1Kings 6-7 - Prayer Tents

Solomon Builds the Temple

6It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign, that he began to construct the Temple of the LORD. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt.H702H3967H8141H8084H8141H1121H3478H3318H776H4714H7243H8141H8010H4427H3478H2320H2099H8145H2320H1129H1004H3068 2The Temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.H1004H4428H8010H1129H3068H753H8346H520H7341H6242H6967H7970H520 3The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple. It projected outward 15 feet from the front of the Temple.H197H6440H1964H1004H6242H520H753H7341H1004H6235H520H7341H1004 4Solomon also made narrow recessed windows throughout the Temple.H1004H6213H2474H331H8261 5He built a complex of rooms against the outer walls of the Temple, all the way around the sides and rear of the building.H7023H1004H1129H3326H3326H5439H7023H1004H5439H1964H1687H6213H6763H5439 6The complex was three stories high, the bottom floor being 7 1/2 feet wide, the second floor 9 feet wide, and the top floor 10 1/2 feet wide. 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.H8481H3326H3326H2568H520H7341H8484H8337H520H7341H7992H7651H520H7341H2351H1004H5414H4052H5439H270H7023H1004 7The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.H1004H1129H1129H68H8003H4551H4717H1631H3627H1270H8085H1004H1129 8The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the Temple. There were winding stairs going up to the second floor, and another flight of stairs between the second and third floors.H6607H8484H6763H3233H3802H1004H5927H3883H8484H8484H7992 9After completing the Temple structure, Solomon put in a ceiling made of cedar beams and planks.H1129H1004H3615H5603H1004H1356H7713H730 10As already stated, he built a complex of rooms on three sides of the building, attached to the Temple walls by cedar timbers. Each story of the complex was 7 1/2 feet high.H1129H3326H3326H1004H2568H520H6967H270H1004H6086H730 11Then the LORD gave this message to Solomon.H1697H3068H8010H559 12"Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David.H1004H1129H3212H2708H6213H4941H8104H4687H3212H6965H1697H1696H1732H1 13I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel."H7931H8432H1121H3478H5800H5971H3478

The Temple’s Interior

14So Solomon finished building the Temple.H8010H1129H1004H3615 15The entire inside, from floor to ceiling, was paneled with wood. He paneled the walls and ceilings with cedar, and he used planks of cypress for the floors.H1129H7023H1004H1004H6763H730H7172H1004H7023H5604H6823H1004H6086H6823H7172H1004H6763H1265 16He partitioned off an inner sanctuary—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.H1129H6242H520H3411H1004H4480H7172H7023H6763H730H1129H1004H1687H6944H6944 17The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet long.H1004H1964H3942H705H520 18Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.H730H1004H6441H4734H6497H6362H6731H730H68H7200 19He prepared the inner sanctuary at the far end of the Temple, where the Ark of the LORD's Covenant would be placed.H1687H3559H8432H1004H6441H5414H727H1285H3068 20This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar.H1687H6440H6242H520H753H6242H520H7341H6242H520H6967H6823H5462H2091H6823H4196H730 21Then Solomon overlaid the rest of the Temple's interior with solid gold, and he made gold chains to protect the entrance to the Most Holy Place.H8010H6823H1004H6441H5462H2091H5674H7572H7572H2091H6440H1687H6823H2091 22So he finished overlaying the entire Temple with gold, including the altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place.H1004H6823H2091H8552H1004H4196H1687H6823H2091 23He made two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary.H1687H6213H8147H3742H8081H6086H6235H520H6967 24The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet, each wing being 7 1/2 feet long.H2568H520H259H3671H3742H2568H520H8145H3671H3742H7098H3671H7098H3671H6235H520 25The two cherubim were identical in shape and size;H8145H3742H6235H520H8147H3742H259H4060H259H7095 26each was 15 feet tall.H6967H259H3742H6235H520H8145H3742 27He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room.H5414H3742H8432H6442H1004H6566H3671H3742H3671H259H5060H7023H3671H8145H3742H5060H8145H7023H3671H5060H3671H3671H8432H1004 28He overlaid the two cherubim with gold.H6823H3742H2091 29He decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.H7049H7023H1004H4524H6603H4734H3742H8561H6362H6731H6441H2435 30He overlaid the floor in both rooms with gold.H7172H1004H6823H2091H6441H2435 31For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, he made double doors of wild olive wood with five-sided doorposts.H6607H1687H6213H1817H8081H6086H352H4201H2549 32These double doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. The doors, including the decorations of cherubim and palm trees, were overlaid with gold.H8147H1817H8081H6086H7049H4734H3742H8561H6362H6731H6823H2091H7286H2091H3742H8561 33Then he made four-sided doorposts of wild olive wood for the entrance to the Temple.H6213H6607H1964H4201H8081H6086H7243 34There were two folding doors of cypress wood, and each door was hinged to fold back upon itself.H8147H1817H1265H6086H8147H6763H259H1817H1550H8147H7050H8145H1817H1550 35These doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers—all overlaid evenly with gold.H7049H3742H8561H6362H6731H6823H2091H3474H2707 36The walls of the inner courtyard were built so that there was one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone.H1129H6442H2691H7969H2905H1496H2905H730H3773 37The foundation of the LORD's Temple was laid in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign.H7243H8141H3245H1004H3068H3245H3391H2099 38The entire building was completed in every detail by midautumn, in the month of Bul, during the eleventh year of his reign. So it took seven years to build the Temple.H259H6240H8141H3391H945H8066H2320H1004H3615H1697H4941H7651H8141H1129

Solomon Builds His Palace

7Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction.H8010H1129H1004H7969H6240H8141H3615H1004 2One of Solomon's buildings was called the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There were four rows of cedar pillars, and great cedar beams rested on the pillars.H1129H1004H3293H3844H753H3967H520H7341H2572H520H6967H7970H520H702H2905H730H5982H730H3773H5982 3The hall had a cedar roof. Above the beams on the pillars were forty-five side rooms, arranged in three tiers of fifteen each.H5603H730H4605H6763H705H2568H5982H6240H2905 4On each end of the long hall were three rows of windows facing each other.H8261H7969H2905H4237H4237H7969H6471 5All the doorways and doorposts had rectangular frames and were arranged in sets of three, facing each other.H6607H4201H7251H8260H4237H4136H4237H7969H6471 6Solomon also built the Hall of Pillars, which was 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. There was a porch in front, along with a canopy supported by pillars.H6213H197H5982H753H2572H520H7341H7970H520H197H6440H5982H5646 7Solomon also built the throne room, known as the Hall of Justice, where he sat to hear legal matters. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.H6213H197H3678H8199H197H4941H5603H730H7172H7172 8Solomon's living quarters surrounded a courtyard behind this hall, and they were constructed the same way. He also built similar living quarters for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had married.H1004H3427H312H2691H1004H197H4639H8010H6213H1004H6547H1323H3947H197 9From foundation to eaves, all these buildings were built from huge blocks of high-quality stone, cut with saws and trimmed to exact measure on all sides.H3368H68H4060H1496H1641H4050H1004H2351H4527H2947H2351H1419H2691 10Some of the huge foundation stones were 15 feet long, and some were 12 feet long.H3245H3368H68H1419H68H68H6235H520H68H8083H520 11The blocks of high-quality stone used in the walls were also cut to measure, and cedar beams were also used.H4605H3368H68H4060H1496H730 12The walls of the great courtyard were built so that there was one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone, just like the walls of the inner courtyard of the LORD's Temple with its entry room.H1419H2691H5439H7969H2905H1496H2905H730H3773H6442H2691H1004H3068H197H1004

Furnishings for the Temple

13King Solomon then asked for a man named Huram to come from Tyre.H4428H8010H7971H3947H2438H6865 14He was half Israelite, since his mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father had been a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. Huram was extremely skillful and talented in any work in bronze, and he came to do all the metal work for King Solomon.H802H490H1121H4294H5321H1H376H6876H2790H5178H4390H2451H8394H1847H6213H4399H5178H935H4428H8010H6213H4399 15Huram cast two bronze pillars, each 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference.H6696H8147H5982H5178H8083H6240H520H6967H5982H259H2339H8147H6240H520H5437H8145H5437 16For the tops of the pillars he cast bronze capitals, each 7 1/2 feet tall.H6213H8147H3805H3332H5178H5414H7218H5982H6967H259H3805H2568H520H6967H8145H3805H2568H520 17Each capital was decorated with seven sets of latticework and interwoven chains.H7638H7639H4639H1434H8333H4639H3805H7218H5982H7651H259H3805H7651H8145H3805 18He also encircled the latticework with two rows of pomegranates to decorate the capitals over the pillars.H6213H5982H8147H2905H5439H259H7639H3680H3805H7218H7416H6213H8145H3805 19The capitals on the columns inside the entry room were shaped like water lilies, and they were six feet tall.H3805H7218H5982H7799H4639H197H702H520 20The capitals on the two pillars had 200 pomegranates in two rows around them, beside the rounded surface next to the latticework.H3805H8147H5982H4605H5980H990H5676H7639H7416H3967H2905H5439H8145H3805 21Huram set the pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one toward the south and one toward the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz.H6965H5982H197H1964H6965H3233H5982H7121H8034H3199H6965H8042H5982H7121H8034H1162 22The capitals on the pillars were shaped like water lilies. And so the work on the pillars was finished.H7218H5982H7799H4639H4399H5982H8552 23Then Huram cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 1/2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.H6213H3332H3220H6235H520H8193H8193H5696H5439H6967H2568H520H6957H6961H7970H520H5437H5439 24It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of decorative gourds. There were about six gourds per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.H8193H5439H6497H5437H6235H520H5362H3220H5439H6497H3333H8147H2905H3332 25The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them.H5975H8147H6240H1241H7969H6437H6828H7969H6437H3220H7969H6437H5045H7969H6437H4217H3220H4605H268H1004 26The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 11,000 gallons of water.H2947H5672H8193H4639H8193H3563H6525H7799H3557H505H1324 27Huram also made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet tall.H6213H6235H4350H5178H702H520H753H259H4350H702H520H7341H7969H520H6967 28They were constructed with side panels braced with crossbars.H4639H4350H4526H4526H7948 29Both the panels and the crossbars were decorated with carved lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreath decorations.H4526H7948H738H1241H3742H7948H3653H4605H738H1241H3914H4174H4639 30Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. There were supporting posts for the bronze basins at the corners of the carts; these supports were decorated on each side with carvings of wreaths.H259H4350H702H5178H212H5633H5178H702H6471H3802H3595H3802H3332H5676H376H3914 31The top of each cart had a rounded frame for the basin. It projected 1 1/2 feet above the cart's top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 2 1/4 feet across; it was decorated on the outside with carvings of wreaths. The panels of the carts were square, not round.H6310H1004H3805H4605H520H6310H5696H4639H3653H520H2677H6310H4734H4526H7251H5696 32Under the panels were four wheels that were connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 2 1/4 feet in diameterH8478H4526H702H212H3027H212H4350H6967H259H212H520H2677H520 33and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze.H4639H212H4639H4818H212H3027H1354H2839H2840H3332 34There were handles at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as one unit with the cart.H702H3802H702H6438H259H4350H3802H4350 35Around the top of each cart was a rim nine inches wide. The corner supports and side panels were cast as one unit with the cart.H7218H4350H5696H5439H2677H520H6967H7218H4350H3027H4526 36Carvings of cherubim, lions, and palm trees decorated the panels and corner supports wherever there was room, and there were wreaths all around.H3871H3027H4526H6605H3742H738H8561H4626H376H3914H5439 37All ten water carts were the same size and were made alike, for each was cast from the same mold.H6213H6235H4350H259H4165H259H4060H259H7095 38Huram also made ten smaller bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water.H6213H6235H3595H5178H259H3595H3557H705H1324H259H3595H702H520H259H6235H4350H259H3595 39He set five water carts on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. The great bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple.H5414H2568H4350H3225H3802H1004H2568H8040H3802H1004H5414H3220H3233H3802H1004H6924H4136H5045 40He also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls. So at last Huram completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of the LORD.H2438H6213H3595H3257H4219H2438H3615H6213H4399H6213H4428H8010H1004H3068 41the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two networks of interwoven chains that decorated the capitals;H8147H5982H1543H3805H7218H8147H5982H8147H7639H3680H8147H1543H3805H7218H5982 42the 400 pomegranates that hung from the chains on the capitals (two rows of pomegranates for each of the chain networks that decorated the capitals on top of the pillars);H702H3967H7416H8147H7639H8147H2905H7416H259H7639H3680H8147H1543H3805H6440H5982 43the ten water carts holding the ten basins;H6235H4350H6235H3595H4350 44the Sea and the twelve oxen under it;H259H3220H8147H6240H1241H3220 45the ash buckets, the shovels, and the bowls. Huram made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the LORD, just as King Solomon had directed.H5518H3257H4219H3627H2438H6213H4428H8010H1004H3068H4178H5178 46The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zarethan.H3603H3383H4428H3332H4568H127H5523H6891 47Solomon did not weigh all these things because there were so many; the weight of the bronze could not be measured.H8010H3240H3627H3966H3966H7230H4948H5178H2713 48Solomon also made all the furnishings of the Temple of the LORD: the gold altar; the gold table for the Bread of the Presence;H8010H6213H3627H1004H3068H4196H2091H7979H2091H3899H6440 49the lampstands of solid gold, five on the south and five on the north, in front of the Most Holy Place; the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of gold;H4501H5462H2091H2568H3225H2568H8040H6440H1687H6525H5216H4457H2091 50the small bowls, lamp snuffers, bowls, dishes, and incense burners—all of solid gold; the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.H5592H4212H4219H3709H4289H5462H2091H6596H2091H1817H6442H1004H6944H6944H1817H1004H1964 51So King Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the LORD. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the LORD's Temple.H7999H4399H4428H8010H6213H1004H3068H8010H935H1732H1H6944H3701H2091H3627H5414H214H1004H3068