The building of Solomon's temple -- preparations for it -- plan and structure of the temple, internal fittings

-- history of the temple -- jewish traditions.

1 KINGS 5, 6, 7:13-51, 8:6-9; 2 CHRONICLES 2, 3, 4, 5:7-10

WHILE Solomon thus wisely and in the fear of God ordered his government, and the country enjoyed a

measure of prosperity, wealth, and power never before or afterwards attained, the grand work of his reign

yet remained to be done. This was the building of an "house unto the Name of Jehovah God." We have

already seen how earnestly David had this at heart; how fully it corresponded with the Divine promise; and

how fitly its execution was assigned to Solomon as the great task of his reign, viewing it as typical of that of

"David's greater Son." As might be expected, all outward circumstances contributed to further the work.

Israel, as a nation, was not intended to attain pre -eminence either in art or science. If we may venture to

pronounce on such a matter, this was the part assigned, in the Providence of God, to the Gentile world. To

Israel was specially entrusted the guardianship of that spiritual truth, which in the course of ages would

develop in all its proportions, until finally it became the common property of the whole world. On the other

hand, it was the task assigned to that world, to develop knowledge and thought so as to prepare a fitting

reception for the truth, that thus it might be presented in all its aspects, and carried from land t o land in a

form adapted to every nation, meeting every want and aspiration. This was symbolically indicated even in

the building of Solomon's Temple. For, if that Temple had been exclusively the workmanship of Jewish

hands, both the materials for it and their artistic preparation would have been sadly defective, as compared

with what it actually became. But it was not so; and, while in the co-operation of Gentiles with Israel in the

rearing of the Temple we see a symbol of their higher union in the glorious architecture of that "spiritual

house built up" of "lively stones," we also recognize the gracious Providence of God, which rendered it

possible to employ in that work the best materials and the best artificers of the ancient world.

For it was in the good Providence of God that the throne of Tyre was at the time occupied by Hiram,  92 who

had not only been a friend and ally of David, but to whom the latter had communicated his plans of the

projected Temple -buildings. Indeed, Hiram had already furnished David with a certain proportion of the

necessary materials for the work (1 Chronicles 22:4). The extraordinary mechanical skill of the Phoenicians -

especially of the Sidonians - was universally famed in the ancient world.93 Similarly, the best materials were

at their command. On the slopes of Lebanon, which belonged to their territory, grew those world -famed

cedars with which the palaces of Assyria were adorned, and, close by, at Gebal (the ancient Byblos, the

modern Jebeil) were the most skilled workmen94 (Ezekiel 27:9).

On the same slopes grew also the cypress,95 so suitable for flooring, its wood being almost indestructible,

and impervious to rot and worms; while the Phoenician merchantmen brought to Tyre that "almug,"

"algum," or red sandal-wood which was so valued in antiquity (comp. 1 Kings 10:11).96

The same skill as in the preparation of woodwork distinguished the Phoenician carvers, stone-cutters, dyers,

modelers, and other craftsmen. To have at his disposal the best artificers of Phoenicia, and these under a

trained and celebrated "master" (2 Chronicles 2:13, 14), must have been of immense advantage to Solomon.

At the same time the extensive preparations which David had made rendered the work comparatively so

easy, that the Temple -buildings, with their elaborate internal fittings, were completed in the short space of

seven years (1 Kings 6:37, 38), while the later rearing of the king's palace occupied not less than thirteen

years (1 Kings 7:1). But, although Solomon thus availed himself of Phoenician skill in the execution of the

work, the plan and design were strictly Jewish, having, in fact, been drawn long before, in the time of King

The building of the Temple commenced in the second month ("Siv," "splendor" - the month of opening

beauty of nature) of the fourth year of Solomon's reign, being the 480th from the Exodus97 (1 Kings 6:1).