Solomon's temple

[Ask a Pastor]

I know it says that David made extensive plans for the temple before he died so that Solomon could have the temple built. What I was wondering if where did David or Solomon get the idea of the layout for the temple? I know in Ezekiel 40-48 it describes a temple, but that seems different from what Solomon had built. It seems odd that the plan for the temple would be completely man made ideas when God gave such exact instructions for the tabernacle that Moses made.
Here is one person's idea of what the temple looked like
Solomon's Temple

 

[Lamb]

@Pastor Rickert has replied to me by Email and this is his response:

The plans for the Temple were given to David by divine revelation. In 1 Chronicles 28:11-12, 19 we read, “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the house of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God and for the treasuries of the dedicated things. … All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.”

The Temple was to be a grand structure, reflecting the grace, glory and majesty of God. Its dimensions and materials were specified with precision. The main structure was to be 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2). The interior was to be overlaid with pure gold, and the walls adorned with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers (1 Kings 6:29).

The temple in Ezekiel is not the same. That temple was part of a vision and should be understood in those terms. The very short answer is the question is that God gave specific specifications for “Solomon’s Temple” and those specification were followed.