Overview
The First Temple was constructed by King Solomon following David's desire to build a permanent dwelling place for God. Built with precious materials including gold, cedar, and stone, it stood as a testament to Israel's devotion and God's covenant faithfulness. The temple became the center of Israel's worship, sacrificial system, and national identity.
Key Scriptures
"And the inner sanctuary he prepared in the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD" (1 Kings 6:21, ESV). "So all the work that Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished" (2 Chronicles 5:1, ESV). "LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured" (Psalm 132:1, NIV). "For my house the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling: 'This is my resting place for ever and ever'" (Psalm 132:13-14, ESV).
Application
Reflect on how the temple's purpose—to be a meeting place between God and His people—finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is now the temple of God's Spirit dwelling within believers.
✦ Scripture References 40 references
1 Kings 6:21
2 Chronicles 5:1
Psalms 132:2
Psalms 132:3
Psalms 132:4
Psalms 132:5
2 Samuel 7:2
1 Chronicles 22:7
1 Chronicles 29:3
2 Chronicles 2:7
2 Chronicles 2:13
2 Chronicles 2:14
Isaiah 56:7
Matthew 21:13
2 Chronicles 7:12
2 Samuel 7:5
2 Samuel 7:6
2 Samuel 7:7
2 Samuel 7:8
2 Samuel 7:9
1 Kings 5:3
1 Chronicles 22:8
1 Chronicles 21:28
1 Chronicles 21:29
1 Chronicles 21:30
1 Chronicles 22:2
2 Chronicles 3:1
1 Kings 6:7
1 Kings 6:18
2 Chronicles 3:5
1 Chronicles 22:17
1 Chronicles 22:18
1 Chronicles 22:19
1 Chronicles 22:6
1 Chronicles 22:7
1 Chronicles 22:11
John 2:19
John 2:21
1 Kings 6:1
1 Kings 6:37
✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 335 verses
A partition of chains of gold between it and outer house
All dedicated things placed in
Anxious to build
1 Chronicles 22:7
1 Chronicles 29:3
2 Samuel 7:2
Psalms 132:2
Psalms 132:3
Psalms 132:4
Psalms 132:5
Applied to Hiram for a skilful workman to superintend, &c the building of
Appointed as a house of prayer
Appointed as a house of sacrifice
Being a man of war not permitted to build
Built on Mount Moriah on the threshing-floor of Ornan or Araunah
Built without the noise of hammers, axe, or any tool
Cedar of, carved with flowers, &c
Ceiled with fir wood and gilt
Charged his princes to assist in building
Charged Solomon to build
Christ
Commenced second day of second month of fourth year of Solomon
Complete destruction of, predicted
Contracted with Hiram for wood, stone, and labour
1 Kings 5:6
1 Kings 5:7
1 Kings 5:8
1 Kings 5:9
1 Kings 5:10
1 Kings 5:11
1 Kings 5:12
2 Chronicles 2:8
2 Chronicles 2:9
2 Chronicles 2:10
Defiled and its treasures given by Ahaz to the king of Assyria
Determined to build
Employed all the strangers in preparing for
Employed thirty thousand Israelites in the work
Filled with the cloud of glory
Free will offering of the people for the building
Garnished with precious stones
God promised to dwell in
Had door posts of olive wood carved and gilded
Had folding doors of fir wood carved and golden
House of the God of Jacob
Its magnificence
Its treasures given by Hezekiah to the Assyrians to procure a treaty
Made preparations for building
1 Chronicles 22:2
1 Chronicles 22:3
1 Chronicles 22:4
1 Chronicles 22:5
1 Chronicles 22:14
1 Chronicles 22:15
1 Chronicles 22:16
1 Chronicles 29:2
1 Chronicles 29:3
1 Chronicles 29:4
1 Chronicles 29:5
Mount Zion
One hundred and twenty cubits high
Pillaged and burned by the Babylonians
2 Chronicles 36:18
2 Chronicles 36:19
2 Kings 25:9
2 Kings 25:13
2 Kings 25:14
2 Kings 25:15
2 Kings 25:16
2 Kings 25:17
Pillaged by Shishak king of Egypt
2 Chronicles 33:4
2 Chronicles 33:5
2 Chronicles 33:7
2 Kings 21:4
2 Kings 21:5
2 Kings 21:6
2 Kings 21:7
Pillars of, with their chapiters described
1 Kings 7:15
1 Kings 7:16
1 Kings 7:17
1 Kings 7:18
1 Kings 7:19
1 Kings 7:20
1 Kings 7:21
1 Kings 7:22
2 Chronicles 3:15
2 Chronicles 3:16
2 Chronicles 3:17
Polluted by the idolatrous worship of Manasseh
2 Chronicles 33:4
2 Chronicles 33:5
2 Chronicles 33:7
2 Kings 21:4
2 Kings 21:5
2 Kings 21:6
2 Kings 21:7
Prayed that Solomon might have wisdom to build
Purified and divine worship restored under Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 29:3
2 Chronicles 29:4
2 Chronicles 29:5
2 Chronicles 29:6
2 Chronicles 29:7
2 Chronicles 29:8
2 Chronicles 29:9
2 Chronicles 29:10
2 Chronicles 29:11
2 Chronicles 29:12
2 Chronicles 29:13
2 Chronicles 29:14
2 Chronicles 29:15
2 Chronicles 29:16
2 Chronicles 29:17
2 Chronicles 29:18
2 Chronicles 29:19
2 Chronicles 29:20
2 Chronicles 29:21
2 Chronicles 29:22
2 Chronicles 29:23
2 Chronicles 29:24
2 Chronicles 29:25
2 Chronicles 29:26
2 Chronicles 29:27
2 Chronicles 29:28
2 Chronicles 29:29
2 Chronicles 29:30
2 Chronicles 29:31
2 Chronicles 29:32
2 Chronicles 29:33
2 Chronicles 29:34
2 Chronicles 29:35
Purified by Josiah
Repaired by Jehoash at the institution of Jehoiada
2 Chronicles 24:4
2 Chronicles 24:5
2 Chronicles 24:6
2 Chronicles 24:7
2 Chronicles 24:8
2 Chronicles 24:9
2 Chronicles 24:10
2 Chronicles 24:11
2 Chronicles 24:12
2 Chronicles 24:13
2 Kings 12:4
2 Kings 12:5
2 Kings 12:6
2 Kings 12:7
2 Kings 12:8
2 Kings 12:9
2 Kings 12:10
2 Kings 12:11
2 Kings 12:12
2 Kings 12:13
2 Kings 12:14
Repaired by Josiah in the 18th year of his reign
1 Kings 14:25
1 Kings 14:26
2 Chronicles 12:9
2 Chronicles 34:8
2 Chronicles 34:9
2 Chronicles 34:10
2 Chronicles 34:11
2 Chronicles 34:12
2 Chronicles 34:13
2 Kings 22:3
2 Kings 22:4
2 Kings 22:5
2 Kings 22:6
2 Kings 22:7
Sacred fire sent down from heaven at its dedication
Separated from the outer house by a vail
Solemnly dedicated to God by Solomon
1 Kings 8:12
1 Kings 8:13
1 Kings 8:14
1 Kings 8:15
1 Kings 8:16
1 Kings 8:17
1 Kings 8:18
1 Kings 8:19
1 Kings 8:20
1 Kings 8:21
1 Kings 8:22
1 Kings 8:23
1 Kings 8:24
1 Kings 8:25
1 Kings 8:26
1 Kings 8:27
1 Kings 8:28
1 Kings 8:29
1 Kings 8:30
1 Kings 8:31
1 Kings 8:32
1 Kings 8:33
1 Kings 8:34
1 Kings 8:35
1 Kings 8:36
1 Kings 8:37
1 Kings 8:38
1 Kings 8:39
1 Kings 8:40
1 Kings 8:41
1 Kings 8:42
1 Kings 8:43
1 Kings 8:44
1 Kings 8:45
1 Kings 8:46
1 Kings 8:47
1 Kings 8:48
1 Kings 8:49
1 Kings 8:50
1 Kings 8:51
1 Kings 8:52
1 Kings 8:53
1 Kings 8:54
1 Kings 8:55
1 Kings 8:56
1 Kings 8:57
1 Kings 8:58
1 Kings 8:59
1 Kings 8:60
1 Kings 8:61
Specially instructed for
Surrounded with spacious courts
Surrounded with three stories of chambers communicating with the interior on the right side
The ark of God brought into with great solemnity
1 Kings 8:1
1 Kings 8:2
1 Kings 8:3
1 Kings 8:4
1 Kings 8:5
1 Kings 8:6
1 Kings 8:7
1 Kings 8:8
1 Kings 8:9
2 Chronicles 5:2
2 Chronicles 5:3
2 Chronicles 5:4
2 Chronicles 5:5
2 Chronicles 5:6
2 Chronicles 5:7
2 Chronicles 5:8
2 Chronicles 5:9
2 Chronicles 5:10
The bodies of saints
The doors and the posts of, of olive wood carved and gilded
The floor and walls of, covered with cedar and fir wood
The house of the Lord
The mountain of the Lord's house
The oracle or most holy place
The porch
The sanctuary or greater house
The spiritual church
The whole inside and outside covered with gold
Told by the prophet that Solomon should build
Treasures of given by Jehoash to propitiate the Syrians
Twenty cubits long and ten broad
Two cherubims of gilded olive wood made within
1 Kings 6:23
1 Kings 6:24
1 Kings 6:25
1 Kings 6:26
1 Kings 6:27
1 Kings 6:28
2 Chronicles 3:11
2 Chronicles 3:12
2 Chronicles 3:13
Was but a temple built with hands
Was finished in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon
Was forty cubits long
Was lighted by narrow windows
Was roofed with cedar
Was seven years in building
Was three score cubits longs, twenty broad, and thirty high
Was twenty cubits every way
Zion