2 Chronicles 3:1
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This verse isn't just about Solomon starting a big project; it's about God's specific choice of location. The detail about the "threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite" highlights how God's plans can arise from unexpected, even foreign, places, transforming ordinary ground into sacred space where His presence will dwell. It's a powerful reminder that where God shows up, holiness happens, no matter the starting point.
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon is stepping into his father David's shoes, taking on the monumental task of building God's permanent dwelling place. This follows David's reign, where he had gathered vast resources and prepared the site, but was forbidden by God to build it himself. Now, Solomon is fulfilling that divine plan on the very mountain where God first appeared to David and where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac, setting the stage for the magnificent Temple.
Why did Solomon start building the Temple on this specific mountain? It wasn't just any random spot.
The location for the Temple wasn't Solomon's idea alone. It was Mount Moriah, the very place where Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac centuries before (Genesis 22). It was also where the devastating plague on Israel was stopped after David repented and offered sacrifices (1 Chronicles 21). God Himself chose this spot, making it holy through His past appearances and interventions. This highlights that God’s dwelling places are always rooted in His divine initiative and redemptive history.
The land for the Temple wasn't originally Israelite territory. How does that play into the story?
The spot for the Temple was Ornan the Jebusite's threshing floor. The Jebusites were a people living in Jerusalem (Jebus) who had resisted Israelite conquest. David had actually conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5:6-10). Yet, here, a Jebusite owner willingly gives up his land for God's house. This symbolizes a profound theological shift: what was once seen as foreign or even hostile territory is transformed into the sacred center of God’s presence for all His people. It points towards God’s kingdom expanding beyond ethnic boundaries.
Understand the original words
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YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, representing His personal, self-existent, and faithful nature toward His people.
Yĕruwshalaim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The capital city of Israel, central to God's presence, the site of the Temple, and a symbol of God's dwelling place among His people. It is often referred to as the 'city of David' and serves as a prophetic type for the heavenly city.
Mowriyah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A significant geographical location associated with Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac and the site where David offered sacrifices to stop a plague, eventually becoming the location of Solomon's Temple. It signifies a place of divine revelation and atonement.
goren · Hebrew Noun
An open area used for separating grain from chaff, often signifying a place of judgment, testing, or divine activity. In this context, it marks the location chosen by God for the site of the Temple.
~1070 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, establishing it as his capital and the political center of Israel.
~1070 BC
David Acquires Ornan's Threshing Floor
A plague strikes Jerusalem, and an angel is seen by Mount Moriah. David is commanded to build an altar there. He buys the threshing floor from Ornan the Jebusite to stop the plague, and God answers his sacrifice with fire.
~1070 BC
God Appears to David on Mount Moriah
God speaks to David on Mount Moriah, designating the spot as the future site for the Temple. David prepares materials and plans for the Temple.
c. 970 BC— this verse
Solomon Begins Temple Construction
Solomon, David's son, begins the monumental task of building the Temple on the sacred site on Mount Moriah, following his father's vision and God's command.
c. 960 BC
Temple Completion and Dedication
Solomon completes the construction of the magnificent Temple, which is then consecrated with great ceremony and prayer, marking a new era of worship for Israel.
This passage identifies Mount Moriah as the place where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, highlighting its ancient significance as a place of divine encounter and obedience before Solomon's temple.
2 Samuel 24:18-25This passage details David purchasing the threshing floor of Ornan and building an altar there, directly preceding the construction of the temple and explaining David's specific appointment of the location.
1 Kings 6:1-2This passage provides the direct continuation of Solomon's building project, specifying the year and duration of the temple's construction, linking the beginning of the work to its completion.
Psalm 132:6-7This psalm anticipates the finding of a dwelling place for the Lord, referencing Ephrathah (a region often associated with Bethlehem and Jerusalem) and the fields of Jaar (possibly referring to the same area as Ornan's threshing floor), connecting the desire for God's presence to this sacred site.
This verse isn't just about Solomon starting a big project; it's about God's specific choice of location. The detail about the "threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite" highlights how God's plans can arise from unexpected, even foreign, places, transforming ordinary ground into sacred space where His presence will dwell. It's a powerful reminder that where God shows up, holiness happens, no matter the starting point.
Solomon is stepping into his father David's shoes, taking on the monumental task of building God's permanent dwelling place. This follows David's reign, where he had gathered vast resources and prepared the site, but was forbidden by God to build it himself. Now, Solomon is fulfilling that divine plan on the very mountain where God first appeared to David and where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac, setting the stage for the magnificent Temple.
Solomon is stepping into his father David's shoes, taking on the monumental task of building God's permanent dwelling place. This follows David's reign, where he had gathered vast resources and prepared the site, but was forbidden by God to build it himself. Now, Solomon is fulfilling that divine plan on the very mountain where God first appeared to David and where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac, setting the stage for the magnificent Temple.
"Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite." — This verse isn't just about Solomon starting a big project; it's about God's specific choice of location. The detail about the "threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite" highlights how God's plans can…
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Last reviewed October 2026
