Verses 1 & 2 of chapter 13 set the stage for the rest of chapter 13. They give us an opportunity to take a peak into the maginificence of the temple and the cultural life of Judaism.
The web references used in this study are:
www.odditycentral.com/pics/retired-farmer-spends-30-years-building-scale-model-of-herods-temple.html
Virtual Reconstruction of Second Temple Mount/youtube.
Scripture cross references for the study
Genesis 22:14-18
2 Chronicles 7:1-3, 12-22