2 Chronicles3

King Solomon commenced the construction of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, at the site previously prepared by David. The temple was built with precise dimensions, extensively overlaid with pure gold, and adorned with precious stones. Key features included a grand porch, a Most Holy House, two large cherubim, and two prominent pillars named Jachin and Boaz.
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Temple Construction Begins

1
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ​
2
Solomon began construction on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign. ​

Dimensions and Decoration of the Temple

3
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard. ​
4
The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold. ​
5
He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains.
6
He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim. ​
7
He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls. ​

The Most Holy Place and Cherubim

8
Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. ​
9
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper area with gold.
10
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. ​
11
The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub.
12
The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub.
13
So the total wingspan of these cherubim was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main room. ​
14
He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it. ​

The Bronze Pillars: Jachin and Boaz

15
In front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits high, each with a capital on top measuring five cubits. ​
16
He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork.
17
Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin, and the pillar on the north he named Boaz. ​

Study Notes for 2 Chronicles 3

Verse 1

This verse establishes the sacred location of the Temple on Mount Moriah, linking it historically to Abraham’s near-sacrifice (Gen. 22) and temporally to the threshing floor of Ornan, where David built an altar to stop the plague (1 Chr. 21). This site was consecrated by divine command and sacrifice.

Verse 2

The construction began in the spring (second month) of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, which is generally dated around 966 BC, indicating careful chronological record-keeping by the Chronicler.

Verse 3

The 'first measure' refers to the older, longer standard cubit (approximately 20.4 inches). The main hall (the Holy Place) measured 60 cubits long and 20 cubits wide, following the basic dimensions of the Tabernacle but on a much grander scale.

Verse 4

The 120-cubit height of the porch is significantly taller than the main structure (1 Kings 6:2 reports 30 cubits high for the main house), leading many scholars to suggest this figure may be hyperbole or a scribal error emphasizing vertical majesty.

Verse 6

The description of the house being 'garnished' and overlaid with 'gold of Parvaim' emphasizes the incredible wealth dedicated to the structure. Parvaim is an unknown location, likely a source famous for fine or particularly abundant gold.

Verse 7

The comprehensive overlaying of all internal surfaces with gold, including beams, posts, and doors, ensured that the entire structure shone as a testament to God’s glory and the wealth of the Davidic monarchy.

Verse 8

The Most Holy House (the inner sanctuary or Holy of Holies) was a perfect cube (20x20x20 cubits), a shape symbolizing completeness and perfection, reflecting the immediate presence of the Holy God.

Verse 10

These massive cherubim, distinct from those on the Ark of the Covenant, were fashioned to stand guard over the Holy of Holies. They visually reinforced the concept of heavenly beings surrounding the divine presence.

Verse 13

The total wing span of the two cherubim was 20 cubits, stretching across the entire width of the inner sanctuary. Their faces were turned inward toward the room, though not explicitly toward the Ark itself.

Verse 14

The veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, signifying the necessary barrier between sinful humanity and God’s unmediated presence. The colors (blue, purple, crimson) were highly valuable royal and priestly dyes.

Verse 15

These two massive bronze pillars stood freely in front of the Temple and were purely symbolic, not structural. The height given here (35 cubits) may include the chapiters, differing slightly from the 1 Kings account (18 cubits).

Verse 17

The names assigned to the pillars were theological statements: Jachin means 'He establishes' (referring to God establishing the Temple or dynasty), and Boaz means 'In him is strength.' They served as permanent reminders of God’s covenant fidelity and power.

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