Window into the Bible
The Temple Built by Solomon
King David's son Solomon built the first Israelite temple. It was built in Jerusalem during the 900s BC.
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This cardboard model of the temple built by Solomon has been constructed using the book 'Solomon's Temple Model' by Tim Dowley of the Candle Discovery Series.
Solomon's temple was constructed from pre-dressed stone, cedar wood and pine. The temple itself was sixty cubits long, twenty wide and thirty high (27m x 9m x 13.5m). At the entrance stood two large pillars. One was named Jakin and the other Boaz.
Built around three sides of the temple were three stories of side rooms which almost doubled the width of the complete building.
To read about Solomon's building of the temple see 1 Kings 6:1-38 and 2 Chronicles 3:1-17.
In front of the temple stood a large bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty wide and 10 high (approx 9m x 9m x 4.5m) and a bronze water basin ten cubits wide and five high (approx 4.5m x 2.3m) (2 Chronicles 4:1-5)
To the north and south of the temple were ten bronze water carts on wheels. They were four cubits long, four wide and three high(approx 1.8m x 1.8m x 1.3m). Each was carved with images of lions, bulls, cheribum, wreaths and palm trees. (1 Kings 7:27-37, 2 Chronicles 4:6-7)
In The interior of Solomon's temple was divided into three sections. At the entrance was a smalll portico or porch ten cubits deep (4.5m). Next was the main hall or Holy Place, a large room forty cubits long (18m) containing ten gold lampstands, ten tables and an incense altar (2 Chronicles 4:7-8). At the rear of the temple was a room twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high (approx 20m x 20m x 20m) called the Most Holy Place. This room contained the olden ark of the covenant and two large golden cheribum.
The inner walls of the temple were made from cedar wood overlaid with gold. They were carved with images of cheribum, palm trees, flowers and gourds. (1 Kings 6:14-18, 29-30)
Transporting Cedar Wood from Lebanon
Date: 713 - 706 BC.
Place: Palace courtyard of the Assyrian king Sargon II, Khorsabad, Assyria.
Photographed at the Louvre Museum, Paris. Excavated by P. E. Botta 1843 - 1844.
These three photos of the panels depict the Assyrians transporting cedar logs from Lebanon by creating log rafts to float to their destination.
The Bible describes Hiram king of Tyre transporting cedar logs from Lebanon to Jerusalem for Solomon by creating rafts of logs and floating them down the Mediterranean coast.
8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon:
“I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. 9 My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.” (1 Kings 5:8-9)
