The Temple Plan and Solomon's Charge

"Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark… But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood." "He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel."

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts… if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."

"Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof… and the pattern of all that he had by the spirit… and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims." "All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern." "Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not."

A pattern from God

As Moses received the tabernacle's pattern (tavnit, Exodus 25:9, 40), David receives the temple's. Chronicles makes David the founder of the temple in all but construction.

"The throne of the kingdom of the LORD"

Chronicles calls the Davidic throne the LORD's throne (also 29:23), a distinctive emphasis: the king rules God's kingdom.

Comparing temples

The plan described matches the regional tripartite temple type known from 'Ain Dara and Tell Tayinat; see the 1 Kings investigation. No plan or drawing from David's time survives.