1Kings 5:1 ¶ And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon as a show of respect for David’s death and to acknowledge him as David’s successor. It seems that Hiram treasured David’s friendship. Because they were close friends, David had shared with Hiram his desire to build a house to the LORD and that the LORD would not allow him that privilege because he had shed so much blood.
1 Chronicles 22:7–8 “And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God: But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.”
1Kings 5:2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
1Kings 5:3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
1Kings 5:4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
1Kings 5:5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
Solomon evidently sent Hiram’s servants back to him with a message. He told Hiram that he was aware that he knew that David was not allowed to build a house to honor the LORD because he was a man constantly at war. Solomon’s kingdom, however, had no enemies because the LORD had established him in peace with the neighboring kingdoms. In light of that fact, Solomon was ready to build a temple to the LORD in fulfillment of the LORD’s promise to his father David. The LORD had told David that his son that succeeded him as king would build a house to His name. The Chronicler states that with this promise the LORD called Solomon by name as David’s successor.
1 Chronicles 22:9–10 “Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.”
An interesting tidbit—The Hebrew for “adversary” in verse 4 makes reference to Satan. It just reminded me that enemies of men and women who follow the LORD in faith and obedience are servants of Satan. During Solomon’s reign, the LORD did not permit Satan to stir up enemies against him.
1Kings 5:6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
Solomon went on to request that Hiram command his people to cut down cedar trees from Lebanon to build the temple. He proposed to have men of both kingdoms work together to accomplish the task. He also promised to pay Hiram’s servants whatever he asked. He admitted that no man in Israel could cut timber as well as the Sidonians.
The Chronicler adds a bit more information.
2 Chronicles 2:3–6 “And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?”
From these verses we learn that Solomon asked Hiram to deal with him as he had dealt with his father David when he needed timber to build his house. He told Hiram that he wanted to build a house dedicated to the LORD that could essentially replace the function of Moses’ tabernacle as the place where the people could continue to make the offerings and sacrifices in accordance with the LORD’s commands. He declared that the house had to be magnificent because “our God” is above all gods. Based on Hiram’s answer in the next verse, it sounds like he acknowledged the God of Israel as his God.
Solomon did admit that what he wanted to do was nigh on impossible. The heaven and heaven of heavens could not contain the LORD. All he could hope to accomplish was to provide a house from which they could offer sacrifices to Him.
“who am I” – A phrase with which we can all identify when thinking about trying to do anything “for the LORD.” I think we are better off thinking, “blessed am I” to be able to do anything that testifies to our desire to honor Him.
1Kings 5:7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
1Kings 5:8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
1Kings 5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
As stated above, it certainly sounds like Hiram has accepted God as his own LORD. He at least declares honor to the LORD for giving David such a wise son to succeed him as king. The Chronicler adds that he recognized the LORD as the creator of heaven and earth
2 Chronicles 2:11–12 “Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them. Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.”
2Chronicles 2:16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
Hiram told Solomon that he had considered his proposal and agreed to supply all the timber that he needed. His servants would transport the wood from Lebanon by way of the sea to Joppa, and Solomon’s servants could take it to Jerusalem. In return, he requested that Solomon provide food for his household.
1Kings 5:10 ¶ So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
1Kings 5:11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
It is noted that Hiram kept up his end of the bargain, and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat and 20 measures of pure oil each year to supply Hiram’s household.
Gill provides this note on the amounts: Wheat—“This measure was the Hebrew measure ‘cor,’ or ‘corus,’ and, according to Bishop Cumberland, its contents were 17,477 solid inches; it was equal to ten ephahs, each of which held two gallons and an half, and the cor held seventy five wine gallons five pints, and somewhat more; according to some, what it held was equal to six hundred forty eight Roman pounds; so that twenty thousand of them contained 12,960,000 pounds of wheat. Oil—…the same kind of measure is here expressed as before, and the quantity answered to 12,960 Roman pounds; another writer reckons a cor to contain 1080 Roman pounds; so that Hiram had every year 21,600 pounds of oil.”
It is noted by commentators that Josephus claims to have seen the preserved records of these transactions.
1Kings 5:12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
1Kings 5:13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
1Kings 5:14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.
1Kings 5:15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
1Kings 5:16 Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
1Kings 5:17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
1Kings 5:18 And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
Once again we are told that the LORD gave Solomon wisdom as He had promised him, and it is evident in the way he went about overseeing the building of the temple. There was peace treaty between Hiram and Solomon that affirmed their friendship.
Solomon instituted a draft to gather the men needed to send to Lebanon to work with Hiram’s men; Adoniram was appointed to supervise the process. Thirty thousand men were to serve in groups of 10,000 that worked for a month in Lebanon and then two months at home. It seems that these men were Israelites.
Another 153,600 men were drafted for more labor-intensive work such as carrying burdens and cutting the needed stone from the mountains. The Chronicler tells us that these workmen were to be drafted from among the foreigners living in Israel.
2 Chronicles 2:17–18 “And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred. And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.”
Seventy thousand men were used to transport materials, and 80,000 men were assigned to help in cutting stone. Besides Solomon’s chief officers, 3,300 other men were designated as supervisors alongside Solomon’s chief officers.
According to the king’s command, they brought very large stones, valuable stones and cut stones (that had been smoothed out) to lay the foundation for the temple. It is noted that Solomon’s men and Hiram’s men from Gebal (from the Hebrew for “stonesquarers”) worked together to provide the timber and stone needed to build the temple.
Commentators point out that it is significant that both Jews and Gentiles were involved in building the temple since God’s house was to be a house of prayer for all people.
Isaiah 56:7b “…for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”
1Kings 6:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
This whole chapter provides a description of the building of the temple. It is noted in this verse that building of the temple commenced in the 480th year after the people of Israel came out of Egypt, in the 4th year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Zif (April/May), the 2nd month.
The NIV Commentary gives a bit more information: “…this verse is one of the major pieces of internal evidence for the dating of the Exodus. The end of Solomon’s reign is 931/930 B.C. This puts the beginning of his forty-year reign at 971/970 and the fourth year at 967/966 and the date of the Exodus at 1447/1446. This date accords well with other biblical evidence (Jdg 11:26 and the length of the time of the Judges) as with external historical evidence.”
The Chronicler informs us that Mount Moriah was the site of construction.
2 Chronicles 3:1 “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”
I am reminded that Moriah designated the land that had several mountains.
Genesis 22:2 “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”
The specific mount upon which the temple was built is identified as the location of the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
The Chronicler also informs us that Solomon was working from plans that were given to him by his father David.
1 Chronicles 28:11–13 & 19 “Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD….All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.”
The plans that David gave Solomon were not of David’s own making; he had received them from the Holy Spirit who had inspired him in the writing of God’s pattern. I believe this pattern was based on the heavenly temple. We know from scripture that there is a temple in heaven.
Revelation 11:19 “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”
Although the temple and the tabernacle were different, their basic design and function were essentially the same. The writer of the Hebrews tells us that the tabernacle (and therefore the temple) was a shadow or representation of the heavenly temple.
Hebrews 8:4–5 “… seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
The Chronicler also tells us that David collected a lot of the materials that would be needed for the temple.
1 Chronicles 29:2 “Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.”
1Kings 6:2 And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
1Kings 6:3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
These verses tell us the size of the temple. It was 60 cubits long x 20 cubits wide and 30 cubits high. Based on a cubit of 18” (some compute with 21”) that would be 90’ long, 30’ wide and 45’ high. The porch in front of the temple was 20 cubits wide and 10 cubits deep or 30’ wide by 15.8’ deep. Commentators note that these measurements indicate that the temple was twice as big as the tabernacle.
1Kings 6:4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.
The temple had narrow windows of light. The Hebrew indicates that these windows could be opened and shut as needed. There was no type of outside light for the tabernacle.
1Kings 6:5 And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:
1Kings 6:6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
I think these verses are saying that there were chambers built adjacent to the surrounding outside walls of the temple excluding the porch area. These chambers were built three stories high, and each succeeding story got wider. The lowest chambers were 5 cubits wide, the middle were 6 cubits and the third were 7 cubits, or 7.5’ to 9’ to 10.5’.
The NLT is better worded on the last part of verse 6: “The rooms were connected to the walls of the Temple by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall. So the beams were not inserted into the walls themselves.”
The “oracle” is a reference to “the innermost part of the sanctuary,” or the holy of holies.
1Kings 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
The stones that were used in building the temple were cut, smoothed out and made ready before being brought to the construction site. There were no sounds of hammer or axe or any tool of iron heard on the site during construction.
Adam Clarke made an interesting application: “But why is this so particularly marked? Is it not because the temple was a type of the kingdom of God; and the souls of men are to be prepared here for that place of blessedness? There, there is no preaching, exhortations, repentance, ears, cries, nor prayers; the stones must be all squared and fitted here for their place in the New Jerusalem, and, being living stones, must be built up a holy temple for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
1Kings 6:8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
Though the wording is confusing, the context is clear in describing a winding staircase on the south side of the temple that accessed the three levels of chambers.
1Kings 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
1Kings 6:10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
These verses are a summary statement that Solomon built the temple and covered it with a roof of cedar. The chambers surrounding the temple were 5 cubits or 7.5’ high and were supported by cedar beams.
1Kings 6:11 ¶ And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
1Kings 6:12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
1Kings 6:13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
The LORD spoke to Solomon again regarding the purpose of the temple. He told him that if he would live in faith and obedience before him, He would perform His word with Solomon that He spoke to his father David. That promise—That He would dwell among the children of Israel and not forsake them. This was a conditional promise that was separate from the unconditional promise to establish a descendant of David on the throne of Israel forever. This conditional promise finds its root in Deuteronomy. Sadly, Moses prophesied of a future time when God would hide His face from the children of Israel because they chose to forsake Him.
Deuteronomy 28:58–63 “If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD….it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 32:15–20 “But Jeshurun [Israel] waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.”
1Kings 6:14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
1Kings 6:15 ¶ And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
1Kings 6:16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.
1Kings 6:17 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.
After telling us that Solomon finished building the temple, the writer goes on to provide further description. The walls and ceiling of the house were lined or paneled with boards of cedar. The floor was covered with boards of fir or cypress.
The inner sanctuary, or the most holy place that would house the ark, was also made with boards of cedar—from floor to ceiling. This area was 20 cubits or 30’ deep at the rear of the sanctuary.
The area in front of the most holy place was 40 cubits deep.
1Kings 6:18 And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
All of the cedar paneling was decorated with carvings of knops/gourds and open flowers. No stone could be seen inside the temple.
Gill has this note concerning the knops: “…the Targum says, they had the appearance of eggs….
1Kings 6:19 And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
1Kings 6:20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
1Kings 6:21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
1Kings 6:22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.
The most holy place was prepared to house the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It was a cube of 20 cubits or 30’. It is because this part of the temple is a cube and is from a heavenly pattern that I think the heavenly Jerusalem is a cube, though many believe it to be a pyramid. I think John supports the thought of a cube in the Revelation.
Revelation 21:16 “And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.”
All of the wood in the holy of holies was overlaid with pure gold, as was the altar of incense. The whole inside of the sanctuary was covered with pure gold. The entry to the most holy place was partitioned off by chains of gold. The whole interior of the temple was covered in pure gold, including the altar.
No mention is made of the vail before the Holy of holies, but the Chronicler does.
2 Chronicles 3:14 “And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.”
1Kings 6:23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
1Kings 6:24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.
1Kings 6:25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.
1Kings 6:26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.
1Kings 6:27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, 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 midst of the house.
1Kings 6:28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.
Two cherubim made of olive wood were made for the most holy place; each was 10 cubits or 15’ tall. Each of the wings for the two cherubim was 5 cubits or 7.5’ long; the total wingspan of each cherubim was 10 cubits or 15’. The two cherubim were identical. When the cherubim were place in the most holy place, they stood side by side facing the entry so that their wings spanned the entire width, touching each other in the middle. The cherubim were also covered in gold.
1Kings 6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
1Kings 6:30 And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.
All the walls of the temple inside and out were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. The floor of the temple was also covered in gold both inside and out. I would assume that included the porch.
1Kings 6:31 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
1Kings 6:32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
The doors that provided entry to the holy place were made of olive wood and took a fifth part of the wall or 6’. The two doors were also decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. The doors and its carvings were all covered in gold.
1Kings 6:33 So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
1Kings 6:34 And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
1Kings 6:35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
The doors providing entry to the temple were also made of olive wood and took a fourth of the wall or 7.5’. These doors were folding doors made of fir/cypress wood. They were also decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers and were completely covered in gold.
1Kings 6:36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
I wasn’t sure how to understand this verse. Gill offers this explanation: “…the rows of stones were one upon another, topped with a row of cedar beams; or rather the cedar was a lining to the stones; and the whole is supposed to be about three cubits high, and was so low, that the people in the outward court might see priests ministering for them, and could converse with them….”
1Kings 6:37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:
1Kings 6:38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
The foundation to the temple was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign in the second month, Zif (April/May). The temple was completed in the eleventh year in the eighth month, Bul (October/November). It took about 7.5 years to build the temple from start to finish.