“Chapter 31: The Temple,” Old Testament Stories (1980), 122–24
“Chapter 31,” Old Testament Stories, 122–24
Chapter 31
The Temple
There was peace in the land of Israel. God said King Solomon should build a temple in Jerusalem. It would be the house of God. The ark of the covenant would be in the temple. The people would not need the tabernacle anymore because they would have the temple.
Thousands of people helped build the temple. It was made of stone and wood. Men brought the best wood from far away. They cut large stones for the walls of the temple.
The temple was beautiful. It had many rooms. The walls and floors were covered with gold. There were curtains made of beautiful cloth. Gold candlesticks lighted the rooms. There was a golden altar in one room.
Another room had a pool filled with water. The pool was on the backs of twelve oxen. The oxen were made of brass.
It took seven years to build the temple. At last it was finished. Then Solomon put beautiful gold and silver bowls in the temple.
The priests brought the ark of the covenant from the tabernacle. They put the ark in the temple. The two stones with the commandments written on them were in the ark.
The priests of Israel came to the temple. They sang songs and thanked God for the temple. The cloud that had been over the tabernacle filled the temple. The temple was the house of God.
Solomon spoke to the Israelites. He told them to obey God’s commandments. Then Solomon prayed to God. He asked God to forgive the people when they had repented.
Solomon made sacrifices to God. Fire from heaven came down to the altar. The fire burned the sacrifices.
The people worshiped God. They thanked him for the temple.
God spoke to Solomon. He said Solomon and the Israelites should be righteous. Then he would bless them forever.