‏ 1 Kings 6

Summary for 1Kgs 6:1-8:66: 6:1–8:66  ^a The building of the Temple and palace complex and the celebration of the Temple dedication are central to the 1 Kings account of Solomon’s era. The Temple, erected to glorify God, was Israel’s most important building, so the writer of 1 Kings carefully recorded details of its construction. 6:1  ^b Solomon’s fourth year was about 967 BC. Treating the number 480 as representing calendar years yields a date of about 1446 BC for Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Those who view the number as symbolic (12 generations times 40 years each) suggest that the Exodus occurred at a later date, around 1270 BC (see Exodus Book Introduction, “The Date of the Exodus”).
6:2  ^c Like the Tabernacle before it, the Temple (literally house) was the place where God met with his people. David had stored up materials to be used in its construction (1 Chr 22:2-4  ^d, 14  ^e) and had drawn up plans for the Temple and given them to Solomon (1 Chr 28:11-12  ^f). The Temple’s floor plan resembled that of the Tabernacle but doubled its length and width and increased its height (cp. Exod 26:3  ^g, 15-30  ^h; 36:26-34  ⁱ).
Summary for 1Kgs 6:3-4: 6:3-4  ^j Unlike the Tabernacle, the Temple had an east entry room (or porch) and two freestanding pillars before the entrance (7:15-22  ^k).
Summary for 1Kgs 6:11-13: 6:11-13  ^l The Lord had an encouraging message for Solomon. Because God appeared to Solomon before (3:5  ^m) and after (9:2  ⁿ) this event, this message probably came to him by a prophet. The words reminded the king of God’s prior promise (3:14  ^o): If Solomon remained faithful to God, the Temple that he was building would become an eternal dwelling place for God.
Summary for 1Kgs 6:14-35: 6:14-35  ^p The focus shifts to the Temple interior. While the Temple site is not mentioned here, the Chronicler located it at the former threshing floor of Araunah (1 Chr 21:18-25  ^q; 2 Chr 3:1  ^r). This site is traditionally thought to be the location of Mount Moriah (Gen 22:2  ^s). Solomon’s Temple was in the northeastern corner of Jerusalem (now called the “old city”) in the area now associated with the Dome of the Rock.
Summary for 1Kgs 6:15-18: 6:15-18  ^t paneled with wood: The interior walls were paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling so that no exterior stones could be seen. The effect was exquisitely beautiful, reflecting painstaking care and great expense.
Summary for 1Kgs 6:19-22: 6:19-22  ^u Following the pattern of the Tabernacle, the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid ... inside with solid gold, was separated from the main room of the Temple by a curtain (2 Chr 3:14  ^v) and gold chains. Like the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle, the inner sanctuary was a perfect cube. It housed the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant that symbolized God’s presence. The place of atonement was atop the Ark (Exod 25:17  ^w); the high priest annually made propitiation for the Israelites by sprinkling the sacrificial blood of the atonement on it (Lev 16:1-19  ^x).

• The altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place stood in the main room. The priests burned incense there daily (Exod 30:34-38  ^y; 37:25-29  ^z). The altar was made of cedar and covered with gold.

• Like the inner sanctuary, the main room was also completely overlaid with gold, which reminded the priests that Almighty God was present. The main room also housed ten golden lampstands, ten tables (2 Chr 4:7-8  ^aa), and other furnishings (1 Kgs 7:48-50  ^ab).
Summary for 1Kgs 6:23-28: 6:23-28  ^ac In the inner sanctuary were two cherubim (see study note on 1 Chr 28:18) made of olive wood and overlaid ... with gold. Standing like sentries facing the door (2 Chr 3:13  ^ad), their combined wingspan reached from wall to wall. Along with the two smaller cherubim facing each other atop the Ark (Exod 25:17-21  ^ae), they symbolized the awesome presence of the Most Holy God.
Summary for 1Kgs 6:36-38: 6:36-38  ^af The inner courtyard surrounding the Temple was restricted to the priests (2 Chr 4:9  ^ag) and contained the bronze altar (2 Chr 4:1  ^ah), the bronze Sea (1 Kgs 7:23-26  ^ai; 2 Chr 4:2-5  ^aj), and ten carts that could hold ten basins of water for purification (1 Kgs 7:27-40  ^ak; 2 Chr 4:6  ^al).
6:38  ^am midautumn, in the month of Bul: The year was 960 BC.

‏ 1 Kings 7

Summary for 1Kgs 7:1-12: 7:1-12  ^an Before describing the Temple’s furnishings, the writer mentions the construction of Solomon’s palace complex. The multiple buildings within this complex took nearly twice as long to build (thirteen years) as the Temple (seven years, 6:38  ^ao). The entire building project took twenty years (9:10  ^ap). Although construction details are brief, archaeological discovery of two of Solomon’s buildings provides an idea of how this palace might have looked. Despite its grandeur, Solomon’s palace is not the author’s focus; his interest is in the Temple, God’s dwelling place.
Summary for 1Kgs 7:2-5: 7:2-5  ^aq The Palace of the Forest of Lebanon was named for the abundant use of cedar in its construction. It would house 300 gold shields (10:16-17  ^ar) and possibly served as both treasury and armory (see 12:25-28  ^as; Isa 22:8  ^at). The Egyptian pharaoh Shishak later carried away the shields as booty (1 Kgs 14:27  ^au).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:6-8: 7:6-8  ^av The Hall of Pillars was apparently a colonnaded entry to the Hall of Justice, where Solomon sat to hear legal matters (see also 10:18-20  ^aw). Similar throne rooms have been found in Syria and Mesopotamia.

• Solomon erected separate living quarters for Pharaoh’s daughter (see 3:1  ^ax; 9:24  ^ay; 2 Chr 8:11  ^az).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:9-11: 7:9-11  ^ba As with the Temple, the stones for Solomon’s palace complex were high-quality stone, cut ... and trimmed to exact specifications. Similar stonework has been found at Megiddo. Cedar beams between the courses of the wall provided better protection against earthquakes.
7:12  ^bb The great courtyard that encircled the Temple and palace complex provided a gathering place for the people (see Jer 7:1-2  ^bc; 36:10  ^bd).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:13-14: 7:13-14  ^be Huram: Like his father, he was a master craftsman in bronze and other materials (2 Chr 2:12-14  ^bf). His skillful metal work is detailed in the following verses (1 Kgs 7:15-50  ^bg).

• skillful and talented (literally filled with wisdom and understanding and knowledge): The Israelites placed great emphasis on practical skills and considered them a form of wisdom (Prov 22:29  ^bh).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:15-22: 7:15-22  ^bi The two bronze pillars were probably free-standing since the narrator describes them here rather than in the earlier discussion of the Temple structure (6:3-6  ^bj).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:23-26: 7:23-26  ^bk The giant bronze basin called the Sea replaced the smaller bronze washbasin used in the Tabernacle service (see Exod 30:17-21  ^bl). The Sea was cast as one solid piece, excluding the twelve bronze oxen on which it sat. The oxen were placed so that three faced each direction, perhaps to remind priests that they served God on behalf of all twelve tribes of Israel. Ahaz later replaced the oxen with a stone base (2 Kgs 16:17  ^bm). The priests used the Sea, like the bronze washbasin before it, for ceremonial washing (2 Chr 4:6  ^bn) as they prepared to minister before God (see Exod 30:17-21  ^bo). The apparent discrepancy in the volume of water it could hold (see 2 Chr 4:5  ^bp) is probably due to standards of measurement that varied according to place and time.
Summary for 1Kgs 7:27-39: 7:27-39  ^bq The ten bronze water carts each held a basin for rinsing burnt offerings (2 Chr 4:6  ^br). Five stood on either side of the Temple. Because they had wheels, they could be moved as needed.
Summary for 1Kgs 7:40-45: 7:40-45  ^bs Huram had great skill in casting items of varying size and complexity. He also made the bronze altar for the inner court that was used for burnt offerings (2 Chr 4:1  ^bt).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:46-47: 7:46-47  ^bu between Succoth and Zarethan: This area east of the Jordan River (see Josh 3:16  ^bv; Judg 8:4-5  ^bw) was known for metallurgy. Abundant clay for molds, wood for fuel, and a prevailing north wind facilitated the casting process.
Summary for 1Kgs 7:48-49: 7:48-49  ^bx The gold altar replaced the altar for burning incense used in the Tabernacle (Exod 30:1-10  ^by). The one table and one lampstand used in the Tabernacle (Exod 25:23-40  ^bz) were replaced by ten such sets in the Temple. Although the author lists a single gold table for the Bread of the Presence, the Chronicler reports ten tables, five on each side of the Temple’s main room (cp. 2 Chr 4:8  ^ca), along with ten lampstands of solid gold. The bread represented God’s provision for his people, and the lampstand characterized God as the source of life and truth. Both symbols pointed to Christ, the bread of life (John 6:35  ^cb) and the light of the world (John 8:12  ^cc).
Summary for 1Kgs 7:50-51: 7:50-51  ^cd The writer emphasizes Solomon’s abundant use of gold in furnishing the Temple. David and the people had collected an enormous amount of gold to be used for the Temple (1 Chr 29:1-9  ^ce), and Solomon also amassed gold annually (1 Kgs 10:14  ^cf), so he had a ready supply (see 10:21  ^cg).

‏ 1 Kings 8

Summary for 1Kgs 8:1-66: 8:1-66  ^ch Solomon’s building activities climaxed with the Ark’s move to the newly erected Temple. The king offered both prayer (8:22-53  ^ci) and words of praise and blessing (8:56-61  ^cj) to dedicate the Temple for the Lord’s service. After the dedication, the assembled gathering enjoyed the great Festival of Shelters. The focus of the account is on Solomon praising God and blessing the people (8:12-61  ^ck). 8:1  ^cl The Ark was being kept in a tent in the City of David (2 Sam 6:3-17  ^cm; 1 Chr 13:7-14  ^cn; 15:1–16:43  ^co). Solomon had gone there earlier to sacrifice after the Lord appeared to him in a dream in Gibeon (1 Kgs 3:4-15  ^cp).
8:2  ^cq Although the Temple was completed in the eighth month (6:38  ^cr), Solomon apparently delayed the dedication until the following year so it could take place at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim. This schedule allowed time to prepare for the spectacular celebration and gave the occasion double significance. As prescribed in the law, Solomon and the people expressed their gratitude to God for the completed harvest season. They also celebrated the fulfillment of Moses’ song of deliverance, which promised that God would one day settle his people in the Promised Land and make his dwelling there (Exod 15:17  ^cs; Deut 12:10-14  ^ct). Solomon’s dedicatory prayer and blessing may indicate that he was consciously leading his people in covenantal renewal, as prescribed in Deut 31:10-13  ^cu, in the seventh month of the seventh year of his reign.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:3-4: 8:3-4  ^cv The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the Lord as prescribed in the law (Exod 25:14-15  ^cw; Num 4:5-8  ^cx; cp. 2 Sam 6:1-15  ^cy).
8:5  ^cz The incalculable sacrifices by the Israelites marked both the joy and the solemnity of this occasion.
8:8  ^da In accordance with the law (Exod 25:15  ^db), the carrying poles were required to stay with the Ark.
8:9  ^dc The focus on the two stone tablets that Moses placed in the Ark (cp. 8:21  ^dd; see Exod 25:21  ^de; Deut 31:26  ^df) suggests that Solomon had in mind both a renewal of the Mosaic covenant and the Temple dedication.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:10-11: 8:10-11  ^dg As the priests came out of the Holy Place, they were greeted with music praising the Lord (2 Chr 5:11-14  ^dh). Previously, the glorious presence of the Lord had filled the Tabernacle (Exod 40:34-35  ^di). Now it filled the Temple to show that God was again dwelling among his people. Ezekiel recorded its later departure from the Temple (Ezek 10:18-19  ^dj), to return at a blessed future time (Ezek 43:1-5  ^dk). In the New Testament, John wrote that God dwells among his people through his son, Jesus Christ (John 1:14  ^dl). Paul affirmed that Christ now dwells in each believer (Col 1:27  ^dm) as a foretaste of a future when “God’s home is ... among his people” (Rev 21:3  ^dn).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:12-21: 8:12-21  ^do Solomon began with prayer (8:12-13  ^dp), then blessed the people while praising God for fulfilling his promises (8:14-21  ^dq). As in many praise psalms, Solomon elevated God, subordinated himself, and testified to God’s great goodness.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:12-13: 8:12-13  ^dr thick cloud of darkness: Solomon recognized the cloud filling the inner sanctuary as a manifestation of God’s presence, but he also understood that God could not be contained in a man-made Temple (see 8:27  ^ds). Solomon fulfilled his commission to build the Temple (8:19  ^dt; 1 Chr 28:10  ^du), believing the promises that God would dwell in the sanctuary (see Exod 15:17  ^dv).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:14-16: 8:14-16  ^dw Solomon’s blessing was expressed as praise to God, who had kept his covenant promises and blessed his people (see 2 Sam 7:12-16  ^dx; cp. 2 Chr 6:1-11  ^dy).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:22-61: 8:22-61  ^dz Like Solomon’s preceding prayer, his prayer of dedication for the Temple praised God and blessed the people. He emphasized God’s covenant faithfulness and his own role in building the Temple and prayed for God’s continued response to their prayers (8:22-30  ^ea). Solomon then made seven distinct petitions to God (8:31-53  ^eb) and concluded with a blessing (8:54-61  ^ec). 8:22  ^ed As Solomon prayed, he lifted his hands toward heaven and knelt before the Lord on a platform erected in clear view of the congregation (8:54  ^ee; 2 Chr 6:13  ^ef). Jesus condemned hypocritical individuals who displayed religiosity without true, heartfelt belief (Matt 6:5-8  ^eg). But Solomon’s public piety was genuine, leading his people in worship and encouraging them to live in full dependence upon God. The nation that knows and obeys the Lord, and whose leaders rule in righteousness, is particularly blessed (2 Chr 7:14  ^eh; Pss 33:12  ^ei; 45:6-7  ^ej; 144:15  ^ek; Prov 29:2  ^el; Isa 11:1-5  ^em).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:23-26: 8:23-26  ^en Solomon’s prayer affirmed God’s incomparable nature and the fulfillment of his promises to David. Solomon also prayed that God would keep his promise that David’s descendants ... will always sit on the throne.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:29-51: 8:29-51  ^eo Solomon asked God to hear the prayers of his people from the Temple. He then addressed specific instances in which they would need God’s answers.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:31-32: 8:31-32  ^ep Solomon asked that God render the proper decision and carry out justice in court cases when the litigant’s innocence could not be determined due to a lack of witnesses (cp. Exod 22:7-12  ^eq). Perhaps Solomon realized that later officials would not have the special wisdom God had given him (1 Kgs 3:12  ^er; e.g., 3:16-27  ^es).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:33-34: 8:33-34  ^et Solomon asked concerning future situations when the people of Israel sinned and God allowed the enemy to defeat them (see Lev 26:14-17  ^eu; Deut 28:15  ^ev, 25-26  ^ew, 45  ^ex, 49  ^ey; Josh 7  ^ez) and then the people genuinely repented. Solomon asked that God honor his covenant and forgive them (Lev 26:39-42  ^fa).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:35-36: 8:35-36  ^fb Solomon prayed about drought brought on by the people’s sin (Lev 26:19  ^fc; Deut 28:23-24  ^fd). Solomon prayed that if the people confessed and truly repented, God would forgive them and restore fertility to the land so that the people would learn to live righteously before God.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:37-40: 8:37-40  ^fe Solomon prayed concerning various disasters caused by individual or corporate sin (Lev 26:16  ^ff, 19-26  ^fg; Deut 28:21-22  ^fh, 38-40  ^fi, 42  ^fj, 58-61  ^fk). Solomon again asked that if God’s people confessed and truly repented, God would deal justly so that all might live in reverence before him (Deut 8:6  ^fl; 2 Chr 7:14  ^fm; Prov 1:7  ^fn; 9:10  ^fo; 15:33  ^fp).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:41-43: 8:41-43  ^fq Solomon asked that non-Israelites would learn to fear the Lord and live in relationship with him. Solomon realized that Israel must properly represent the Lord to those outside the covenant (see Gen 12:7  ^fr; Ps 102:15  ^fs; Hab 2:14  ^ft; Matt 28:19  ^fu).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:44-45: 8:44-45  ^fv On behalf of those without access to the Temple, particularly when far away fighting for God’s cause (Lev 26:7-8  ^fw; Deut 20:1-4  ^fx), Solomon asked that God hear their prayers directed toward the Lord and his Temple in Jerusalem (see Dan 6:10  ^fy).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:46-51: 8:46-51  ^fz Solomon prayed concerning a time when Israel might be carried away captive (Lev 26:33  ^ga). Solomon prayed that if the people genuinely repented and confessed their sin, God would listen, forgive them, and grant them favor with their captors (Lev 26:40-45  ^gb; 2 Kgs 25:27-30  ^gc; Dan 6:10  ^gd; 9:3-19  ^ge).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:52-53: 8:52-53  ^gf Solomon concluded his prayer of dedication with a general petition for God to be accessible to all of Israel and respond to their requests. Returning to the theme of the Exodus (8:16  ^gg), Solomon reminded God that he had selected Israel as his special possession (Exod 19:5  ^gh; Deut 7:6  ^gi; 14:1-2  ^gj; 26:18  ^gk; Ps 135:4  ^gl; cp. Titus 2:11-14  ^gm; 1 Pet 2:9-10  ^gn).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:54-56: 8:54-56  ^go Solomon praised God’s faithfulness and goodness to Israel in giving the people rest as promised (see Josh 21:43-45  ^gp; 23:14  ^gq; 2 Sam 7:1  ^gr). Some Israelites failed to appropriate the rest that only God provides (Ps 95:10-11  ^gs; Heb 3:7-19  ^gt; 4:1-11  ^gu).
Summary for 1Kgs 8:57-61: 8:57-61  ^gv Solomon asked that God continue to be with his people and mold them into an obedient and faithful nation. Through God’s grace and their faithfulness, Israel could experience God’s righteous justice and teach people all over the earth that the Lord alone is God.
Summary for 1Kgs 8:62-66: 8:62-66  ^gw The closing sacrifices (see Deut 12:5-14  ^gx) and the observance of the Festival of Shelters close the narrative frame that was opened with the sacrifices made when the Ark was installed in the Most Holy Place (1 Kgs 8:1-11  ^gy; cp. 2 Chr 7:1-6  ^gz).
8:65  ^ha Lebo-hamath to the north in Aram and the Brook of Egypt (Wadi al Arish) to the south are the geographic boundaries that defined the Promised Land (Josh 13:5  ^hb; 15:4  ^hc).

• seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters: When the seven days for the dedication were completed, the Festival of Shelters was observed for another seven days.