The building of the temple is a major turning point in the history and religion of Israel.

There is mention of such a construction as early as 2 Samuel 7 and it is “on deck,” as it were, since that point in the story of Israel’s kings (see also 1 Kings 3:1-2). In Samuel 7, David learns he will not build the temple for God because the Lord has no need for a permanent residence (verses 4-7), and hears that the task will fall to his son (verses 12-13). 1 Chronicles 22:8 has a different take on the situation: there David reports that God wouldn’t allow him to build the temple because he had too much blood on his hands. Either way, the task of the temple falls to Solomon and the details surrounding the project begin in earnest in 1 Kings 5:1 and dominate the opening chapters of the Book of Kings and much of the narrative about Solomon’s reign. Clearly one of the main things that Israel remembered Solomon for was constructing the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem.

The temple is obviously an important symbol -- a permanent place for the worship of the Lord ...