# 1 Kings 06 đź“–: Solomon Builds the Temple
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## The Building of the Temple
[[#Verse 01.]] In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, during the month Ziv (the second month), he began building the Lord’s temple.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] The temple King Solomon built for the Lord was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] The porch in front of the main hall of the temple was 30 feet long, corresponding to the width of the temple. It was 15 feet wide, extending out from the front of the temple.Â
[[#Verse 04.]]Â He made framed windows for the temple.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] He built an extension all around the walls of the temple’s main hall and Holy Place and constructed side rooms in it.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] The bottom floor of the extension was 7½ feet wide, the middle floor 9 feet wide, and the third floor 10½ feet wide. He made ledges on the temple’s outer walls so the beams would not have to be inserted into the walls.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] As the temple was being built, only stones shaped at the quarry were used; the sound of hammers, pickaxes, or any other iron tool was not heard at the temple while it was being built.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] The entrance to the bottom level of side rooms was on the south side of the temple; stairs went up to the middle floor and then on up to the third floor.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] He finished building the temple and covered it with rafters and boards made of cedar.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] He built an extension all around the temple; it was 7½ feet high and it was attached to the temple by cedar beams.
[[#Verse 11.]]  The Lord’s message came to Solomon:Â
[[#Verse 12.]] “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my rules, observe my regulations, and obey all my commandments, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David.
[[#Verse 13.]] I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
[[#Verse 14.]]Â So Solomon finished building the temple.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] He constructed the walls inside the temple with cedar planks; he paneled the inside with wood from the floor of the temple to the rafters of the ceiling. He covered the temple floor with boards made from the wood of evergreens.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] He built a wall 30 feet in from the rear of the temple as a partition for an inner sanctuary that would be the Most Holy Place. He paneled the wall with cedar planks from the floor to the rafters.Â
[[#Verse 17.]]Â The main hall in front of the inner sanctuary was 60 feet long.Â
[[#Verse 18.]]Â The inside of the temple was all cedar and was adorned with carvings of round ornaments and of flowers in bloom. Everything was cedar; no stones were visible.
[[#Verse 19.]] He prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord could be placed there.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] The inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He plated it with gold, as well as the cedar altar.
[[#Verse 21.]] Solomon plated the inside of the temple with gold. He hung golden chains in front of the inner sanctuary and plated the inner sanctuary with gold.
[[#Verse 22.]]Â He plated the entire inside of the temple with gold, as well as the altar inside the inner sanctuary.
[[#Verse 23.]] In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood; each stood 15 feet high.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] Each of the first cherub’s wings was 7½ feet long; its entire wingspan was 15 feet.Â
[[#Verse 25.]]Â The second cherub also had a wingspan of 15 feet; it was identical to the first in measurements and shape.Â
[[#Verse 26.]]Â Each cherub stood 15 feet high.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] He put the cherubim in the inner sanctuary of the temple. Their wings were spread out. One of the first cherub’s wings touched one wall and one of the other cherub’s wings touched the opposite wall. The first cherub’s other wing touched the second cherub’s other wing in the middle of the room.Â
[[#Verse 28.]]Â He plated the cherubim with gold.
[[#Verse 29.]] On all the walls around the temple, inside and out, he carved cherubim, palm trees, and flowers in bloom.Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â He plated the floor of the temple with gold, inside and out.Â
[[#Verse 31.]]Â He made doors of olive wood at the entrance to the inner sanctuary; the pillar on each doorpost was five-sided.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] On the two doors made of olive wood he carved cherubim, palm trees, and flowers in bloom, and he plated them with gold. He plated the cherubim and the palm trees with hammered gold.Â
[[#Verse 33.]]Â In the same way he made doorposts of olive wood for the entrance to the main hall, only with four-sided pillars.Â
[[#Verse 34.]] He also made two doors out of wood from evergreens; each door had two folding leaves.
[[#Verse 35.]]Â He carved cherubim, palm trees, and flowers in bloom and plated them with gold, leveled out over the carvings.Â
[[#Verse 36.]]Â He built the inner courtyard with three rows of chiseled stones and a row of cedar beams.
[[#Verse 37.]] In the month of Ziv in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign the foundation was laid for the Lord’s temple.Â
[[#Verse 38.]] In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul (the eighth month) the temple was completed in accordance with all its specifications and blueprints. It took seven years to build.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
###### Verse 37.
###### Verse 38.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Construction began in Solomon's fourth year, in the month of Ziv (6:1), traditionally dated around 966 BC.
2. Ziv and Bul (6:1, 38) are older month names. Later Israel used Babylonian month names.
3. The temple was 60 cubits long, 20 wide, and 30 high (6:2), roughly 90 by 30 by 45 feet.
4. The temple's main dimensions were double those of the tabernacle's tent.
5. No hammer, chisel, or iron tool was heard at the site while it was being built (6:7).
6. Three levels of side rooms were built around the outside of the temple (6:5-6).
7. The inner sanctuary was a perfect cube of 20 cubits on every side (6:20). The New Jerusalem is also described as a cube (Revelation 21:16).
8. Two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits tall, stood in the Most Holy Place with wings touching the walls and each other (6:23-27).
9. The walls were carved with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers (6:29), images many see as echoes of the Garden of Eden.
10. The whole interior was overlaid with gold (6:21-22), so no stone showed inside (6:18).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true temple where God dwells with His people. God promised to live among Israel in Solomon's temple (6:12-13), and Jesus said His own body was the temple (John 2:19-21).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. God reminded Solomon in the middle of construction that obedience mattered more than the building (6:11-13). Why is it easy to focus on projects instead of the heart?
2. Solomon gave the very best materials to the Lord's house (6:20-22). What does it look like to give God your best rather than your leftovers?
3. The temple was built quietly, with no sound of hammer or iron tool at the site (6:7). What might this teach about how God builds His people?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 1: Solomon begins building the temple in the 480th year after Israel left Egypt.
- đź“– verses 12-13: If Solomon obeys, God will live among Israel and not abandon them.
- đź“– verse 38: The temple is completed after seven years of building.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Exodus 25#Verse 08.|Exodus 25:8-9]] - Make a sanctuary so I may live among them.
- đź”— [[2 Chronicles 03#Verse 01.|2 Chronicles 3:1]] - The temple built on Mount Moriah.
- đź”— [[John 02#Verse 19.|John 2:19-21]] - Jesus speaks of the temple of His body.
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 03#Verse 16.|1 Corinthians 3:16]] - You are God's temple.
- đź”— [[Revelation 21#Verse 22.|Revelation 21:22]] - The Lord and the Lamb are the temple of the new city.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[1 Kings 06 - SOAP|Only the Best for the True King]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes