In the 480th year after the bringing of the children of Israel out of Egypt, Solomon began construction on the Temple. Because God wished to show how little He values external pomp and splendor in His worship, He was in no haste for a Temple to be built. David’s tent that he set up for the Ark of the Covenant was neither stately nor rich; and yet it was called the house of the Lord, and it served just as well as Solomon’s Temple. But when God gave Solomon great wealth, He put it into his heart to employ it in this great building project; and He graciously accepted it, chiefly because this Temple was to be a shadow of good things to come (Heb. 9:9).

Solomon’s first three years of his reign were taken up in settling the affairs of his kingdom, so that he might not find any hindrance in this work. It is not time lost which is spent in preparing ourselves for the work of God, and in disentangling ourselves from everything which might distract or divert us. During this time, Solomon was also adding to the preparations which his father had made – hewing stones, squaring timber, and getting everything ready. We are truly serving God when we are preparing for His service and furnishing ourselves for it. But on May 21, 1012 BC, the construction actually began.

The building materials were made ready before they were brought to the construction site, so that there was no sound of hammers or axes heard in the Temple while it was being built. This was to be the Temple of the Lord, and a place of peace; therefore, no iron tool was to make noise therein. Quietness and silence are fitting for religious exercises; clamor and violence often hinder the work of God, but never further it.

The dimensions of the Lord’s house were laid down according to the rules of proportion. It is noteworthy to observe that its length and width were double to that of the Tabernacle. Now that Israel had grown more numerous, the place of their meeting needed to be enlarged (Isa. 54:1-2); and now that they had grown richer, they were better able to enlarge it. The general appearance and proportions of the Temple can be described without much difficulty. The building itself faced eastward – that is to say, the worshipers approached on the east side. Entering there, the worshiper would find himself in front of a porch, which extended along the whole width of the Temple – that is, about 30 feet (9.1 m) – and went back a depth of 15 feet (4.6 m). The building itself (excluding the porch) was 90 feet long (27.4 m), 30 feet wide (9.1 m), and 45 feet high (13.7 m). Inside, the front room was called the Holy Place; it was 60 feet long (18.3 m) and 30 feet wide (9.1 m). And the back room was called the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of holies; and it measured 30 feet (9.1 m) on each side. The ceiling in this room was 15 feet (4.6 m) lower than the Holy Place, and the space above this ceiling was probably occupied by an empty room.

Let us look, in particular, at the windows of the Temple (verse 4). They were wide on the inside of the wall, but they were only narrow slits in the wall on the outside (similar to old medieval castle windows). Such should be the case with the eyes of our mind; they should reflect nearer on ourselves than on other people. They ought to look much inside of us, to examine our own hearts; but little outside of us, to censure our brothers and sisters. It should also be observed that the narrowness of the windows on the outside of the wall would not admit much light; and this represented the comparative spiritual darkness of the Old Testament times, in comparison with the bright light of the Gospel!

Along the sides and back of the Temple, there were three floors of chambers which served as vestries. In these rooms, the accessories that were used in the Temple were carefully stored. Herein, the priests also dressed and undressed themselves and left the holy garments in which they ministered, before they left the Temple. And some of these chambers probably served as their “dining rooms,” where they feasted upon the portions of the sacrifices that were given to them. The beams which formed the ceiling of the first story of these chambers, as well as the floor of the second tier of chambers, were not fastened directly to the Temple wall. Rather, they were laid on graduated buttresses which formed part of the wall itself. And it was the same way with the beams which formed the ceiling of the second story and the floor of the third, and also those upon which the roof over the third story rested. Access to these chambers was gained by a door in the middle of the southern wall of the Temple, where a winding staircase also led to the upper stories (verse 8). The reason why the beams were not directly fastened to the walls was so that they would not weaken the walls. Similarly, the strength of the Church should not be impaired under the pretense of adding to its beauty or convenience.

Verses 11-14 of this chapter tell us the words that God sent to Solomon when he was engaged in building the Temple. The Lord let him know that He took notice of what he was doing. No one can employ themselves in the cause of Christ without Him having His eye upon them. “I know thy works,” He says to us (Rev. 3:8). The Lord assured Solomon that if he proceeded and persevered in obedience to the Divine law, and if he kept in the way of his duty and the true worship of God, then the Divine lovingkindness would be bestowed upon himself and his kingdom.

The Lord sent these words to Solomon (probably through a prophet) so that by the promise, he might be encouraged and comforted in his work. Perhaps the great care, expense, and fatigue of this magnificent project sometimes made him wish that he had never begun it; but when he remembered that the promised establishment of his family and kingdom would abundantly recompense all his pains, this thought would help him through these difficulties! When we keep in mind the promises of God in the Scriptures, they will carry us cheerfully through our work for Him. But by the condition that was annexed to the promise that he was given, Solomon was also reminded that even though the Temple might be built strong and well, the glory of it would soon depart unless he and his people continued to walk in God’s ways. Keeping the Lord’s commandments is better and more pleasing to Him than the building of beautiful churches.

The rest of this chapter gives us particular details about the way in which the Temple was built. The wainscot of the Temple was of cedar wood (verse 15), which was strong and durable, and smelled very sweet. This wainscot was exquisitely carved with flowers (verse 18). The walls of the building were not like ours, which are painted or papered over; but all the inside surfaces of the Temple (verse 22) – even the floor (verse 30) – were overlaid with gold. Solomon spared no expense to make this house of God luxurious in every way.

The Holy of holies, or the Most Holy Place, was the room in the back of the Temple where the Ark of the Covenant rested (verse 19). Solomon made everything new and more magnificent than it had been in the Tabernacle, except for this Ark; it was still the same one that Moses made, with its mercy-seat and cherubim. The Ark was the visible symbol of God’s presence with His people, which is always the same – whether they meet in a tent or a temple. But in addition to the cherubim which were upon the ends of the mercy-seat which covered the Ark, Solomon set up two more – very large ones – with wings made of olive wood, and all overlaid with gold (verses 23-28). He also carved cherubim upon all the walls of the building (verse 29). The heathen set up images of their idols and worshiped them, but these cherubim were intended to represent the servants and attendants of the God of Israel – the holy angels, who are not to be worshiped themselves, but who show how great our God is Whom we are to worship. The folding doors that led into the Most Holy Place, as well as those at the front of the Temple, were also beautified with cherubim engraved upon them (verses 32, 35).

The brass altar where the priests ministered was separated by a low wall from the place where the worshipers would stand. The area behind the wall was called the “inner court” (verse 36). The wall consisted of three rows of hewn stone, topped with a cornice of cedar; and as the people looked over it, they could see what was done and hear what the priests said to them. Even under the Old Testament ceremonies and foreshadows, the people were not kept entirely in the dark or at a distance.

The time spent in this glorious building project was 7½ years, from the laying of the foundation to the finishing of the construction (verse 38). Considering the vastness and elegance of the magnificent building, and the many trimmings and adornments of the place, it was actually completed rather quickly. Solomon was earnest in the work, he had plenty of money to carry it out, he had nothing to divert his attention from it, and the many hands that were helping him made quick work of the project.

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