Solomon began to build the temple for which he is famous. Here we learn of the general dimensions, the coverings, the cherubim, and the pillars. Most people tend to see portions of scripture like this as difficult and boring. However, many hidden treasures are reserved to those who take the time to look for them.

What Does It Say?

1. Solomon began to build in the second day of the ___________ month, in the _________ year of his reign.
2. The greater house (that is, the main tabernacle area) had a ceiling made of _______ tree, which was overlaid with gold with engravings of _________ trees and ________.
3. The weight of the nails was ________ shekels of gold.
4. Solomon made the veil of ________, and purple, and __________, and fine linen.
5. Solomon made before the house two pillars of __________ and five cubits high.

What Does It Mean?

1. Solomon built the temple at Jerusalem in mount Moriah. Moriah is only mentioned by name in two places in the Bible: Genesis 22:2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
   See All... and 2Chronicles 3:1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
   See All.... What three important things are recorded as happening here? What are the connections between these three events?
2.  This chapter speaks of the “greater house” (v.5) and the “most holy house” (v.8). This refers to the two major sections of the temple—also found in the tabernacle. Look at these passages: Exodus 26:33-34 [33] And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. [34] And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
   See All...; 1Kings 6:5And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:
   See All...; Hebrews 9:2-3 [2] For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. [3] And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
   See All.... What are some others names given to these two sections of the tabernacle or temple? Try to explain the significance of these names.
3. Cherubim are mentioned either by the name cherub or by cherubims nine times in this chapter (v.7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14). They are mentioned a total of 93 times in the Bible. In this passage, they are symbolic of the heavenly beings. Read the verses mentioned above and tell the different places in the temple where the cherubim could be found. Now look up and read the following: Genesis 3:24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
   See All...; 2Kings 19:15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
   See All...; Psalm 18:10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
   See All...; Ezekiel 10:1-15 [1] Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. [2] And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. [3] Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. [4] Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory. [5] And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. [6] And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. [7] And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out. [8] And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings. [9] And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. [10] And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. [11] When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. [12] And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. [13] As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. [14] And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. [15] And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
   See All...; Ezekiel 28:14-16. What can you say about the appearance of the cherubim? What can you say about their work or duties for God?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. Verse six tells us that the gold used for the temple of Solomon was “gold of Parvaim.” This is the only place in the Bible where Parvaim is mentioned. However, we often find that the quality of gold is determined by the place from which it comes. Genesis 2:11-12 [11] The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; [12] And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
   See All... refers to the gold of Havilah by saying “the gold of that land was good.” David stated that he had gathered “of the gold of Ophir” (1Chronicles 29:4Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:
   See All...) for the house of the Lord. Ophir probably refers to the region of the Arabian peninsula at present-day Yemen. It was known for its gold even in the days of Job (Job 22:24Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
   See All...; 28:16
   See All...). Other verses refer to the gold of Sheba (Psalm 72:15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
   See All...) and the gold of Uphaz (Daniel 10:5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
   See All...). Why was gold known for the place from whence it came? Can you think of any spiritual application to this phenomenon? How would this apply to 1Corinthians 3:12-15 [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
   See All... where man’s works are compared to various objects—one of which is gold? Is our gold known by what kind it is?
2. Verse 17 states, “And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.” Solomon placed two tall pillars in front of the temple and called them Jachin and Boaz. Jachin means stability (or “he will establish”) and Boaz means strength (by most authorities). Compare this with Isaiah 33:6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
   See All... where stability and strength are used in the English text (though not the same Hebrew words as Jachin and Boaz). Consider that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost (1Corinthians 6:19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
   See All...). What are some practical applications you can make from these two pillars?