1 Kings 7

King James Version

Full text for 1 Kings Chapter 7

1¶ But 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.

13¶ And 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:

17[And] 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

48¶ And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

1 Kings 7 details King Solomon's extensive building projects, beginning with the thirteen-year construction of his own royal palace, including the House of the Forest of Lebanon and the Porch of Judgment. The chapter then shifts focus to the intricate brass work for the Temple, meticulously crafted by Hiram of Tyre. This includes the monumental pillars Jachin and Boaz, the large Molten Sea, and ten wheeled bases with their lavers. Finally, the chapter concludes with Solomon furnishing the Temple with various golden vessels, signifying the completion and equipping of the house of the LORD.

Medium Summary

King Solomon spent thirteen years constructing his own royal complex, which encompassed his personal dwelling, the grand House of the Forest of Lebanon, and a dedicated Porch of Judgment, all built with costly, hewed stones and cedar. Subsequently, the chapter elaborates on the detailed brass work commissioned for the Temple, executed by the skilled craftsman Hiram from Tyre. Hiram fashioned two monumental brass pillars, named Jachin and Boaz, adorned with intricate chapiters, pomegranates, and lily work, which were placed at the Temple's porch. He also created the large Molten Sea, resting upon twelve brass oxen, and ten mobile brass bases, each supporting a laver. These numerous and elaborate brass vessels were cast in the Jordan plain. The chapter concludes by listing the golden furnishings Solomon provided for the Temple, such as the altar, shewbread table, candlesticks, and various other implements, marking the full completion and equipping of the house of the LORD.

Long Summary

The seventh chapter of 1 Kings commences by detailing King Solomon's personal building endeavors, noting that he spent thirteen years constructing his own house. This complex included the impressive House of the Forest of Lebanon, measuring a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, supported by cedar pillars and covered with cedar. Also described are a porch of pillars, a distinct Porch of Judgment where Solomon would preside, and his private dwelling, along with a house for Pharaoh's daughter. All these royal structures were meticulously crafted from costly, hewed stones and cedar, featuring extensive courtyards. The narrative then shifts to the elaborate brass work for the Temple, highlighting the crucial role of Hiram, a skilled artisan from Tyre. Hiram, a widow's son with a Tyrian father, was renowned for his wisdom and cunning in brass work. He cast two magnificent brass pillars, eighteen cubits high, with chapiters five cubits high, adorned with checker work, chain work, pomegranates, and lily designs. These pillars, named Jachin and Boaz, were set in the Temple's porch. Hiram also created the massive Molten Sea, a round vessel ten cubits in diameter and five cubits high, supported by twelve brass oxen facing the four cardinal directions, designed to hold two thousand baths of water. Furthermore, he fashioned ten intricate brass bases, each four cubits square and three cubits high, decorated with lions, oxen, and cherubims, and equipped with brass wheels. Upon these bases were placed ten brass lavers, each holding forty baths. The chapter specifies the placement of these items within the Temple courts: five bases on the right side, five on the left, and the Molten Sea on the right side, eastward. The sheer volume of these brass vessels was so great that their weight was not calculated. The chapter concludes by enumerating the golden vessels Solomon himself made for the house of the LORD, including the golden altar, the table for the shewbread, ten golden candlesticks, bowls, snuffers, basons, spoons, censers, and golden hinges for the inner and outer doors. Finally, it states that all the work for the house of the LORD was completed, and Solomon deposited the silver, gold, and vessels dedicated by his father David into the Temple's treasury.

Core Concepts

  • Solomon's Royal BuildingsThis section details Solomon's thirteen-year construction of his personal palace, including the grand House of the Forest of Lebanon and the Porch of Judgment. These structures were built with costly, hewed stones and cedar, reflecting royal grandeur.
  • Hiram of TyreHiram was a highly skilled brass worker from Tyre, commissioned by King Solomon to create all the intricate brass furnishings for the Temple. He is described as being filled with wisdom, understanding, and cunning in his craft.
  • The Two Pillars (Jachin and Boaz)Two monumental brass pillars, each eighteen cubits high, crafted by Hiram and placed at the entrance of the Temple's porch. They were elaborately adorned with chapiters, pomegranates, and lily work, and were named Jachin and Boaz.
  • The Molten SeaA large, round brass basin, ten cubits in diameter and five cubits high, designed for ritual washing within the Temple courtyard. It was uniquely supported by twelve brass oxen, arranged in groups of three facing the cardinal directions.
  • Brass Bases and LaversTen intricately designed wheeled brass stands, each supporting a brass laver for washing. These bases were adorned with detailed engravings of lions, oxen, and cherubims, showcasing advanced metalworking artistry.
  • Temple Furnishings (Gold)This concept encompasses the various vessels and implements made of pure gold by Solomon for the interior of the Temple. These included the golden altar, the table for the shewbread, ten golden candlesticks, and other sacred items, emphasizing the sanctuary's richness.
  • Completion and DedicationThe chapter concludes with the finalization of all construction and furnishing work for the house of the LORD. Solomon then brought in and dedicated the silver, gold, and vessels that his father David had previously set apart, placing them among the Temple's treasures.