Who built the temple of Yahweh according to scripture?

The temple of Yahweh, also known as the First Temple, was a prominent religious and cultural symbol in ancient Israel. It was built in Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon, who ruled Israel in the 10th century BCE.

According to the Hebrew Bible, the temple was built to house the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by Yahweh.

The construction of the temple of Yahweh was a grand undertaking that required vast amounts of resources and labor. King Solomon commissioned the temple's construction and oversaw the project, but he did not build it himself. Instead, he hired skilled workers, including craftsmen, masons, and carpenters, to carry out the construction under his supervision.

The Hebrew Bible provides a detailed account of the temple's construction in 1 Kings 5-8 and 2 Chronicles 2-7. According to these accounts, King Solomon negotiated with King Hiram of Tyre, who provided him with cedar and cypress wood from Lebanon. Solomon also conscripted laborers from among the Israelites and the foreign residents of Israel to work on the temple.

The temple's construction took seven years to complete, and when it was finished, it was a magnificent structure that was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. The temple was built on a raised platform and was surrounded by courtyards and other structures, including a royal palace, a throne room, and a treasury. The temple itself was divided into three parts: the outer court, the inner court, and the Holy of Holies.

The outer court was the largest part of the temple and was open to the public. It contained the altar of burnt offering, where sacrifices were made, and a bronze basin for washing. The inner court was reserved for the priests and contained the menorah, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense.

The Holy of Holies was the most sacred part of the temple and was only accessible to the high priest on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It contained the Ark of the Covenant and was considered the dwelling place of Yahweh on earth.

The temple of Yahweh played a central role in the religious life of ancient Israel and was the site of many important ceremonies and rituals. It was also a symbol of Israel's power and wealth, and many foreign dignitaries came to visit it.

However, the temple was not without controversy. Some Israelites criticized King Solomon for using forced labor to build the temple, and others accused him of importing foreign gods and practices into Israel.

Despite these criticisms, the temple of Yahweh remained a symbol of Israel's religious and cultural identity for centuries. However, it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, and the Ark of the Covenant was lost. The temple was later rebuilt by the Jews who returned from exile in Babylon, but it was destroyed again by the Romans in 70 CE.