1 Kings 6
This chapter focuses on the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which Solomon began to build during the fourth year of his reign. The Temple was an elaborate and sacred structure that would become the central place of worship for the Israelites. This chapter provides detailed descriptions of its dimensions, materials, and design features, highlighting the significance of this holy building.
1 Kings 6:1-5 (NKJV)
1 And it came to pass in 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 of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.
2 Now the house which King Solomon built for the Lord, its length was sixty cubits, its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits.
3 The vestibule in front of the sanctuary of the house was twenty cubits long across the width of the house, and the width of the vestibule extended ten cubits from the front of the house.
4 And he made for the house windows with beveled frames.
5 Against the wall of the temple, he built chambers all around, against the walls of the temple, all around the sanctuary and the inner sanctuary. Thus, he made side chambers all around it.
The construction of the Temple begins 480 years after the Israelites left Egypt, emphasizing the significance of this moment. Solomon's Temple is described as sixty cubits long, twenty wide, and thirty high, making it an impressive structure. The vestibule serves as an entrance area, spanning the width of the building. The windows, with their beveled frames, add beauty to the building, while chambers around the temple provided functional spaces for storage and priestly use. These architectural details reflect the reverence given to the construction of a place meant to house God's presence.
1 Kings 6:6 (NKJV)
6 The lowest chamber was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for he made narrow ledges around the outside of the temple, so that the support beams would not be fastened into the walls of the temple.
The Temple's side chambers are built with increasing width as they ascend, providing more space on the higher levels. Solomon designs narrow ledges to support the beams without inserting them into the Temple walls, preserving the integrity of the sacred structure. This detail highlights the care taken to ensure the holiness and perfection of the Temple.
1 Kings 6:7 (NKJV)
7 And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.
This verse emphasizes the sanctity of the Temple construction process. The stones were shaped and prepared at the quarry so that no tools would be used on-site. This reflects the reverence for the Temple as a place of peace and holiness, where no sound of work would disturb the sacred atmosphere.
1 Kings 6:8-9 (NKJV)
8 The doorway for the middle story was on the right side of the temple. They went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third.
9 So he built the temple and finished it, and he paneled the temple with beams and boards of cedar.
The entrance to the Temple’s side chambers was strategically placed on the right, with access via stairs. This layout reflects careful planning for functionality within the sacred space. Cedar, a valuable and aromatic wood, was used for paneling, symbolizing the grandeur and beauty of the Temple, as well as its permanence.
1 Kings 6:10 (NKJV)
10 And he built chambers against all the temple, five cubits high; they were attached to the temple with cedar beams.
The chambers surrounding the Temple were five cubits high and constructed with cedar beams, providing additional support and aesthetic quality. These chambers served practical purposes but were built with materials that matched the grandeur of the main Temple, ensuring unity in design.
1 Kings 6:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying:
12 “Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.
13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”
God reminds Solomon that His continued presence among the people is conditional upon their obedience. While the Temple is important, the true foundation of God’s relationship with Israel is their faithfulness to His commandments. This promise, tied to the covenant made with David, reinforces that God desires a relationship of trust and obedience with His people, not just the construction of a magnificent building.
1 Kings 6:14-18 (NKJV)
14 So Solomon built the temple and finished it.
15 And he built the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards; from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, he paneled the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the temple with planks of cypress.
16 Then he built the twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling, with cedar boards; he built it inside as the inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place.
17 And in front of it the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.
18 The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All was cedar; there was no stone to be seen.
The inner walls and floors of the Temple were entirely covered with fine cedar and cypress, giving the interior a warm and majestic appearance. The inner sanctuary, or the Most Holy Place, was designed as a special, sacred room at the back of the Temple. The carvings of flowers and buds within the cedar added intricate beauty to the Temple, reflecting its role as a place of worship and reverence. The complete absence of visible stone inside emphasized the sacredness of the structure.
1 Kings 6:19-22 (NKJV)
19 And he prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple, to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there.
20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.
21 So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold. He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.
22 The whole temple he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the temple; also he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by the inner sanctuary.
The inner sanctuary, also known as the Holy of Holies, was specifically designed to house the Ark of the Covenant. Its dimensions formed a perfect cube, symbolizing perfection and completion. The extensive use of gold, including the overlaying of the altar, heightened the sense of reverence and glory within the Temple, showcasing the value placed on this dwelling place for God's presence.
1 Kings 6:23-28 (NKJV)
23 Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
24 One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.
25 And the other cherub was ten cubits; both cherubim were of the same size and shape.
26 The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the other cherub.
27 Then he set the cherubim inside the inner room; and they stretched out the wings of the cherubim so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.
28 Also he overlaid the cherubim with gold.
The cherubim, enormous angelic figures crafted from olive wood and overlaid with gold, were placed in the inner sanctuary. Their wings stretched across the room, touching each wall and meeting in the middle, symbolizing divine protection and the heavenly realm. The presence of these cherubim within the Holy of Holies highlighted the sacredness of the Ark’s dwelling place and signified the close connection between God’s presence and His heavenly messengers.
1 Kings 6:29-30 (NKJV)
29 Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
30 And the floor of the temple he overlaid with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries.
Every wall of the Temple was intricately adorned with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, symbolizing life, peace, and God's holiness. The floor, like the walls, was overlaid with gold, a material representing purity and divine glory. These detailed decorations contributed to the Temple’s magnificence and spiritual meaning, establishing it as a physical representation of heavenly beauty on Earth.
1 Kings 6:31-33 (NKJV)
31 For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood; the lintel and doorposts were one-fifth of the wall.
32 The two doors were of olive wood; and he carved on them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees
1 Kings 6:31-33 (NKJV)
33 So for the door of the sanctuary he also made doorposts of olive wood, one-fourth of the wall.
The entrance to the inner sanctuary was as elaborately designed as the rest of the Temple. The doors made of olive wood were intricately carved with cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, and then overlaid with gold. This design mirrored the beauty and holiness seen throughout the Temple, reflecting its status as God’s dwelling place on Earth. The ornate doors symbolized the separation between the sacred and the ordinary, marking the entrance into the most sacred space of the Temple.
1 Kings 6:34-35 (NKJV)
34 And the two doors were of cypress wood; two panels comprised one folding door, and two panels comprised the other folding door.
35 Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them, and overlaid them with gold applied evenly on the carved work.
The doors to the main sanctuary were crafted from cypress wood, further enhancing the grandeur of the Temple. The folding doors were carved with the same symbolic designs of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, which were then covered with gold. These decorations maintained the consistent theme of holiness and divine protection, reflecting the Garden of Eden imagery often found in holy spaces. The gold overlay further emphasized the reverence and sacred nature of the Temple.
1 Kings 6:36 (NKJV)
36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.
The inner court was constructed using high-quality materials, such as hewn stone and cedar beams, emphasizing its durability and beauty. This court was a space reserved for priests and important religious activities. The use of both stone and cedar created a balance of strength and aesthetics, underscoring the importance of every part of the Temple complex, not just the interior sanctuary.
1 Kings 6:37-38 (NKJV)
37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv.
38 And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.
The construction of the Temple took seven years to complete. It began in the month of Ziv, during Solomon’s fourth year as king, and finished in the month of Bul in his eleventh year. The precise timeline reflects the immense effort and care that went into every detail of the building process. The completion of the Temple was a significant milestone in Israel's history, marking the fulfillment of God’s promises and the establishment of a permanent place for His presence among the people.