Solomon Builds the Temple
1Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah3:1 Hebrew Ornan, a variant of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 2He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.
3The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide3:3 That is, about 90 feet long and 30 feet wide or about 27 meters long and 9 meters wide (using the cubit of the old standard). 4The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits3:4 That is, about 30 feet or about 9 meters; also in verses 8, 11 and 13 long across the width of the building and twenty3:4 Some Septuagint and Syriac manuscripts; Hebrew and a hundred and twenty cubits high.
He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. 6He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8He built the Most Holy Place, its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents3:8 That is, about 23 tons or about 21 metric tons of fine gold. 9The gold nails weighed fifty shekels.3:9 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.
10For the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits3:11 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters; also in verse 15 long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.3:13 Or facing inward
14He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.
15For the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits3:15 That is, about 53 feet or about 16 meters long, each with a capital five cubits high. 16He made interwoven chains3:16 Or possibly made chains in the inner sanctuary; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains. 17He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin3:17 Jakin probably means he establishes. and the one to the north Boaz.3:17 Boaz probably means in him is strength.
1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.3.1 where…: or, which was seen of David his father3.1 Ornan: also called, Araunah 2And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
3¶ Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.3.3 instructed: Heb. founded 4And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold. 5And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains. 6And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.3.6 garnished: Heb. covered 7He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. 8And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. 9And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
10And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.3.10 image…: or, (as some think) of moveable work
11¶ And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. 13The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.3.13 inward: or, toward the house
14¶ And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.3.14 wrought: Heb. caused to ascend 15Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.3.15 high: Heb. long 16And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. 17And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.3.17 Jachin: that is, He shall establish3.17 Boaz: that is, In it is strength
