College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

1 Kings 6:36-38

E. OTHER DETAILS OF THE TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION 6:36-38

TRANSLATION

(36) And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams. (37) In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the month of Ziv. (38) And in the eleventh year in the month Bui (which is the eighth month) he finished the house in all of its details and according to all specifications. So he was seven years in building it.

COMMENTS

The description of the building concludes with a brief reference to the construction of the inner court. This court was enclosed by a wall formed by three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams. The cedar beams were used instead of coping stones. It would seem from 2 Chronicles 7:3 that this wall was low enough to permit men to look over it. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:10) refers to this court as the higher court because it occupied a higher level than the great court mentioned by the Chronicler. Several passages suggest that there may have been chambers in or around this inner court.[188] There is no indication, however, that these chambers were built in the time of Solomon. The size of this court remains a matter of conjecture. If, as in other matters, the dimensions of the Tabernacle were doubled, this court would measure three hundred feet east to west and a hundred fifty feet north to south.

[188] 2 Kings 23:11; Jeremiah 35:2; Jeremiah 36:10.

The account of the Temple construction concludes with a note as to the time involved in the building operation. As already related in 1 Kings 6:1, the foundation of the Temple was laid in the fourth year of Solomon and the second month, the month of Ziv (1 Kings 6:37). The work was completed in the eleventh year of Solomon, in the eighth month, the month of But (October-November). This means the house was 7½ years in the building, and the sacred historian rounds this off to seven years. The construction period was short if one considers the magnitude of the undertaking, but long enough, if one considers the enormous numbers of people engaged in the project.

How the roof of the Temple was supported is not indicated. Some have argued that such a massive roof would have to be supported by pillarsfour in the Debir and ten in the holy place.

CAPSULE HISTORY OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE

EVENT

REFERENCES

DATE B.C.

Construction of the Temple by Solomon

1 Kings 6-7; 1 Kings 2 Chronicles 3-4

966-960

Dedication of the Temple

1 Kings 8; 1 Kings 2 Chronicles 5-6

960

House filled with the glory of the Lord

1 Kings 8:10-11;