Temple Construction Begins
(2 Chronicles 3:1–2)

1  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) בִשְׁמוֹנִ֣ים (in the eightieth) שָׁנָ֣ה (year) וְאַרְבַּ֣ע (and four) מֵא֣וֹת (hundredth) שָׁנָ֡ה (year) לְצֵ֣את (after the going out) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) מֵאֶֽרֶץ־ (from the land) מִצְרַיִם֩ (of Egypt), בַּשָּׁנָ֨ה (in the year) הָרְבִיעִ֜ית (fourth), בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) זִ֗ו (of Ziv)— ה֚וּא (it is) הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (the month) הַשֵּׁנִ֔י (second) לִמְלֹ֥ךְ (of the reigning) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (of Solomon) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel)— וַיִּ֥בֶן (that he began to build) הַבַּ֖יִת (the house) לַיהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

2  וְהַבַּ֗יִת (And the house) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) בָּנָ֜ה (built) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (Solomon) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (for YHWH), שִׁשִּֽׁים־ (sixty) אַמָּ֥ה (cubits) אָרְכּ֖וֹ (its length was), וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים (and twenty) רָחְבּ֑וֹ (its width), וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (and thirty) אַמָּ֖ה (cubits) קוֹמָתֽוֹ׃ (its height). 3  וְהָאוּלָ֗ם (And the portico was) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵי֙ (the face) הֵיכַ֣ל (of the sanctuary) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the house) עֶשְׂרִ֣ים (twenty) אַמָּה֙ (cubits) אָרְכּ֔וֹ (was its length) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵ֖י (the face) רֹ֣חַב (the width) הַבָּ֑יִת (of the house), עֶ֧שֶׂר (ten) בָּאַמָּ֛ה (by the cubit) רָחְבּ֖וֹ (was its width) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הַבָּֽיִת׃ (of the house).

4  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And he made) לַבָּ֔יִת (for the house) חַלּוֹנֵ֖י (windows with) שְׁקֻפִ֥ים (frames) אֲטֻמִֽים׃ (narrowed).

The Chambers

5  וַיִּבֶן֩ (And he built) עַל־ (against) קִ֨יר (the wall) הַבַּ֤יִת (of the house) יָצוֹעַ (chambers) סָבִ֔יב (all around), אֶת־ (-) קִיר֤וֹת (the walls) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (of the house) סָבִ֔יב (all around), לַֽהֵיכָ֖ל (the sanctuary) וְלַדְּבִ֑יר (and the inner sanctuary). וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And he made) צְלָע֖וֹת (side chambers) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around it). 6  הַיָּצוֹעַ (The couch was) הַתַּחְתֹּנָ֜ה (the lowest) חָמֵ֧שׁ (five) בָּאַמָּ֣ה (by the cubit) רָחְבָּ֗הּ (wide), וְהַתִּֽיכֹנָה֙ (and the middle was) שֵׁ֤שׁ (six) בָּֽאַמָּה֙ (by the cubit) רָחְבָּ֔הּ (wide), וְהַ֨שְּׁלִישִׁ֔ית (and the third was) שֶׁ֥בַע (seven) בָּאַמָּ֖ה (by the cubit) רָחְבָּ֑הּ (wide). כִּ֡י (For) מִגְרָעוֹת֩ (ledges) נָתַ֨ן (he gave) לַבַּ֤יִת (of the temple) סָבִיב֙ (all around) ח֔וּצָה (the outside), לְבִלְתִּ֖י (so that nothing) אֲחֹ֥ז (would be fastened) בְּקִֽירוֹת־ (into the walls) הַבָּֽיִת׃ (of the house).

7  וְהַבַּ֙יִת֙ (And the house), בְּהִבָּ֣נֹת֔וֹ (when it was being built) אֶֽבֶן־ (with stone) שְׁלֵמָ֥ה (finished) מַסָּ֖ע (at the quarry), נִבְנָ֑ה (was built) וּמַקָּב֤וֹת (so that hammer) וְהַגַּרְזֶן֙ (or chisel) כָּל־ (or any) כְּלִ֣י (tool) בַרְזֶ֔ל (iron) לֹֽא־ (not) נִשְׁמַ֥ע (was heard) בַּבַּ֖יִת (in the house) בְּהִבָּנֹתֽוֹ׃ (while it was being built).

8  פֶּ֗תַח (The doorway was) הַצֵּלָע֙ (for the story) הַתִּ֣יכֹנָ֔ה (middle) אֶל־ (on) כֶּ֥תֶף (side) הַבַּ֖יִת (of the house) הַיְמָנִ֑ית (the right), וּבְלוּלִּ֗ים (and by stairs) יַֽעֲלוּ֙ (they went) עַל־ (up) הַתִּ֣יכֹנָ֔ה (the middle story), וּמִן־ (and from) הַתִּֽיכֹנָ֖ה (the middle) אֶל־ (to) הַשְּׁלִשִֽׁים׃ (the third).

9  וַיִּ֥בֶן (And he built) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֖יִת (the house) וַיְכַלֵּ֑הוּ (and finished it), וַיִּסְפֹּ֤ן (and he covered) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (the house) גֵּבִ֔ים (with beams) וּשְׂדֵרֹ֖ת (and rows) בָּאֲרָזִֽים׃ (of the cedars). 10  וַיִּ֤בֶן (And he built) אֶת־ (-) הַיָּצוֹעַ (the couch) עַל־ (against) כָּל־ (all) הַבַּ֔יִת (the house), חָמֵ֥שׁ (five) אַמּ֖וֹת (cubits) קֽוֹמָת֑וֹ (high), וַיֶּאֱחֹ֥ז (it was attached to) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֖יִת (the house) בַּעֲצֵ֥י (with beams) אֲרָזִֽים׃פ (cedar).

God’s Promise to Solomon

11  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And came) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 12  הַבַּ֨יִת (House) הַזֶּ֜ה (this) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אַתָּ֣ה (you) בֹנֶ֗ה (are building), אִם־ (if) תֵּלֵ֤ךְ (you walk) בְּחֻקֹּתַי֙ (in My statutes), וְאֶת־ (and) מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י (My ordinances) תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה (you do), וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֥ (and keep) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) מִצְוֺתַ֖י (My commandments) לָלֶ֣כֶת (and walk) בָּהֶ֑ם (in them), וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י (then I will cause to stand) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרִי֙ (My word) אִתָּ֔ךְ (with you), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי (I spoke) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֥ד (David) אָבִֽיךָ׃ (your father). 13  וְשָׁ֣כַנְתִּ֔י (And I will dwell) בְּת֖וֹךְ (in the midst) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אֶעֱזֹ֖ב (will forsake) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֥י (My people) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (Israel).

The Temple’s Interior
(2 Chronicles 3:5–9)

14  וַיִּ֧בֶן (And built) שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֖יִת (the house) וַיְכַלֵּֽהוּ׃ (and completed it). 15  וַיִּבֶן֩ (And he built) אֶת־ (-) קִיר֨וֹת (the walls) הַבַּ֤יִת (of the house) מִבַּ֙יְתָה֙ (on the inside) בְּצַלְע֣וֹת (with boards) אֲרָזִ֔ים (cedar) מִקַּרְקַ֤ע (from the floor) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (of the house) עַד־ (up to) קִיר֣וֹת (the walls) הַסִּפֻּ֔ן (of the ceiling). צִפָּ֥ה (He overlaid) עֵ֖ץ (with wood) מִבָּ֑יִת (the inside), וַיְצַ֛ף (and he covered) אֶת־ (-) קַרְקַ֥ע (the floor) הַבַּ֖יִת (of the house) בְּצַלְע֥וֹת (with sides) בְּרוֹשִֽׁים׃ (of cypress).

16  וַיִּבֶן֩ (And he built) אֶת־ (-) עֶשְׂרִ֨ים (the twenty) אַמָּ֜ה (cubits) מִיַּרְכּוֹתֵי (at the rear) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (of the house) בְּצַלְע֣וֹת (with boards) אֲרָזִ֔ים (cedar) מִן־ (from) הַקַּרְקַ֖ע (floor) עַד־ (to) הַקִּיר֑וֹת (ceiling), וַיִּ֤בֶן (and he built) לוֹ֙ (it) מִבַּ֣יִת (inside), לִדְבִ֔יר (as the inner sanctuary), לְקֹ֖דֶשׁ (for the Holy) הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃ (of Holies). 17  וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים (And forty) בָּאַמָּ֖ה (by the cubit) הָיָ֣ה (was) הַבָּ֑יִת (the sanctuary), ה֖וּא (it is) הַהֵיכָ֥ל (the house) לִפְנָֽי׃ (before it).

18  וְאֶ֤רֶז (And was cedar) אֶל־ (for) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (the house) פְּנִ֔ימָה (inside) מִקְלַ֣עַת (was carved) פְּקָעִ֔ים (with gourds) וּפְטוּרֵ֖י (and open) צִצִּ֑ים (flowers). הַכֹּ֣ל (All was) אֶ֔רֶז (cedar); אֵ֥ין (not) אֶ֖בֶן (a stone) נִרְאָֽה׃ (was seen).

19  וּדְבִ֧יר (And the inner sanctuary) בְּתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) הַבַּ֛יִת (of the house) מִפְּנִ֖ימָה (on the inside), הֵכִ֑ין (he prepared) לְתִתֵּ֣ן (to set) שָׁ֔ם (there) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֖וֹן (the ark) בְּרִ֥ית (of the covenant) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 20  וְלִפְנֵ֣י (And before the face of) הַדְּבִ֡יר (the inner sanctuary was) עֶשְׂרִים֩ (twenty) אַמָּ֨ה (cubits) אֹ֜רֶךְ (long), וְעֶשְׂרִ֧ים (and twenty) אַמָּ֣ה (cubits) רֹ֗חַב (wide), וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים (and twenty) אַמָּה֙ (cubits) קֽוֹמָת֔וֹ (high). וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ (And He overlaid it) זָהָ֣ב (with gold) סָג֑וּר (pure), וַיְצַ֥ף (and he overlaid) מִזְבֵּ֖חַ (the altar) אָֽרֶז׃ (of cedar).

21  וַיְצַ֨ף (And overlaid) שְׁלֹמֹ֧ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֛יִת (the house) מִפְּנִ֖ימָה (inside) זָהָ֣ב (with gold) סָג֑וּר (pure), וַיְעַבֵּ֞ר (and He stretched across) בְּרַתִּיקוֹת (chains) זָהָב֙ (gold) לִפְנֵ֣י (the front) הַדְּבִ֔יר (of the inner sanctuary), וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ (and he overlaid it) זָהָֽב׃ (with gold). 22  וְאֶת־ (And) כָּל־ (all) הַבַּ֛יִת (the house) צִפָּ֥ה (he overlaid) זָהָ֖ב (with gold), עַד־ (until) תֹּ֣ם (he had finished) כָּל־ (all) הַבָּ֑יִת (the house). וְכָל־ (And all) הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ (the altar) אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ (that was) לַדְּבִ֖יר (for the inner sanctuary) צִפָּ֥ה (he overlaid) זָהָֽב׃ (with gold).

The Cherubim
(2 Chronicles 3:10–13)

23  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And he made) בַּדְּבִ֔יר (inside the inner sanctuary) שְׁנֵ֥י (two) כְרוּבִ֖ים (cherubim of) עֲצֵי־ (wood) שָׁ֑מֶן (olive), עֶ֥שֶׂר (ten) אַמּ֖וֹת (cubits) קוֹמָתֽוֹ׃ (high). 24  וְחָמֵ֣שׁ (And was five) אַמּ֗וֹת (cubits) כְּנַ֤ף (wing) הַכְּרוּב֙ (of the cherub) הָֽאֶחָ֔ת (the one), וְחָמֵ֣שׁ (and five) אַמּ֔וֹת (cubits) כְּנַ֥ף (wing) הַכְּר֖וּב (of the cherub) הַשֵּׁנִ֑ית (the second)— עֶ֣שֶׂר (ten) אַמּ֔וֹת (cubits) מִקְצ֥וֹת (from the ends) כְּנָפָ֖יו (of one wing) וְעַד־ (and to) קְצ֥וֹת (the ends) כְּנָפָֽיו׃ (of the other). 25  וְעֶ֙שֶׂר֙ (And ten) בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה (by the cubit) הַכְּר֖וּב (the cherub) הַשֵּׁנִ֑י (the second was) מִדָּ֥ה (of size), אַחַ֛ת (one) וְקֶ֥צֶב (and shape) אֶחָ֖ד (one) לִשְׁנֵ֥י (the two) הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃ (cherubim were). 26  קוֹמַת֙ (The height) הַכְּר֣וּב (of the cherub) הָֽאֶחָ֔ד (one) עֶ֖שֶׂר (was ten) בָּֽאַמָּ֑ה (by the cubit), וְכֵ֖ן (and so) הַכְּר֥וּב (the cherub) הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃ (the second).

27  וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (And he set) אֶת־ (-) הַכְּרוּבִ֜ים (the cherubim) בְּת֣וֹךְ׀ (in the midst) הַבַּ֣יִת (the room) הַפְּנִימִ֗י (of the inner), וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ֮ (and they stretched out) אֶת־ (-) כַּנְפֵ֣י (the wings) הַכְּרֻבִים֒ (of the cherubim) וַתִּגַּ֤ע (so that touched) כְּנַף־ (the wing) הָֽאֶחָד֙ (of the one) בַּקִּ֔יר (one wall), וּכְנַף֙ (and the wing) הַכְּר֣וּב (of the cherub) הַשֵּׁנִ֔י (second) נֹגַ֖עַת (touched) בַּקִּ֣יר (the wall) הַשֵּׁנִ֑י (second), וְכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ (and their wings) אֶל־ (in) תּ֣וֹךְ (the middle) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the room) נֹגְעֹ֖ת (touched) כָּנָ֥ף (wing) אֶל־ (against) כָּנָֽף׃ (wing). 28  וַיְצַ֥ף (And he overlaid) אֶת־ (-) הַכְּרוּבִ֖ים (the cherubim) זָהָֽב׃ (with gold).

29  וְאֵת֩ (And) כָּל־ (all) קִיר֨וֹת (the walls) הַבַּ֜יִת (of the house) מֵסַ֣ב׀ (all around) קָלַ֗ע (he carved) פִּתּוּחֵי֙ (with openings) מִקְלְעוֹת֙ (of carvings) כְּרוּבִ֣ים (of cherubim) וְתִֽמֹרֹ֔ת (and palm trees) וּפְטוּרֵ֖י (and open) צִצִּ֑ים (flowers), מִלִּפְנִ֖ים (from inside) וְלַחִיצֽוֹן׃ (and to the outside). 30  וְאֶת־ (And) קַרְקַ֥ע (the floor) הַבַּ֖יִת (of the house) צִפָּ֣ה (he overlaid) זָהָ֑ב (with gold), לִפְנִ֖ימָה (for inside) וְלַחִיצֽוֹן׃ (and for the outside).

The Doors

31  וְאֵת֙ (And) פֶּ֣תַח (for the entrance) הַדְּבִ֔יר (of the inner sanctuary) עָשָׂ֖ה (he made) דַּלְת֣וֹת (doors of) עֲצֵי־ (wood) שָׁ֑מֶן (olive). הָאַ֥יִל (The lintel) מְזוּז֖וֹת (and doorposts were) חֲמִשִֽׁית׃ (five-sided). 32  וּשְׁתֵּי֮ (And two) דַּלְת֣וֹת (the doors were of) עֲצֵי־ (wood) שֶׁמֶן֒ (olive), וְקָלַ֣ע (and he carved) עֲ֠לֵיהֶם (on them) מִקְלְע֨וֹת (figures) כְּרוּבִ֧ים (of cherubim) וְתִמֹר֛וֹת (and palm trees) וּפְטוּרֵ֥י (and open) צִצִּ֖ים (flowers), וְצִפָּ֣ה (and he overlaid them) זָהָ֑ב (with gold), וַיָּ֛רֶד (and he beat out) עַל־ (on) הַכְּרוּבִ֥ים (the cherubim), וְעַל־ (and on) הַתִּֽמֹר֖וֹת (the palm trees) אֶת־ (-) הַזָּהָֽב׃ (the gold).

33  וְכֵ֥ן (And also) עָשָׂ֛ה (he made) לְפֶ֥תַח (for the door) הַֽהֵיכָ֖ל (of the sanctuary) מְזוּז֣וֹת (doorposts of) עֲצֵי־ (wood) שָׁ֑מֶן (olive) מֵאֵ֖ת (with) רְבִעִֽית׃ (four sides). 34  וּשְׁתֵּ֥י (And two) דַלְת֖וֹת (the doors were of) עֲצֵ֣י (wood) בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים (cypress), שְׁנֵ֨י (two) צְלָעִ֜ים (panels) הַדֶּ֤לֶת (the door) הָֽאַחַת֙ (one) גְּלִילִ֔ים (were folding), וּשְׁנֵ֧י (and two) קְלָעִ֛ים (panels) הַדֶּ֥לֶת (the door) הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית (second) גְּלִילִֽים׃ (were folding). 35  וְקָלַ֤ע (And he carved) כְּרוּבִים֙ (cherubim) וְתִ֣מֹר֔וֹת (and palm trees) וּפְטֻרֵ֖י (and open) צִצִּ֑ים (flowers), וְצִפָּ֣ה (and overlaid them) זָהָ֔ב (with gold) מְיֻשָּׁ֖ר (applied evenly) עַל־ (on) הַמְּחֻקֶּֽה׃ (the carved work).

The Courtyard

36  וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ (And he built) אֶת־ (-) הֶחָצֵ֣ר (the court) הַפְּנִימִ֔ית (inner) שְׁלֹשָׁ֖ה (three) טוּרֵ֣י (with rows) גָזִ֑ית (of hewn stone), וְט֖וּר (and a row) כְּרֻתֹ֥ת (of cut beams) אֲרָזִֽים׃ (of cedar).

37  בַּשָּׁנָה֙ (In the year) הָֽרְבִיעִ֔ית (fourth) יֻסַּ֖ד (was the foundation laid) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), בְּיֶ֖רַח (in the month) זִֽו׃ (of Ziv). 38  וּבַשָּׁנָה֩ (And in the year) הָאַחַ֨ת (one) עֶשְׂרֵ֜ה (and ten), בְּיֶ֣רַח (in the month) בּ֗וּל (of Bul), ה֚וּא (that is) הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (the month) הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י (eighth), כָּלָ֣ה (was finished) הַבַּ֔יִת (the house) לְכָל־ (in all) דְּבָרָ֖יו (its details) וּלְכָל־ (and according to all) מִשְׁפָּטוֹ (its plans). וַיִּבְנֵ֖הוּ (And he built it) שֶׁ֥בַע (seven) שָׁנִֽים׃ (years).