The First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, holds a significant place in biblical history as the central place of worship for the Israelites. It was constructed on Mount Moriah, a site of profound historical and spiritual importance, identified as the location of the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. This temple served as the dwelling place of the Ark of the Covenant and the center of Israelite religious life until its destruction.

Location and Historical Background

Mount Moriah, the chosen site for the First Temple, is steeped in biblical tradition. It is traditionally associated with the binding of Isaac, where Abraham was tested by God (Genesis 22). The specific location for the temple was the threshing floor of Ornan (or Araunah) the Jebusite, which King David purchased as a site for an altar to the LORD to halt a devastating plague (1 Chronicles 21:18-30). This purchase and subsequent altar laid the groundwork for the temple's construction.

Construction under Solomon

The construction of the First Temple was initiated by King Solomon, David's son, fulfilling a divine promise made to David. The LORD had declared to David, "Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, will build the house for My Name" (1 Kings 5:5). Solomon's reign was marked by peace and prosperity, providing the necessary resources and stability for such an ambitious project.

The temple's construction began in the fourth year of Solomon's reign and took seven years to complete (1 Kings 6:1, 38). The building was renowned for its grandeur and intricate craftsmanship, utilizing materials such as cedar from Lebanon, gold, silver, and precious stones. The dimensions and design were divinely inspired, as detailed in 1 Kings 6 and 2 Chronicles 3.

Significance and Function

The First Temple served as the primary place of worship and sacrifice for the Israelites. It housed the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The temple was the focal point for major religious festivals and daily sacrifices, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law.

The dedication of the temple was a momentous event, marked by Solomon's prayer and the descent of the divine glory, filling the temple with the presence of the LORD (1 Kings 8:10-11). Solomon's prayer emphasized the temple as a place of prayer and supplication, not only for Israel but for foreigners who would come to seek the LORD (1 Kings 8:41-43).

Destruction and Legacy

The First Temple stood for approximately four centuries until its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. This event marked a significant turning point in Israelite history, leading to the Babylonian exile. The destruction was seen as a consequence of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's commandments.

Despite its destruction, the First Temple's legacy endured. It remained a symbol of God's covenant with Israel and a foreshadowing of the ultimate dwelling of God with His people. The hope for a restored temple persisted throughout the exile, eventually leading to the construction of the Second Temple upon the return of the exiles.

The First Temple's historical and spiritual significance continues to resonate in Jewish and Christian traditions, symbolizing God's desire to dwell among His people and the call to holiness and worship.1 Chronicles 21:28-30
At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 22:2
And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew worked stones to build the house of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 3:1
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

One Worker Preparing for Another
... Christ's side, and help to build his temple." Come along ... sermon is intended for reading
on the first anniversary of ... And David built there an altar unto the LORD ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/one worker preparing for another.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... place in Zion."(23) He "chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which He ... And He
built His sanctuary like high palaces."(24) The first temple had been ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... He "chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which ... And He built His sanctuary like
high palaces." Psalm 76:2 ... The first temple had been erected during the most ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

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