1 Reis 6
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Reis 6
NJB (MT versing) The Building of the Temple Solomon Builds the Temple The Building of the Temple Solomon Builds the Temple The Temple Building 6:1-6 6:1-4 6:1-6 6:1-6 6:1-13 6:5-10 6:7 6:7 6:7 6:8-10 6:8-10 6:8-10 6:11-13 6:11-13 6:11-13 6:11-13 6:14-22 6:14-22 6:14-22 6:14 6:14 The Interior Furnishings of the Temple Interior Furnishings. The Holy of Holies 6:15-18 6:15-22 6:19-22 The Great Winged Creatures 6:23-28 6:23-28 6:23-28 6:23-28 6:23-30 6:29-30 6:29-30 6:29-30 6:29-30 The Doors. The Court 6:31-32 6:31-35 6:31-32 6:31-35 6:31-35 6:33-36 6:33-36 6:36 6:36 6:36 6:37-38 6:37-38 6:37-38 6:37-38 6:37-38 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The temple of Solomon was planned by David built by Phoenician artisans its architecture resembled Phoenician temples of this period For a possible diagram of Solomon's temple see ABD, vol. 6, p. 356 Jewish Study Bible, p. 684 Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. 5, p. 625 Tyndale Commentary, vol. 9, pp. 103,107-108 The temple in Jerusalem was believed to be where YHWH dwelt with His people, above the ark, between the cherubim. It was where heaven and earth met! This imagery developed from the creation account, where Genesis 1-2 describes the preparation of YHWH's House. See John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. Other sources of information would be 2 Chronicles 3:1-14 Josephus, Antiq. 7.3.1-3 there are some differences between the MT and the LXX I surely enjoy reading Roland deVaux's Ancient Israel. His description of Solomon's temple is found in pages 312-322.
1 Reis 6:1-6
6:1 "in the four hundred and eightieth year" This is a rare example of precise dating in this section of the OT (i.e., historical books). The LXX has 440 years. Scholars use this date of the starting of Solomon's temple to guess the date of the exodus as 1445/46 b.c. However, I think 1290 b.c. fits the historical data better (480 being 12 generations). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DATE OF THE EXODUS SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORIOGRAPHY COMPARED WITH NEAR EASTERN CULTURES SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORICAL NARRATIVE ▣ "in the fourth year of Solomon's reign" This would be 967/6 b.c. (cf. 2 Chr. 3:2). The Jewish Study Bible suggests 968 b.c. based on Josephus' chronology of Tyrian kings comparing Assyrian chronology with Tyrian kings ▣ "the month of Ziv which is the second month" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS. 6:2 "cubit" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT. 6:4-6 The JPSOA footnote says "Meaning of parts of vv. 4-6 uncertain." 6:4 The design and structure of these windows is uncertain. The windows of Ezekiel's temple "may be" the same type (i.e., latticed/shuttered, cf. Ezek. 40:16; 41:16).
1 Reis 6:7
6:7 "stone prepared at the quarry" These stones are mentioned in 1 Kgs. 5:17. The temple looked very much like Phoenician temples. Remember, Hiram, King of Tyre, sent his artisans to help build the temple in Jerusalem. One wonders if these stones, left relatively natural, are related to Exod. 20:25 (cf. Deut. 27:5; Josh. 8:31) about uncut stones for Israel's altars, which would be different from Canaanite altars.
1 Reis 6:8-10
6:8 "lowest side chamber" NKJV, JPSOA "the middle story" TEV, NJB "lowest story" "lowest arcade" "lower side" "the middle chamber" The MT has the FEMININE NOUN (BDB 854, #3) and suggests "side chambers [enclosing the temple] like ribs"). ▣ "by winding stairs" The PLURAL NOUN (BDB 532) is found only here. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 780, suggests "trap door." 6:9 NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "planks" NKJV, TEV, Peshitta "boards" NJB, JPSOA "beams" "struts" The MT has the FEMININE NOUN (KB 1310), found only here, 2 Kgs. 11:8-15; and 2 Chr. 23:14. Its exact meaning is uncertain. It is an architectural term. in a row of arranged beans (v. 36) part of the roof columned hall adjacent building (v. 10) The UBS Text Project, p. 299, suggests "to the walls of the ceiling," which refers to the upper part of the walls. However, it gives only a "D" rating so still speculation.
1 Reis 6:11-13
6:11-13 These verses are not in the LXX. 6:11 This was the second major revelation by YHWH to Solomon. They both (first at the altar in Gibeon, 1 Kgs. 3:14) are warnings and promises (i.e., conditional covenant) about obedience to the revealed Mosaic Law. 6:12-13 "if. . .then" The conditional element is emphasized (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:4; 9:6). The theological tension is between YHWH using Israel for His redemptive purposes (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN) the conditional aspect of most of YHWH's covenants (see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT) Remember, the Mosaic covenant is a performance based covenant (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30; Psalm 1), known as "the two ways." SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION VS. HUMAN FREE WILL 6:12 "walk. . .walking" This is a biblical metaphor for lifestyle faithfulness. YHWH's will was a clearly marked path/road and believers must walk on it, turning neither to the right or left. ▣ "statutes. . .ordinances. . .commandments" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. ▣ "then I will carry out My word" The Mosaic covenant had two aspects—as Israel acted faithfully, then YHWH acted faithfully. Disobedience had consequences in time and eternity. 6:13 Israel's covenant loyalty allowed the holy God to dwell in their midst (cf. Exod. 25:8; 29:45-46; Num. 5:3; Rev. 21:3). This is the true sense of "Emmanuel." (John 14:3).
1 Reis 6:14-22
6:16 The tabernacle had a veil/curtain to separate the holy of holies from the holy place, but Solomon put in a wooden partition. 6:18 The cedar on the inside walls was carved (VERB used only of temple carvings) with gourds, v. 18 ‒ BDB 825, cf. 2 Kgs. 7:24 (1 Chr. 3:5 changes "gourds" to "chains") open flowers, vv. 18,29,35 ‒ BDB 809 CONSTRUCT BDB 847 cherubim, vv. 29,35 ‒ BDB 500 (i.e., angelic protectors, cf. Gen. 3:24) palm trees, vv. 29,35 ‒ BDB 1071 The holy of holies was decorated with more carvings. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM 6:19 "inner sanctuary" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS. ▣ "the ark of the covenant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. 6:20 "twenty cubits" The holy of holies was a perfect cube; twenty cubits high, long, and wide. ▣ "overlaid it with pure gold" There are degrees of holiness expressed by the different metals as one moves from the holy of holies to the sacrificial altar. gold silver bronze In Ezekiel's temple this same holiness was symbolized by steps narrowing of the steps ▣ "the altar" This refers to the altar of incense which stood before the veil of the holy of holies (cf. v. 22). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF INCENSE 6:21 "chains" This may refer to how a curtain (cf. 2 Chr. 3:14; Matt. 27:51; Heb. 6:19) was hung that allowed access to the holy of holies.
1 Reis 6:23-28
6:23-27 "two cherubim" There were two cherubim on the lid of the ark of the covenant. Solomon added two larger cherubim in the holy of holies which stood above the ark. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM
1 Reis 6:33-36
6:34 NASB, NRSV, LXX, Peshitta "leaves" "panels" "each leaf" "rounded planks" The MT has "curtains" (BDB 887 II), but the UBS Text Project, p. 301, suggests an emendation. curtains ‒ קלע (BDB 887) leaves (lit. "rib") ‒ צלע (BDB 854) However, the UBS Text Project gives its suggestion a "C" rating (considerable doubt).
1 Reis 6:37-38
6:38 "according to all its plans" YHWH revealed the layout of the tabernacle (cf. Exod. 25:9,40; 26:30; 1 Chr. 28:12,19; Acts 44; Heb. 8:2,5). The layout had theological implications. The house of YHWH was not a human invention.