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.

Temple Construction Begins

1
Then Solomon began to build the LORD’s house at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to David his father, which he prepared in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ​
2
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 foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God’s house. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. ​
4
The porch that was in front, its length, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold. ​
5
The greater house he made a ceiling with fir wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains.
6
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 thresholds, and its walls, and its doors, with gold; and engraved cherubim on the walls. ​

The Most Holy Place and Cherubim

8
He made the most holy house: its length, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. ​
9
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the upper rooms with gold.
10
In the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold. ​
11
The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
12
The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13
The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house. ​
14
He made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented it with cherubim. ​

The Bronze Pillars: Jachin and Boaz

15
Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. ​
16
He made chains in the oracle, and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
17
He set 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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