דברי הימים ב, פרק ג׳, פסוק א׳

The construction of the Temple in Jerusalem unites deep historical and spiritual milestones, linking a physical building to a legacy of divine encounters. King Solomon chose to build the sanctuary on Mount Moriah because it was the exact location of the Binding of Isaac [רלב״ג]. Selecting this specific mountain fulfills an ancient promise that God would one day appear and reveal His presence at this very site [מלבי״ם].

The location carries further significance as the place where God revealed Himself to King David at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. This divine encounter occurred when a severe plague was brought to a halt [רש״י]. The revelation was not merely a spiritual feeling but took a tangible form when fire descended from heaven directly onto the altar [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

The physical preparation of this sacred ground is understood in two distinct ways. One approach suggests that Solomon was the one who prepared and built the Temple exactly where David had previously established the altar [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, another perspective notes that David himself practically prepared the site by digging its foundations deep into the earth. Because David was the one who tirelessly searched for and discovered this designated location for God, the site is rightfully named after him [מלבי״ם].