Building the Temple
1 Then Solomon began(A) to build the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah(B) where the Lord(a) had appeared to his father David, at the site David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan(b) the Jebusite.
2 He began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.
3 These are Solomon’s foundations(c) for building God’s temple: the length(d) was 90 feet,(e) and the width 30 feet.(f)
4 The portico, which was across the front extending across the width of the temple, was 30 feet(g) wide; its height was 30 feet;(h)(i) he overlaid its inner surface with pure gold.
5 The larger room(j) he paneled with cypress wood, overlaid with fine gold, and decorated with palm trees and chains.
6 He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was the gold of Parvaim.
7 He overlaid the temple—the beams, the thresholds, its walls and doors—with gold,(C) and he carved cherubim on the walls.(D)
The Most Holy Place
8 Then he made the most holy place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple, 30 feet,(k) and its width was 30 feet.(l)(E) He overlaid it with 45,000 pounds(m) of fine gold.
9 The weight of the nails was 20 ounces(n) of gold, and he overlaid the ceiling with gold.
10 He made(F) two cherubim of sculptured work, for the most holy place, and he overlaid them with gold.
11 The overall length of the wings of the cherubim was 30 feet:(o) the wing of one was 7½ feet,(p) touching the wall of the room; its other wing was 7½ feet,(q) touching the wing of the other cherub.
12 The wing of the other(r) cherub was 7½ feet,(s) touching the wall of the room; its other wing was 7½ feet,(t) reaching the wing of the other cherub.
13 The wingspan of these cherubim was 30 feet.(u) They stood on their feet and faced the larger room.(v)
14 He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, and he wove cherubim into it.(G)
The Bronze Pillars
15 In front of the temple(H) he made two pillars, each 27 feet(w)(x) high. The capital on top of each was 7½ feet(y) high.
16 He had made chainwork in the inner sanctuary and also put it on top of the pillars.(I) He made 100 pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork.
17 Then he set up the pillars in front of the sanctuary, one on the right and one on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin(z) and the one on the left Boaz.(aa)
Footnotes:
a.
2 Chronicles 3:1: LXX; Tg reads the Angel of the Lord; MT reads He
b.
2 Chronicles 3:1: Araunah in 2Sm 24:16-24
c.
2 Chronicles 3:3: Tg reads The measurements which Solomon decreed
d.
2 Chronicles 3:3: Lit length—cubits in the former measure—
e.
2 Chronicles 3:3: Lit 60 cubits
f.
2 Chronicles 3:3: Lit 20 cubits
g.
2 Chronicles 3:4: Lit 20 cubits
h.
2 Chronicles 3:4: LXX, Syr; MT reads 120 cubits
i.
2 Chronicles 3:4: Lit 20 cubits
j.
2 Chronicles 3:5: Lit The house
k.
2 Chronicles 3:8: Lit 20 cubits
l.
2 Chronicles 3:8: Lit 20 cubits
m.
2 Chronicles 3:8: Lit 600 talents
n.
2 Chronicles 3:9: Lit 50 shekels
o.
2 Chronicles 3:11: Lit 20 cubits
p.
2 Chronicles 3:11: Lit five cubits
q.
2 Chronicles 3:11: Lit five cubits
r.
2 Chronicles 3:12: Syr, Vg; MT reads the one
s.
2 Chronicles 3:12: Lit five cubits
t.
2 Chronicles 3:12: Lit five cubits
u.
2 Chronicles 3:13: Lit 20 cubits
v.
2 Chronicles 3:13: Lit the house
w.
2 Chronicles 3:15: Hb uncertain
x.
2 Chronicles 3:15: Lit 35 cubits
y.
2 Chronicles 3:15: Lit five cubits
z.
2 Chronicles 3:17: He Will Establish
aa.
2 Chronicles 3:17: Strength Is in Him