The Temple of Solomon

to Solomon, for the execution of such a great undertaking, were to faithfully assist him with counsel and deed. (2 Chronicles 3:17–18.) He himself [David] gave toward the Temple construction from his own fortune and the royal treasury many excellent precious stones, three thousand talents original: "Centner," a historical unit of weight; in this biblical context, it refers to the Hebrew talent. of gold from Ophir, and seven thousand talents of silver. (2 Chronicles 30:1, 5.)

The princes of his realm followed the king’s praiseworthy example and gave one thousand talents of gold and ten thousand guilders original: "Gülden," referring here to gold darics or drachmas., ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron; they also presented a great quantity of very costly precious stones for the even more magnificent decoration of the Temple. (verses 6–9.) King David also appointed the builders and stonecutters. (2 Chronicles 3:2.) He procured a great deal of ironwork (verse 3) and had cedar wood brought from Tyre and Sidon (verse 4), so that a very great quantity of all those building materials for the impending Temple construction was at hand. (verse 5.)

When King David eventually fell asleep, old and full of days, and the LORD GOD confirmed the kingdom to Solomon and gave him peace and rest during his fortunate reign (1 Kings 5:4), he earnestly undertook the Temple construction entrusted to him by his father, King David, with GOD’s help. He sent word to Huram Also known as Hiram., the King of Tyre, and requested that he send a significant number of skilled workmen, which was done. (verses 8, 15.) Thereupon, King Solomon divided the laborers into certain orders. Seventy thousand he appointed to carry burdens, eighty thousand were carpenters original: "Zimmerleute," though in this context it refers generally to stone-quarriers or woodcutters in the mountains., and three thousand six hundred he appointed as officials, who had to oversee the workers and the entire construction. (2 Chronicles 2:1–2.) Because it was a very difficult labor to establish such an important and extensive building upon a high mountain, the workers were only required to work for one month at a time, and for two months they rested, while others took their place in the work during that interval. (verse 14.)

So that a truly steady and lasting foundation might be laid, very large stones were hewn (verses 17–18), and the workmen immediately prepared the stones and the wood on-site so well and skillfully that during the erection of the building itself on Mount Moriah, not the slightest thing had to be changed; they only had to assemble it. In this regard, it is said that no hammer, nor axe, nor any iron tool was heard during the building. (verse 7.) Now, as everything regarding the construction, through GOD’s grace, went well—