2 Chronicles 3

Construction and Furnishing of the Temple

¹Then 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, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

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

³Now 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 width twenty cubits.

⁴The porch that was in front, its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

⁵He made the larger room with a ceiling of cypress wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains.

⁶He decorated the house with precious stones for beauty. The gold was gold from Parvaim.

⁷He also overlaid the house, the beams, the thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.

⁸He made the most holy place. Its length, according to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.

⁹The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

¹⁰In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold.

¹¹The 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.

¹²The 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.

¹³The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.

¹⁴He made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented it with cherubim.

¹⁵Also he made before the house two pillars thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.

¹⁶He made chains in the inner sanctuary, and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.

¹⁷He 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.

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Solomon begins construction of the LORD's temple on Mount Moriah, the site where God appeared to David and where David had purchased Ornan's threshing floor. The chapter provides detailed specifications of the temple's dimensions, materials, and furnishings, emphasizing the extensive use of gold, precious stones, and fine craftsmanship throughout. Special attention is given to the Most Holy Place with its golden cherubim, the ornate veil, and the two bronze pillars named Jachin and Boaz that stood at the temple entrance.

Context

This chapter follows Solomon's preparations in chapter 2 and precedes the completion of temple furnishings in chapter 4.

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
Temple Construction Begins Solomon starts building the temple on Mount Moriah in the fourth year of his reign.
3-7
Temple Structure and Gold Overlay The foundation dimensions are established and the entire structure is overlaid with fine gold and precious materials.
8-13
The Most Holy Place and Cherubim The inner sanctuary is constructed with massive golden cherubim whose wings span the entire width of the room.
14-17
The Veil and Bronze Pillars The ornate veil is crafted and two named bronze pillars are erected at the temple entrance.

Construction and Furnishing of the Temple

3:1–4:22

narrative narration solemn

Solomon begins construction of the temple at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where God had appeared to David. The passage details the elaborate construction with precious materials including gold, describing the main hall, the most holy place, and the cherubim.

person_contrast

Solomon's transformation from wise ruler to temple builder shifts his biblical identity from political authority to sacred architect, appearing here with unprecedented focus on holiness and divine glory.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

2 Chronicles 3:1 5 references

Parallels 1

1 Kings 6:1 Parallel

In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth yea…

Lexicals 4

1 Chronicles 21:22 Lexical

Then David said to Ornan, “Sell me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD on it. You s…

4 shared words

1 Chronicles 21:28 Lexical

At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrif…

2 Chronicles 3

Construction and Furnishing of the Temple

Construction and Furnishing of the Temple

Insights

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 3:1 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:2 2 references

2 Chronicles 3:3 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:4 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:5 2 references

2 Chronicles 3:6 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:7 4 references

2 Chronicles 3:8 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:9 4 references

2 Chronicles 3:10 3 references

2 Chronicles 3:11 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:12 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:13 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:14 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:15 5 references

2 Chronicles 3:17 4 references

Interlinear

Historical Context