Solomon - The Two Temple Pillars - Jachin and Boaz

Amongst the many brass items that Hiram cast for the temple were the two brass pillars that were placed in the front of the temple. The two pillars were a unique addition to the temple that Solomon built for the Lord that were not in the temple that Moses built in the wilderness. Since Solomon was building the temple in accordance with the instructions that God had given David (I Chronicles 28:11-19; Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5), we have to believe that these pillars were an additional insight into the temple process that could be revealed now that a permanent structure was to be built.

Hiram cast them out of brass and was done in such a way as to get these pillars to the temple and get them set up. These pillars were 18 cubits high, a cubit is approximately 18 inches, or about 27 feet tall, and about 12 cubits in circumference, or about 18 feet around. I Kings 7:15. On top of each pillar was a "chapiter" of molten brass, which was an additional 5 cubits tall, or an additional 7.5 feet higher, for a total of about 34.5 feet tall. I Kings 7:16. Thus the weight of each pillar was about was about 22 tons, as some experts indicate that 34 feet of brass would weigh. So the pillars had to be cast in such a way as to complete the task and to be able to move the pillars to the temple site and then construct them, or to stand them upright, and place them in their proper place in the courtyard of the temple. We know that they were placed in the courtyard because the pillars were made of brass and not of gold. Gold would indicate that they should be placed in the Holy Place or the Most Holy Place.

In religious art the chapiters were seen as either square objects, or in some artists drawings the chapiters were circular. Apparently the Bible instructions are not clear as to the precise shape. However, there was additional instructions that the chapiters were to be covered with some kind of lattice work, or chain work, that was to have 200 pomegranates and lily work on each chapiter. This would leave the impression that the pillars were to communicate the idea that the pillars symbolized some kind of flower bearing quality and some kind of fruit bearing quality. In some of the articles that this writer has read the idea was presented that the pillars were to symbolize some kind of trees. It is this writers opinion that the lattice/chain work connected the top of the two pillars, and ran over the top of the entrance way into the temple. An example of the above picture is presented in the book Early Writings page 17. Here Ellen White presents a word picture of the Tree of Life:

"Here we saw the Tree of Life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the Tree of Life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the Tree of Life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver."

It would appear that the pillars, their chapiters, and the lattice work of pomegranates and lilys, would present a picture of the Tree of Life in front of the throne of God and a river of truth running out between the two pillars/trunks.

In this writers research there were many perceptions of what the pillars could symbolize. Some writers speculated that the two pillars could have symbolized the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that led Israel to Canaan. Some see the two pillars as symbols for the son and moon. Some see the pillars as symbols of the male and female fertility powers. Some see the pillars as copies of heathen architecture and the incorporation of heathen principles due to Hiram’s influence over Solomon. It is this writer’s opinion that the two pillars are symbols that God initiated to communicate a total picture of His love and care for His people. That every symbol in the temple was to tell some portion of the gospel story to help people find a way to God and to accept of His wonderful provisions for salvation. Therefore, the Tree of Life symbols seem to fit the picture of a path to the throne of God better than some other ideas may.

One final significant piece of data is offered for the two pillars. In I Kings 7:21 the pillars are given names. Names in the Bible indicate character traits. Again God is communicating that these character traits are statements about God and His power to care for His people. The pillar on the right side, of the person looking at the temple, is the pillar named Jachin. Jachin means, "He will establish". The name of the pillar on the left-hand side is Boaz. Boaz means, "In Him is strength". So if someone were coming to enter the temple they would be reminded that it is God who will establish the earth and He will establish the seekers spiritual experience. On top of that God also promises that in Him is strength and it is not in the sinner. God will be the provider of all graces for the sinner and that the sinner will be blessed by seeking help in the sanctuary of God.

It is this writer’s hope that all who read this will study out the two pillars that were in the temple that Solomon built for God. All these studies are fruitful in bringing us to the mind of God that we may receive the blessings that He has established for us as we seek him in His Holy Sanctuary.