tem ́p'l (היכל, hēkhāl, “palace”; sometimes, as in 1 Kings 6:3, 6:5, etc.; Ezekiel 41:1, 41:15 ff, used for “the holy place” only; בּית, bayith, “house,” thus always in the Revised Version; ἱερόν, hierón, ναός, naós):
The tabernacle having lasted from the exodus till the commencement of the monarchy, it appeared to David to be no longer fitting that the ark of God should dwell within curtains (it was then in a tent David had made for it on Zion: 2 Samuel 6:17), while he himself dwelt in a cedar-lined house. The unsettled and unorganized state of the nation, which had hitherto necessitated a portable structure, had now given place to an established kingdom. The dwelling of Yahweh should therefore be henceforth a permanent building, situated at the center of the nation’s life, and “exceeding magnificent” (1 Chronicles 22:5), as befitted the glory of Yahweh, and the prospects of the state.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Temple, Holy temple, Tabernacle, Solomon's temple, Temple of Solomon, Temple of Herod, Herod's temple, Ezekiel's temple, House of God, Temple of God, God's holy temple, House for God's name, Milennial temple, Millennial temple, Millenial temple, Third temple
Bible reference(s): 1Kings 7:13-51, 2 Chron 3, 2 Chron 4, Ezekiel 43, Eze 44, Eze 45:15-25, Eze 46, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 7:15, Revelation 21
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.