1Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD. He built it on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. That’s where the LORD had appeared to Solomon’s father David. The LORD had appeared at the threshing-floor of Araunah. Araunah was from Jebus. David had provided the threshing-floor.2Solomon began building the temple on the second day of the second month. It was in the fourth year of his rule.3Solomon laid the foundation for God’s temple. It was 30 metres long and 10 metres wide. Solomon’s men followed the standard measure used at that time.4The porch in front of the temple was 10 metres across and 10 metres high. Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold.5He covered the inside of the main hall with juniper boards. Then he covered the boards with fine gold. He decorated the hall with palm tree patterns and chain patterns.6He decorated the temple with valuable jewels. The gold he used came from Parvaim.7He covered the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold. He carved cherubim on the walls.8He built the Most Holy Room. It was as long as the temple was wide. It was 10 metres long and 10 metres wide. He covered the inside of the Most Holy Room with 21 tonnes of fine gold.9He also covered the upper parts with gold. The gold on the nails weighed 600 grams.10For the Most Holy Room, Solomon made a pair of carved cherubim. He covered them with gold.11The total length of the cherubim’s wings from tip to tip was 10 metres. One wing of the first cherub was 2.5 metres long. Its tip touched the temple wall. The other wing was also 2.5 metres long. Its tip touched the wing tip of the other cherub.12In the same way one wing of the second cherub was 2.5 metres long. Its tip touched the other temple wall. The other wing was also 2.5 metres long. Its tip touched the wing tip of the first cherub.13So the total length of the wings of the two cherubim was 10 metres from tip to tip. The cherubim stood facing the main hall.14Solomon made the curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into its pattern.15For the front of the temple, Solomon made two pillars. Each pillar was 17.5 metres tall. Each had a decorated top 2.5 metres high.16Solomon made chains that were linked together. He put them on top of the pillars. He also made 100 pomegranates. He fastened them to the chains.17Solomon set the pillars up in front of the temple. One was on the south. The other was on the north. He named the one on the south Jakin. The one on the north he named Boaz.
2 Chronicles 3
English Standard Version
Solomon Builds the Temple
1Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord[1] had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (Ge 22:2; Ge 22:14; 1Ki 6:1; 1Ch 21:15; 1Ch 21:18; 1Ch 21:28)2He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.3These are Solomon’s measurements[2] for building the house of God: the length, in cubits[3] of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. (1Ki 6:2; Ezr 3:11)4The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house,[4] and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold.5The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it. (1Ki 6:17; 1Ki 6:29; 1Ki 6:32)6He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim.7So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls. (2Ch 3:5)8And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length, corresponding to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty cubits. He overlaid it with 600 talents[5] of fine gold. (1Ki 6:16)9The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels.[6] And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold. (1Ch 28:11)10In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood[7] and overlaid[8] them with gold. (1Ki 6:23)11The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub;12and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub.13The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim[9] stood on their feet, facing the nave. (Eze 40:9)14And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it. (Ex 26:31)15In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a capital of five cubits on the top of each. (1Ki 7:15; 2Ki 25:17; Jer 52:21)16He made chains like a necklace[10] and put them on the tops of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.17He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south, the other on the north; that on the south he called Jachin, and that on the north Boaz. (1Ki 7:21)