<P> The Ulam, or porch, acted as an entrance before the Temple on the east (1 Kings 6: 3; 2 Chr. 3: 4; 9: 7). This was 20 cubits long (corresponding to the width of the Temple) and 10 cubits deep (1 Kings 6: 3). (ESV 2 Chr. 3: 4) notes that this porch was 120 cubits high . The description does not specify whether a wall separated it from the next chamber . In the porch stood the two pillars Jachin and Boaz (1 Kings 7: 21; 2 Kings 11: 14; 23: 3), which were 18 cubits in height . </P> <P> Chambers were built around the Temple on the southern, western and northern sides (1 Kings 6: 5--10). These formed a part of the building and were used for storage . They were probably one story high at first; two more may have been added later . </P> <P> According to the Bible, two courts surrounded the Temple . The Inner Court (1 Kings 6: 36), or Court of the Priests (2 Chr. 4: 9), was separated from the space beyond by a wall of three courses of hewn stone, surmounted by cedar beams (1 Kings 6: 36). It contained the Altar of burnt - offering (2 Chr. 15: 8), the Brazen Sea laver (4: 2--5, 10) and ten other lavers (1 Kings 7: 38, 39). A brazen altar stood before the Temple (2 Kings 16: 14), its dimensions 20 cubits square and 10 cubits high (2 Chr. 4: 1). The Great Court surrounded the whole Temple (2 Chr. 4: 9). It was here that people assembled to worship . (Jeremiah 19: 14; 26: 2). </P> <P> According to the Hebrew Bible, the Molten Sea or Brazen Sea (ים מוצק "cast metal sea") was a large basin in the Temple for ablution of the priests . It is described in 1 Kings 7: 23 - 26 and 2 Chronicles 4: 2 - 5 . It stood in the south - eastern corner of the inner court . According to the Bible it was five cubits high, ten cubits in diameter from brim to brim, and thirty cubits in circumference . The brim was "like the calyx of a lily" and turned outward "about an hand breadth"; or about four inches . It was placed on the backs of twelve oxen, standing with their faces outward . The Book of Kings states that it contains 2,000 baths (90 cubic meters), while Chronicles (2 Chr. 4: 5--6) states it can hold up to 3,000 baths (136 cubic meters) and states that its purpose was to afford opportunity for the purification by immersion of the bodies of the priests . </P>

Who was allowed to enter the temple of solomon