Solomon, typically portrayed as the epitome of royal wisdom and authority, appears here unusually subordinated to divine commandments, with God's conditional promise reversing the expected power dynamic between the wise king and deity.
1 Kings 6
Construction of the Temple
1In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the LORD’s house.
2The house which King Solomon built for the LORD had a length of sixty cubits, and its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits.
3The porch in front of the temple of the house had a length of twenty cubits, which was along the width of the house. Ten cubits was its width in front of the house.
4He made windows of fixed lattice work for the house.
5Against the wall of the house, he built floors all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the inner sanctuary; and he made side rooms all around.
6The lowest floor was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, that the beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.
7The house, when it was under construction, was built of stone prepared at the quarry; and no hammer or ax or any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was under construction.
8The door for the middle side rooms was in the right side of the house. They went up by winding stairs into the middle floor, and out of the middle into the third.
9So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.
10He built the floors all along the house, each five cubits high; and they rested on the house with timbers of cedar.
11The LORD’s word came to Solomon, saying,
12“Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.
13I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.”
14So Solomon built the house and finished it.
15He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood. He covered the floor of the house with cypress boards.
16He built twenty cubits of the back part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this within, for an inner sanctuary, even for the most holy place.
17In front of the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.
18There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers. All was cedar. No stone was visible.
19He prepared an inner sanctuary in the middle of the house within, to set the ark of the LORD’s covenant there.
20Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in its height. He overlaid it with pure gold. He covered the altar with cedar.
21So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold. He drew chains of gold across before the inner sanctuary, and he overlaid it with gold.
22He overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. He also overlaid the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary with gold.
23In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
24Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits was the length of the other wing of the cherub. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was ten cubits.
25The other cherub was ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.
26One cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the other cherub.
27He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house.
28He overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside.
30He overlaid the floor of the house with gold, inside and outside.
31For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made doors of olive wood. The lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall.
32So he made two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold. He spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.
33He also made the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall,
34and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.
36He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams.
37The foundation of the LORD’s house was laid in the fourth year, in the month Ziv.
38In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its specifications. So he spent seven years building it.
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Theme
Solomon begins construction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after the Exodus from Egypt. The chapter provides detailed architectural specifications for the Temple's dimensions, materials, and construction methods, emphasizing the use of cedar wood, carefully prepared stones, and the complete absence of iron tools during construction. God appears to Solomon during the building process, promising to dwell among Israel if Solomon remains obedient to divine commandments, linking the Temple's significance to covenant faithfulness.
Context
This chapter follows Solomon's preparation for Temple construction in chapter 5 and precedes the completion of his palace complex in chapter 7.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-10 Temple Construction Begins Solomon starts building the Temple with detailed specifications for dimensions, materials, and architectural features.
- 11-13 God's Conditional Promise The LORD speaks to Solomon, promising to dwell among Israel if the king remains obedient to divine commandments.
- 14-22 Interior Construction Details Solomon completes the Temple structure with cedar paneling, creates the Most Holy Place, and overlays surfaces with pure gold.
- 23-28 The Cherubim Two large golden cherubim are crafted and positioned in the inner sanctuary to guard the ark.
- 29-36 Decorative Elements and Courtyards The Temple is adorned with carved decorations throughout, and the inner courtyard is constructed with specific materials.
- 37-38 Construction Timeline The Temple construction spans seven years, from Solomon's fourth year to his eleventh year of reign.
Construction of the Temple
6:1–6:38 narrative narration solemn
The actual construction of Solomon's temple begins in the fourth year of his reign, with detailed architectural descriptions. God promises to dwell among Israel if Solomon remains obedient to His commandments.
person_contrast
Solomon, typically portrayed as the epitome of royal wisdom and authority, appears here unusually subordinated to divine commandments, with God's conditional promise reversing the expected power dynamic between the wise king and deity.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
1 Kings 6:1 4 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 3:2 Lexical
He began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
Ezekiel 10:14 Lexical
Every one of them had four faces. The first face was the face of the cherub. The second face was the face of a man. The…
1 Chronicles 27:7 Lexical
The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. In his division…
1 Kings 6:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 3:3 Lexical
Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God’s house: the length by cubits after the first m…
1 Kings 7:2 Lexical
For he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Genesis 6:15 Lexical
This is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its hei…
2 Chronicles 6:13 Lexical
(for Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in th…
2 Chronicles 4:1 Lexical
Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
1 Kings 6:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 40:49 Lexical
The length of the porch was twenty cubits and the width eleven cubits, even by the steps by which they went up to it. Th…
2 Chronicles 3:4 Lexical
The porch that was in front, its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred tw…
Ezekiel 41:4 Lexical
He measured its length, twenty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, before the nave. He said to me, “This is the most h…
2 Chronicles 4:1 Lexical
Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
Ezekiel 41:2 Lexical
The width of the entrance was ten cubits, and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on the one side, and five cubit…
1 Kings 6:4 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 41:26 Lexical
There were closed windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch. This is how t…
Ezekiel 40:16 Lexical
There were closed windows to the side rooms, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches.…
Ezekiel 41:16 Lexical
the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries around on their three stories, opposite the threshold, with wo…
1 Kings 6:5 2 references
1 Kings 6:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 41:9 Lexical
The thickness of the outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits. That which was left was the place of the side rooms t…
Ezekiel 41:5 Lexical
Then he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the width of every side room, four cubits, all around the house…
Ezekiel 41:12 Lexical
The building that was before the separate place at the side toward the west was seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the…
Ezekiel 41:7 Lexical
The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the widt…
Ezekiel 40:5 Lexical
Behold, there was a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed six cubits long,…
1 Kings 6:7 4 references
Lexicals 4
Joshua 8:31 Lexical
as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses: an…
Deuteronomy 27:6 Lexical
You shall build the LORD your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27:5 Lexical
There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.
Isaiah 44:12 Lexical
The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry…
1 Kings 6:8 1 reference
1 Kings 6:9 1 reference
1 Kings 6:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 7:2 Lexical
For he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Exodus 27:1 Lexical
“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height…
Exodus 38:1 Lexical
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits…
Exodus 27:18 Lexical
The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine…
Exodus 38:18 Lexical
The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
1 Kings 6:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 11:38 Lexical
It shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my ey…
Deuteronomy 11:1 Lexical
Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep his instructions, his statutes, his ordinances, and his commandment…
1 Kings 2:3 Lexical
and keep the instruction of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinanc…
2 Kings 17:34 Lexical
To this day they do what they did before. They don’t fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinanc…
Leviticus 26:15 Lexical
and if you shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhors my ordinances, so that you will not do all my commandments,…
1 Kings 6:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Samuel 5:11 Lexical
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
1 Chronicles 14:1 Lexical
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
Isaiah 41:19 Lexical
I will put cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oil trees in the wilderness. I will set cypress trees, pine, and box trees togethe…
Ezekiel 31:8 Lexical
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it. The cypress trees were not like its branches. The pine trees were not…
1 Kings 9:11 Lexical
(now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and cypress trees, and with gold, according to all hi…
1 Kings 6:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 41:9 Lexical
The thickness of the outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits. That which was left was the place of the side rooms t…
Ezekiel 41:5 Lexical
Then he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the width of every side room, four cubits, all around the house…
1 Chronicles 14:1 Lexical
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
2 Samuel 5:11 Lexical
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
2 Chronicles 3:11 Lexical
The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the hous…
1 Kings 6:19 4 references
Lexicals 4
Joshua 3:17 Lexical
The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel…
1 Kings 8:6 Lexical
The priests brought in the ark of the LORD’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most h…
2 Chronicles 5:7 Lexical
The priests brought in the ark of the LORD’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most h…
1 Chronicles 28:2 Lexical
Then David the king stood up on his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to…
1 Kings 6:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 3:4 Lexical
The porch that was in front, its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred tw…
2 Chronicles 4:1 Lexical
Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
1 Kings 7:2 Lexical
For he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Exodus 38:18 Lexical
The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
Exodus 38:1 Lexical
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits…
1 Kings 6:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 3:4 Lexical
The porch that was in front, its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred tw…
2 Chronicles 4:20 Lexical
and the lamp stands with their lamps to burn according to the ordinance before the inner sanctuary, of pure gold;
1 Kings 7:49 Lexical
and the lamp stands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the…
1 Kings 10:21 Lexical
All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure…
2 Chronicles 9:20 Lexical
All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure…
1 Kings 6:23 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 7:27 Lexical
He made the ten bases of bronze. The length of one base was four cubits, four cubits its width, and three cubits its hei…
2 Chronicles 4:2 Lexical
Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circum…
2 Chronicles 4:1 Lexical
Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
1 Kings 7:23 Lexical
He made the molten sea ten cubits from brim to brim, round in shape. Its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cu…
Exodus 27:1 Lexical
“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height…
1 Kings 6:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 3:12 Lexical
The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, joi…
2 Chronicles 3:11 Lexical
The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the hous…
2 Chronicles 3:13 Lexical
The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward t…
Ezekiel 41:2 Lexical
The width of the entrance was ten cubits, and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on the one side, and five cubit…
2 Chronicles 4:2 Lexical
Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circum…
1 Kings 6:25 1 reference
1 Kings 6:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 4:2 Lexical
Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circum…
2 Chronicles 4:1 Lexical
Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
1 Kings 7:23 Lexical
He made the molten sea ten cubits from brim to brim, round in shape. Its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cu…
2 Kings 25:17 Lexical
The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three…
1 Kings 7:16 Lexical
He made two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits,…
1 Kings 6:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 3:11 Lexical
The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the hous…
2 Chronicles 3:12 Lexical
The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, joi…
Exodus 37:9 Lexical
The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another…
2 Chronicles 3:13 Lexical
The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward t…
2 Chronicles 5:8 Lexical
For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
1 Kings 6:28 1 reference
1 Kings 6:29 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 41:20 Lexical
Cherubim and palm trees were made from the ground to above the door. The wall of the temple was like this.
Ezekiel 41:25 Lexical
There were made on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees, like those made on the walls. There was a th…
Exodus 28:36 Lexical
“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD.’
Exodus 39:30 Lexical
They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet: “HO…
1 Kings 6:30 1 reference
1 Kings 6:31 1 reference
1 Kings 6:32 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 41:25 Lexical
There were made on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees, like those made on the walls. There was a th…
2 Chronicles 3:10 Lexical
In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold.
2 Chronicles 3:5 Lexical
He made the larger room with a ceiling of cypress wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm tr…
2 Chronicles 3:7 Lexical
He also overlaid the house, the beams, the thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the…
Exodus 25:28 Lexical
You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
1 Kings 6:35 1 reference
1 Kings 6:36 2 references
1 Kings 6:38 3 references
Lexicals 3
Leviticus 23:39 Lexical
“‘So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the fea…
1 Kings 12:33 Lexical
He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he…
1 Kings 12:32 Lexical
Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and h…
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Lemma
Morphology
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Translation Notes
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Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exodus
c. 1446 BCIsrael's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
The temple construction fulfills God's promise to dwell among Israel established during the exodus.
Construction of the Temple