Topical Encyclopedia
The First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, holds a significant place in biblical history as the first permanent structure built for the worship of Yahweh by the Israelites. Commissioned by King Solomon, the son of King David, the temple was constructed in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, the site where Abraham was to offer Isaac (
2 Chronicles 3:1). The temple served as the central place of worship and the dwelling place of the Ark of the Covenant.
Divine Instructions and PreparationThe construction of the First Temple was a fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would build a house for the Lord's Name (
2 Samuel 7:12-13). Solomon's reign was marked by peace and prosperity, providing the ideal conditions for such an ambitious project. The temple's design and construction were divinely inspired, with detailed instructions given to David and passed on to Solomon (
1 Chronicles 28:11-19).
Construction Without NoiseOne of the most remarkable aspects of the temple's construction was the absence of noise from hammers, axes, or any iron tools at the building site. This unique feature is recorded in
1 Kings 6:7 : "The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built." This method of construction underscored the sacredness of the site and the reverence due to the house of God. The stones were precisely cut and prepared at the quarry, ensuring that the assembly of the temple was a silent and solemn process.
Materials and LaborThe temple's construction involved a vast array of materials and laborers. Solomon entered into a treaty with Hiram, the king of Tyre, to obtain cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon, as well as skilled craftsmen (
1 Kings 5:1-10). The workforce included 30,000 men conscripted from Israel, 70,000 burden-bearers, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,300 supervisors overseeing the work (
1 Kings 5:13-16). The use of high-quality materials and skilled labor reflected the temple's importance as a dwelling place for the divine presence.
Dimensions and DesignThe temple's dimensions and design were grand and intricate. The main structure was 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (
1 Kings 6:2). It consisted of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. The interior was adorned with gold, and the walls were lined with cedar and decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers (
1 Kings 6:18, 21-22). The temple also featured two bronze pillars named Jachin and Boaz, a large bronze basin called the Sea, and various other furnishings crafted by Hiram of Tyre (
1 Kings 7:13-45).
Dedication and SignificanceUpon completion, the temple was dedicated in a grand ceremony, during which Solomon offered prayers and sacrifices to the Lord. The dedication is detailed in
1 Kings 8 and
2 Chronicles 5-7, where the glory of the Lord filled the temple, signifying His acceptance of the house built for His Name. Solomon's prayer emphasized the temple as a place of prayer and supplication for the people of Israel and foreigners alike (
1 Kings 8:22-53).
The First Temple stood as a symbol of Israel's covenant relationship with God and served as the center of religious life until its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Its construction without the noise of tools remains a testament to the sacredness and divine purpose of this holy edifice.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Kings 6:7And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Resources
What was Herod's temple? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Zerubbabel's temple/the second temple? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Solomon's temple / the first temple? How many temples were there? | GotQuestions.orgTemple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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