Building: Among the Jews was suited to the climate and conditions of the
country. They probably adopted the kind of architecture for their
dwellings which they found already existing when they entered Canaan
(Deuteronomy 6:10; Numbers 13:19) Phoenician artists
(2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:6,18) assisted at
the erection of the royal palace and the temple at Jerusalem.
Foreigners also assisted at the restoration of the temple after the
Exile
(Ezra 3:7) In
(Genesis 11:3,9) we have the first recorded instance of
the erection of buildings. The cities of the plain of Shinar were
founded by the descendants of Shem
(Genesis 10:11,12,22) The Israelites
were by occupation shepherds and dwellers in tents
(Genesis 47:3) but from
the time of their entering Canaan they became dwellers in towns, and
in houses built of the native limestone of Palestine. Much building
was carried on in Solomon's time. Besides the buildings he completed
at Jerusalem, he also built Baalath and Tadmor
(1 Kings 9:15,24) Many of
the kings of Israel and Judah were engaged in erecting various
buildings. Herod and his sons and successors restored the temple, and
built fortifications and other structures of great magnificence in
Jerusalem
(Luke 21:5) The instruments used in building are mentioned as
the plumb-line
(Amos 7:7) the measuring-reed
(Ezekiel 40:3) and the saw
(1 Kings 7:9) Believers are "God's building"
(1 Corinthians 3:9) and heaven is
called "a building of God"
(2 Corinthians 5:1) Christ is the only foundation of
his church
(1 Corinthians 3:10-12) of which he also is the builder
(Matthew 16:18)
