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Architectural
Models
Mount Moriah, in the days of
Abraham, was one of the hills in the vicinity of Salem, the one chosen by
Abraham upon which to sacrifice his
only son Isaac "as a burnt offering" unto the Lord. In later years it
came under the control of the Amorites, whose principal city, Jebus, occupied a
hill westward from Moriah.Genesis 22: 2.
In the days of King David, who
subdued the Jebusites, it became a part of the city named Jerusalem. It is 14
1/2 miles from Jordan, 15 miles from Salt Sea, and 41 miles from the
Mediterranean. The location was not the most desirable one on which to erect the
Temple, but was chosen by Solomon because of its sacred associations. It was
fitting that the great Temple to be dedicated to the God of his fathers should
be erected upon the very spot where Abraham made manifest that faith in Him
which was accepted ever after by the children of Israel and the world. On this
spot also, where Abraham offered Isaac, David made an acceptable offering unto
the Lord, and by faith saved Jerusalem from destruction. David no doubt realized
the significance of the name given to the Mount by Abraham, "Jehovah
Sees," and ever after the children of Abraham found consolation in the
thought, "In the Mount of Jehovah He will be seen." Solomon, in
deciding to erect the Temple upon this sacred spot, fulfilled the wishes of his
father, King David, and of all in whose breasts these sentiments were cherished.
"Beautiful for Situation, the Joy of the whole Earth."
Architecture
of the Temple
The assemblage of the world's architectural genius at Jerusalem,and the amassed store of materials of gold, silver, brass, iron, granite, and
marble, together with the precious stones and costly woods and fabrics
brought from foreign shores, resulted in a structure distinctive in design,
gigantic in proportions, and glorious in embellishments, the like of which
Israel and the people of that day had never before seen, and which will never
again be equaled, much less excelled. The Temple and the Palace together, as a
unit, consisted of a series of terraces round about Mount Moriah, the highest
point of which was crowned by the Great Porch, with the Holy and the Most Holy
Place.
The second highest terrace,
surrounding the Mount, was an oblong or
rectangle, 1,600 feet long and 800 feet wide, having a retaining wall rising
from the base of the Mount to a height of from 80 to 240 feet as conditions
required for support, for defense, and to produce a uniform raised level about
the Mount. Within this first enclosure the architects provided homes for the
porters and singers, as well as havens for the worshipers. The upper terrace was
800 feet long and 400 feet wide, surrounded by a retaining wall of great stone.
The eastern half of this second enclosed terrace or court was embellished by
three rows of hewed stones or pillars, round about, forming a colonnade and
supporting an entablature of cedar beams and costly stones. The Covert for the
King was located on the north side and was of solid brass. In the western half
of this oblong enclosure, and on the north side, was the Court for the women,
surrounded by high walls and enclosing a series of chambers suitably arranged.
To the south was the Court of the Priests, containing the chambers for those who
were actively engaged in the Temple services. In the center of the western half
of the great court was the inner court, 400 feet by 200 feet in size, in the
form of a rectangle, surrounded by a cloistered colonnade of three rows of
pillars supporting a beautiful entablature of cedar beams and costly stones. The
only entrance to the inner court was through the Great Gate on the eastern side.
In the center of the eastern half of the inner court stood the Great Altar of
Burnt-offering. In the southeast corner was the Molten Sea, and on the north and
south sides, five on each side, were the Lavers. The western square of the inner
court contained the House, or Holy and Most Holy Places, surrounded by a series
of chambers. The approach to these sacred precincts was through the Great Porch,
rising to a height of 240 feet.
These crowning terraces which
supported the Temple and King Solomon's Palace or Citadel, including his house,
the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Queen's Palace, the Porch of Pillars,
and kindred structures, were surrounded for the sake of security by a wall which
began at the bottom of the Mount. Some of the sides of this wall were reared 280
feet in height before they attained the desired level, and these massive and
curious bases, together with the super-structure, formed an impressive prospect,
which was the marvel of all beholders. 2 Chron. 3: 4.
Approaching the Temple terraces
from the southwest was a road leading through a gate into the great citadel,
within the walls of which were the numerous buildings. The citadel was on an
elevation just below that of the Temple, and visitors to the latter had to pass
through the former. Here were the King's Palace, the House of the Forest of
Lebanon, the Porch of Pillars, the Queen's Palace, the Tower of David, the
Palace of the Captain of the Host, the Palace of the High Priest, and the
Judgment Seat or Throne. Within this same enclosure were to be found the homes
of the Royal Harem, and of the immediate official family and attendants. Here
also were the Royal Gardens in which were to be found a great variety of trees
and beautiful shrubbery, and enclosures for wild and domestic animals and birds.
The King's Palace, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, and the other
royal buildings were of a size and magnificence such as Israel had never seen
before, and were prized because they reflected the high political rank of the
nation, as the Temple reflected the glory of its religious institutions. The
road from the southwest gate ran diagonally northeastward to a central square
which was dominated by the Tower of David. At the south of the square was the
Court of Guards, at the west of the Queen's Palace, and at the east the Palace
of King Solomon.
The
Inner Court of the Temple
The avenue from the southwest gate of the citadel, having passed
the
Palaces, the Porches, and the House of the Forest of Lebanon, proceeded again
northeastward to an open space before the House of the High Priest, where there
was a gate leading upward to the Forecourt of the Temple. This outer court
occupied the whole of the eastern half of the Temple terrace, and on its
northern side was the great brass Covert for the King. At the western side of
the Forecourt was the gate to the Inner Court, whence rose the facade of the
Temple itself.
The Altar of Burnt-Offering
In the center of the eastern half of the inner court stood the
most
indispensable part of the apparatus of worship, the Altar of Burnt-offering,
made of brass, "twenty cubits in length, twenty in breadth and ten cubits
in height" (40 feet long, 40 broad, and 20 high). 2
Chron. 4: 1.
The Molten Sea
The inner court, the southeast corner, stood the most striking of
the
creations of Solomon's Phoenician artist, Hiram of Tyre. This was the
Molten Sea. It was a large circular tank of bronze, "thirty cubits in
circumference, ten cubits in diameter and five cubits in height" (60 feet
around, 20 feet across, and 10 feet high), with a brim the thickness of a
handbreadth. These measurements show that Hiram understood the principles of
circular form and construction. This great sea rested on the backs of twelve
bronze bulls which, in groups of three, faced the four cardinal points. 1
Kings 7: 23-27; 2 Chron. 4: 2-5.
The Lavers
There were ten Lavers of brass raised on bases resting upon
wheels.
They were used for washing the animals to be sacrificed in the
burnt-offering and in the general cleansing of the court after the
services. Each one was "four cubits long, four cubits wide and three cubits
high" (8 feet by 8 by 6). The Lavers, bases, and wheels were highly
ornamented, and symbolically embellished with lions, oxen, cherubim and palm
trees. Five of the Lavers stood on the north side of the inner court and five on
the south side. 1 Kings 7: 27-39.
The Great
Porch
The Great Porch was a monumental structure "one
hundred and twenty
cubits high" (240 feet), built over the entrance to the Sanctuary. This
entrance or vestibule was "twenty cubits long and ten cubits broad"
(40 feet by 20). Through this porch the priests were admitted to the Sanctuary. 2
Chron. 3: 4; 1 Kings 6: 3.
The Two Pillars of Brass
These two great bronze shafts, standing in relief,
formed an important
feature in the architecture of the Temple. Each one was "thirty-five cubits
high and twelve cubits in circumference" (70 feet high and 24 feet in
circumference). They were highly ornamented by a network of brass, overhung with
wreaths of bronze pomegranates, each row containing one hundred. Upon the
pillars and the top of the chapiters were pommels (great bowls or vessels for
oil) over which were hung, festoon-wise, wreaths of pomegranates, interspersed
here and there with lily work. They bore the names of Jachin and Boaz and were
placed in front of the porch leading to the Sanctuary. 2
Chron. 3:15; 1 Kings 7: 15-22; 2 Chron. 4:12-13.
The
Holy Place
The Holy Place, or Greater House, was a double cube
"forty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high" (80
feet long, 40 wide, and 40 high), "ceiled with fir tree," overlaid
with fine gold and settings of palm trees and chains, with engraved cherubim on
the walls. The entire house was garnished with precious stones for beauty. The
entrance to the house was by a large double door, two leaves to the one door and
two leaves to the other, of olive wood, carved with cherubim, palm trees, and
open flowers, all overlaid with pure gold.
The furniture of the Holy Place
consisted of ten candlesticks of pure
gold, five on the right side and five on the left, together with their lamps
and snuffers; also ten tables with pure gold, five on the right side and
five on the left, together with their bowls, basins, spoons, and covers. To
these must be added the golden altar of incense and its censer, the table of
shewbread, and the golden candlestick of the Tabernacle, all harmoniously
arranged within the walls, ceilings, and floors of gold set with precious
stones. 1 Kings 7: 49; 2 Chron. 4: 8.
The Most Holy
Place
The Holy of Holies was a perfect 40 foot cube
"twenty cubits broad,
twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits high." All the walls round about were
carved with figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, all overlaid with
pure gold; even the floor was overlaid with gold, and all was garnished with
precious stones for beauty. The two doors leading to this Most Holy Place were
of olive wood, cunningly carved with cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and
overlaid with pure gold. Each door had two leaves which folded. Over this
entrance hung the veil of blue, purple, and crimson of the finest fabric,
cunningly wrought with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. This beautiful
tapestry defined the entrance to the Oracle. The only piece of furniture in the
Most Holy Place was the Sacred Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, containing the
testimony. This was the place within the oracles shadowed by the wings of two
gigantic cherubim of olive wood, overlaid with pure gold. Each cherubim was
"ten cubits high" (20 feet) with an outspread of wings of "twenty
cubits) (40 feet). 1 Kings 6:23.
The Temple and Eternity
King Solomon's Temple was the perfect architectural
expression of the
religious faith of a people. As such, it has never been equaled in the
history of the world, much less excelled. Its actual life was short, but
is influence has been incalculable. Built to endure for centuries, only a few
years elapsed before it was desecrated and then completely destroyed by invading
armies. Yet its fame did not die. The children of Israel, with fervid
determination, rebuilt it twice, and twice more it was destroyed. The
descendents of its builders were scattered far and wide over the face of the
earth, but the traditions of their labor and their unity and their
accomplishment have remained to inspire all subsequent ages, and the
magnificence of the Temple they built is still acknowledged as the epitome of
gorgeous architecture.
The Interior
Walls of King Solomon's Temple
1 Kings 6:18,
21, 35
18 And the
cedar of the house within was carved with knops (almonds) and open flowers: all
was cedar; there was no stone seen.
21 So Solomon overlaid the house within pure gold: and he made a partition by the
chains of gold before the oracle (ark); and he overlaid it with gold.
35 And he
carved thereon cherubim's and palm trees open flowers: and covered them with
gold fitted upon the carved work.
 
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