2Ch 3 | HCSB | STEP | Then Solomon began to build the Lord ’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah where the Lord had appeared to his father David , at the site David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite .

2 Chronicles 3

Building the Temple

1 Then Solomon began ^a to build the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah ^b where the Lord ^{▼▼LXX; Tg reads the Angel of the Lord; MT reads He} had appeared to his father David, at the site David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan ^{▼▼= Araunah in 2Sa 24:16-24} 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 ^{▼▼Tg reads The measurements which Solomon decreed} for building God’s temple: the length ^{▼▼Lit length – cubits in the former measure –} was 90 feet, ^{▼▼Lit 60 cubits} and the width 30 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} 4 The portico, which was across the front extending across the width of the temple, was 30 feet ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} wide; its height was 30 feet; ^{▼▼LXX, Syr; MT reads 120 cubits
,} ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} he overlaid its inner surface with pure gold. 5 The larger room ^{▼▼Lit The house} 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, ^m and he carved ^{▼▼cherubim: A class of winged angels, associated with the throne of God, who function as guardians and who prevented Adam and Eve from returning to the garden of Eden}cherubim on the walls. ^o

The Most Holy Place

8 Then he made the most holy place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple, 30 feet, ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} and its width was 30 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits
,} ^r He overlaid it with 45,000 pounds ^{▼▼Lit 600 talents} of fine gold. 9 The weight of the nails was 20 ounces ^{▼▼Lit 50 shekels} of gold, and he overlaid the ceiling with gold.

10 He made ^u 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: ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} the wing of one was 7¹/₂ feet, ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} touching the wall of the room; its other wing was 7¹/₂ feet, ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} touching the wing of the other cherub. 12 The wing of the other ^{▼▼Syr, Vg; MT reads the one} cherub was 7¹/₂ feet, ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} touching the wall of the room; its other wing was 7¹/₂ feet, ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} reaching the wing of the other cherub. 13 The wingspan of these cherubim was 30 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} They stood on their feet and faced the larger room. ^{▼▼Lit the house}

14 He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, and he wove cherubim into it. ^ad

The Bronze Pillars

15 In front of the temple ^ae he made two pillars, each 27 feet ^{▼▼Hb uncertain
,} ^{▼▼Lit 35 cubits} high. The capital on top of each was 7¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} high. 16 He had made chainwork in the inner sanctuary and also put it on top of the pillars. ^ai 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 ^{▼▼= He Will Establish} and the one on the left Boaz. ^{▼▼= Strength Is in Him}