1. Solomon began to build the Lord’s temple 480 years after Israel left Egypt. He began building in the month of Ziv (the second month) of the fourth year of his reign over Israel.
2. The temple that King Solomon built for the Lord was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
3. The entrance hall in front of the main room of the temple was the same length as the shorter side of the temple. It extended 15 feet in front of the temple.
4. He also made latticed windows for the temple.
5. He built an annex containing side rooms all around the temple. This annex was next to the walls of the main building and the inner sanctuary.
6. The ⌊interior of⌋ the lowest story of the annex was 7½ feet wide, the second story was 9 feet wide, and the third story was 10½ feet wide. Solomon made ledges all around the temple so that this annex would not be fastened to the walls of the temple.
7. The temple was built with stone blocks that were finished at the quarry. No hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool made a sound at the temple construction site.
8. The entrance to the first story was on the south side of the temple. A staircase went up to the middle story and then to the third story.
9. When he had finished building the walls, he roofed the temple with rows of cedar beams and planks.
10. He built ⌊each story of the⌋ annex 7½ feet high alongside the entire temple. Its cedar beams were attached to the temple.
11. The Lord spoke to Solomon, saying,
12. “This concerns the temple you are building: If you live by my laws, follow my rules, and keep my commands, I will fulfill the promise I made about you to your father David.
13. I will live among the Israelites and never abandon my people.”