History · Chapter 3 of 36

2 Chronicles 3

Solomon begins building the temple on Mount Moriah, where God appeared to David at Ornan's threshingfloor. He raises the porch and main hall, overlaying beams, walls, and doors with gold and carving cherubim throughout. In the most holy place he sets two great gold-covered cherubim whose wings span the room. He hangs a veil of blue, purple, and crimson, and erects two bronze pillars named Jachin and Boaz before the temple.

What happens in 2 Chronicles 3

In the fourth year of his reign Solomon begins to build the LORD's house at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, the very place where God appeared to David at the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. He lays out the porch, the great hall, and the most holy place according to the prescribed measures. He overlays the interior, beams, posts, walls, and doors with fine gold from Parvaim, garnishing it with precious stones and carving cherubim on the walls.

In the most holy place he makes two carved cherubim overlaid with gold, their outstretched wings together spanning twenty cubits across the room. He fashions a veil of blue, purple, and crimson linen embroidered with cherubim. Before the house he sets up two great pillars, naming the one on the right Jachin and the one on the left Boaz, crowned with chains and rows of pomegranates.

2 Chronicles 3 in context

Chronicles locates the temple on Mount Moriah, tying it to Abraham's offering of Isaac and to David's altar built where the plague was stopped. The site itself carries a history of sacrifice and mercy. The lavish gold, the guardian cherubim, and the woven veil all recall the tabernacle's design, now made permanent in stone.

Every detail marks this as holy space where a holy God will meet His people.

Main themes of 2 Chronicles 3

2 Chronicles 3 (KJV)

1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. 3Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. 4And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold. 5And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains. 6And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. 7He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. 8And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. 9And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold. 10And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. 11And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. 13The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. 14And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. 15Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. 17And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

Verses to carry from 2 Chronicles 3

“Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”2 Chronicles 3:1

“And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.”2 Chronicles 3:14

“And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.”2 Chronicles 3:17

Reflection

God chose to meet His people where mercy had already been shown. The places of your own hardest surrenders and clearest rescues can become holy ground, altars of remembered grace. And the veil that once shut you out has been torn in Christ. You are invited, today, to draw near without fear.

A prayer from 2 Chronicles 3