1 Kings 7

Commentary

Solomon Builds his Palace

1But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. 3And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row. 4And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. 5And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.

6And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.

7Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

8And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

9All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

10And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. 11And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. 12And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

The Work of Hiram

(2 Chronicles 4:1-5)

13And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. 14He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

15For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. 16And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: 17And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. 18And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. 19And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. 20And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. 21And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. 22And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

The Sea of Cast Metal

23And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 24And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. 25It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

The Ten Bases

27And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. 28And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: 29And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. 30And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition. 31And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round. 32And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. 33And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten. 34And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself. 35And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same. 36For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. 37After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

The Ten Bronze Basins

(2 Chronicles 4:6-8)

38Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 39And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

The Vessels

(2 Chronicles 4:11-18)

40And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 41The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; 42And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 43And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 44And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 45And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. 46In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 47And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out.

48And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was, 49And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, 50And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.

51So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Solomon’s Palace Complex

1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 For he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was one hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 It was covered with cedar above over the forty-five beams, that were on the pillars; fifteen in a row. 4 There were beams in three rows, and window was over against window in three ranks. 5 All the doors and posts were made square with beams: and window was over against window in three ranks.

6 He made the porch of pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits; and a porch before them; and pillars and a threshold before them.

7 He made the porch of the throne where he was to judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from floor to floor.

8 His house where he was to dwell, the other court within the porch, was of the like work. He made also a house for Pharaoh’s daughter (whom Solomon had taken as wife), like this porch.

9 All these were of costly stones, even of cut stone, according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside, even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside to the great court.

10 The foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. 11 Above were costly stones, even cut stone, according to measure, and cedar wood. 12 The great court around had three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams; like as the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and the porch of the house.

The Pillars and Capitals
(2 Chronicles 3:14–17)

13 King Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in brass. He came to king Solomon, and performed all his work.

15 For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them about. 16 He made two capitals of molten brass, to set on the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital. 18 So he made the pillars; and there were two rows around on the one network, to cover the capitals that were on the top of the pillars: and he did so for the other capital. 19 The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, four cubits. 20 There were capitals above also on the two pillars, close by the belly which was beside the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows around on the other capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz. 22 On the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

The Molten Sea
(2 Chronicles 4:1–5)

23 He made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encircled it. 24 Under its brim around there were buds which encircled it, for ten cubits, encircling the sea: the buds were in two rows, cast when it was cast. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26 It was a handbreadth thick: and its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.

The Ten Bronze Stands

27 He made the ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits its breadth, and three cubits its height. 28 The work of the bases was like this: they had panels; and there were panels between the ledges; 29 and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. 30 Every base had four bronze wheels, and axles of brass; and the four feet of it had supports: beneath the basin were the supports molten, with wreaths at the side of each. 31 The mouth of it within the capital and above was a cubit: and its mouth was round after the work of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on its mouth were engravings, and their panels were foursquare, not round. 32 The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. 33 The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten. 34 There were four supports at the four corners of each base: its supports were of the base itself. 35 In the top of the base was there a round compass half a cubit high; and on the top of the base its stays and its panels were of the same. 36 On the plates of its stays, and on its panels, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around. 37 In this way, he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one form.

The Ten Bronze Basins
(2 Chronicles 4:6–8)

38 He made ten basins of brass: one basin contained forty baths; and every basin was four cubits; and on every one of the ten bases one basin. 39 He set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.

Completion of the Bronze Works
(2 Chronicles 4:11–18)

40 Hiram made the basins, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he worked for king Solomon in the house of Yahweh: 41 the two pillars, and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 42 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 and the ten bases, and the ten basins on the bases; 44 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea; 45 and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: even all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon, in the house of Yahweh, were of burnished brass. 46 The king cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: the weight of the brass could not be found out.

Completion of the Gold Furnishings
(2 Chronicles 4:19–22)

48 Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh: the golden altar, and the table whereupon the show bread was, of gold; 49 and the lampstands, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50 and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, of the temple, of gold.

51 Thus all the work that king Solomon worked in the house of Yahweh was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.

Solomon’s Palace Complex

1 Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace.

2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, a with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams.

3 The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row. 4 There were three rows of high windows facing one another in three tiers. 5 All the doorways b had rectangular frames, with the openings facing one another in three tiers.

6 Solomon made his colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide, c with a portico in front of it and a canopy with pillars in front of the portico.

7 In addition, he built a hall for the throne, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling. d

8 And the palace where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction. He also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.

9 All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard. 10 The foundations were laid with large, costly stones, some ten cubits long e and some eight cubits long. f 11 Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

12 The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.

The Pillars and Capitals
(2 Chronicles 3:14–17)

13 Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram g from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.

15 He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference. h 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars, each capital five cubits high. i 17 For the capitals on top of the pillars he made a network of lattice, with wreaths of chainwork, seven for each capital. j

18 Likewise, he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around each grating to cover each capital atop the pillars. 19 And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high. k 20 On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital.

21 Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, l and the pillar to the north he named Boaz. m 22 And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work of the pillars was completed.

The Molten Sea
(2 Chronicles 4:1–5)

23 He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. n 24 Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

25 The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. 26 It was a handbreadth thick, o and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths. p

The Ten Bronze Stands

27 In addition, he made ten movable stands of bronze, each four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. q

28 This was the design of the stands: They had side panels attached to uprights, 29 and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work.

30 Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles and a basin resting on four supports, with wreaths at each side. 31 The opening to each stand inside the crown at the top was one cubit deep, r with a round opening like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide. s And around its opening were engravings, but the panels of the stands were square, not round.

32 There were four wheels under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand; each wheel was a cubit and a half in diameter. 33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal.

34 Each stand had four handles, one for each corner, projecting from the stand. 35 At the top of each stand was a circular band half a cubit high. t The supports and panels were cast as a unit with the top of the stand.

36 He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around. 37 In this way he made the ten stands, each with the same casting, dimensions, and shape.

The Ten Bronze Basins
(2 Chronicles 4:6–8)

38 He also made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths u and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands.

39 He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple.

Completion of the Bronze Works
(2 Chronicles 4:11–18)

40 Additionally, Huram made the pots, v shovels, and sprinkling bowls.

So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD:

41 the two pillars;

the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars;

the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars;

42 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);

43 the ten stands;

the ten basins on the stands;

44 the Sea;

the twelve oxen underneath the Sea;

45 and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls.

All the articles that Huram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were made of burnished bronze. 46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. w 47 Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.

Completion of the Gold Furnishings
(2 Chronicles 4:19–22)

48 Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD:

the golden altar;

the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;

49 the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left;

the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;

50 the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers;

and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place x) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

51 So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed.

Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

 

Footnotes:

2 a The house was approximately 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high (45.7 meters long, 22.9 meters wide, and 13.7 meters high).
5 b Literally doorways and doorposts
6 c The colonnade was approximately 75 feet long and 45 feet wide (22.9 meters long and 13.7 meters wide).
7 d Syriac and Vulgate; Hebrew from floor to floor
10 e 10 cubits  is approximately 15 feet or 4.6 meters.
10 f 8 cubits  is approximately 12 feet or 3.7 meters.
13 g Hebrew Hiram , a variant of Huram ; also in verses 40 and 45; see 2 Chronicles 4:11. Note that this is not Hiram king of Tyre mentioned in 1 Kings 5:1.
15 h Each pillar was approximately 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference (8.2 meters high and 5.5 meters in circumference).
16 i 5 cubits  is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.
17 j Hebrew; LXX one for each capital
19 k 4 cubits  is approximately 6 feet or 1.8 meters; also in verse 38.
21 l Jachin  probably means He establishes .
21 m Boaz  probably means in Him is strength .
23 n The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference).
26 o A handbreadth  is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.
26 p 2,000 baths  is approximately 11,600 gallons or 44,000 liters; LXX does not include this sentence.
27 q The stands were approximately 6 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (1.8 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high).
31 r One cubit  is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters.
31 s A cubit and a half  is approximately 2.25 feet or 68.6 centimeters wide; similarly in verse 32.
35 t Half a cubit  is approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters high.
38 u 40 baths  is approximately 232 gallons or 880 liters.
40 v Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also verse 45 and 2 Chronicles 4:11); many other Hebrew manuscripts basins
46 w Zarethan  is a variant of Zeredah ; see 2 Chronicles 4:17.
50 x Or the Holy of Holies

Solomon Builds his Palace

1And his own house hath Solomon built thirteen years, and he finisheth all his house. 2And he buildeth the house of the forest of Lebanon; a hundred cubits is its length, and fifty cubits its breadth, and thirty cubits its height, on four rows of cedar pillars, and cedar-beams on the pillars; 3and it is covered with cedar above, on the sides that are on the forty and five pillars, fifteen in the row. 4And windows are in three rows, and sight is over-against sight three times. 5And all the openings and the side-posts are square -- windows; and sight is over-against sight three times.

6And the porch of the pillars he hath made; fifty cubits its length, and thirty cubits its breadth, and the porch is before them, and pillars and a thick place are before them.

7And the porch of the throne where he judgeth -- the porch of judgment -- he hath made, and it is covered with cedar from the floor unto the floor.

8As to his house where he dwelleth, the other court is within the porch -- as this work it hath been; and a house he maketh for the daughter of Pharaoh -- whom Solomon hath taken -- like this porch.

9All these are of precious stone, according to the measures of hewn work, sawn with a saw, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and at the outside, unto the great court.

10And the foundation is of precious stone, great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits; 11and above are precious stone, according to the measures of hewn work, and cedar; 12and the great court round about is three rows of hewn work, and a row of cedar-beams, even for the inner court of the house of Jehovah, and for the porch of the house.

The Work of Hiram

(2 Chronicles 4:1-5)

13And king Solomon sendeth and taketh Hiram out of Tyre -- 14he is son of a woman, a widow, of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father a man of Tyre, a worker in brass, and he is filled with the wisdom and the understanding, and the knowledge to do all work in brass -- and he cometh unto king Solomon, and doth all his work.

15And he formeth the two pillars of brass; eighteen cubits is the height of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits doth compass the second pillar. 16And two chapiters he hath made to put on the tops of the pillars, cast in brass; five cubits the height of the one chapiter, and five cubits the height of the second chapiter. 17Nets of net-work, wreaths of chain-work are for the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars, seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the second chapiter. 18And he maketh the pillars, and two rows round about on the one net-work, to cover the chapiters that are on the top, with the pomegranates, and so he hath made for the second chapiter. 19And the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars are of lily-work in the porch, four cubits; 20and the chapiters on the two pillars also above, over-against the protuberance that is beside the net; and the pomegranates are two hundred, in rows round about on the second chapiter. 21And he raiseth up the pillars for the porch of the temple, and he raiseth up the right pillar, and calleth its name Jachin, and he raiseth up the left pillar, and calleth its name Boaz; 22and on the top of the pillars is lily-work; and the work of the pillars is completed.

The Sea of Cast Metal

23And he maketh the molten sea, ten by the cubit from its edge unto its edge; it is round all about, and five by the cubit is its height, and a line of thirty by the cubit doth compass it round about; 24and knops beneath its brim round about are compassing it, ten by the cubit, going round the sea round about; in two rows are the knops, cast in its being cast. 25It is standing on twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east, and the sea is upon them above, and all their hinder parts are inward. 26And its thickness is an handbreadth, and its edge as the work of the edge of a cup, flowers of lilies; two thousand baths it containeth.

The Ten Bases

27And he maketh the ten bases of brass; four by the cubit is the length of the one base, and four by the cubit its breadth, and three by the cubit its height. 28And this is the work of the base: they have borders, and the borders are between the joinings; 29and on the borders that are between the joinings are lions, oxen, and cherubs, and on the joinings a base above, and beneath the lions and the oxen are additions -- sloping work. 30And four wheels of brass are to the one base, and axles of brass; and its four corners have shoulders -- under the laver are the molten shoulders, beside each addition. 31And its mouth within the chapiter and above is by the cubit, and its mouth is round, the work of the base, a cubit and half a cubit; and also on its mouth are carvings and their borders, square, not round. 32And the four wheels are under the borders, and the spokes of the wheels are in the base, and the height of the one wheel is a cubit and half a cubit. 33And the work of the wheels is as the work of the wheel of a chariot, their spokes, and their axles, and their felloes, and their naves; the whole is molten. 34And four shoulders are unto the four corners of the one base; out of the base are its shoulders. 35And in the top of the base is the half of a cubit in the height all round about; and on the top of the base its spokes and its borders are of the same. 36And he openeth on the tablets of its spokes, and on its borders, cherubs, lions, and palm-trees, according to the void space of each, and additions round about. 37Thus he hath made the ten bases; one casting, one measure, one form, have they all.

The Ten Bronze Basins

(2 Chronicles 4:6-8)

38And he maketh ten lavers of brass; forty baths doth the one laver contain, four by the cubit is the one laver, one laver on the one base is to the ten bases; 39and he putteth the five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house, and the sea he hath put on the right side of the house, eastward -- over-against the south.

The Vessels

(2 Chronicles 4:11-18)

40And Hiram maketh the lavers, and the shovels, and the bowls; and Hiram completeth to do all the work that he made for king Solomon, for the house of Jehovah; 41pillars two, and bowls of the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars two, and the nets two, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars; 42and the pomegranates four hundred for the two nets, two rows of pomegranates for the one net, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that are on the front of the pillars; 43and the ten bases, and the ten lavers on the bases; 44and the one sea, the twelve oxen under the sea, 45and the pots, and the shovels, and the bowls; and all these vessels, that Hiram hath made to king Solomon for the house of Jehovah, are of brass -- polished. 46In the circuit of the Jordan hath the king cast them, in the thick soil of the ground, between Succoth and Zarthan. 47And Solomon placeth the whole of the vessels; because of the very great abundance, the weight of the brass hath not been searched out.

48And Solomon maketh all the vessels that are in the house of Jehovah: the altar of gold, and the table -- on which is the bread of the Presence -- of gold, 49and the candlesticks, five on the right, and five on the left, before the oracle, of refined gold, and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, 50and the basins, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and the censers, of refined gold, and the hinges for the doors of the inner-house, for the holy of holies, for the doors of the house of the temple, of gold.

51And it is complete -- all the work that king Solomon hath made for the house of Jehovah, and Solomon bringeth in the sanctified things of David his father; the silver, and the gold, and the vessels he hath put in the treasuries of the house of Jehovah.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of 1 Kings 7?
2Introduction to 1 Kings 7
3Context of 1 Kings 7
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
61 Kings 7 Unique Insights
71 Kings 7 Connections to Yeshua
81 Kings 7 Scriptural Echoes
91 Kings 7 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of 1 Kings 7?

Introduction to 1 Kings 7

1 Kings 7 presents us with an architectural masterpiece that serves as a profound testimony to both human creativity and divine inspiration. This chapter provides an intricate description of Solomon’s palace complex and the magnificent bronze work crafted for the Temple by Hiram of Tyre. While some might be tempted to skim these architectural details, they reveal deep spiritual truths about worship, beauty, and the relationship between sacred and secular spaces in God’s kingdom.

Azrta box final advert

The chapter’s meticulous attention to detail reminds us that God is interested in both the sacred and the secular aspects of our lives, as both Solomon’s palace and the Temple’s furnishings receive careful attention in Scripture. This detailed account serves as a witness to God’s concern for excellence in all things, whether they directly relate to worship or to governmental administration.

Context of 1 Kings 7

This chapter follows the construction of the Temple in chapter 6 and precedes the dramatic dedication of the Temple in chapter 8. It forms part of the larger narrative of Solomon’s reign, specifically focusing on his building projects that defined Jerusalem as both the political and spiritual capital of Israel. The architectural details provided here parallel similar accounts in Exodus regarding the Tabernacle’s construction, suggesting a deliberate literary connection between these two sacred spaces.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter represents a high point in Israel’s history, when the nation had rest from its enemies and could focus on cultural and spiritual development. The detailed description of both palace and Temple furnishings demonstrates the fulfillment of God’s promises to David about his son establishing a house for God’s name (2 Samuel 7:13).

The chapter also reveals the international nature of Solomon’s kingdom, as seen in his collaboration with Hiram of Tyre, highlighting how Israel’s witness extended beyond its borders through cultural and artistic exchange. This partnership between Jew and Gentile in creating sacred space foreshadows the universal nature of God’s kingdom.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • חכם (chakam) – “skillful/wise”: Used to describe Hiram of Tyre, this word encompasses not just technical skill but divine wisdom in craftsmanship, similar to Bezalel’s Spirit-given abilities in constructing the Tabernacle. It suggests that technical expertise can be a form of spiritual gifting.
  • נחשת (nechoshet) – “bronze”: The predominant material used in the Temple furnishings, symbolizing judgment and purification in biblical typology. Its extensive use in the Temple courts points to the necessary preparation for approaching God’s presence.
  • צלע (tsela) – “side chamber”: The same word used for Eve’s creation from Adam’s “side,” suggesting these chambers weren’t mere additions but integral to the structure’s purpose, much like the Church is integral to Messiah’s body.
  • כתרת (koteret) – “capital”: These ornate tops of pillars represented authority and completion. Their elaborate decoration with pomegranates and lily work spoke of fruitfulness and beauty in God’s kingdom.
  • שושן (shushan) – “lily”: A symbol of purity and divine beauty, its use in Temple decoration suggests the blending of natural and supernatural beauty in worship.
  • מכונה (mekhonah) – “stand”: These mobile bronze stands represented the dynamic nature of God’s presence, reminiscent of Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot-throne.
  • בקר (baqar) – “oxen”: Used in the bronze sea’s design, these represented strength and service, pointing to the sacrificial system and ultimately to Messiah’s sacrifice.
  • ים (yam) – “sea”: The large bronze basin called the “sea” symbolized the waters above the firmament and the spiritual cleansing necessary for priestly service.

Compare & Contrast

  • The bronze pillars named Jachin (“He establishes”) and Boaz (“In Him is strength”) could have been mere structural supports, but their naming indicates they were testimonies to God’s faithfulness. The choice of these names, rather than alternatives like “Glory” or “Beauty,” emphasizes God’s role in establishing both the Temple and the Davidic dynasty.
  • The bronze sea’s circular design, rather than square, reflects completeness and perfection. The number of oxen (twelve) supporting it could have been purely functional, but instead represents Israel’s tribes, emphasizing national unity in worship.
  • Solomon’s palace complex, taking thirteen years to build compared to the Temple’s seven, wasn’t described with the same spiritual symbolism. This deliberate literary choice emphasizes that while both structures were important, the Temple held preeminence.
  • The repeated use of “cast” (יצק) rather than “carved” or “constructed” for the bronze works emphasizes the transformation of raw material into sacred objects, paralleling spiritual transformation.
  • The placement of pomegranates (רמונים) on the pillars’ capitals, rather than other fruits, was significant as they represent righteousness and fruitfulness in Jewish tradition, containing exactly 613 seeds (corresponding to the Torah’s commandments).
  • The mobile stands’ design incorporating lions, oxen, and cherubim presents a unified vision of creation serving in God’s presence, rather than using purely geometric patterns.
  • The detailed measurements provided use the royal cubit rather than the common cubit, emphasizing these structures’ royal and divine authority rather than mere human standards.

1 Kings 7 Unique Insights

The architectural layout of Solomon’s palace complex reveals a profound understanding of sacred space gradients. The progression from public spaces to increasingly private areas mirrors the Temple’s arrangement from outer court to Holy of Holies. Early rabbinical sources note that this architectural parallel wasn’t coincidental but reflected the biblical principle that governmental authority should be exercised with the same reverence as Temple service.

The Talmud (Yoma 39a) discusses the significance of the two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, suggesting they represented the balance of mercy and justice in both divine and human governance. This interpretation gains deeper meaning when we consider that Yeshua referred to Himself as both the foundation and cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple (1 Peter 2:6-7).

The bronze sea’s capacity of 2,000 baths has sparked much discussion in Jewish sources. The Midrash notes that this number corresponds to the 2,000 years from creation to the giving of Torah at Sinai, and another 2,000 years to the time of Messiah, reflecting God’s perfect timing in salvation history. This understanding adds depth to Yeshua’s statement about living water (John 7:38).

The inclusion of natural motifs (flowers, oxen, lions) throughout both palace and Temple challenges the common misconception that Judaism opposed artistic representation. Rather, it demonstrates that when art serves to glorify God and teach spiritual truths, it has a proper place in worship.

1 Kings 7 Connections to Yeshua

The craftsmanship of Hiram, filled with wisdom, understanding, and skill, prefigures Yeshua as the master builder of God’s spiritual temple, the Church (Matthew 16:18). Just as Hiram crafted the bronze pieces that facilitated worship, Yeshua fashions His people into living stones that comprise God’s dwelling place (1 Peter 2:5).

The bronze sea, used for priestly purification, points to the cleansing work of Messiah. Its massive size and elaborate design remind us that His cleansing is both comprehensive and beautiful, sufficient for all who come to Him. The twelve oxen supporting it, facing all directions, foreshadow the universal scope of Yeshua’s redemptive work, extending to all nations (Revelation 7:9).

1 Kings 7 Scriptural Echoes

The architectural details echo the Tabernacle’s construction in Exodus, but on a grander scale, demonstrating the progression of God’s dwelling place among His people. This progression continues through Scripture, culminating in the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21, where the entire city becomes God’s temple.

The bronze pillars’ names, Jachin and Boaz, resonate with God’s promises to establish David’s throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). These find their ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua, the eternal King from David’s line.

The craftsmanship motif connects to Exodus 31:1-11, where Bezalel and Oholiab were filled with God’s Spirit for the Tabernacle’s construction. This theme extends to the New Testament concept of spiritual gifts being used to build up God’s dwelling place, the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13).

1 Kings 7 Devotional

In our modern rush to efficiency and minimalism, this chapter challenges us to reconsider the value of beauty and excellence in our service to God. The intricate details and costly materials remind us that nothing is too precious to dedicate to His glory. How might we apply this principle in our own lives and worship?

The collaboration between Solomon and Hiram teaches us about unity in diversity within God’s kingdom. Their partnership demonstrates how different gifts and backgrounds can work together for God’s glory. Consider how you might partner with others whose gifts complement yours in serving God’s purposes.

The balance between palace and Temple construction reminds us that our secular work and spiritual service both matter to God. How might you bring the same dedication to excellence into every sphere of your life, recognizing all of it as service to God?

Did You Know

  • The bronze used in the Temple furnishings was cast in clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan, areas known for their special soil composition perfect for bronze casting. This detail shows God’s provision even in seemingly mundane matters.
  • The pomegranates decorating the Temple weren’t just ornamental – in Jewish tradition, they represent the 613 commandments and the fullness of God’s instruction.
  • The bronze sea contained approximately 12,000 gallons of water, equivalent to about 2,000 baths, making it one of the largest single metal castings in the ancient world.
  • The pillars Jachin and Boaz were approximately 27 feet tall, with capitals adding another 7.5 feet, making them visible from much of Jerusalem.
  • Solomon’s palace complex included a special court for Pharaoh’s daughter, indicating consideration for converts to Judaism in ancient Israel.
  • The term used for “skilled” in describing Hiram is the same word used for the craftsmen of the Tabernacle, suggesting divine inspiration in craftsmanship.
  • The lily work on the capitals represents the first architectural use of this motif, which would become common in later Near Eastern architecture.
  • The mobile bronze stands with their wheels and decorative panels were unique in ancient architecture, with no parallel found in other ancient Near Eastern temples.
  • The entire construction project, including both Temple and palace, took twenty years to complete – the same length of time as the Egypt-Canaan journey.
  • The bronze sea’s twelve oxen faced the four cardinal directions, three each way, possibly representing Israel’s role in bringing God’s truth to all nations.

sendagiftfinal

This website has over 46,000 Biblical resources and is made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. If you’ve been blessed by these resources, please consider sending a gift today.

Bible Themes
Share your love
Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

Articles: 46825

Add your first comment to this post

Related Posts

Encounter Him Send a Gift Scroll Top