2 Chronicles 3:1-3

The Building of the Temple

3:1 Solomon began building the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem ¹  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 ²  the Jebusite. 3:2 He began building on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign. ³ 

3:3 Solomon laid the foundation for God’s temple; ⁴  its length (determined according to the old standard of measure) was 90 feet, and its width 30 feet. ⁵ 

[3:1]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[3:1]  ² tn In 2 Sam 24:16 this individual is called אֲרַוְנָא (“Aravna”; traditionally “Araunah”). The form of the name found here also occurs in 1 Chr 21:15; 18-28.

[3:2]  ³ sn This would be April-May, 966 b.c. by modern reckoning.

[3:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “and these are the founding of Solomon to build the house of God.”

[3:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “the length [in] cubits by the former measure was sixty cubits, and a width of twenty cubits.” Assuming a length of 18 inches (45 cm) for the standard cubit, the length of the foundation would be 90 feet (27 m) and its width 30 feet (9 m).