The Temple (2 of 3)

In context

In the seventh month the priests carry the ark into the inner room, under the cherubim’s wings; inside it are only the two stone tablets Moses put there at Horeb (1 Kings 8:1–9). Then a cloud fills the house, “for Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house,” and the priests cannot stay to serve (8:10–11).

Solomon stands before the altar with his hands spread toward heaven. “Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you,” he prays, “how much less this house that I have built” (8:22, 27). He asks God to hear every prayer made toward this house, in defeat, drought, famine and sickness, from foreigners who come from far away, and from captives in an enemy’s land, and to forgive (8:28–53). The feast lasts fourteen days, and the people go home “joyful and glad in their hearts” (8:65–66).

2 Chronicles gives Solomon’s message to Huram (its spelling of Hiram) at greater length, with Huram’s written reply, and says he built “on Mount Moriah,” at Ornan’s threshing floor (2 Chronicles 2:3–16; 3:1). The only other time the Bible names Moriah is when God sends Abraham with Isaac to “the land of Moriah” (Genesis 22:2).