Temple Construction^(A)

3 So Solomon began construction of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah where the Lord^[a] had appeared to his father David, that is, where David had prepared Ornan the Jebusite’s threshing floor. ² He began construction on the second day^[b] of the second month of the fourth year of his reign.

Dimensions of the Temple

³ These are the foundations that Solomon set in place for God’s Temple. The length in terms of the former standard measurements: 60 cubits;^[c] its width: 20 cubits.^{[d] 4} A portico extended in front of the Temple for its entire width of 20 cubits,^[e] and was^[f] 120 cubits^[g] high. Inside he had it overlaid with pure gold. ⁵ The main room of the Temple was trimmed with a wainscoting composed of cypress wood, overlaid with fine gold ornamented with palm trees and chains. ⁶ The Temple was adorned with precious stones, including gold from the Orient.^{[h] 7} The Temple was overlaid with gold, including the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors. Cherubim were engraved on the walls. ⁸ With respect to the Most Holy Place in the Temple, its length across the width of the Temple was 20 cubits,^[i] and its width extended 20 cubits.^[j]

Materials of the Temple

Solomon^[k] overlaid it with 600 talents^[l] of pure gold. ⁹ The gold nails weighed 50 shekels.^[m] He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold. ¹⁰ He crafted two cherubim from wood, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place in the Temple. ¹¹ The wingspan of the cherubim was 20 cubits;^[n] the wing of one, five cubits^[o] long, touched the wall of the Temple, and its other wing, five cubits^[p] long, touched the wing of the other cherub. ¹² The wing of the other cherub, five cubits^[q] long, touched the opposite^[r] wall of the Temple and its other wing, five cubits^[s] long, touched the wing of the first^[t] cherub. ¹³ The wings of these cherubim extended for 20 cubits^[u] as they stood on their feet and faced the front of^[v] the Temple. ¹⁴ He constructed the veil from blue,^[w] purple, crimson, and fine linen, embroidering cherubim on it. ¹⁵ He also made two pillars 35 cubits^[x] high for the front of the Temple, topped by a capital that was five cubits^[y] high. ¹⁶ He crafted chains for the inner sanctuary and placed them on top of the pillars, attaching 100 pomegranates to each of the chains. ¹⁷ He set up the pillars at the front of the Temple, one on the south side of the entrance^[z] and the other on the north side of the entrance.^[aa] He named the south pillar Jachin^[ab] and the north pillar Boaz.^[ac]