מלכים א, פרק ו׳, פסוק כ״ב

The grand work of the Temple's construction reaches its peak as the inner spaces are plated with pure gold. This final step brings the project to a state of absolute completion [מצודת ציון]. The plating covers the entire main Sanctuary [רש״י]. While earlier stages focused on the walls, the ceiling and doors are now covered, completing the space before the floor is finished. Ultimately, every single surface of the room, including the four walls, the dividing partition, the ceiling, and the floor, is entirely wrapped in gold [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. However, a subtle distinction is maintained: the gold in this main Sanctuary is slightly less refined than the gold plating the Holy of Holies, ensuring a clear boundary in their levels of holiness [רלב״ג].

Earlier records mention that King David prepared silver to plate the walls, raising a question about Solomon's use of gold. Commentators offer a few ways to understand this change. Some suggest the silver was intended for structures outside the main Sanctuary. Alternatively, the term silver might be a poetic description of gold so remarkably pure that it caused other goldsmiths to pale with shame [רד״ק]. Another approach explains that David originally planned to plate the stone walls with silver. Solomon, however, used his vast wealth to upgrade the design. He first covered the stone walls with cedar wood and then layered pure gold on top. This change was also highly practical. Placing gold directly onto cold, damp stone would cause it to blacken and decay prematurely, while a wooden base preserves the gold for a long time. The unused silver prepared by David was respectfully stored away in God's treasuries [אברבנאל].

The construction also includes the Incense Altar [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Like the walls, this altar is first built of stone, covered with cedar wood, and finally overlaid with gold [רלב״ג]. The plating completely covers all six of its surfaces, including its sides and top [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Because this altar is a permanent structure fixed to the ground, it is plated at the same time as the Sanctuary walls, rather than being treated as one of the movable vessels [מלבי״ם].

Although the altar stands in the main Sanctuary, it is specifically described as belonging to, or adjoining, the Holy of Holies. This connection comes from its exact placement. Positioned directly between the Menorah and the Table, the altar aligns perfectly with the entrance to the Holy of Holies. Because it directly faces this most sacred space, it is considered essentially connected to it [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].