1 Kings 7
7
Solomon's Palace
1Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years. 2-3The Hall of the Forest of Lebanon#7.2–3 Hall of the Forest of Lebanon: A large ceremonial hall in the palace, probably so called because it was panelled in cedar. was 44 metres long, 22 metres wide, and 13.5 metres high. It had three#7.2–3 One ancient translation three; Hebrew four. rows of cedar pillars, fifteen in each row, with cedar beams resting on them. The ceiling was of cedar, extending over storerooms, which were supported by the pillars. 4In each of the two side walls there were three rows of windows. 5The doorways and the windows#7.5 One ancient translation windows; Hebrew doorposts. had rectangular frames, and the three rows of windows in each wall faced the opposite rows.
6The Hall of Columns was 22 metres long and 13.5 metres wide. It had a covered porch, supported by columns.
7The Throne Room, also called the Hall of Judgement, where Solomon decided cases, had cedar panels from the floor to the rafters.#7.7 Some ancient translations rafters; Hebrew floor.
8 #
1 Kgs 3.1
Solomon's own quarters, in another court behind the Hall of Judgement, were made like the other buildings. He also built the same kind of house for his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt.
9All these buildings and the great court were made of fine stones from the foundations to the eaves. The stones were prepared at the quarry and cut to measure, with their inner and outer sides trimmed with saws. 10The foundations were made of large stones prepared at the quarry, some of them 3.5 metres long and others four metres long. 11On top of them were other stones, cut to measure, and cedar beams. 12The palace court, the inner court of the Temple, and the entrance room of the Temple had walls with one layer of cedar beams for every three layers of cut stones.
Huram's Task
13King Solomon sent for a man named Huram, a craftsman living in the city of Tyre, who was skilled in bronze work. 14His father, who was no longer living, was from Tyre, and had also been a skilled bronze craftsman; his mother was from the tribe of Naphtali. Huram was an intelligent and experienced craftsman. He accepted King Solomon's invitation to be in charge of all the bronze work.
The Two Bronze Columns
(2 Chr 3.15–17)
15Huram cast two bronze columns, each one eight metres tall and 5.3 metres in circumference,#7.15 Some ancient translations each one… circumference; Hebrew the first column was 8 metres tall and the second column was 5.3 metres in circumference. and placed them at the entrance of the Temple. 16He also made two bronze capitals, each one 2.2 metres tall, to be placed on top of the columns. 17The top of each column was decorated with a design of interwoven chains,#7.17 Verse 17 in Hebrew is unclear. 18and two rows of bronze pomegranates.
19The capitals were shaped like lilies, 1.8 metres tall, 20and were placed on a rounded section which was above the chain design. There were 200 pomegranates in two rows round each#7.20 One ancient translation each; Hebrew the second. capital.
21Huram placed these two bronze columns in front of the entrance of the Temple: the one on the south side was named Jachin,#7.21 Jachin: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “he (God) establishes”. and the one on the north was named Boaz.#7.21 Boaz: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “by his (God's) strength”. 22The lily-shaped bronze capitals were on top of the columns.
And so the work on the columns was completed.
The Bronze Tank
(2 Chr 4.2–5)
23Huram made a round tank of bronze, 2.2 metres deep, 4.4 metres in diameter, and 13.2 metres in circumference. 24All round the outer edge of the rim of the tank#7.24 Probable text All round… tank; Hebrew unclear. were two rows of bronze gourds, which had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank. 25The tank rested on the backs of twelve bronze bulls that faced outwards, three facing in each direction. 26The sides of the tank were 75 millimetres thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outwards like the petals of a lily. The tank held about 40,000 litres.
The Bronze Carts
27Huram also made ten bronze carts; each was 1.8 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, and 1.3 metres high. 28They were made of square panels which were set in frames, 29with the figures of lions, bulls, and winged creatures on the panels; and on the frames, above and underneath the lions and bulls, there were spiral figures in relief. 30Each cart had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. At the four corners were bronze supports for a basin; the supports were decorated with spiral figures in relief. 31There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected upwards 45 centimetres from the top of the cart and eighteen centimetres down into it. It had carvings round it. 32The wheels were 66 centimetres high; they were under the panels, and the axles were of one piece with the carts. 33The wheels were like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of bronze. 34There were four supports at the bottom corners of each cart, which were of one piece with the cart. 35There was a 22 centimetre band round the top of each cart; its supports and the panels were of one piece with the cart. 36The supports and panels were decorated with figures of winged creatures, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was space for them, with spiral figures all round. 37This, then, is how the carts were made; they were all alike, having the same size and shape.
38 #
Ex 30.17–21
Huram also made ten basins, one for each cart. Each basin was 1.8 metres in diameter, and held about 800 litres. 39He placed five of the carts on the south side of the Temple, and the other five on the north side; the tank he placed at the south-east corner.
Summary List of Temple Furnishings
(2 Chr 4.11—5.1)
40-45Huram also made pots, shovels, and bowls. He completed all his work for King Solomon for the LORD's Temple. This is what he made:
The two columns
The two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the columns
The design of interwoven chains on each capital
The 400 bronze pomegranates, in two rows of a hundred each round the design on each capital
The ten carts
The ten basins
The tank
The twelve bulls supporting the tank
The pots, shovels, and bowls.
All this equipment for the Temple, which Huram made for King Solomon, was of polished bronze. 46The king had it all made in the foundry between Sukkoth and Zarethan, in the Jordan Valley. 47Solomon did not have these bronze objects weighed, because there were too many of them, and so their weight was never determined.
48 #
Ex 25.23–30; 30.1–3 Solomon also had gold furnishings made for the Temple: the altar, the table for the bread offered to God, 49#Ex 25.31–40the ten lampstands that stood in front of the Most Holy Place, five on the south side and five on the north; the flowers, lamps, and tongs; 50the cups, lamp snuffers, bowls, dishes for incense, and the pans used for carrying live coals; and the hinges for the doors of the Most Holy Place and of the outer doors of the Temple. All these furnishings were made of gold.
51 #
2 Sam 8.11; 1 Chr 18.11 When King Solomon finished all the work on the Temple, he placed in the temple storerooms all the things that his father David had dedicated to the LORD — the silver, gold, and other articles.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
1 Kings 7
7
Solomon’s Palace Complex
1Solomon completed his entire palace complex after 13 years of construction. # 1Kg 9:10; 2Ch 8:1 2He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. # 1Kg 10:21; 2Ch 9:16 It was 150 feet # Lit 100 cubits long, 75 feet # Lit 50 cubits wide, and 45 feet # Lit 30 cubits high on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on top of the pillars. 3It was paneled above with cedar at the top of the chambers that rested on 45 pillars, 15 per row. 4There were three rows of window frames, facing each other # Lit frames, window to window in three tiers. # Lit three times; = at 3 different places # 1Kg 10:16-17 5All the doors and doorposts had rectangular frames, the openings facing each other # Lit frames, opposing window to window in three tiers. # Lit three times; = at 3 different places 6He made the hall of pillars 75 feet # Lit 50 cubits long and 45 feet # Lit 30 cubits wide. A portico was in front of the pillars, and a canopy with pillars # Hb obscure was in front of them. 7He made the Hall of the Throne where he would judge # 1Kg 3:16-28 — the Hall of Judgment. It was paneled with cedar from the floor to the rafters. # Syr, Vg; MT reads floor 8Solomon’s own palace where he would live, in the other courtyard behind the hall, was of similar construction. And he made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, his wife. # Lit daughter he had taken # 1Kg 3:1; 9:24; 2Ch 8:11
9All of these buildings were of costly stones, cut to size and sawed with saws on the inner and outer surfaces, from foundation to coping and from the outside to the great courtyard. 10The foundation was made of large, costly stones 12 and 15 feet # Lit ten cubits and eight cubits long. 11Above were also costly stones, cut to size, as well as cedar wood. 12Around the great courtyard, as well as the inner courtyard of the Lord’s temple and the portico of the temple, were three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams. # 1Kg 6:36
13King Solomon had Hiram # = Huram in 2Ch 4:11 # 1Kg 5:1-11; 2Ch 2:13-14 brought from Tyre. 14He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze craftsman. Hiram had great skill, # Ex 31:2-5 understanding, and knowledge to do every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work. # 2Ch 4:11
The Bronze Pillars
15He cast two hollow bronze pillars: # 2Kg 25:16-17; 2Ch 3:15 each 27 feet # Lit 18 cubits high and 18 feet # Lit 12 cubits in circumference. # LXX adds and the thickness of the pillar was four fingers hollowed and similarly the second pillar # 1Kg 7:41 16He also made two capitals # 1Kg 7:42; 2Kg 25:17 of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars; 7 1/2 feet # Lit five cubits was the height of the first capital, and 7 1/2 feet # Lit five cubits was also the height of the second capital. 17The capitals on top of the pillars had gratings of latticework, wreaths # Lit tassels made of chainwork — seven for the first capital and seven for the second.
18He made the pillars with two encircling rows of pomegranates on the one grating to cover the capital on top; he did the same for the second capital. 19And the capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, six feet # Lit four cubits high. 20The capitals on the two pillars were also immediately above the rounded surface next to the grating, and 200 pomegranates # 2Ch 3:16; 4:13 were in rows encircling each # Lit encircling the second capital. 21He set up the pillars at the portico # 1Kg 6:3 of the sanctuary: he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin; # = He Will Establish then he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz. # = In Him Is Strength # 2Ch 3:17 22The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. Then the work of the pillars was completed. # 2Kg 25:17
The Reservoir
23He made the cast metal reservoir, # Lit sea # 2Kg 25:13; 1Ch 18:8; 2Ch 4:6 15 feet # Lit 10 cubits from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7 1/2 feet # Lit five cubits high and 45 feet # Lit 30 cubits in circumference. 24Ornamental gourds # 1Kg 6:18 encircled it below the brim, 10 every half yard, # Lit 10 per cubit completely encircling the reservoir. # 2Ch 4:3 The gourds were cast in two rows when the reservoir was cast. 25It stood on 12 oxen, # 2Kg 16:17; 2Ch 4:4-5; Jr 52:20 three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The reservoir was on top of them and all their hindquarters were toward the center. 26The reservoir was three inches # Lit a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held 11,000 gallons. # Lit 2,000 baths
The Bronze Water Carts
27Then he made 10 bronze water carts. # Lit bronze stands # 2Kg 25:13; 2Ch 4:14 Each water cart was six feet # Lit four cubits long, six feet # Lit four cubits wide, and 4 1/2 feet # Lit three cubits high. 28This was the design of the carts: They had frames; the frames were between the cross-pieces, 29and on the frames between the cross-pieces were lions, oxen, and cherubim. # 1Kg 6:29,32 On the cross-pieces there was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging # Or hammered-down work. 30Each cart # 2Kg 16:17 had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. Underneath the four corners of the basin were cast supports, each next to a wreath. 31And the water cart’s opening inside the crown on top was 18 inches # Lit a cubit wide. The opening was round, made as a pedestal 27 inches # Lit one and a half cubits wide. On it were carvings, but their frames were square, not round. 32There were four wheels under the frames, and the wheel axles were part of the water cart; each wheel was 27 inches # Lit was one and a half cubits tall. 33The wheels’ design was similar to that of chariot wheels: their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal. 34Four supports were at the four corners of each water cart; each support was one piece with the water cart. 35At the top of the cart was a band nine inches # Lit half a cubit high encircling it; also, at the top of the cart, its braces and its frames were one piece with it. 36He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees # 1Kg 6:29 on the plates of its braces and on its frames, wherever each had space, with encircling wreaths. 37In this way he made the 10 water carts using the same casting, dimensions, and shape for all of them.
Bronze Basins and Other Utensils
38Then he made 10 bronze basins # Ex 30:18; 2Ch 4:6 — each basin holding 220 gallons # Lit 40 baths and each was six feet # Lit four cubits wide — one basin for each of the 10 water carts. 39He set five water carts on the right side of the temple and five on the left side. He put the reservoir near the right side of the temple toward the southeast. # 2Ch 4:10 40Then Hiram made # 2Ch 4:11–5:1 the basins, the shovels, and the sprinkling basins.
Completion of the Bronze Works
So Hiram finished all the work that he was doing for King Solomon on the Lord’s temple: 41two pillars; # 1Kg 7:15 bowls for the capitals that were on top of the two pillars; the two gratings for covering both bowls of the capitals that were on top of the pillars; # 1Kg 7:17 42the 400 pomegranates for the two gratings (two rows of pomegranates for each grating covering both capitals’ bowls on top of the pillars # 1Kg 7:20); 43the 10 water carts; # 1Kg 7:27 the 10 basins on the water carts; # 1Kg 7:38 44the reservoir; # 1Kg 7:23 the 12 oxen underneath the reservoir; # 1Kg 7:25 45and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling basins. # Ex 27:3 All the utensils that Hiram made for King Solomon at the Lord’s temple were made of burnished bronze. 46The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth # Gn 33:17 and Zarethan. # Jos 3:16; 1Kg 4:12 47Solomon left all the utensils unweighed because there were so many; the weight of the bronze was not determined. # 1Ch 22:3,14
Completion of the Gold Furnishings
48Solomon also made all the equipment in the Lord’s temple: the gold altar; the gold table that the bread of the Presence was placed on; # Ex 25:30; 30:1-3; 2Ch 29:18 49the pure gold lampstands in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left; # Ex 25:31-36 the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; 50the pure gold ceremonial bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, ladles, # Or dishes, or spoons ; lit palms and firepans; # 2Kg 25:15 and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the most holy place) and for the doors of the temple sanctuary.
51So all the work King Solomon did in the Lord’s temple was completed. # 1Kg 6:37-38 Then Solomon brought in the consecrated things of his father David # 2Sm 8:9-12; 2Ch 5:1 — the silver, the gold, and the utensils — and put them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple. # 2Ch 36:18
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