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. Constructed under the reign of King Solomon, the temple was located in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, the site traditionally associated with the binding of Isaac. The temple's construction is detailed in the biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, and it is renowned for its grandeur and the extensive use of gold in its design.

Construction and Design

The construction of the First Temple began in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, around 966 BCE, and took seven years to complete. The temple was designed as a rectangular structure, approximately 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2). The architectural plan followed a tripartite layout, consisting of the Porch (Ulam), the Holy Place (Hekal), and the Most Holy Place (Debir), also known as the Holy of Holies.

Use of Gold

The use of gold in the First Temple was extensive and symbolized the divine presence and majesty of God. According to 1 Kings 6:21-22 , "Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary."

The walls, floors, and ceilings of the temple were covered with gold, creating a dazzling interior that reflected the glory of God. The Most Holy Place, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, was particularly adorned with gold, emphasizing its sacredness. The cherubim, which stood in the inner sanctuary, were also overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:28).

Exterior and Furnishings

The exterior of the temple was equally magnificent, with gold used to adorn various elements. The doors of the temple were made of olive wood and overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:31-35). The temple's furnishings, including the altar, the table for the Bread of the Presence, and the lampstands, were crafted from gold or overlaid with it (1 Kings 7:48-50).

The bronze pillars, Jachin and Boaz, stood at the entrance of the temple, adding to its grandeur. Although made of bronze, their presence contributed to the overall splendor of the temple's exterior.

Symbolism and Significance

The lavish use of gold in the First Temple was not merely for aesthetic purposes but carried deep theological significance. Gold, a symbol of purity and divinity, underscored the holiness of the temple as the dwelling place of God among His people. The temple served as a central place of worship, sacrifice, and pilgrimage for the Israelites, representing God's covenantal relationship with Israel.

The First Temple stood as a testament to the wealth and wisdom of Solomon, as well as the fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would build a house for the Lord's name (2 Samuel 7:12-13). It became the focal point of Israelite worship until its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, marking a pivotal moment in Jewish history.

Legacy

The First Temple's legacy endures in the collective memory of the Jewish people and in Christian theology as a precursor to the Second Temple and, ultimately, the spiritual temple established through Jesus Christ. Its construction and the divine presence it symbolized continue to inspire reverence and reflection on the nature of worship and the holiness of God.1 Kings 6:21,22
So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 3:7
He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the walls.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

A Description of the Temple.
... Thus we collect that the whole height, including the sixty ... 6. Now the outward face
of the temple in its front ... gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of ...
/.../chapter 5 a description of 2.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... for this was forbidden by the first commandment; but ... signify the seven planets,
wherewith the whole world is ... figures were instituted in the temple to betoken ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... for that, and that only, could bear up that offering in the whole of its ... 2. It had
the pillars adjoined unto it.3. It was the inlet into the temple. First. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... A maidservant accompanied them on the whole journey, and some ... the reception of the
child in the Temple, as I ... I saw the road going downhill at first and later ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

The Purification of Mary
... darkness and about the redemption of the first-born. ... latter she recounted once more
the whole ceremony of ... of doves, she presented to the Temple five triangular ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the purification of mary.htm

The First Stages. Ch. 9:51 to 13:21
... be the Light of the world, and their whole souls will ... who hold the key to a sacred
temple; they themselves ... He encouraged them, first, by the assurance that the ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/a the first stages ch.htm

Christian Churches.
... the disappearance of the partition wall, and beheld for the first time the new temple
in all its ... had yielded to the pressure so that the whole church, with ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iii christian churches.htm

Pagan Cemeteries.
... [Illustration: The Sacred Grove and the Temple of Ceres ... Let us first consult the
diary of Antonio di Vaseli ... The whole of Rome, men and women, to the number of ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vi pagan cemeteries.htm

Basil -- the Creation of the World
... of the sanctuary, if the portico of the temple is so ... "And God said, Let there be
light." The first word uttered ... In an instant it lighted up the whole extent of ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/basil the creation of.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... horrifying picture of the sins of the whole world; but ... to the place in Jerusalem
where the Temple had stood ... When the picture first appeared, I seemed to be ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

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