According to the Old Testament, which king built the first Temple in Jerusalem?

The story behind the answer

According to the Old Testament, King Solomon built the first Temple in Jerusalem.

David, Solomon’s father, wanted to build a permanent sanctuary, but the biblical account says the task was reserved for Solomon. During Solomon’s reign, workers constructed the Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem as a central place of worship for ancient Israel.

The Temple housed the Ark of the Covenant and became the religious center of the kingdom. Its dedication is described in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, with Solomon offering prayers and sacrifices.

This first Temple is also called Solomon’s Temple. It was later destroyed by the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BCE. Herod’s later Temple was a different structure and should not be confused with Solomon’s Temple.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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