The Story
Solomon's Temple was built in Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon, son of David. The construction took seven years and employed thousands of workers. The temple was built with the finest cedar wood from Lebanon and overlaid with pure gold.
The temple was divided into three main sections: the Outer Court (representing the body), the Holy Place (representing the soul) and the Holy of Holies (representing the spirit). In the Holy of Holies rested the Ark of the Covenant, where the presence of God dwelt.
The temple served as the centre of worship for nearly 400 years until it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Its structure and symbolism pointed to profound spiritual truths about the tripartite nature of man and the dwelling of God.
Features
- 1Holy of Holies with the Ark of the Covenant
- 2Holy Place with the Table of Showbread, Menorah and Altar of Incense
- 3Outer Court with the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Bronze Sea
- 4Overlaid with pure gold
- 5Pillars Jachin and Boaz
Dimensions:
60 x 20 x 30 cubits
Biblical References
1 Kings 6:1-38 - Construction of the Temple
1 Kings 8:1-66 - Dedication of the Temple
2 Chronicles 3-4 - Details of the construction
Ezekiel 40-48 - Vision of the future Temple
Spiritual Significance
The Temple represents God's dwelling among His people and prefigures the human body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.