Solomon Builds His Palace

Solomon was (A)building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.

He built (B)the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits[a] and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four[b] rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. All the doorways and windows[c] had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.

And he made (C)the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and (D)a canopy in front of them.

And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. (E)It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.[d]

His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter (F)whom he had taken in marriage.

All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 (G)The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the Lord and (H)the vestibule of the house.

The Temple Furnishings

13 And King Solomon sent and brought (I)Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And (J)he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.

15 (K)He cast (L)two pillars of bronze. (M)Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.[e] 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and (N)the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice[f] for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital. 18 Likewise he made pomegranates[g] in two rows around the one latticework to cover the capital that was on the top of the pillar, and he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection which was beside the latticework. There were (O)two hundred pomegranates in two rows all around, and so with the other capital. 21 (P)He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and called its name Boaz. 22 And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished.

23 (Q)Then he made (R)the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 24 Under its brim were (S)gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. 25 It stood on (T)twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. 26 Its thickness was a handbreadth,[h] and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.[i]

27 He also made the (U)ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. 28 This was the construction of the stands: they had panels, and the panels were set in the frames, 29 and on the panels that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths of beveled work. 30 Moreover, each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and at the four corners were supports for a basin. The supports were cast with wreaths at the side of each. 31 Its opening was within a crown that projected upward one cubit. Its opening was round, as a pedestal is made, a cubit and a half deep. At its opening there were carvings, and its panels were square, not round. 32 And the four wheels were underneath the panels. The axles of the wheels were of one piece with the stands, and the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like a chariot wheel; their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. 34 There were four supports at the four corners of each stand. The supports were of one piece with the stands. 35 And on the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; and on the top of the stand its stays and its panels were of one piece with it. 36 And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around. 37 After this manner he made (V)the ten stands. All of them were cast alike, of the same measure and the same form.

38 And he made (W)ten basins of bronze. Each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits, and there was a basin for each of the ten stands. 39 And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house. And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.

40 (X)Hiram also made (Y)the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the Lord: 41 the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, and the two (Z)latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; 42 and the (AA)four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands; 44 and (AB)the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea.

45 Now (AC)the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the house of the Lord, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished bronze. 46 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between (AD)Succoth and (AE)Zarethan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; (AF)the weight of the bronze was not ascertained.

48 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the Lord: (AG)the golden altar, (AH)the golden table for (AI)the bread of the Presence, 49 (AJ)the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; (AK)the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50 the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and (AL)fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, (AM)the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple.

51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in (AN)the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. 1 Kings 7:2 Septuagint three
  3. 1 Kings 7:5 Septuagint; Hebrew posts
  4. 1 Kings 7:7 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew floor
  5. 1 Kings 7:15 Targum, Syriac (compare Septuagint and Jeremiah 52:21); Hebrew and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of the second pillar
  6. 1 Kings 7:17 Septuagint; Hebrew seven; twice in this verse
  7. 1 Kings 7:18 Two manuscripts (compare Septuagint); Hebrew pillars
  8. 1 Kings 7:26 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters
  9. 1 Kings 7:26 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters

But Sh’lomo was building his own Bais (palace complex) thirteen years, and he finished all his Bais.

He built also the Bais Ya’ar HaLevanon; the length thereof was a hundred cubits, and the width thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.

And it was roofed in erez (cedar) above the tzela’ot (chambers, side-rooms) upon the ammudim; there were forty-five, fifteen per row.

And there were shekufim (windows) in three rows, and outlook was opposite outlook, shalosh pe’amim (three times).

And all the petachim and mezuzot were framed foursided by beams; and outlook opposite outlook, shalosh pe’amim (three times).

And he made Ulam HaAmmudim (Hall of Pillars); the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the width thereof thirty cubits: and the ulam (portico) was in front of them [i.e., the petachim]; and the other ammudim [for the portico roof] with the thick beam were before them.

Then he made Ulam HaKisse where he would judge, even the Ulam HaMishpat; and it was covered with erez (cedar) from floor to floor [i.e., covering the entire floor].

And his Bais (palace) where he dwelt which was in another khatzer (courtyard) inwards from the Ulam [HaKisse], was similar in workmanship. Sh’lomo made also a Bais for Bat Pharaoh, whom he had taken as isha, and the Bais (palace) he made was like this Ulam.

All these were of expensive stone, according to the measure of hewed stones, filed with files, outside and inside, even from the foundation unto the ceiling, and from without to the Khatzer HaGedolah (the Great Court).

10 And the foundation was laid with expensive stones, even avanim gedolot, stones of 10 cubits, and stones of 8 cubits.

11 And above were expensive avanim, after the measure of hewed stones, and cedars.

12 And the Khatzer HaGedolah (Great Court) was formed of shaloshah—three courses of hewn stones, and a course of hewn cedar beams, as in the Beis Hashem’s Khatzer HaPenimit (Innermost Court) and for the Ulam HaBeis [HaMikdash].

13 And HaMelech Sh’lomo sent and brought back Chiram from Tzor.

14 He was ben isha almanah of the tribe of Naphtali, and aviv was an ish of Tzor, a khoresh nechoshet and he was filled with chochmah and tevanah, and da’as to work all works in nechoshet. And he came to HaMelech Sh’lomo, and wrought all his work.

15 For he cast two ammudim of nechoshet, of 18 cubits high apiece; and a line of 12 cubits did compass either of them about.

16 And he made two capitals of mutzak nechoshet (cast bronze), to set upon the tops of the ammudim; the height of the one capital was 5 cubits, and the height of the other capital was 5 cubits:

17 And plaiting of net work, and ropes of chain work, for the capitals which were upon the top of the ammudim, seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.

18 And he made the ammudim, and two rows around the one network, to cover the capitals that were upon the rosh (top) with pomegranates; and the same did he for the second capital.

19 And the capitals that were upon the rosh of the ammudim were of shushan (lily) work in the Ulam, four cubits.

20 And the capitals upon the two ammudim had pomegranates also above, over against the bulge which was next to the network; and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows encircling the second capital.

21 And he set up the ammudim in the Ulam HaHeikhal; and he set up the right ammud, and called shmo thereof Yachin (Establish): and he set up the left ammud, and called shmo thereof Boaz (Strength is in it).

22 And upon the top of the ammudim was shoshan (lily) work; so was the work of the ammudim completed.

23 And he made a Yam Mutzak (Cast Metal Sea), ten cubits from brim to brim; it was completely round and its height was 5 cubits; and a line of 30 cubits did measure around about it.

24 And under the brim of it all around about there were knobs surrounding it, ten in a cubit, encompassing the Yam all around about; the knobs were cast in two rows, when it was cast.

25 It stood upon twelve bakar (oxen), shalosh looking toward tzafonah (north), and shalosh looking toward the yammah (west), and shalosh looking toward the negbah (south), and shalosh looking toward the mizrachah (east); and the Yam was set above upon them, and all their haunches were facing toward the center.

26 And it was a handbreadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a kos, with shoshan blossoms; it could hold two thousand bath measures.

27 And he made ten Mekhonot (Stands [serving as water carts]) of nechoshet; four cubits was the length of one Stand, and four cubits the width thereof, and three cubits the height of it.

28 And the constuction of the Mekhonot was on this manner: they had misgerot (panels, flat sides), and the misgerot were between the shelabim (rods, upright braces);

29 And on the misgerot that were between the shelabim were [engraved] arayot (lions) and bakar (oxen), and keruvim; and upon the shelabim there was a base above; and below the arayot and bakar were wreaths of plaited work.

30 And every Mekhonah (Stand) had four nechoshet ofanim (wheels), and axles of nechoshet; and the four corners thereof had supporting posts; under the Kiyor (Basin) were supports cast with wreaths on each side.

31 And the mouth [of the Mekhonah (Stand)] within the capital and above was a cubit; but the opening thereof was circular like the construction of the base, a cubit and an half; and also upon the rim of it were engravings. The frames were foursquare, not circular.

32 And under the frames were four ofanim (wheels); and the axles of the ofanim (wheels) were joined to the Mekhonah; and the diameter of each wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

33 And the construction of the ofanim (wheels) was like the construction of a merkavah ofan (wheel): their axles, and their hubs, and their rims, and their spokes, were all cast metal.

34 And there were four supports to the four pinnot (corners) of each stand; and the supports were of the stand itself.

35 And at the top of the Mekhonah (Stand) was there a round rim of half a cubit high; and on the top of the Mekhonah (Stand) the rods thereof and the frames thereof were cast as one unit.

36 For on the luchot of the rods thereof, and on the misgerot (panels) thereof, he engraved keruvim, arayot, and timorot (palms), according to the proportion of every one, and wreaths all around.

37 After this manner he made the ten Mekhonot; all of them had one casting, one middah (size), and one shape.

38 Then made he ten kiyyorot nechoshet (basins of bronze); one kiyor could hold forty baths; and every kiyor was four cubits; and upon each of the ten Mekhonot there was one kiyor (basin).

39 And he put five Mekhonot (Stands) on the right side of the Beis [HaMikdash], and five on the left side of the Beis ; and he set the Yam on the right side of the Beis eastward opposite the south.

40 And Chiram made the kiyyrot, and the ya’im (shovels), and the mizrakot (bowls for sprinkling blood). So Chiram completed all the melakhah (work) that he made for Sh’lomo HaMelech for the Beis Hashem;

41 The two ammudim, and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the two ammudim; and the two networks, decorating the two bowls of the capitals which were upon the top of the ammudim;

42 And four hundred rimonim (pomegranates) for the two networks, even two courses of rimonim (pomegranates) for one network, to decorate the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the ammudim;

43 And the ten Mekhonot (stands), and ten Kiyyorot (basins) on the Mekhonot;

44 And one Yam, and twelve Bakar under the Yam;

45 And the sirot (pots), and the ya’im (shovels), and the mizrakot (bowls for sprinkling blood); and all these kelim (vessels), which Chiram made for Sh’lomo HaMelech for the Beis Hashem were of burnished nechoshet.

46 In the plain of the Yarden did HaMelech cast them, in the clay of the adamah (ground) between Sukkot and Tzartan.

47 And Sh’lomo left all the kelim (vessels) unweighed, because they were exceeding many; neither was the weight of the nechoshet found out.

48 And Sh’lomo made all the kelim (vessels) that pertained unto the Beis Hashem: the Mizbe’ach HaZahav, and the Shulchan HaZahav, whereupon was the Lechem HaPanim,

49 And the Menorot of pure zahav, five on the right side, and five on the left, in front of the Devir (Most Holy Place), with floral designs, and the nerot (lamps), and the melkachayyim (tongs) of zahav,

50 And the sippot (bowls), and the mezammerot (lamp snuffers), and the mizrakot (bowls for sprinkling blood), and the kappot (ladles), and the machtot zahav sagur (hot coal pans of pure gold), and the gold potot (hinge-sockets) for the daletot (doors) of the Beis HaPenimi, the Kodesh HaKodashim, and also those for the daletot of the Beis [Hamikdash], that is, the Heikhal.

51 So was completed all the work that HaMelech Sh’lomo made for the Beis Hashem. And Sh’lomo brought in the things which Dovid Aviv had set apart as kodesh; even the kesef, and the zahav, and the kelim (vessels), did he put among the otzarot (treasures) of the Beis Hashem.