2 Chronicles 3

2 Chronicles 3:1

3:1-4 After much planning and preparation, the construction finally began in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. With over 150,000 workmen and almost limitless resources, it would still take over seven years to complete this mammoth undertaking. The foundations were laid on Mount Moriah. The temple would be ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet high (see 1 Kgs. 6, where more details are given). It was roughly twice the size of the tabernacle and had a vestibule or porch thirty feet long. 3:5-9 The interior of the temple was divided into two rooms on the main floor. The two rooms were the larger room (literally house, NKJV marg.) and the Most Holy Place. The building was of stone. The interior was paneled with cypress wood which was overlaid with pure gold, ornamented with various designs, and studded with precious stones. All that was visible inside the temple was gold, the symbol of deity, picturing the glory of the Lord which was to fill the place. 3:10-13 Two cherubim were put into the Most Holy Place (in addition to the two cherubim which formed part of the mercy seat atop the ark). Their combined wingspans extended the entire width of the Most Holy Place. The ark would later be placed under them (2Ch_5:7). Cherubim are spirit-beings which appear often in Scripture. The walls (v. 7) and the veil (v. 14) were decorated with them, symbolizing their continual waiting on God. The temple and the tabernacle were types of the true dwelling place of Godi.e., heaven, where He is worshiped and glorified day and night by myriad hosts (Heb_8:5). They were also types of Christ (Joh_1:14, where “dwelt” is literally “tabernacled”; Joh_2:19). 3:14-17 A veil separated the two rooms, just as in the tabernacle. There were also doors (v. 7) between the rooms in the temple. Two pillars with capitals and one hundred ornamental pomegranates were placed in front of the temple. The pillar on the right side was named Jachin (He shall establish) and the one on the left was called Boaz (in Him is strength).