1 Kings 6

King James Version

Full text for 1 Kings Chapter 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.

2And 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.

3And 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.

4And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

5And 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:

6The 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.

7And 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.

8The 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.

9So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.

10And [then] he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house [with] timber of cedar.

11¶ And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,

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:

13And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

14So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

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.

16And 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].

17And the house, that [is], the temple before it, was forty cubits [long].

18And the cedar of the house within [was] carved with knops and open flowers: all [was] cedar; there was no stone seen.

19And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

20And 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.

21So 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.

22And 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.

23And within the oracle he made two cherubims [of] olive tree, [each] ten cubits high.

24And 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.

25And the other cherub [was] ten cubits: both the cherubims [were] of one measure and one size.

26The height of the one cherub [was] ten cubits, and so [was it] of the other cherub.

27And 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.

28And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

29And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

30And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

31And for the entering of the oracle he made doors [of] olive tree: the lintel [and] side posts [were] a fifth part [of the wall].

32The 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.

33So also made he for the door of the temple posts [of] olive tree, a fourth part [of the wall].

34And 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.

35And he carved [thereon] cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered [them] with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

37In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:

38And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Solomon began building the Temple for the LORD in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after the Exodus. The house was constructed with specific dimensions and materials, notably using stones prepared off-site to ensure silence during erection. The LORD delivered a conditional promise to Solomon, assuring His dwelling among Israel if Solomon walked in His statutes. The Temple, meticulously adorned with cedar, fir, and pure gold, including two cherubims within the oracle, was completed in seven years.

Medium Summary

In the fourth year of his reign, King Solomon commenced the construction of the LORD's house, a monumental undertaking 480 years after Israel's departure from Egypt. The main structure measured sixty cubits long, twenty broad, and thirty high, featuring a porch and surrounding side chambers of varying breadths. Notably, all stones were prepared off-site, ensuring no sound of hammer or axe was heard during its erection. During the building process, the LORD delivered a message to Solomon, promising His continued presence among Israel if the king adhered to His commandments. The interior was lavishly finished with cedar and fir wood, entirely overlaid with pure gold, including the Most Holy Place, or oracle. This inner sanctuary housed two large cherubims of olive wood, also covered in gold, and the entire structure was completed in seven years.

Long Summary

King Solomon initiated the construction of the LORD's house in the fourth year of his reign, precisely 480 years after the children of Israel departed from Egypt. The main edifice was sixty cubits in length, twenty in breadth, and thirty in height, preceded by a porch twenty cubits long and ten broad. Around the main walls, three stories of side chambers were built, increasing in breadth from five to seven cubits, designed with narrowed rests to avoid fastening into the Temple's primary structure. A distinctive aspect of the construction was that all stones were pre-cut and fitted before being brought to the site, ensuring that no sound of iron tools was heard during the building process. During this period, the word of the LORD came to Solomon, offering a conditional promise to fulfill His covenant with David and dwell among Israel, provided Solomon diligently walked in His statutes and judgments. Upon completion of the exterior, Solomon proceeded to finish the interior with great detail. The walls and ceiling were covered with cedar boards, and the floor with planks of fir. The inner sanctuary, known as the oracle or Most Holy Place, measured twenty cubits in length, breadth, and height, and was entirely overlaid with pure gold, as was the entire interior of the house. Within this oracle, Solomon fashioned two cherubims from olive wood, each ten cubits high, whose wings stretched to touch the walls and each other, and these too were overlaid with gold. The walls throughout the house were intricately carved with figures of cherubims, palm trees, and open flowers, and the floor was also overlaid with gold. Doors of olive and fir wood, similarly carved and gilded, provided access to the oracle and the main temple. The inner court was constructed with three rows of hewed stone and a row of cedar beams. The foundation was laid in the fourth year, and the entire house was finished in the eleventh year, signifying a seven-year construction period.

Core Concepts

  • Temple Construction TimelineThe chapter details that King Solomon began building the Temple in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after the Exodus, and completed it in seven years, in the eleventh year of his reign.
  • Architectural Design and DimensionsThe Temple's main structure was 60x20x30 cubits, with a 20x10 cubit porch. It included three stories of side chambers built around the main walls, designed not to penetrate the primary structure.
  • Materials and Lavish AdornmentThe Temple was constructed using prepared stones, cedar, fir, and olive wood. Its interior, including the oracle and all surfaces, was extensively overlaid with pure gold and intricately carved with cherubims, palm trees, and flowers.
  • Divine Conditional PromiseThe LORD spoke to Solomon, promising to dwell among the children of Israel and not forsake them, contingent upon Solomon's faithful obedience to God's statutes and commandments.
  • The Oracle (Most Holy Place)This inner sanctuary, 20x20x20 cubits, was prepared to house the Ark of the Covenant. It was entirely overlaid with pure gold and contained two large, gold-overlaid cherubims of olive wood.
  • Silent Construction MethodA notable detail is that all building stones were made ready at the quarry before being brought to the site, ensuring that no sound of hammer, axe, or any iron tool was heard during the Temple's erection.
  • Cherubims in the OracleTwo ten-cubit high cherubims, fashioned from olive wood and overlaid with gold, were placed within the oracle. Their outstretched wings touched the walls and met in the middle of the house.