Royalty and Ruin

Solomon’s Magnificent Temple

For seven years Jerusalem was filled with busy workers leveling the chosen site of the temple, building huge retaining walls, laying broad foundations, shaping timbers brought from the Lebanon forests, and constructing the magnificent sanctuary. See 1 Kings 5:17. At the same time the furnishings were being made under the leadership of Hiram of Tyre, “a skillful man, ... skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple and blue, fine linen and crimson.” 2 Chronicles 2:13, 14. RR 14.1

The building on Mount Moriah went up noiselessly with “stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.” 1 Kings 6:7. Its beautiful furnishings included the altar of incense, the table of showbread, the lampstand and lamps, with the vessels and instruments connected with the holy place, all of “purest gold.” 2 Chronicles 4:21. The bronze altar of burnt offering, the laver supported by twelve oxen, with many other vessels—“in the plain of Jordan the king had them cast in clay molds.” 2 Chronicles 4:17. RR 14.2