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2 Chronicles 3 Rehoboam's Reign in Judah

1 Solomon Builds the Temple
Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

2 He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

3 The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard).

4 The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high.
He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

5 He paneled the main hall with pine and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs.

6 He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim.

7 He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

8 He built the Most Holy Place, its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.

9 The gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.

10 In the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold.

11 The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub.

12 Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub.

13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.

14 He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

15 In the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits long, each with a capital on top measuring five cubits.

16 He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains.

17 He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.

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Analysis of 2 Chronicles Chapter 3

The third chapter of 2 Chronicles is significant in the narrative of the Old Testament as it details the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. This chapter not only chronicles the physical structure and the splendor of the Temple but also symbolizes the spiritual connection between God and His people, Israel. Through a detailed architectural description combined with rich symbolism, we gain valuable insights into the religious, cultural, and theological importance of the Temple.

Verse 1: The Sacred Location

The chapter begins with establishing the sacred location where Solomon built the Temple:

“Then 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.” (2 Chronicles 3:1)

This verse underscores the significance of Mount Moriah, a site of profound spiritual history. Mount Moriah is where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2), signifying ultimate faith and obedience to God. By linking the construction of the Temple to this historic, sacred site, the text emphasizes continuity in the covenant and God’s enduring presence.

Verses 2-3: The Construction Timeline

The following verses provide the timeline and foundational details for the Temple:

“And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.” (2 Chronicles 3:2-3)

The precise dates and measurements underscore the structured and well-planned nature of the Temple’s construction. Solomon begins the project in the fourth year of his reign, reflecting preparation and divine timing. Additionally, the use of cubits, an ancient unit of measurement, illustrates the Temple’s grand scale and symmetry.

Verses 4-7: Description of the Temple’s Exterior and Interior

The text then moves to describe the intricacies of the Temple’s structure:

“And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.” (2 Chronicles 3:4)

This verse highlights the Temple’s grandeur and opulence, especially the use of pure gold, a sign of divine majesty and holiness. Here, the height and width denote the proportionality and immense size of the structure, symbolizing the greatness of God.

Verses 5-7 continue to elaborate on the interior details:

“And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains. And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the walls.” (2 Chronicles 3:5-7)

The careful ornamentation of the Temple, which includes the overlaying of fir trees with gold, ornamenting with palm trees and precious stones, and engraving of cherubim, signifies a space that is set apart and sanctified for divine worship. These elements evoke imagery of the Garden of Eden, symbolizing paradise and God’s intimate presence.

Verses 8-13: The Holy of Holies and Cherubim

The chapter then delves more deeply into the most sacred part of the Temple, the Holy of Holies:

“And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.” (2 Chronicles 3:8)

Six hundred talents of gold is an extraordinary amount, underscoring the divine worth and sanctity of the Holy of Holies. This space, housing the Ark of the Covenant, represents the physical manifestation of God’s covenant with Israel and His divine presence.

Verses 10-13 describe the cherubim that were also placed within this sacred space:

“And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.” (2 Chronicles 3:10-11)

The cherubim, representing angelic beings, are depicted with extended wings that span the width of the Holy of Holies. Their presence denotes divine guardianship and a barrier between the holy God and sinful man, reminiscent of the cherubim placed at the east of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).

Verses 14-17: The Inner Visuals

This section focuses on the final elaborations and visual elements within the Temple:

“And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.” (2 Chronicles 3:14)

The veil, intricately made with colors signifying royalty, divinity, and sacrifice (blue, purple, and crimson), and adorned with cherubim, separates the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. This symbolizes the separation between God’s holiness and human sinfulness, a theme that is carried throughout the Bible, particularly referencing Jesus Christ tearing this veil through His sacrifice (Matthew 27:51).

The final verses describe the two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, that were set up at the entrance of the Temple:

“Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. 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.” (2 Chronicles 3:15-17)

Jachin and Boaz, meaning “He shall establish” and “In it is strength,” respectively, are the symbolic pillars emphasizing that God’s presence establishes and empowers the nation of Israel. The pomegranates, a symbol of prosperity and eternal life, further underline the abundance that flows from God’s covenant.

Conclusion: Temple as a Symbol of Divine Presence and Worship

2 Chronicles Chapter 3 offers a detailed architectural and symbolically rich description of Solomon’s Temple, reflecting its importance not merely as a physical structure but as a central point in Israel’s worship and religious identity. The intricate details—the use of gold and precious stones, the imposing cherubim, the veil, and the symbolic pillars—all together create an aura of holistic sanctity.

This chapter is a testament to the meticulousness and reverence with which Solomon approached the task of building a house for the LORD. It communicates God’s transcendent holiness and immanence, while also offering a foreshadowing to future biblical themes, particularly related to Jesus Christ and the ultimate reconciliation of God and man.

Therefore, 2 Chronicles Chapter 3 is indispensable for understanding the religious dimensions of ancient Israel and the theological emphasis on God’s covenant, holiness, and the motif of sacred space that permeates throughout the scriptural narrative.