2 Chronicles 3 1

2 Chronicles 3:1 kjv

Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2 Chronicles 3:1 nkjv

Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2 Chronicles 3:1 niv

Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

2 Chronicles 3:1 esv

Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2 Chronicles 3:1 nlt

So Solomon began to build the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.

2 Chronicles 3 verses

2 Chronicles 3 1 Meaning

2 Chronicles 3:1 marks the commencement of the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. This verse highlights the divinely appointed location, Mount Moriah, a site sanctified by significant past interactions between God and His people, notably the binding of Isaac and David's altar. It emphasizes Solomon's obedience to God's command and David's preparatory work, establishing the Temple as the designated dwelling place for the LORD, fulfilling ancient promises and hopes.

2 Chronicles 3 1 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Chronicles immediately follows King David's extensive preparations for the Temple (Chs. 28-29) and his charge to Solomon (Ch. 22). Solomon has just begun his reign, received a covenant from God, and sought wisdom (Chs. 1-2). This verse transitions from the preparations to the actual construction, marking a pivotal moment in Israel's history—the establishment of a permanent central place of worship, replacing the portable tabernacle. Historically, it situates the Temple on Mount Moriah, connecting it to the earliest significant events of Israel's patriarchal history (Abraham) and its recent crisis (David's census and the plague). This highlights the divine election of the site, which transcends human choice.

2 Chronicles 3 1 Word analysis

• Then Solomon began to build: The phrase emphasizes the moment of initiation after extensive preparation. Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, Shelomoh), meaning "peaceable" or "peace," fulfills his father David's desire. David, a man of war, was not permitted to build the Temple; rather, the "man of peace" was chosen. This signifies divine timing and the nature of God's established dwelling, requiring a context of peace rather than conquest.
• the house of the LORD (בֵּית יְהוָה, beit Yahweh): Refers to the physical structure that was to serve as God's designated dwelling place among His people. This concept counters the notion that God can be confined to a building, yet it also highlights His condescension to dwell amidst humanity in a tangible way for worship and sacrifice. It signifies a unique relationship with the God of Israel, distinct from polytheistic practices.
• at Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, bi-Yerushalayim): The capital city, established by David, chosen by God. This emphasizes the centrality of God's worship within the united kingdom, reinforcing Jerusalem as the spiritual and political heart of Israel, a site consecrated by divine choice (Psa 78:67-68).
• on Mount Moriah (בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, be-har ha-Moriyah): This specific mountain is profoundly significant. It is identified with the place where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen 22:2), a site of supreme test of faith and provision. This also connects to where David built an altar to stop a divine plague (1 Chr 21:18, 2 Sam 24:18). This links the Temple's foundation to foundational acts of faith, atonement, and divine intervention, signaling it as a place of redemption and sacred encounter from ancient times.
• where the LORD had appeared to his father David (נִרְאָה לְדָוִיד אָבִיהוּ, nir’ah leDavid avihu): This refers to the specific angelic appearance during the plague when God commanded an altar be built on Ornan's threshing floor (1 Chr 21:18). This validates the site by direct divine revelation and personal encounter with the king. It underscores the Temple's legitimacy as chosen by God Himself, not human whim, polemicizing against contemporary pagan worship on self-chosen high places.
• in the place that David had prepared: This highlights David's crucial, divinely guided role in preparing for the Temple's construction, even though he was not permitted to build it (1 Chr 22:1, 5; 28:10-11). David's preparatory work underscores obedience, foresight, and humility, ensuring the continuity of God's redemptive plan through successive generations.
• on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite: The specific piece of land. Ornan the Jebusite (also known as Araunah in 2 Samuel) was a native inhabitant. The fact that David purchased the land from him (1 Chr 21:24) at full price symbolizes a legal, non-violent acquisition of sacred ground, underscoring Israel's rightful, divinely ordained claim and avoiding any suggestion of confiscation. The transformation of a secular threshing floor (a place of judgment, separating wheat from chaff) into a holy sanctuary points to a transition from human labor and judgment to divine worship and atonement.

2 Chronicles 3 1 Bonus section

The chronicler’s specific mention of "Mount Moriah" over simply "the threshing floor" or "Zion" holds deep theological weight for its original audience and for later biblical understanding. It deliberately links Solomon's Temple to the earliest known act of supreme faith and sacrifice in Israel's history—Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac. This connection elevates the Temple from merely a physical structure to a sacred space imbued with the legacy of God's covenant promises and providential deliverance. The repetition of the location’s name, including Ornan’s threshing floor, serves as an emphatic affirmation of God’s deliberate and historical choice for this site, validating the legitimacy and sacredness of Israel's worship in Jerusalem. It reminds the audience, especially those returning from exile, that God's plan is enduring, and His chosen dwelling has roots reaching back to Abraham's obedient faith. This deliberate tracing back contrasts the Temple's sanctity with the pagan "high places," which were chosen by human preference. The chronicler emphasizes that Yahweh’s house is established by divine mandate and attested by history.

2 Chronicles 3 1 Commentary

2 Chronicles 3:1 is a concise yet loaded verse that serves as the theological and historical foundation for the First Temple. It is more than just a logistical note; it's a divine affirmation. Solomon, the son of peace, takes up the mantle from David, the warrior, to build the "House of the LORD," symbolizing a transition from conquest to established worship. The selection of Mount Moriah is not arbitrary. By connecting the Temple site to Abraham's act of faith and God's provision in Genesis 22 (though explicitly stating David's encounter), and David's specific experience of divine intervention and atonement in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, the chronicler firmly anchors the Temple's significance in Israel's foundational history of redemption and sacrifice. It becomes the geographical point where God's promises coalesce, and where His presence would most notably manifest, continuing the pattern of divine-human encounter. David's meticulous preparations, even supplying the architectural blueprint, underscore that the Temple's construction was a continuation of God's pre-ordained plan, initiated by divine will, not merely human ambition. The choice of Ornan's threshing floor—a site transformed from common use to consecrated ground by divine encounter and payment—further highlights the sacred, set-apart nature of God's dwelling place and Israel's relationship with Him.