:6, God declares, "Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his father."

David, understanding the importance of this divine commission, made extensive preparations for the Temple's construction. He gathered materials, including gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and precious stones, and provided Solomon with detailed plans for the Temple's design (1 Chronicles 22:14-16).

Solomon's Reign and the Commencement of Construction

Solomon ascended to the throne of Israel and began the construction of the Temple in the fourth year of his reign, around 966 BCE. The site chosen for the Temple was Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, a location of profound historical and spiritual significance, as it was the place where Abraham had been willing to sacrifice Isaac (2 Chronicles 3:1).

The construction of the Temple was a monumental task, requiring vast resources and labor. Solomon enlisted the help of Hiram, king of Tyre, who provided skilled craftsmen and materials, including cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon (1 Kings 5:6-10). Solomon also conscripted a large workforce from among the Israelites, including 30,000 men sent to Lebanon in shifts, 70,000 burden-bearers, and 80,000 stonecutters (1 Kings 5:13-15).

Architectural Features and Symbolism

The Temple was designed with precise dimensions and intricate details, reflecting both the grandeur of Solomon's reign and the holiness of the God it was meant to honor. The structure was approximately 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2). It consisted of several key areas: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), where the Ark of the Covenant was housed.

The interior of the Temple was adorned with gold, and the walls were lined with cedar, carved with figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers (1 Kings 6:29). The Most Holy Place was separated by a veil and contained the Ark, symbolizing God's covenant with Israel and His presence among His people.

Completion and Dedication

After seven years of construction, the Temple was completed. Solomon dedicated the Temple with a grand ceremony, offering sacrifices and prayers to God. In 1 Kings 8:10-11, it is recorded that "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."

Solomon's prayer of dedication emphasized the Temple as a place of prayer and supplication, not only for Israel but for foreigners who would come to seek the God of Israel (1 Kings 8:41-43). The dedication of the Temple marked a high point in Israel's history, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises and the establishment of a central place of worship for the nation.

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2 Samuel 7:13
He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
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Library

Solomon's Reign.
... wood and the skilled laborers who made possible the building of the ... would be removed
from Solomon's son and committed to him ... (4) [sic] Solomon's temple: (a) Its ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xii solomons reign.htm

Concerning the Wife of Solomon; Concerning his Wisdom and Riches ...
... And Riches; And Concerning What He Obtained Of Hiram For The Building Of The ... 5]Know
thou that my father would have built a temple to God ... Hiram To King Solomon. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 concerning the wife.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... only we must remember, that none are laid in this building as they ... was to fell those
trees, and to dig those stones, with which Solomon built the Temple. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... surpassing beauty and unrivaled splendor was the palatial building which Solomon
and his ... with carved cedar and burnished gold, the temple structure, with ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

Solomon
... court; of his gilded and jewelled temple, with its ... rule of a great kingdom, and the
building of temples ... that exceeding gifts from God like Solomon's are not ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon xi solomon.htm

Results of Transgression
... as the temple of Jehovah, but as "Solomon's temple.". ... strengthen his position
politically by building fortified cities ... to the course pursued by Solomon was the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

The Return of the Exiles
... commandments; we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and ... They had seen the
glory of Solomon's temple, and they ... of the inferiority of the building now to ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 45 the return of.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... The great reason why nations are so committed by and with their ... Of the quantity of
gold and silver expended in the building of Solomon's temple, and whence ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... crude material the great ideas committed to Israel ... 14, which is an exhortation to
Solomon, injected into the specifications respecting the temple building. ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... [53] Thus she saw Joachim building tabernacles with ... month, Kislev), but must doubtless
be a memorial festival of Solomon's dedication of the Temple. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm