Summary
Solomon begins building the temple on Mount Moriah, the site of the Lord’s appearance to David, using the exact dimensions instructed by God. The structure is richly furnished: the porch and the great house are overlaid with pure gold, the walls, beams, and doors are gilded, and cherubim are carved and gilded on the most holy chamber. The most holy portion measures twenty cubits square, overlaid with fine gold costing six hundred talents, and its interior is embellished with gold nails and a gilded ceiling. Two large cherubim, each with wings extending twenty cubits, are installed within this sanctum. Before the temple, Solomon erects two thirty‑five cubit pillars, each topped with a five‑cubits high capstone, chained with ornamental metal and decorated with pomegranates, named Jachin and Boaz. The chapter presents the temple as a marvel of craftsmanship and a tangible expression of covenant worship.