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One-sentence summary: Solomon builds the Lord's house.
King Tyre sends his servants to Solomon after hearing he has been made king- since he loved David- and Solomon sends word back and says that his father could not build a house for the Lord because of all the wars he had to fight, but the Lord has given him rest "on every side" having "neither adversary nor evil occurrence," and that he wants to build a house as the Lord told his father he would. He asks that cedars be cut from Lebanon by his servants, and he will pay his servants however much he thinks is fair, since they are very skilled at cutting timber. The king rejoices greatly after hearing this and blesses the Lord for giving David "a wise son over this great people," and he agrees to Solomon's request. He also gives him cedar and Cyprus logs, and Solomon pays him in wheat and oil each year. The Lord gives Solomon wisdom as He promised and there is peace between the kings, and they make a treaty. Solomon raises up a labor force of 30,000 men from Israel who he sends in shifts to work on the temple.
In the 480th year after Israel had come up out of Egypt, in the 4th year of Solomon's reign, in the second month, Solomon begins to build the house of the Lord. The temple is described in detail. It says it was made in such a way that there was no sound of iron tools or chiseling while it was being built. It is three stories tall. The word of the Lord comes to Solomon, and He tells him again that if he will walk in His ways, He will perform His word to him which He spoke to David and dwell with Israel and not forsake them. Solomon finishes the temple. In the inner sanctuary he places the ark of the covenant. The entire temple and the altar is overlaid with gold, and there are two cherubim in the inner room with outstretched wings touching each wall and each other, overlaid with gold. All the walls are carved with cherubim, palm trees, and flowers. Even the floors are overlaid with gold. In the 11th year of the 8th month, it is finished "according to all its details and plans," seven years in all.
This story is retold in both books. Solomon also builds a house for himself. He tells King Tyre that the purpose of building the temple is to offer sacrifices to God continually there. He says, "Because our God is greater than all gods." He also says, "But who, then, is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I, then, that I should build him a temple except to burn sacrifices before Him?" He requests logs of wood and also artistic men to help in the work of the sanctuary. Solomon numbers the aliens and has them work, too.
He builds the temple in Jerusalem at Mt. Moriah, in the place where the Lord appeared to David, at the threshing floor where he built Him an altar. The exact measurements are given. The cherubim face each other, and the veil is made of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and cherubim are woven into them. He also makes two pillars in front of the temple. He makes wreaths for the pillars and 1,000 pomegranates put on them, and he names the pillars Jakin and Boaz. (Jakin means "God will establish," and Boaz- besides being Solomon's ancestor- means "strength," so it could be translated: "The Lord will establish in strength.")
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Solomon had a spirit of excellence. The Bible says that whatever we do, we are to do "as unto the Lord," and therefore, with excellence. Not all actions are similar in importance, but every action can be holy if done with the right motives as unto the Lord.
Pomegranates were used to symbolize the richness of the promised land of Israel.