King Solomon builds the Temple of God, Junior - I, Lesson - 17

JUNIOR

AGE: 10 - 11 YEARS

STANDARD/GRADE: V & VI

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LESSON – 17

KING SOLOMON BUILDS THE TEMPLE OF GOD

We had learnt about a special tent set up by Moses called the “Tabernacle”, where the Israelites went to worship God in Lesson – 11. The most sacred object inside the Tabernacle was the “Ark of God”. The presence of God dwelt in the Ark of God, so it was kept in a special place called the Most Holy Place inside the Tabernacle. The original Tabernacle of the Lord made by Moses was located in a place called Gibeon (I Chronicles 21:29). Then the Tabernacle was set up at a place called Shiloh where it remained during most of the period of judges (Joshua 18:1). 

When Eli was judging Israel, his sons took the Ark of God to the battlefield while they went for a war against the Philistines. But the Philistines captured the Ark of God and took it to their own city. Later they were forced to return the Ark when they were punished by God with a terrible disease. When the Ark was returned, it was not taken to the Tabernacle at Shiloh, instead was kept in Abinadab’s house at Kiriath-jearim. The Ark remained there for 100 years, until it was brought back by King David. When the Ark was brought back it was taken to a special tent made by King David in Jerusalem, even though the old Tabernacle still existed in Gibeon (I Chronicles 16:39; II Chronicles 1:3). 

David loved God and enjoyed God’s presence. In Psalms, we can read how much David longed for the Temple of God. As soon as David became the King, he wanted to build a beautiful Temple for God. He was not happy that the holy Ark of God was kept in a temporary tent while he was living in a magnificent palace. He wanted to build a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of God. But God did not want David to build the Temple and told him that his son Solomon would build the Temple. But God was pleased with David’s desire to build the Temple and greatly blessed him. God even gave King David the plan for the Temple of God (I Chronicles 28:19). King David accepted God’s decision. Out of his love for the Temple of God he started to gather precious materials that would be required to build the Temple of God. He wanted the Temple of God to be very special. 

When King David became old, his son Solomon was anointed the King of Israel. (Cick this link to learn more about the life of King Solomon who built the Temple of God). David called his son King Solomon and gave him the charge to build the Temple of God. He also gave him the plan for the Temple of God and handed over all the precious materials he had collected for the building (I Chronicles 28:11 – 21). He had also bought a land for the Temple of God in Mount Moriah. Just as he was commanded by his father David, Solomon started to build the Temple of God four years after he became the king. It was four hundred and eighty years after Israelites left their Egyptian slavery. King Solomon began the construction work in the second month of the Jewish calendar called Ziv.

Stone blocks needed for building the Temple were cut from a nearby quarry and shaped perfectly, so that they fitted together without being pounded, and then brought to the building site. Hence there was no noise of hammer, chisel or any other iron tool at the Temple site while it was being built. 

King Solomon also needed a lot of timber for the woodwork in the Temple. He specifically used cedar trees from Lebanon which are known for their strength and longevity. 

Cedar of Lebanon, Photo credit: Bibleplaces.com

A city called Tyre had great cedar trees. The King of Tyre, Hiram was a good friend of King David. So King Solomon bought all the cedar trees he would need for the Temple from Hiram in exchange for wheat and olive oil. Solomon employed approximately 30,000 men to help cut and transport the timber from Lebanon. Hiram had his men cut down trees, made them into rafts and send them down the Mediterranean Sea, from where men from Israel received them and took them into Jerusalem. The inside of Temple was lined with the timber of the cedar trees and covered with pure gold, so that the stones were not seen. 

Picture of modern timber drafting, Picture credit: Public Domain

The setup of the Temple was very similar to the setup of the Tabernacle we had learnt in lesson – 11. The Temple building was rectangular. Around the Temple Solomon built rooms to be used by the priests. These rooms were arranged in three stories.  Solomon’s Temple was divided into different areas where various worship rituals were carried out. The outer courtyard and inner courtyard were the areas outside the Temple. The inside of the Temple was divided into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.The design of the courtyard in Solomon’s Temple was different from the Tabernacle. The Bible scholars are of the opinion that the courtyard was not an open area and it may have been built as a colonnade (1).

(i)             The Entrance / Outer Courtyard / Great Court (1 Kings 6:3; 2 Chronicles 3:4; 4:9; 29:7). The gentiles and the uncircumcised could enter only till the outer court.  

(ii)          The Court of the priests / Inner courtyard It contained the altar of burnt-offering, the bronze sea (a large round tank supported by 12 bronze bulls), and 10 bronze basins (1 Kings 7:38, 39). Priests and Levites ministered in the Outer Court as they offered sacrifices for sin and guilt as well as the other sacrifices. 

Bronze laver (basin)

Bronze Altar

Brazen Sea

(iii)       The Holy Place Only the priests could enter the Holy Place. There were three sacred items kept in the Holy Place.

Ø   Golden lampstand

Model of the Golden Lampstand

Ø   Table for the bread of presence (or the table of showbread) - This is a table where holy bread prepared fresh every week was arranged.

Model of the Table of Show Bread

Ø   Altar of incense where a special incense was burned each morning and evening.

Model of the golden "Altar of Incense"

(iv)        The Most Holy Place also called as the “holy of holies” It’s floors and walls were lined with cedar wood and covered with gold. The Ark of God was kept here. Only the High Priest could enter here once in a year on the day of Atonement. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the Temple by a large veil. The veil was woven from fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and decorated with intricate embroidery featuring an image of gold cherubim.

Model of the Ark of God

On the walls inside the Temple were ornamental carvings of cherubim (angels), palm trees and flowers. 

There were 2 bronze pillars called Jachin and Boaz erected at the porch in front of the sanctuary. The pillars were decorated with 400 bronze pomegranates. The bronze articles and the intricate bronze design and decorative works for the Temple were done by Huram-Abi, a skilled artisan sent by the king of Tyre. It took seven years to complete building the Temple of God.

Model of the Bronze Pillar

King Solomon arranged for a grand ceremony to dedicate the Temple of God. During the dedication ceremony, the Ark of God was brought from the tent in which David had kept it to the Most Holy Place in the Temple. The cloud of God’s glory descended on the Temple, indicating God’s divine presence and approval. Then Solomon stood on a platform built for him, in the sight of all the people, lifted up his hands to heaven and offered a fervent prayer. The Dedication of the Temple lasted 7 days, which was followed by the Feast of Tabernacles for 7 days. The ceremony ended on the 8th day of the feast of Tabernacles and the people returned to their homes filled with joy and gladness of heart. 

The Temple of God built by Solomon was the pride of Israel and people came from far and wide to offer worship and admire the architectural wonder of the building. However, this magnificent Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians few centuries later. It was rebuilt two more times, only to be destroyed again. Today there is no Temple of God at Jerusalem, but the site of Solomon’s Temple can be visited today on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 

Temple Mount in Jerusalem where King Solomon built the Temple of God

To learn more about the reign of King Solomon click this link

Reference:

James Orr (Ed), Court of the Sanctuary; Tabernacle; Temple. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (1939).

Bible Reference: I Kings 5 – 8; I Chronicles 28, 29; II Chronicles 2 - 7

Memory Verse: One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple (Psalm 27:4 NKJV).

 

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

Fill in the blanks:

1. The Tabernacle remained in ……………… during most of the period of judges.

2. God gave the plan for the Temple of God to ……………………..

3. The ……………………… is a large round tank supported by 12 bronze bulls.

4. There were 2 bronze pillars called …………….. and ………….. erected at the vestibule in front of the sanctuary. 

Give short answers:

1. Why was there no noise of hammer, chisel or any other iron tool at the Temple building site?

 

 

2. From where did King Solomon get the timber for the woodwork     in the Temple?

 

 

3. Who did the bronze works in the Temple?

 

 

4. How did King Solomon dedicate the Temple? 

 

Answer in brief:

1. Describe the Holy Place and Most Holy Place inside Solomon’s Temple.