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Texts -- 2 Chronicles 3:1--5:1 (NET)

Context
The Building of the Temple
3:1 Solomon began building the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah , where the Lord had appeared to his father David . This was the place that David prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite . 3:2 He began building on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign . 3:3 Solomon laid the foundation for God’s temple ; its length (determined according to the old standard of measure ) was 90 feet , and its width 30 feet . 3:4 The porch in front of the main hall was 30 feet long , corresponding to the width of the temple , and its height was 30 feet . He plated the inside with pure gold . 3:5 He paneled the main hall with boards made from evergreen trees and plated it with fine gold , decorated with palm trees and chains . 3:6 He decorated the temple with precious stones ; the gold he used came from Parvaim . 3:7 He overlaid the temple’s rafters , thresholds , walls and doors with gold ; he carved decorative cherubim on the walls . 3:8 He made the most holy place ; its length was 30 feet , corresponding to the width of the temple , and its width 30 feet . He plated it with 600 talents of fine gold . 3:9 The gold nails weighed 50 shekels ; he also plated the upper areas with gold . 3:10 In the most holy place he made two images of cherubim and plated them with gold . 3:11 The combined wing span of the cherubs was 30 feet . One of the first cherub’s wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched one wall of the temple ; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the second cherub’s wings . 3:12 Likewise one of the second cherub’s wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched the other wall of the temple ; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the first cherub’s wings . 3:13 The combined wingspan of these cherubim was 30 feet . They stood upright , facing inward . 3:14 He made the curtain out of violet , purple , crimson , and white fabrics , and embroidered on it decorative cherubim . 3:15 In front of the temple he made two pillars which had a combined length of 52½ feet , with each having a plated capital seven and one-half feet high. 3:16 He made ornamental chains and put them on top of the pillars . He also made one hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments and arranged them within the chains . 3:17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple , one on the right side and the other on the left . He named the one on the right Jachin , and the one on the left Boaz . 4:1 He made a bronze altar , 30 feet long , 30 feet wide , and 15 feet high . 4:2 He also made the big bronze basin called “The Sea .” It measured 15 feet from rim to rim , was circular in shape , and stood seven and one-half feet high . Its circumference was 45 feet . 4:3 Images of bulls were under it all the way around , ten every eighteen inches all the way around . The bulls were in two rows and had been cast with “The Sea .” 4:4 “The Sea” stood on top of twelve bulls . Three faced northward , three westward , three southward , and three eastward . “The Sea ” was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward . 4:5 It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom . It could hold 18,000 gallons . 4:6 He made ten washing basins ; he put five on the south side and five on the north side. In them they rinsed the items used for burnt sacrifices ; the priests washed in “The Sea .” 4:7 He made ten gold lampstands according to specifications and put them in the temple , five on the right and five on the left . 4:8 He made ten tables and set them in the temple , five on the right and five on the left . He also made one hundred gold bowls . 4:9 He made the courtyard of the priests and the large enclosure and its doors ; he plated their doors with bronze . 4:10 He put “The Sea ” on the south side , in the southeast corner. 4:11 Huram Abi made the pots , shovels , and bowls . He finished all the work on God’s temple he had been assigned by King Solomon . 4:12 He made the two pillars , the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars , the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars , 4:13 the four hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar ), 4:14 the ten movable stands with their ten basins , 4:15 the big bronze basin called “The Sea ” with its twelve bulls underneath , 4:16 and the pots , shovels , and meat forks . All the items King Solomon assigned Huram Abi to make for the Lord’s temple were made from polished bronze . 4:17 The king had them cast in earthen foundries in the region of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan . 4:18 Solomon made so many of these items they did not weigh the bronze . 4:19 Solomon also made these items for God’s temple : the gold altar , the tables on which the Bread of the Presence was kept, 4:20 the pure gold lampstands and their lamps which burned as specified at the entrance to the inner sanctuary , 4:21 the pure gold flower-shaped ornaments, lamps , and tongs , 4:22 the pure gold trimming shears, basins , pans , and censers , and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place ) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple . 5:1 When Solomon had finished constructing the Lord’s temple , he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver , gold , and all the other articles ) in the treasuries of God’s temple .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Solomon

    [ebd] peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David's second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early man...
    [nave] SOLOMON Son of David by Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 12:24; 1 Kin. 1:13, 17, 21. Named Jedidiah, by Nathan the prophet, 2 Sam. 12:24, 25. Ancestor of Joseph, Matt. 1:6. Succeeds David to the throne of Israel, 1 Kin. 1:11-48; 2:12; 1...

  • Temple

    [smith] There is perhaps no building of the ancient world which has excited so much attention since the time of its destruction as the temple which Solomon built by Herod. Its spoils were considered worthy of forming the principal il...
    [nave] TEMPLE. Solomon's Called also Temple of the Lord, 2 Kin. 11:10; Holy Temple, Psa. 79:1; Holy House, 1 Chr. 29:3; House of God, 1 Chr. 29:2; 2 Chr. 23:9; House of the Lord, 2 Chr. 23:5, 12; Jer. 28:5; Father's House, John 2...

  • TEMPLE, A1

    [isbe] TEMPLE, A1 - tem'-p'l (hekhal, "palace"; sometimes, as in 1 Ki 6:3,5, etc.; Ezek 41:1,15 ff, used for "the holy place" only; bayith, "house," thus always in the Revised Version (British and American); hieron, naos): A. STRUC...

  • Temple, Solomon's

    [ebd] Before his death David had "with all his might" provided materials in great abundance for the building of the temple on the summit of Mount Moriah (1 Chr. 22:14; 29:4; 2 Chr. 3:1), on the east of the city, on the spot where ...

  • Laver

    [ebd] (Heb. kiyor), a "basin" for boiling in, a "pan" for cooking (1 Sam. 2:14), a "fire-pan" or hearth (Zech. 12:6), the sacred wash-bowl of the tabernacle and temple (Ex. 30:18, 28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:8; 39:39; 40:7, 11, 30, etc.),...
    [isbe] LAVER - la'-ver (kiyor): 1. In the Tabernacle: Every priest in attendance on the altar of Yahweh was required to wash his hands and his feet before entering upon his official duties (Ex 30:19 ff). To this end a laver was ord...
    [smith] In the tabernacle, a vessel of brass containing water for the priests to wash their hands and feet before offering sacrifice. It stood in the fore offering sacrifice. It stood in the court between the altar and the door of t...
    [nave] LAVER Directions for making, Ex. 30:18-20. Situation of, in the tabernacle, tent of the congregation, and the altar, Ex. 40:7. Sanctified, Ex. 30:28; 40:11; Lev. 8:11. Used for washing, Ex. 40:30-32. Brazen, made by Solo...

  • BEAUTY

    [isbe] BEAUTY - bu'-ti: The space allotted to this topic allows liberty only for the statement of two problems to students of the Bible. They should give distinct attention to the interblending of aesthetics with ethics in the Scri...

  • Vail

    [nave] VAIL 1. Hangings used in the tabernacle to divide the holy of holies from the holy place. Called the second veil, Heb. 6:19; 9:3. Ordinances prescribing, Ex. 26:31-33. Made by Bezaleel and Aholiab, Ex. 36:35, 36. See: Vei...

  • Master Workman

    [nave] MASTER WORKMAN, Prov. 8:30; 1 Cor. 3:10. Instances of Tubal-cain, Gen. 4:22; Bezaleel, Ex. 31:2-11; 35:30-35; Hiram, 1 Kin. 7:13-50; 2 Chr. 2:13, 14; 4:11-18. See: Arts and Crafts.

  • Holy of Holies

    [isbe] HOLY OF HOLIES - ho'-liz (qodhesh ha-qodhashim, Ex 26:33, debhir, 1 Ki 6:16, etc.; in the New Testament, hagia hagion, Heb 9:3): The name given to the innermost shrine, or adytum of the sanctuary of Yahweh. 1. In the Taberna...
    [nave] HOLY OF HOLIES Ex. 26:33, 34; Lev. 16:2, 16, 17, 20, 23, 27, 33; 1 Kin. 6:16; 7:50; 8:6; 1 Chr. 6:49; 2 Chr. 3:8, 10; 4:22; 5:7; Psa. 28:2; Ezek. 41:4, 21, 23; 45:3; Heb. 9:3, 8, 12, 25; 10:19; 13:11

  • Hiram

    [ebd] high-born. (1.) Generally "Huram," one of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 8:5). (2.) Also "Huram" and "Horam," king of Tyre. He entered into an alliance with David, and assisted him in building his palace by sending him able workme...
    [nave] HIRAM 1. Called Huram, king of Tyre. Builds a house for David, 2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Chr. 14:1; 2 Chr. 2:3. Aids Solomon in building the temple, 1 Kin. 5; 2 Chr. 2:3-16. Dissatisfied with cities given by Solomon, 1 Kin. 9:11-13. ...

  • Cherubim

    [nave] CHERUBIM Eastward of the garden of Eden, Gen. 3:24. In the tabernacle, Ex. 25:18-20; 37:7-9. Ark rested beneath the wings of, 1 Kin. 8:6, 7; 2 Chr. 5:7, 8; Heb. 9:5. Figures of, embroidered on walls of tabernacle, Ex. 26:...

  • CHERUBIM (1)

    [isbe] CHERUBIM (1) - cher'-u-bim, cher'-oo-bim (kerubhim, plural of cherub, kerubh): Through the influence of the Septuagint, "cherubim" was used in the earlier English versions, also as a singular, hence, the plural was made to s...

  • SEA, THE MOLTEN; SEA, THE BRAZEN

    [isbe] SEA, THE MOLTEN; SEA, THE BRAZEN - mol'-t'n, or (yam mutsaq, yam hanechosheth): This was a large brazen (bronze) reservoir for water which stood in the court of Solomon's Temple between the altar and the temple porch, toward...

  • HURAM

    [isbe] HURAM - hu'-ram (churam, "noble-born"): (1) Grandson of Benjamin (1 Ch 8:5). (2) King of Tyre in alliance with David and Solomon. So named in 2 Ch 2:3,11,12; 8:2; 9:10,21, but elsewhere written HIRAM (which see). (3) The Tyr...
    [smith] (noble born). A Benjamite; son of Bela, the first-born of the patriarch. (1 Chronicles 8:5) The form in which the name of the king of Tyre in alliance with David and Solomon --and elsewhere given as HIRAM, OR HURAM-- appe...

  • Parvaim

    [ebd] the name of a country from which Solomon obtained gold for the temple (2 Chr. 3:6). Some have identified it with Ophir, but it is uncertain whether it is even the name of a place. It may simply, as some think, denote "Orient...
    [isbe] PARVAIM - par-va'-im (parwayim; Septuagint Pharouaim): The word occurs only in 2 Ch 3:6, as the place from which Solomon obtained gold for the decoration of his Temple. A derivation is given from the Sanskrit purva, "eastern...
    [smith] (Oriental regions), the name of an unknown place or country whence the gold was procured for the decoration of Solomon?s temple. (2 Chronicles 3:6) We may notice the conjecture that it is derived from the Sanscrit purva , ...
    [nave] PARVAIM, an unknown gold region, 2 Chr. 3:6.

  • POMMELS

    [ebd] (2 Chr. 4:12, 13), or bowls (1 Kings 7:41), were balls or "rounded knobs" on the top of the chapiters (q.v.).
    [smith] only in (2 Chronicles 4:12,13) In (1 Kings 7:41) "bowls." The word signifies convex projections belonging to the capitals of pillars.

  • Sea, The molten

    [ebd] the great laver made by Solomon for the use of the priests in the temple, described in 1 Kings 7:23-26; 2 Chr. 4:2-5. It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. It was 5 cubits high, 10 in diameter from brim to...

  • Chapiter

    [ebd] the ornamental head or capital of a pillar. Three Hebrew words are so rendered. (1.) Cothereth (1 Kings 7:16; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chr. 4:12), meaning a "diadem" or "crown." (2.) Tzepheth (2 Chr. 3:15). (3.) Rosh (Ex. 36:38; 38:...
    [nave] CHAPITER, head of a pillar, Ex. 36:38; 1 Kin. 7:16-42; 2 Kin. 25:17; 2 Chr. 4:12, 13; Jer. 52:22.

  • Altar

    [ebd] (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kin...
    [isbe] ALTAR - ol'-ter (mizbeach, literally, "place of slaughter or sacrifice," from zabhach, which is found in both senses; bomos, (only in Acts 17:23), thusiasterion): I. CLASSIFICATION OF HEBREW ALTARS Importance of the Distinct...
    [nave] ALTAR Built by Noah, Gen. 8:20; Abraham, Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18; 22:9; Isaac, Gen. 26:25; Jacob, Gen. 33:20; 35:1-7; Moses, Ex. 17:15; 24:4; Balaam, Num. 23:1, 14, 29; Joshua, Deut. 27:4-7; Josh. 8:30-32; Reubenites and Gadites...

  • CEILING

    [ebd] the covering (1 Kings 7:3,7) of the inside roof and walls of a house with planks of wood (2 Chr. 3:5; Jer. 22:14). Ceilings were sometimes adorned with various ornaments in stucco, gold, silver, gems, and ivory. The ceilings...
    [smith] The descriptions of Scripture, (1 Kings 6:9,15; 7:3; 2 Chronicles 3:5,9; Jeremiah 22:14; Haggai 1:4) and of Josephus, show that the ceilings of the temple and the palaces of the Jewish kings were formed of cedar planks ...
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Arts

Questions

  • The Ark of the Covenant was definitely real and was a part of the tabernacle, being placed in the Holy of Holies behind the curtain. I will include articles below from three Bible Dictionaries that will give you some informat...

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • In obedience to God's command Abraham took his promised heir to Moriah to sacrifice him to the Lord. Because Abraham was willing to slay his uniquely begotten son God restrained him from killing Isaac and promised to bless hi...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • The altar (vv. 19, 22) refers to the altar of incense (cf. 7:48). This altar evidently stood in the west end of the holy place (cf. Exod. 30:6; 40:5; Lev. 16:2; Heb. 9:4, 7).The cherubim were figures of angels sculptured out ...
  • This Hiram was obviously a different person from the King of Tyre (5:1). God evidently guided him as he fashioned the furnishings (cf. Exod. 31:1-11).80The two pillars on the temple porch were common features that flanked the...
  • Chronicles covers a broader period of history than any other Old Testament book. It begins with Adam and ends with Anani who lived eight generations after King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3:24). If we allow 25 years for each generat...
  • Numbers in Chronicles That Disagree With Their Old Testament Parallels89HigherSameLowerParallel PassageEvaluation of ChroniclesA.1 Chron. 11:11300 slain by Jashobeam, not 8002 Sam. 23:8Scribal errorB.1 Chron. 18:4Hadadezer's ...
  • Even though 1 and 2 Chronicles give one continuous story the emphasis in 2 Chronicles is different from that in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles the emphasis is the importance of the temple in national life. However in 2 Chronic...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Chronicles)III. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-9A. Solomon's wisdom and prosperity ch. 1B. The building of the temple 2:1-5:11. Preparations for building the temple ch. 22. The temple proper 3:1-93. Th...
  • The mention of Mount Moriah as the site of the temple (v. 1) recalls God's provision of a substitute sacrifice for Isaac on that very spot (Gen. 22:2, 14).8The temple would later stand there, and the high priest would offer a...
  • The cherubim (3:10-13) represented angelic beings (cf. Gen. 3:24). Probably they looked more like the sculptured combination human-animal-bird creatures that archaeologists have discovered in the ancient Assyrian and Babyloni...
  • This section reprises the destruction of the temple just described. Before the Babylonians burned the temple, they looted it. This was the second time they had done this, the first being in 597 B.C. (27:16; 2 Kings 24:13; cf....
  • 8:16 The Lord next took Ezekiel to the main entrance into the temple, to a place between the altar of burnt offerings and the temple porch. There Ezekiel saw about 25 men bowing down to the ground with their backs to the temp...
  • The amount of detail devoted to the descriptions of the gate complexes, both outer and inner, emphasizes that access into the temple will be strictly controlled.40:6 Ezekiel's guide next measured the gate of the city that fac...
  • Some scholars view this section as the central one in chapters 40-48.536The altar was at the very center of the whole temple complex, and it was the centerpiece of the system of worship represented in the new temple complex.4...
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