Solomon’s Palace Complex

Solomon completed his entire palace complex after 13 years of construction.(A) He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon.(B) It was 150 feet[a] long, 75 feet[b] wide, and 45 feet[c] high on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on top of the pillars. It was paneled above with cedar at the top of the chambers that rested on 45 pillars, 15 per row. There were three rows of window frames, facing each other[d] in three tiers.[e](C) All the doors and doorposts had rectangular frames, the openings facing each other[f] in three tiers.[g] He made the hall of pillars 75 feet[h] long and 45 feet[i] wide. A portico was in front of the pillars, and a canopy with pillars[j] was in front of them. He made the Hall of the Throne where he would judge(D)—the Hall of Judgment. It was paneled with cedar from the floor to the rafters.[k] Solomon’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.[l](E)

All 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. 10 The foundation was made of large, costly stones 12 and 15 feet[m] long. 11 Above were also costly stones, cut to size, as well as cedar wood. 12 Around 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.(F)

13 King Solomon had Hiram[n](G) brought from Tyre. 14 He 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,(H) understanding, and knowledge to do every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.(I)

The Bronze Pillars

15 He cast two hollow bronze pillars:(J) each 27 feet[o] high and 18 feet[p] in circumference.[q](K) 16 He also made two capitals(L) of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars; 7½ feet[r] was the height of the first capital, and 7½ feet[s] was also the height of the second capital. 17 The capitals on top of the pillars had gratings of latticework, wreaths[t] made of chainwork—seven for the first capital and seven for the second.

18 He 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. 19 And the capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, six feet[u] high. 20 The capitals on the two pillars were also immediately above the rounded surface next to the grating, and 200 pomegranates(M) were in rows encircling each[v] capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the portico(N) of the sanctuary: he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin;[w] then he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz.[x](O) 22 The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. Then the work of the pillars was completed.(P)

The Reservoir

23 He made the cast metal reservoir,[y](Q) 15 feet[z] from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7½ feet[aa] high and 45 feet[ab] in circumference. 24 Ornamental gourds(R) encircled it below the brim, 10 every half yard,[ac] completely encircling the reservoir.(S) The gourds were cast in two rows when the reservoir was cast. 25 It stood on 12 oxen,(T) 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. 26 The reservoir was three inches[ad] thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held 11,000 gallons.[ae]

The Bronze Water Carts

27 Then he made 10 bronze water carts.[af](U) Each water cart was six feet[ag] long, six feet[ah] wide, and 4½ feet[ai] high. 28 This was the design of the carts: They had frames; the frames were between the cross-pieces, 29 and on the frames between the cross-pieces were lions, oxen, and cherubim.(V) On the cross-pieces there was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging[aj] work. 30 Each cart(W) had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. Underneath the four corners of the basin were cast supports, each next to a wreath. 31 And the water cart’s opening inside the crown on top was 18 inches[ak] wide. The opening was round, made as a pedestal 27 inches[al] wide. On it were carvings, but their frames were square, not round. 32 There were four wheels under the frames, and the wheel axles were part of the water cart; each wheel was 27 inches[am] tall. 33 The wheels’ design was similar to that of chariot wheels: their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal. 34 Four supports were at the four corners of each water cart; each support was one piece with the water cart. 35 At the top of the cart was a band nine inches[an] high encircling it; also, at the top of the cart, its braces and its frames were one piece with it. 36 He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees(X) on the plates of its braces and on its frames, wherever each had space, with encircling wreaths. 37 In this way he made the 10 water carts using the same casting, dimensions, and shape for all of them.

Bronze Basins and Other Utensils

38 Then he made 10 bronze basins(Y)—each basin holding 220 gallons[ao] and each was six feet[ap] wide—one basin for each of the 10 water carts. 39 He 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.(Z) 40 Then Hiram made(AA) 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: 41 two pillars;(AB) 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;(AC) 42 the 400 pomegranates for the two gratings (two rows of pomegranates for each grating covering both capitals’ bowls on top of the pillars(AD)); 43 the 10 water carts;(AE) the 10 basins on the water carts;(AF) 44 the reservoir;(AG) the 12 oxen underneath the reservoir;(AH) 45 and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling basins.(AI) All the utensils that Hiram made for King Solomon at the Lord’s temple were made of burnished bronze. 46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth(AJ) and Zarethan.(AK) 47 Solomon left all the utensils unweighed because there were so many; the weight of the bronze was not determined.(AL)

Completion of the Gold Furnishings

48 Solomon 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;(AM) 49 the pure gold lampstands in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left;(AN) the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; 50 the pure gold ceremonial bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, ladles,[aq] and firepans;(AO) 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.

51 So all the work King Solomon did in the Lord’s temple was completed.(AP) Then Solomon brought in the consecrated things of his father David(AQ)—the silver, the gold, and the utensils—and put them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:2 Lit 100 cubits
  2. 1 Kings 7:2 Lit 50 cubits
  3. 1 Kings 7:2 Lit 30 cubits
  4. 1 Kings 7:4 Lit frames, window to window
  5. 1 Kings 7:4 Lit three times; = at 3 different places
  6. 1 Kings 7:5 Lit frames, opposing window to window
  7. 1 Kings 7:5 Lit three times; = at 3 different places
  8. 1 Kings 7:6 Lit 50 cubits
  9. 1 Kings 7:6 Lit 30 cubits
  10. 1 Kings 7:6 Hb obscure
  11. 1 Kings 7:7 Syr, Vg; MT reads floor
  12. 1 Kings 7:8 Lit daughter he had taken
  13. 1 Kings 7:10 Lit ten cubits and eight cubits
  14. 1 Kings 7:13 = Huram in 2Ch 4:11
  15. 1 Kings 7:15 Lit 18 cubits
  16. 1 Kings 7:15 Lit 12 cubits
  17. 1 Kings 7:15 LXX adds and the thickness of the pillar was four fingers hollowed and similarly the second pillar
  18. 1 Kings 7:16 Lit five cubits
  19. 1 Kings 7:16 Lit five cubits
  20. 1 Kings 7:17 Lit tassels
  21. 1 Kings 7:19 Lit four cubits
  22. 1 Kings 7:20 Lit encircling the second
  23. 1 Kings 7:21 = He Will Establish
  24. 1 Kings 7:21 = In Him Is Strength
  25. 1 Kings 7:23 Lit sea
  26. 1 Kings 7:23 Lit 10 cubits
  27. 1 Kings 7:23 Lit five cubits
  28. 1 Kings 7:23 Lit 30 cubits
  29. 1 Kings 7:24 Lit 10 per cubit
  30. 1 Kings 7:26 Lit a handbreadth
  31. 1 Kings 7:26 Lit 2,000 baths
  32. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit bronze stands
  33. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit four cubits
  34. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit four cubits
  35. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit three cubits
  36. 1 Kings 7:29 Or hammered-down
  37. 1 Kings 7:31 Lit a cubit
  38. 1 Kings 7:31 Lit one and a half cubits
  39. 1 Kings 7:32 Lit was one and a half cubits
  40. 1 Kings 7:35 Lit half a cubit
  41. 1 Kings 7:38 Lit 40 baths
  42. 1 Kings 7:38 Lit four cubits
  43. 1 Kings 7:50 Or dishes, or spoons; lit palms

And Solomon built his own house in thirteen years, and brought it to perfection.

He built also the house of the forest of Libanus, the length of it was a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty cubits, and the height thirty cubits: and four galleries between pillars of cedar: for he had cut cedar trees into pillars.

And he covered the whole vault with boards of cedar, and it was held up with five and forty pillars. And one row had fifteen pillars,

Set one against another,

And looking one upon another, with equal space between the pillars, and over the pillars were square beams in all things equal.

And he made a porch of pillars of fifty cubits in length, and thirty cubits in breadth: and another porch before the greater porch: and pillars, and chapiters upon the pillars.

He made also the porch of the throne, wherein is the seat of judgment: and covered it with cedar wood from the floor to the top.

And in the midst of the porch, was a small house where he sat in judgment, of the like work. He made also a house for the daughter of Pharao (whom Solomon had taken to wife) of the same work, as this porch,

All of costly stones, which were sawed by a certain rule and measure both within and without: from the foundation to the top of the walls, and without unto the great court.

10 And the foundations were of costly stones, great stones of ten cubits or eight cubits:

11 And above there were costly stones, or equal measure, hewed; and, in like manner, planks of cedar:

12 And the greater court was made round with three rows of hewed stones, and one row of planks of cedar, moreover also in the inner court of the house of the Lord, and in the porch of the house.

13 And king Solomon sent, and brought Hiram from Tyre,

14 The son of a widow woman of the tribe of Nephtali, whose father was a Tyrian, an artificer in brass, and full of wisdom, and understanding, and skill to work all work in brass. And when he was come to king Solomon, he wrought all his work.

15 And he cast two pillars in brass, each pillar was eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits compassed both the pillars.

16 He made also two chapiters of molten brass, to be set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:

17 And a kind of network, and chain work wreathed together with wonderful art. Both the chapiters of the pillars were cast: seven rows of nets were on one chapiter, and seven nets on the other chapiter.

18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about each network to cover the chapiters, that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and in like manner did he to the other chapiter.

19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars, were of lily work in the porch, of four cubits.

20 And again other chapiters in the top of the pillars above, according to the measure of the pillar over against the network: and of pomegranates there were two hundred in rows round about the other chapiter.

21 And he set up the two pillars in the porch of the temple: and when he had set up the pillar on the right hand, he called the name thereof Jachin: in like manner he set up the second pillar, and called the name thereof Booz.

22 And upon the tops of the pillars he made lily work: so the work of the pillars was finished.

23 He made also a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round all about; the height of it was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

24 And a graven work under the brim of it compassed it, for ten cubits going about the sea: there were two rows cast of chamfered sculptures.

25 And it stood upon twelve oxen, of which three looked towards the north, and three towards the west, and three towards the south, and three towards the east, and the sea was above upon them, and their hinder parts were all hid within.

26 And the laver was a handbreadth thick: and the brim thereof was like the brim of a cup, or the leaf of a crisped lily: it contained two thousand bates.

27 And he made ten bases of brass, every base was four cubits in length, and four cubits in breadth, and three cubits high.

28 And the work itself of the bases, was intergraven: and there were gravings between the joinings.

29 And between the little crowns and the ledges were lions, and oxen, and cherubims: and in the joinings likewise above: and under the lions and oxen, as it were bands of brass hanging down.

30 And every base had four wheels, and axletrees of brass: and at the four sides were undersetters under the laver molten, looking one against another.

31 The mouth also of the laver within, was in the top of the chapiter: and that which appeared without, was of one cubit all round, and together it was one cubit and a half: and in the corners of the pillars were divers engravings: and the spaces between the pillars were square, not round.

32 And the four wheels, which were at the four corners of the base, were joined one to another under the base: the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.

33 And they were such wheels as are used to be made in a chariot: and their axletrees, and spokes, and strakes, and naves, were all east.

34 And the four undersetters that were at every corner of each base, were of the base itself cast and joined together.

35 And in the top of the base there was a round compass of half a cubit, so wrought that the laver might be set thereon, having its gravings, and divers sculptures of itself.

36 He engraved also in those plates, which were of brass. and in the corners, cherubims, and lions, and palm trees, in likeness of a man standing, so that they seemed not to be engraven, but added round about.

37 After this manner he made ten bases, of one casting and measure, and the like graving.

38 He made also ten lavers of brass: one laver contained four bases, and was of four cubits: and upon every base, in all ten, he put as many lavers.

39 And he set the ten bases, five on the right side of the temple, and five on the left: and the sea he put on the right side of the temple over against the east southward.

40 And Hiram made caldrons, and shovels, and basins, and finished all the work of king Solomon in the temple of the Lord.

41 The two pillars and the two cords of the chapiters, upon the chapiters of the pillars: and the two networks, to cover the two cords, that were upon the top of the pillars.

42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks: two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the cords of the chapiters, which were upon the tops of the pillars.

43 And the ten bases, and the ten lavers on the bases.

44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea.

45 And the caldrons, and the shovels, and the basins. All the vessels that Hiram made for king Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of fine brass.

46 In the plains of the Jordan did the king cast them in a clay ground, between Socoth and Sartham.

47 And Solomon placed all the vessels: but for exceeding great multitude the brass could not be weighed.

48 And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, upon which the leaves of proposition should be set:

49 And the golden candlesticks, five on the right hand, and five on the left, over against the oracle, of pure gold: and the flowers like lilies, and the lamps over them of gold: and golden snuffers,

50 And pots, and fleshhooks, and bowls, and mortars, and censers, of most pure gold: and the hinges for the doors of the inner house of the holy of holies, and for the doors of the house of the temple were of gold.

51 And Solomon finished all the work that he made in the house of the Lord, and brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver and the gold, and the vessels, and laid them up in the treasures of the house of the Lord.