1 - 38 Building the Temple
480 years after the Israelites departed Egypt, in Solomon's fourth year as king, construction began. (My Notes: "Construction of the temple is here paralleled in importance with the founding of the nation after the departure from Egypt. In both, God is the central figure who chose Israel as his people, and now chooses the place where his temple should be built. The year given is a round number, 480, which corresponds to twelve generations. The fourth year of Solomon's reign = c. 968 B.C.)
The specs of the new temple are given. (My notes: The sanctuary of the holy of holies reserved for the Lord is the innermost part of the temple. Here through his presence he dwelt as on a throne between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant.) Solomon used the cedar and gold and put many nice carvings inside. It took about seven years to complete it.
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Comparing the temple (tem) with the tabernacle (tab), tab = 30x10, tem = 60x20 twice as large. The roof was cedar planks. The interior was lined with cedar paneling and pine floors.
God spoke to Solomon and told him if he obeys him that He will fulfill His promise to David and live among the Israelites and not abandon them.
The inner sanctuary which housed the Ark was 20 cubits cubed. The entire interior was overlaid with gold. They made cherubim for the inner sanctuary of olive wood covered with gold. Each was 10 cubits high with each wing being 5 cubits. Their wings were open over the Ark with the outer wings touching the walls and the inner wings touching each other. The walls were carved with cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. The entire interior (including the floor) was covered with gold.
Notes indicate that the cherubim were not worshiped but were symbolic mythical guardians of God. The trees and flowers were symbolic of the Garden of Eden and the only way to re-enter it was through atonement of sin in the sanctuary.
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