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Solomon's Temple Model
Home FAQs Temple Model Photos
A replica is a full scale reproduction using authentic materials. This is a model... it is a scale representation of the original using materials that reproduce the look (in a reasonable way).
The main structural material is foam poster board.
The outside contains ~seven square feet of tumbled marble. This was as close as we could find (at a reasonable price and look) to sandstone. Our friends at Leeway Ceramic Tile in Bloomington, IL were kind enough to help cut many small pieces of this tile for us.
The cherubim are formed from multiple plastic animals.
The lamp stands are a combination of wire art and beads.
The 'carving' on the walls is gold embossing used stamps and gold embossing powder. Michael Benjamin, a New York based artist, created the cherubim design for us.
The pillars are wooden doll rods. The capitals/chapiters are silk flowers, painted bronze.
The scale is 1/4 inch is equal to 1 cubit. As a point of reference, the door to the outside rooms on the south side of the temple is roughly six feet tall.
The model itself is about two feet long and only about 8 inches tall. The inside height of the original temple was 30 cubits or about 45 feet tall (assuming a cubit was about 18 inches).
There is no authoritative or agreed upon look for these angelic beings. The Bible never gives a complete description of a cherub outside of Ezekiel, which is figurative in nature and near impossible to depict.
Ancient and historical cherubim (Babylonian and Egyptian) are always animal or lion based with wings. Also Psalm 18:10 refers to the Lord "riding on a cherub", indicating a animal based cherub was the normal depiction for the day.
The Ark of the Covenant of the same ark created by Moses in Exodus. The model dimensions follow original dimensions given by God to Moses.
The model's lamp stands, tables of showbread, and incense alter each follow the dimensions given in Exodus as well. However, it is important to note that they were created new for Solomon's temple and no dimensions or true placement guidelines are given in Kings or Chronicles regarding these items.
The following list is not exhaustive, but does provide the reader with a list of question that require careful study. Many have partial answers in scripture, but to build the model requires some level of assumption. More importantly, we very much wanted to demonstrate a feasible answer, while not taking anything away from the spiritual meaning of the various parts of the temple.
- What was the external size/placement of the portico/porch?
- Where exactly were the pillars placed?
- What is a 'network of chains'?
- What does a cherub look like?
- How large was the veil?
- How many clerestory windows were there and what were their sizes?
- Were there any windows in the external rooms?
- Where was the exact location of the staircase(s) in the external rooms? (not shown in the model)
- What was the exact size and placement of the two sets of doors?
- What was in the room above the Most Holy Place?
- What was the exact design of the internal carvings of the flowers, cherubim, palm trees, etc.?
- What did the 'roof line' of the temple look like?
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