I Kings 5:1-8:66 The Reign of King Solomon, Building the Temple Introduction The time of King Solomon was a unique and special time in the history of Israel. It was a time of peace and prosperity, in large part due to the hard fighting and righteous loyalty of King David. Just as God has described Himself as a God of lovingkindness, mercy and forgiveness and a God who punishes to the third and fourth generations, He, too, is a God who grants peace and prosperity on the sons of the righteous. Thus, He did in great part for David and Solomon. As Solomon ascended the throne of his father he did two significant acts: he formed an alliance with Egypt by marrying the daughter of Pharaoh, and he asked for wisdom above all else. Because Solomon asked for wisdom, God granted unusually great wisdom to him, but also granted Solomon with great wealth and prosperity. We will read that Solomon began his reign with great faith and obedience to God; he loses his way eventually and becomes mired in polytheistic pagan ritual, a by-product of too many foreign wives and concubines. Chapter 5 Alliance with King Hiram of Tyre Vs. 1-12 Just as Solomon forged an alliance with Pharaoh, so too he forged an alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre to the north. With solid alliances with the powerful countries to the north and south, Solomon was able to develop greater freedom for his own people. Hiram had enjoyed an alliance with King David, supplying him with timber for his palace, even workers to help build David s palace, and as Solomon attained his father s throne Hiram reached out in peace to him as well. Not only would there be peace between the two kings, they would do significant business together. Solomon would buy large quantities of cedar from Lebanon for the temple and in turn Israel would supply large quantities of food for Tyre. Tyre has an interesting history, located on the coast just north of Israel s northern border, and is actually an island city state off the Phoenician coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was well established for over 200 years by this time and its inhabitants were legendary seamen. Being an island city state, there was very little food production in Tyre so bartering the cedar of Lebanon for food was good for both countries. Tyre was a polytheistic culture following the same general gods and deities of most of Canaan. Vs. 13-18 For the arduous task of securing the raw materials needed for the construction of the temple, Solomon levied forced laborers from all of Israel. 30,000 men were conscripted to work in teams of 10,000 per month, and then they would be sent home for two months. These men would go to Lebanon to hue trees and transport them to the sea. Large rafts of 1
cedar would be constructed to float down the Mediterranean coast to southern Israel. Solomon had 70,000 transporters to bring the cedar logs from the coast up the valley regions and then to the Judean mountains where Jerusalem was situated. Additionally, Solomon had 80,000 hewers, transporters and masons of stone for the mammoth project. Chapter 6 Temple construction begins Vs, 1-10 Solomon began construction of the Temple in the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after the exodus from Egypt, and almost 1,000 years after the life of Abraham. He had received the plans for the Temple from his father David, who had been given the design of the Temple through divine inspiration (II Chronicles 28:19). The Temple was to be built on the site of the threshing floor of Araunah which King David purchased (II Samuel 24:24-25) which is on top of Mount Moriah at Jerusalem. Mount Moriah is the very place where Abraham sacrificed and met with the High Priest Melchizedek (Genesis 14) and where he went to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22). It is also the place where Jacob had the amazing dream of the ladder ascending from earth into heaven and the angels were ascending and descending and God Himself stood at the top of the ladder and spoke to Jacob (Genesis 28:10-17). A threshing floor was generally built at the very top of a mountain so the wind would do the work of separating the seed from the chaff. As the wheat was being beaten the wind would blow the chaff away and the seed would drop to the ground to be collected. We call these mountains because they are high outcroppings that descend to the west toward the Mediterranean Sea and to the east to the Rift Valley, the Jordan River and Dead Sea (1,290 feet below sea level). Mount Moriah is a high point with more than one modest peak. Where the threshing floor of Araunah was located, it was about 2,431 feet above sea level while the high point Mount Zion next to it was just slightly higher at 2, 533 feet above sea level. Compared to Mount of Olives which is about 2,855 feet above sea level just east across the Kidron Valley. Before construction could begin there had to be significant site preparation which meant creating a level base to build on with significant quarried stone foundation blocks of huge proportion. The Temple itself was 60 cubits long and 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits in height (roughly 90 long x 30 wide x 45 height), that is the portion containing the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. A 20 cubit by 10 cubit porch or hall was constructed in front of the Temple with an annex built all around the Temple with side rooms and chambers along the outer walls of the Temple and these were at differing levels so that the entire Temple structure was a multilevel edifice. Every element of the Temple construction, the timber used and the huge limestone blocks were quarried and cut to measure outside the Temple grounds and during 2
the construction there was no sound of hammer, chisel or any other iron tool within the site of the Temple construction. Vs. 11-13 The word of God came to Solomon during the construction process, Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father (II Samuel 7:5-15). I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. There is a keen connection between the obedience of the people and the presence of the Living God. Just because a temple for God is being constructed, His presence will not dwell with the people if they are not obedient. (Leviticus 26:11-13) The interior of the Temple was to represent the very throne room of God in heaven, for the very essence or Spirit of the Living God of Israel was to dwell among His people. It was to be fashioned after the Tabernacle which was fashioned after the original as seen by Moses, Aaron and the 70 elders in Exodus 24:11-13. Most saw the throne room from a great distance but Moses was called up to see it and examine it closely so he could construct the replica on earth, the Tabernacle. Vs. 14-22 The basic construction of the Temple was of white stone, most likely limestone, with each block cut to measure at the quarry before bringing it to the site to be put in place. Solomon had the entire interior of the Temple, the Holy Place and Most Holy Place covered with wood. Cedar was used on the walls and cypress on the floors. Some of the wood had been carved in the shape of gourds and flowers. Then Solomon overlaid all the wood, floors, walls and ceiling with gold. Vs. 23-30 Inside the Most Holy Place were two cherubim, carved of olive wood standing 10 cubits (15 feet) tall, with open wings spanning 10 cubits wide (15 feet), wings just touching, and filling the width of the room from side to side. These too were overlaid with gold. On the walls within the Temple were carved cherubim and palm trees and these too were overlaid with gold. Vs. 31-36 The doors to the Temple were made of cypress with door posts of olive wood. The outer part of the doors were carved with cherubim, palm trees and flowers and overlaid with gold. Vs. 37-38 It took four years to prepare the construction site and lay the foundation which gives some indication of the significance of the leveling out and the strength of the 3
foundation for this great structure. It took another 7 years to construct and finish the Temple eleven years in all. Chapter 7 Solomon builds a palace and Hiram the bronze worker Vs. 1-12 After the completion of the Temple Solomon began construction of his own palace and hall of judgment. We see something of Solomon s self aggrandizement in the construction of his own house compared to the house he built for God. The Temple measured 60 cubits in length, 20 cubits wide and 30 cubits tall (roughly 90 x30 x45 ); Solomon s palace measured 100 cubits in length, 50 cubits width, and 30 cubits in height (roughly 150 x75 x45 ), significantly larger than the Temple. Additionally, he built a similar house for his wife, the princess of Egypt. The construction did not include the gold used in the Temple but was rather similar in the cut stone and many pillars made from the cedars of Lebanon. in using carefully cut stone and cedar from Lebanon, Solomon built a large and grand palace. It took 13 years to complete the palace compared to the eleven years required for building the Temple. Vs. 13-47 There seems in these verses to be a chronological shift as the narrative reverts back to Temple construction, specifically the specialized work of another Hiram of Tyre, a man highly gifted in the work of bronze. This Hiram, not related to the King of Tyre, is of the tribe of Naphtali as his mother was of that tribe but his father was a man of Tyre, and has previously deceased. This Hiram was brought in to do the bronze work in the outer courtyard of the Temple, specifically to construct the bronze altar for offering animals in sacrifice and the bronze laver. Because the dimensions of the Temple are greater than the Tabernacle, and the Temple is a permanent structure, these elements were far grander in scope and size than those used with the Tabernacle. The bronze sea was a huge permanent laver which sat on the backs of 12 bronze oxen, three facing east, three facing south, three facing west and three facing north. Oxen, lions and cherubim were carved or engraved around the huge basin containing water. He made smaller basins, ten in all, which were set atop a structure with wheels, like chariot wheels and could be moved by the priests. These too had carvings of oxen, lions and cherubim. Of great beauty were two pillars, 18 cubits tall (27 ) with beautiful capitals on top of exquisitely fashioned filigreed work, 4 cubits tall, made of a lily design and contained 200 pomegranates in rows. These pillars were set on either side of the entrance to the Temple and Solomon named the pillars. The one on the right was Jachin and the one on the left was named Boaz. Most scholars indicate the name Jachin represents established and the name Boaz represents strength is in it ; representing Solomon s prayer that that the Temple be firmly established and be blessed with the strength of God forever. Some have 4
surmised that the name Jachin represents Solomon, the king who was appointed to build the Temple and permanently establish a place of God s throne on earth; and the name Boaz represents David, a picture of Boaz the redeemer kinsmen, giving the picture of the Temple being the center of strength and redemption, not just for the Israelites but for all of mankind. Vs. 48-51 As the Temple and all its elements are completed Solomon places all the elements of the Temple in their proper place, just as Moses did with the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, that is, everything but the Ark of the Covenant, which is brought in at the end. Chapter 8 The Ark is placed and the Temple dedicated Vs. 1-9 Can you imagine the excitement among all the people as the priests brought the Ark into the Temple? All the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers households and all the people were present for this august occasion. There were so many sheep and oxen offered on the altar that the number of the animals could not be determined. The placement of the Ark occurred in the seventh month in conjunction with the feast of that month, Feast of Tabernacle or Succoth. Why is it significant that the completion and dedication of the temple occurred at this particular festival? Succoth is the feast that honors the memory of God dwelling among His people in the wilderness within the Tabernacle. God dwelling among His people is one of the great promises from God, especially if the people will keep His commands (Leviticus 26:11-13). The placement of the Ark within the temple signifies in a tangible way the presence of God among His people. The gold covered poles used to carry the Ark were so long they were visible from the Holy Place, the first room within the Temple. Perhaps they were made so long as a precaution to insure no man touched the Ark and received the same judgment as Uzzah who touched the Ark to keep it from falling off the ox cart when David was transporting the Ark to Jerusalem. Vs. 10-11 When the priests placed the Ark within the Most Holy Place and departed, the glory of the LORD in the form of a cloud filled the room and the entire house of the LORD so that no priest could remain within the Temple. This is reminiscent of the similar occurrence when Moses completed the Tabernacle in Exodus 40. Vs. 12-21 Solomon addressed the people, The LORD has said He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built you a lofty house, a place for your dwelling forever. Then Solomon faced the people and blessed them, Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father, David and has fulfilled it with His hand. 5
Solomon continued by reminding them of the words of God, a brief history of how David was used by God to prepare for the building of the Temple. Vs. 22-61 Solomon s prayer of dedication: O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day. if only Your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me, as you (David) have walked. Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father, David. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! Have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant prays before you today; that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, My name shall be there.. Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. Solomon s prayer goes on to ask for God s favor when people confess and pray at this place: When a man takes an oath and will receive judgment. When the people of Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned before God. When they confess their sin, please grant forgiveness. When there is drought on the land because of their sin and they confess their sin to You, grant them forgiveness and send rain on the land. If there is famine in the land, blight or mildew; locust or grasshoppers, enemy sieges or plague, and the people confess their sin and call on Your name, forgive them and restore the land. When the foreigner comes from a far away land because he has heard of Your greatness, and asks blessings for himself and his family, answer his prayer and bless him. When Your people pray at this place before they go to battle, hear their prayers and supplications and grant them safety and success. When your people sin so grievously and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy so they are taken away captive; and when they seek you from that far away land and confess their iniquities and admit their sin, and they return to you with all their heart, grant them forgiveness and make them the object of your 6
compassion, and return them to the land you promised to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and also to Moses. Vs. 54-55 When Solomon had finished this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly Israel with a loud voice This picture provides a wonderful example of how a king should lead his entire nation before God on his knees, offering prayer and supplication, honoring God as the Creator and King, the greatest of all power, and the source of all blessing. His final prayer before the people is one acknowledging and extolling the gift God has given, peace and prosperity for all of Israel. This peace has allowed the opportunity for the nation to build this beautiful Temple to honor and revere the God of Israel. Vs. 60 A most important point is found in verse 41-43 and here again in verse 60, the role of Israel, a nation of priests, is to minister to all the world to bring all the world to know God as the Creator and King. There is a recurring theme that Israel is to bless the world in a spiritual way by bringing the world to know God. The prophecy was given to Abraham in Genesis 18:18 and 22:18. In Exodus 19:6 God calls Israel a holy nation, a kingdom of priests, a statement of Israel s responsibility to be a light to all nations and bring them to know God. Isaiah 2:2 references that all the world will stream to this holy mountain, will make their way to this temple to find God. Exodus 15:27 records that following the crossing of the Red Sea on dry land the people come to Elim, an oasis in the desert where there were twelve springs watering 70 date palm trees. The twelve streams represent Israel and the seventy date palms represent the seventy nations of the world, being blessed by Israel. Israel s mission is to bring the world to God. Vs. 62-66 At the conclusion of this stirring dedicatory service all the people joined in offering sacrifices to God, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep were offered on the altar. The altar proved too small for such a huge sacrificial service with both the meat offerings and the grain offerings. Again, this is at the Feast of Succoth, so Solomon observed this feast with the dedication of the Temple, the place representing the dwelling place of God, with all the people. All the people were dismissed to go to their tents, temporary booths erected to celebrate Succoth, and they had glad hearts, with joy and full of the goodness God had shown King David and to Israel His people. How important is the concept of the dwelling place of God being with His people? Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is among men, and 7
He will dwell among them and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will be no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away, Points to Consider: 1. In I Corinthians 3:16 that Christians are a temple and the Spirit of God dwells within each of us. What similarities might there be between the Spirit of God taking up residence in the Temple and the Spirit of God taking up residence in your heart and mine? 2. During the Temple dedication lead by Solomon, how significant is the picture of Solomon s kneeling in prayer leading the people, and what we know of his later years of reign when he seems to pursue his own selfish interests? 3. Do you suppose that the sentiment expressed in John 3:16 is a new concept introduced into the world with the ministry of Jesus, or is this idea the objective of God s plan of redemption from the beginning of time? 8
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