Before King David died, he called his son Solomon, and told him to build a temple for the Lord. He said, "I have gathered gold and silver, brass and iron, wood and stone, for the temple. But God will not let me build it, because I have taken part in many bloody wars."
In the fourth year of his rule. Solomon began to build God's temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. He sent ten thousand Israelites to Libanus to cut cedars and pine trees for wood. Seventy thousand men carried the wood to Jerusalem. Eighty thousand men cut stone in the mountains. Three thousand six hundred men were overseers of the workmen. All the material needed for the temple was made ready before it was taken to Mount Moriah. This is why when the building was started, there was no sound of hammer, axe, or any other iron tool, heard there.
There were two parts to the building, which was of vast and magnificent proportions. The smaller but more important part was the "Holy of Holies". It was completely covered with gold. Two figures of angels, with outspread wings, were cut out of olive wood, covered with gold, and placed in the "Holy of Holies" to stand guard over the Ark which was to be kept there.
After seven years the temple was finished. It was furnished in rich style, all the vessels for its use being of precious materials. Then the priests brought the Ark, containing the Ten Commandments and the Book of the Law, and placed it in the Holy of Holies. When the Ark was placed in the Temple, a cloud filled the place. The people knew then that God was present.
After many years, Solomon was led away from God by pagan and impure women that he brought to his court. Giving in to his evil desires, Solomon sank deeper into wickedness. He even worshipped the false gods of the pagan women, and built a temple for their idols. We see in this example how even the wisest of men may fall into atrocious crimes when he sins against purity.
God was offended by Solomon's ingratitude and punished him. When his son Roboam became king, ten tribes revolted and formed the tribes of Israel. The people were divided into two great divisions - Juda and Israel.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines