and associated buildings, are noted below The erection of the Temple was begun in 966 B.C., in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, 480 years after the Exodus from Egypt The Temple took seven years to build This was a comparatively short time for such a spectacular work, but, as The Wycli e Bible Commentary points out, (1) much of the preparation had been completed beforehand; (2) the building was relatively small, though very ornate; (3) a huge personnel was employed in the task.8 The pattern for this building had been given David by the Lord (1 Chron 28:19), and David had given the pattern to Solomon (1 Chron 28:11-12; Chron 3:3) The divine origin of the blueprints is not contradicted by the similarities to Phoenician architecture of that day The Temple was similar to the tabernacle in its overall layout Both the Temple and the tabernacle had two prominent areas, known as the “holy place” and the “most holy place” or “holy of holies.” In the text of Kings and Chronicles, these Temple areas are called by the following names: the holy place Kings 6:17,20 Chron 3:5, margin, “the house” “the great house” the most holy place “the inner sanctuary” “the room [lit., house] of the holy of holies” Great as was Solomon’s task in overseeing the construction of the Temple, his greater responsibility was his spiritual leadership of the people God said that His dwelling among the children of Israel depended upon Solomon’s faithfulness But Solomon, great and wise as he was, failed in his faithfulness to God, and the idolatry which he later introduced (1 Kings 11:1-13) caused the whole nation to be unfaithful to God B SPLIT OF THE KINGDOM(2 Chron 10:1-19) Read this chapter and compare it with Kings 12 Also review your earlier studies of this subject (chap 13) C FALL OF JUDAH AND CAPTIVITY TO BABYLON(2 Chron 36:1-21) Read this passage, and compare it with the reporting by Kings 25:1-26 (2 Chron 36:22-23) The book of Chronicles ends on a bright note Read the verses, noting the prominence of the Temple Compare the decree to rebuild (36:23) with the reporting of the destruction (36:19) How many years had transpired between these events? (See Chart 48.) Read Isaiah 45:1-7, 13, which is Isaiah’s earlier prophecy that it would be King Cyrus who would free God’s exiles and encourage them to return to their homeland D DECREE OF CYRUS IX KEY WORDSAND VERSESOF CHRONICLES Read the key phrases and verses cited on Chart 54 Add others which you may have observed in your studies X APPLICATIONSOF CHRONICLES List at least ve spiritual lessons learned from the life of Solomon What does the book teach about God? Look for various applications of the accounts of the four reformations listed on Chart 54 What the last two verses teach you? XI FURTHER STUDYOF CHRONICLES Compare the parallel accounts Chronicles and the Kings books of XII SELECTED READINGFOR AND CHRONICLES ... called by the following names: the holy place Kings 6:17,20 Chron 3:5, margin, ? ?the house” ? ?the great house” the most holy place ? ?the inner sanctuary” ? ?the room [lit., house] of the holy of holies”... note Read the verses, noting the prominence of the Temple Compare the decree to rebuild (36:23) with the reporting of the destruction (36:19) How many years had transpired between these events?... overall layout Both the Temple and the tabernacle had two prominent areas, known as the “holy place” and the “most holy place” or “holy of holies.” In the text of Kings and Chronicles, these Temple