Topical Encyclopedia
The First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, holds a significant place in biblical history as the first permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant and the center of Israelite worship. Constructed under the reign of King Solomon, the temple was renowned for its grandeur and opulence, reflecting the glory and majesty of God. One of the most striking features of the First Temple was its adornment with precious stones, which symbolized divine beauty and wealth.
Biblical DescriptionThe construction of the First Temple is detailed in the biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. According to
1 Kings 6:7, the temple was built using stones that were finished at the quarry, ensuring that no sound of hammer, chisel, or any iron tool was heard at the temple site. This meticulous preparation underscores the sacredness of the temple as a dwelling place for God.
The use of precious stones in the temple's construction is highlighted in
1 Kings 7:9-10, which states, "All these structures, from the outside to the great courtyard and from foundation to eaves, were made of high-quality stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws on their inner and outer faces." The foundation was laid with large, costly stones, some measuring ten cubits and others eight cubits.
2 Chronicles 3:6 further elaborates on the temple's adornment: "He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and the gold he used was gold of Parvaim." This verse emphasizes the use of precious stones not only for structural purposes but also for aesthetic beauty, enhancing the temple's splendor.
Symbolism and SignificanceThe use of precious stones in the First Temple carries deep symbolic meaning. In the ancient Near East, precious stones were often associated with divine presence and favor. Their inclusion in the temple's design signified the holiness and sanctity of the space, setting it apart as a place where heaven and earth met.
Moreover, the opulence of the temple, with its gold and precious stones, reflected the wealth and prosperity of Solomon's reign, a period often regarded as the zenith of Israel's united monarchy. The temple served as a tangible representation of God's covenant with Israel, a place where His name would dwell and where the people could come to offer sacrifices and worship.
Historical ContextThe construction of the First Temple began in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, around 966 BCE, and took seven years to complete. The temple stood on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, a site of profound historical and religious significance, believed to be the location where Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (
Genesis 22:2).
The temple's grandeur and the use of precious stones were not merely for aesthetic purposes but were intended to reflect the glory of God and the centrality of worship in the life of Israel. The temple became the focal point of Jewish religious life until its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
LegacyThe First Temple's legacy endures in the collective memory of the Jewish people and in Christian theology as a symbol of God's presence among His people. The precious stones that adorned the temple serve as a reminder of the beauty and holiness that characterized the worship of Yahweh in ancient Israel. The temple's destruction marked a significant turning point in Jewish history, leading to the Babylonian exile and subsequent longing for restoration and return to the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
2 Chronicles 3:6And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... First, In that labour which was bestowed upon them in ... wall of the city,' saith he,
'were garnished with all ... for that which is before called a temple, for its ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm
What Use Heavenly Contemplation Makes of Consideration, the ...
... on the throne of his glory, "the First and the ... unto clear glass; and the foundations
are garnished with all ... it were transparent glass; there is no temple in it ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter xiv what use heavenly.htm
An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... work: by his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens ... they who are least able, will first
adventure to ... have descended from the pinnacle of the temple, as afterwards ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm
The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... of the wall of the city were garnished with all ... The first foundation was jasper;
the second, sapphire; the third ... And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm
The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... take care only that you are swept and garnished within to ... He came at first every
eight days, then every fourteen ... lot had fallen upon him in the Temple to become ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm
A Description of Heart-Purity
... 1). He may be swept by civility and garnished by profession ... Let my heart be thy temple
and do thou dwell ... First, because the appearance of evil is oftentimes an ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm
A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of ...
... from his sin was ransomed; Where Solomon the temple did erect ... helper be, He 'twas
who did at first brood the ... Tis he by whom the heavens were garnished, With all ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse of the building.htm
The Oration on Holy Baptism.
... Him up to the pinnacle of the temple and said ... begin to struggle in a twofold conflict;
first, to prepare ... finds in you a place, swept and garnished indeed, but ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xl the oration on.htm
The Old Testament and Comparative Religion
... in amount, due from his sister to the temple of the ... is the same in the two accounts:
first the conflict ... By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter v the old testament.htm
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... to Ophir and Tarshish"The palace at Jerusalem, the temple and its ... The word nasi,
first applied to ... His prophets, as well as of the anointed stones which were ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm
Resources
Was it God's desire for Israel to worship Him in a temple in Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning and significance of the Temple Mount? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Ezekiel's temple? | GotQuestions.orgTemple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
