Then Joshua declared a terrible curse upon anyone who might rebuild Jericho, warning that when the foundation was laid, the builder’s oldest son would die, and when the gates were set up, his youngest son would die.

Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the heavens quaked Because of his wrath.

The stonecutters quarried and shaped huge blocks of stone—a very expensive job—for the foundation of the Temple.

The foundation of the Temple was laid in the month of May in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign,

The foundation stones were twelve to fifteen feet across.

(It was during his reign that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid the foundations, his oldest son, Abiram, died; and when he finally completed it by setting up the gates, his youngest son, Segub, died. For this was the Lord’s curse upon Jericho as declared by Joshua, the son of Nun.)

The foundation was ninety feet long and thirty feet wide.

It was on the fifteenth day of September that the priests began sacrificing the burnt offerings to the Lord. (This was before they began building the foundation of the Temple.)

When the builders completed the foundation of the Temple, the priests put on their official robes and blew their trumpets; and the descendants of Asaph crashed their cymbals to praise the Lord in the manner ordained by King David.

They sang rounds of praise and thanks to God, singing this song: “He is good, and his love and mercy toward Israel will last forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising God because the foundation of the Temple had been laid.

Please be informed that the Jews sent to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this historically rebellious and evil city; they have already rebuilt its walls and have repaired the foundations of the Temple.

So Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the Temple at Jerusalem; and the people have been working on it ever since, though it is not yet completed.

“In this first year of the reign of King Cyrus, a decree has been sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem where the Jews offer sacrifices. It is to be rebuilt, and the foundations are to be strongly laid. The height will be ninety feet and the width will be ninety feet.

There will be three layers of huge stones in the foundation, topped with a layer of new timber. All expenses will be paid by the king.

Palal (son of Uzai) carried on the work from the corner to the foundations of the upper tower of the king’s castle beside the prison yard. Next was Pedaiah (son of Parosh).

He shakes the earth to its foundations.

“Don’t you realize that those treading the ancient paths of sin are snatched away in youth, and the foundations of their lives washed out forever?

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

But you are so foolish and so ignorant! Because you are in darkness, all the foundations of society are shaken to the core.

Clouds and darkness surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

In ages past you laid the foundations of the earth and made the heavens with your hands!

Such singing it was! It shook the Temple to its foundations, and suddenly the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke.

But the Lord God says, “See, I am placing a Foundation Stone in Zion—a firm, tested, precious Cornerstone that is safe to build on. He who believes need never run away again.

I will take the line and plummet of justice to check the foundation wall you built; it looks so fine, but it is so weak a storm of hail will knock it down! The enemy will come like a flood and sweep it away, and you will be drowned.