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 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. ​
2
And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. ​

Dimensions and Decoration of the Temple

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. ​
4
And 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. ​
5
And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.
6
And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. ​
7
He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. ​

The Most Holy Place and Cherubim

8
And 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. ​
9
And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
10
And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. ​
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.
12
And 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.
13
The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. ​
14
And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. ​

The Bronze Pillars: Jachin and Boaz

15
Also 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. ​
16
And 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.
17
And 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. ​

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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