King Solomon's Temple
Right stamp: a drawing of the Temple based on a model designed for the special exhibition at the Jerusalem Bible Lands Museum entitled "Jerusalem - A Capital for all times; Royal Cities of the Biblical World"
Left stamp: a rare inscribed ivory pomegranate exhibited at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Background: a model of the City of David from the abovementioned exhibition. The pomegranate is inscribed in ancient Hebrew script. Based on the shape of the characters on the tiny pomegranate (43mm high), the inscription was engraved in the eighth century BCE. The ivory pomegranate may have been used as the head of a scepter of a priest in King Solomon's Temple.
The inscription as it appears on the pomegranate decorates the First Day Cover.
Issue: May 1998
Designer: Aharon Shevo
Size: 30.8mm x 30.8mm
Plate #: 333
Souvenir Sheet of 2 stamps (90mm x 60mm)
Tabs: 6
Printers: Government Printers
Method: Offset
t the time it was built by King Solomon on Mount Moriah, the First Temple in Jerusalem, which became known as Temple Mount, was located north of the city. The site had already been sanctified by Solomon's father King David, who built an altar there after proclaiming Jerusalem his capital city.The Temple was one building in a cluster of palaces and official structures, the largest of which was the King's palace. It took seven years to build and was inaugurated about 958 BCE. After about 370 years, in 587/6 BCE, it was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
During its long existence, the Temple was renovated and restored several times. There are no archeological remains, so all our information about its structure comes from the Bible. Most details are in I Kings (Chapters 6-7) and 2 Chronicles (Chapters 3-4), but additional details are also found in other biblical texts. Although some of the biblical descriptions are technical and difficult to interpret, we nonetheless have a detailed account of the Temple's structure.
It was elongated, its entrance facing east with its back to the west, and was comprised of three units, each behind the other: a porch, a hall, and the Sanctuary or Holy of Holies. In front of it were two tall free-standing columns of copper with elaborate capitals. These did not support the building, but were symbolic monuments given human names: Yachin and Boaz.
The Temple's dimensions were 100 x 50 cubits, about 52 x 26 meters. It was built of the finest materials, such as large well-cut smooth stones and cedar, cypress and olive wood. The exterior was paneled with cedar, while the interior was plated with gold and richly decorated with designs of cherubs, pomegranates, stylized palm branches, bulbs, blossoms and flowers. Cedar beams were used for the ceilings. Design decorations were influenced by the art and architecture of Israel's neighbors, mainly from Phoenicia and Syria.
The most important item of the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant, inside which were kept the Holy Tablets of the Law. Above the Ark were two large gold-plated wooden cherubs.
The Temple was recognized as the heart of the nation, the symbol of ancient Israel's political independence and sovereignty, and the focus for the worship of the God of Israel. Its status inspired the Second Temple, which was built by those returning to Zion after the Babylonian exile.
