# Overview 2 Chronicles Chapter 3 details the commencement of the construction of the #Temple in #Jerusalem by #Solomon, following the instructions and plans provided by his father #David. This chapter highlights the importance and sacredness of the Temple as the dwelling place of #God among His people. The construction begins on #MountMoriah, a site of significant historical and spiritual importance, where #God appeared to David. This location ties the Temple to the broader narrative of Israel's history and God's interactions with His chosen people. The chapter meticulously describes the dimensions and materials used, emphasizing the grandeur and holiness of the Temple, serving as a symbol of #God's glory and covenant with #Israel. The chapter further elaborates on the specific details of the Temple's design, including the inner sanctuary, known as the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant was to reside. The interior is adorned with gold, and the chapter describes the construction of two immense cherubim, symbolizing the divine presence and protection. These details reflect the reverence and dedication with which #Solomon approached this sacred task, fulfilling the divine promise and vision given to his father David. The precision and opulence of the Temple's construction signify the central place of worship and the heart of spiritual life for the nation, reinforcing the role of #Jerusalem as the focal point of #worship and divine connection. ## Theological Insights 2 Chronicles 3 provides profound theological insights into the construction of the #Temple by #Solomon, reflecting God’s dwelling among His people and His holiness. This chapter details the building of the #Temple in #Jerusalem on #MountMoriah, a site with deep historical and theological significance, as it is also where #Abraham was instructed to sacrifice #Isaac, symbolizing ultimate faith and obedience ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 22]]). The construction of the Temple represents the culmination of God’s promise to #David that his son would build a house for the #LORD ([[1 Chronicles/1 Chronicles Chapter 17]]). The meticulous details in the construction underscore the importance of the Temple as a sacred space where heaven and earth meet, and where God’s presence would dwell with #Israel, affirming His covenantal relationship with them. The use of precious materials like gold, and the specific dimensions and designs, reflect the glory and majesty of God, illustrating His worthiness of the best offerings His people can give. The Temple, thus, becomes a symbol of God's eternal kingdom, foreshadowing the ultimate temple, which is the body of #Christ, as referenced in the New Testament ([[John/John Chapter 2]]). Furthermore, the establishment of the Temple as a place dedicated to worship and sacrifice points to the necessity of atonement and right relationship with God, a theme that resonates throughout the #OldTestament and finds fulfillment in the sacrifice of Jesus, the true and final High Priest ([[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 9]]). ## Thematic Connections ### Temple as the Dwelling Place of God 2 Chronicles Chapter 3 details the construction of the #Temple by #Solomon, emphasizing its role as the dwelling place of #God among His people. This theme connects to the tabernacle described in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25]] and the vision of the new temple in [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 40]]. The establishment of the Temple serves as a physical manifestation of God's promise to be present with His people, a theme that culminates in the New Testament with Jesus as the incarnate presence of God and later the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within believers as described in [[John/John Chapter 1]] and [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 3]]. ### Continuity of Covenant The construction of the Temple by Solomon fulfills the covenant promise made to #David regarding his son building a house for God, as referenced in [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 7]]. This continuity underscores the faithfulness of God to His covenant promises, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture and is fulfilled ultimately in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, referenced in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 8]]. ### Divine Wisdom and Guidance Solomon's building of the Temple is an expression of divine wisdom and guidance, echoing themes from his request for wisdom in [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 1]]. This theme connects to the broader biblical motif of divine wisdom as a guiding force for God's people, seen in other passages like [[Proverbs/Proverbs Chapter 2]] and [[James/James Chapter 1]]. ### Sacred Space and Holiness The detailed description of the Temple's construction, including the materials used and the precise measurements, highlights the theme of sacred space and holiness. This connects with the instructions for the tabernacle in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 26]], emphasizing the importance of holiness and careful preparation in approaching God. The theme of holiness is further developed in the New Testament, where believers are called to be living temples of the Holy Spirit in [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 1]] and [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 6]]. ### Symbolism of Gold and Cherubim The use of gold and the presence of cherubim in the Temple symbolize divine glory and protection, themes that are echoed in the descriptions of the heavenly throne room in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 4]]. These elements serve as reminders of God's majesty and the heavenly reality that the earthly temple represents. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Temple as a Foreshadowing of Christ In [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 3]], the construction of #Solomon's #Temple is detailed, signifying a fulfillment and a foreshadowing of God's dwelling with His people. The temple serves as a fulfillment of God's promise to #David that his son would build a house for God's name, as mentioned in [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 7|2 Samuel 7:12-13]]. This temple, in its grandeur and holiness, foreshadows the coming of #Christ, who is the ultimate dwelling place of God among humanity. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to His body as the true temple, as seen in [[John/John Chapter 2|John 2:19-21]], where He speaks of raising it up in three days. This indicates that the physical temple built by Solomon points to a greater reality fulfilled in Jesus, who is God incarnate. ### The Glory of the Lord The detailed description of the temple's construction in [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 3]] also echoes the prophetic vision of God's glory filling the earth. The temple was a place where God's glory was manifested among His people, as seen in the dedication of the temple when the glory of the Lord filled it, referenced later in [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 7|2 Chronicles 7:1-3]]. This prefigures the ultimate fulfillment in the revelation of God's glory in the person of Jesus Christ. The prophet #Isaiah speaks of a time when the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it, as stated in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 40|Isaiah 40:5]]. This prophecy finds its culmination in the coming of Christ, who is the radiance of God's glory, as described in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 1|Hebrews 1:3]]. ### The Symbolism of the Temple's Measurements and Materials The specific measurements and materials used in the construction of the temple, as recorded in [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 3]], carry deeper symbolic meanings that point to prophetic fulfillments. The use of gold, fine linen, and precious stones signifies purity, holiness, and the preciousness of God's presence. These elements prefigure the heavenly Jerusalem, described in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 21|Revelation 21:18-21]], where the city is adorned with gold and precious stones, symbolizing the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to dwell with His people in a new heaven and new earth. This eschatological vision underscores that the temple in Jerusalem was a shadow of the heavenly reality to be fully realized in the future. ### The Cherubim and the Presence of God The inclusion of cherubim in the temple's design, as noted in [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 3]], symbolizes the presence and majesty of God. In the Holy of Holies, the cherubim spread their wings over the ark of the covenant, representing God's throne. This imagery is echoed in prophetic visions such as those found in [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 1|Ezekiel 1:5-14]] and [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 4|Revelation 4:6-8]], where cherubim are depicted around God's throne, emphasizing His holiness and sovereignty. This motif of cherubim points to the heavenly reality where God's presence is eternally established, fulfilled in the coming of Christ, who enables believers to enter God's presence through His sacrifice, as indicated in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 10|Hebrews 10:19-22]]. ## Verses - **2 Chronicles 3:1** - "So Solomon began to build the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected." - Note: #Solomon, #Temple, #Jerusalem, #MountMoriah, #David, #Araunah, #Jebusite - Reference: [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 24]], [[1 Chronicles/1 Chronicles Chapter 21]] - **2 Chronicles 3:2** - "The construction began in mid-spring, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign." - Note: #Solomon, #Construction - Reference: [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 6]] - **2 Chronicles 3:3** - "These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement). It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide." - Note: #Dimensions, #Temple - **2 Chronicles 3:4** - "The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold." - Note: #EntryRoom, #Gold - **2 Chronicles 3:5** - "He paneled the main room of the Temple with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold and decorated it with carvings of palm trees and chains." - Note: #CypressWood, #Gold, #PalmTrees, #Chains - **2 Chronicles 3:6** - "He decorated the walls of the Temple with beautiful jewels and with gold from the land of Parvaim." - Note: #Jewels, #Gold, #Parvaim - **2 Chronicles 3:7** - "He overlaid the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors throughout the Temple with gold, and he carved figures of cherubim on the walls." - Note: #Gold, #Cherubim - **2 Chronicles 3:8** - "He made the Most Holy Place 30 feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30 feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23 tons of fine gold." - Note: #MostHolyPlace, #Gold - **2 Chronicles 3:9** - "The gold nails that were used weighed 20 ounces each. He also overlaid the walls of the upper rooms with gold." - Note: #GoldNails, #UpperRooms - **2 Chronicles 3:10** - "He made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place." - Note: #Cherubim, #Gold, #MostHolyPlace - **2 Chronicles 3:11** - "The total wingspan of the two cherubim was 30 feet. They stood on their feet and faced out toward the main room of the Temple." - Note: #Cherubim, #Wingspan - **2 Chronicles 3:12** - "The two wings of each of the cherubim spread out over the Holy Place, reaching 15 feet long, and touched the other’s wings." - Note: #Cherubim, #Wingspan - **2 Chronicles 3:13** - "The wings of these cherubim extended together 30 feet. They stood on their feet and faced out toward the main room of the Temple." - Note: #Cherubim, #Wingspan - **2 Chronicles 3:14** - "He made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it." - Note: #Curtain, #Colors, #Linen, #Cherubim - **2 Chronicles 3:15** - "For the front of the Temple, he made two pillars that were 27 feet tall, each topped by a capital extending upward another 7 1/2 feet." - Note: #Pillars, #Temple - **2 Chronicles 3:16** - "He made a network of interwoven chains and used them to decorate the tops of the pillars. He also made 100 decorative pomegranates and attached them to the chains." - Note: #Chains, #Pomegranates - **2 Chronicles 3:17** - "Then he set the pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one to the south of the entrance and the other to the north. He named the one on the south Jakin and the one on the north Boaz." - Note: #Pillars, #Jakin, #Boaz ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Solomon’s Temple Construction** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 6]] - **Mount Moriah** - [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 22]] - **David’s Selection of the Site** - [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 24]], [[1 Chronicles/1 Chronicles Chapter 21]] - **Cherubim** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25]], [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 10]]