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El palacio de Salomón

Salomón edificó su propia casa[a], y en trece años la terminó toda(A). Edificó la casa del bosque del Líbano(B), que tenía 100 codos (45 metros) de largo, 50 codos (22.5 metros) de ancho y 30 codos (13.5 metros) de alto, sobre cuatro hileras de columnas de cedro con vigas de cedro sobre las columnas. Estaba cubierta de cedro sobre las cámaras laterales[b] que estaban sobre las 45 columnas, 15 en cada hilera. Y había tres hileras de ventanas con celosías, una ventana frente a la otra en tres filas. Todas las puertas y los postes tenían marcos cuadrados, una ventana frente a la otra en tres filas.

Salomón hizo el pórtico de las columnas(C) de 50 codos (22.5 metros) de largo y 30 codos (13.5 metros) de ancho. Había otro pórtico delante de ellas, con columnas y un umbral delante de ellas(D). También hizo el pórtico del trono donde había de juzgar, el pórtico del juicio(E), que fue cubierto de cedro desde el suelo hasta el techo(F). Y la casa[c] donde él había de vivir, tenía un atrio dentro del pórtico, de la misma hechura. Salomón también hizo una casa[d] con un pórtico similar, para la hija de Faraón(G) que él había tomado por mujer(H).

Todas estas obras eran de piedras valiosas, cortadas a la medida, cortadas con sierras por dentro y por fuera, desde el cimiento hasta la cornisa, y por fuera hasta el gran atrio.

10 El cimiento era de piedras valiosas, piedras grandes, piedras de 10 codos (4.5 metros) y piedras de 8 codos (3.6 metros). 11 Y más arriba había piedras valiosas, cortadas a la medida, y madera de cedro. 12 El gran atrio tenía en derredor tres hileras de piedras talladas y una hilera de vigas de cedro(I), igual que el atrio interior(J) de la casa del Señor y el pórtico de la casa.

La obra de Hiram en el templo

13 Y el rey Salomón envió a buscar a Hiram de Tiro(K). 14 Este era hijo de una viuda de la tribu de Neftalí, y su padre era un hombre de Tiro, artífice en bronce(L). Estaba lleno de sabiduría, inteligencia y pericia para hacer cualquier obra en bronce(M). Y él vino al rey Salomón e hizo toda su obra(N).

15 Fundió las dos columnas de bronce; la altura de una columna era de 18 codos (8.1 metros)(O), y un cordel de 12 codos (5.4 metros) medía la circunferencia de las dos[e](P). 16 Hizo también dos capiteles de bronce fundido para colocarlos en las cabezas de las columnas. La altura de un capitel era de 5 codos (2.25 metros) y la del otro capitel era de 5 codos. 17 Había redes de obra de malla y trenzas de obra de cadenilla para los capiteles que estaban en la cima de las columnas; siete para un capitel y siete para el otro capitel. 18 Así hizo las columnas y dos hileras alrededor de la malla que cubría los capiteles que estaban sobre las granadas; y así hizo para el otro capitel. 19 Los capiteles que estaban en las cabezas de las columnas del pórtico tenían forma de lirios, y medían 4 codos (1.6 metros). 20 Había también capiteles sobre las dos columnas, junto a la protuberancia[f] que estaba al lado de la malla; y había 200 granadas en hileras alrededor de los dos capiteles[g](Q). 21 Erigió, pues, las columnas en el pórtico de la nave(R). Erigió la columna derecha y la llamó Jaquín[h], y erigió la columna izquierda y la llamó Boaz[i](S). 22 En lo alto de las columnas había lirios tallados. Así fue terminada la obra de las columnas.

23 (T)Hizo asimismo el mar de metal fundido de 10 codos (4.5 metros) de borde a borde, en forma circular. Su altura era de 5 codos (2.25 metros), y tenía 30 codos (13.5 metros) de circunferencia(U). 24 Debajo del borde había calabazas alrededor(V), diez por cada codo (45 centímetros), rodeando el mar por completo. Las calabazas estaban en dos hileras, fundidas en una sola pieza(W). 25 El mar descansaba sobre doce bueyes; tres mirando al norte, tres mirando al occidente, tres mirando al sur y tres mirando al oriente. El mar descansaba sobre ellos y todas sus ancas estaban hacia adentro(X). 26 El grueso era de un palmo, y el borde estaba hecho como el borde de un cáliz, como una flor de lirio. Tenía capacidad para 2,000 batos (44,000 litros).

27 Entonces hizo las diez basas de bronce(Y); la longitud de cada basa era de 4 codos (1.6 metros), su anchura de 4 codos y su altura de 3 codos (1.35 metros). 28 El diseño de las basas era este: tenían bordes[j] y los bordes estaban entre las molduras[k], 29 y en los bordes que estaban entre las molduras[l] había leones, bueyes y querubines; y en las molduras[m] había un pedestal arriba, y debajo de los leones y bueyes había guirnaldas en bajorrelieve. 30 Cada basa tenía cuatro ruedas de bronce, con ejes de bronce, y sus cuatro patas tenían soportes. Debajo de la pila había soportes fundidos con guirnaldas a cada lado. 31 La boca de la pila dentro de la corona en la parte superior medía un codo (45 centímetros), y su boca era redonda como el diseño de un pedestal, de 1.5 codos (68 centímetros); también en su boca había entalladuras, y sus bordes eran cuadrados, no redondos. 32 Las cuatro ruedas estaban debajo de los bordes, y los ejes de las ruedas estaban en la basa. La altura de una rueda era de 1.5 codos (68 centímetros). 33 La hechura de las ruedas era como la hechura de una rueda de carro. Sus ejes, sus aros, sus rayos y sus cubos eran todos de fundición.

34 Había cuatro soportes en las cuatro esquinas de cada basa; sus soportes eran parte de la basa misma. 35 En la parte superior de la basa había una pieza redonda de medio codo (23 centímetros) de alto, y en la parte superior de la basa sus soportes[n] y sus bordes formaban parte de ella. 36 Y en las planchas de sus soportes y en sus bordes grabó querubines, leones y palmeras, conforme al espacio disponible de cada una, con guirnaldas alrededor. 37 Hizo las diez basas(Z) de esta manera: todas ellas eran de una misma fundición, de una misma medida y de una misma forma.

38 También hizo diez pilas de bronce(AA). En cada pila cabían 40 batos (880 litros); cada pila medía 4 codos (1.6 metros), y sobre cada una de las diez basas había una pila. 39 Entonces colocó las basas, cinco al lado derecho de la casa y cinco al lado izquierdo de la casa. El mar de metal fundido lo colocó al lado derecho de la casa hacia el sureste.

40 Hiram hizo también los calderos[o], las palas y los tazones. Así terminó Hiram toda la obra que hizo para el rey Salomón en la casa del Señor: 41 las dos columnas y los tazones de los capiteles que estaban en lo alto de las dos columnas, las dos mallas para cubrir los dos tazones de los capiteles que estaban en lo alto de las columnas(AB); 42 las 400 granadas para las dos mallas, dos hileras de granadas por cada malla para cubrir los dos tazones de los capiteles que estaban en lo alto de las columnas(AC); 43 las diez basas con las diez pilas sobre las basas; 44 el mar y los doce bueyes debajo del mar(AD); 45 los calderos, las palas y los tazones; todos estos utensilios que Hiram hizo para el rey Salomón en la casa del Señor eran de bronce bruñido(AE). 46 El rey los fundió en la llanura del Jordán, en la tierra arcillosa entre Sucot(AF) y Saretán(AG). 47 Salomón dejó todos los utensilios sin pesarlos porque eran demasiados. El peso del bronce no se pudo determinar(AH).

48 Salomón hizo todos los utensilios que estaban en la casa del Señor: el altar de oro y la mesa de oro(AI) sobre la cual estaba el pan de la Presencia[p](AJ); 49 los candelabros de oro puro, cinco a la mano derecha y cinco a la izquierda, frente al santuario interior; las flores, las lámparas y las tenazas de oro(AK); 50 las copas, las despabiladeras, los tazones, las cucharas y los incensarios de oro puro(AL); y los goznes para las puertas de la casa interior, el Lugar Santísimo, y para las puertas de la casa, es decir, de la nave, también de oro.

51 Así fue terminada toda la obra que el rey Salomón hizo en la casa del Señor. Y Salomón trajo las cosas consagradas por su padre David, es decir, la plata, el oro y los utensilios, y los puso en los tesoros de la casa del Señor(AM).

Footnotes

  1. 7:1 O su palacio.
  2. 7:3 O las tablas.
  3. 7:8 O el palacio.
  4. 7:8 O un palacio.
  5. 7:15 Lit. rodeaba la segunda columna.
  6. 7:20 Lit. vientre.
  7. 7:20 Lit. en el segundo capitel.
  8. 7:21 I.e. él afirmará.
  9. 7:21 I.e. en ella hay fortaleza.
  10. 7:28 O paneles, y así en el resto del cap.
  11. 7:28 O los travesaños.
  12. 7:29 O los travesaños.
  13. 7:29 O los travesaños.
  14. 7:35 Lit. manos.
  15. 7:40 Así en 2Crón. 4:11; en heb. las pilas.
  16. 7:48 O de la Proposición; lit. del Rostro.

Solomon Builds His Palace

It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.(A) He built the Palace(B) of the Forest of Lebanon(C) a hundred cubits long, fifty wide and thirty high,[a] with four rows of cedar columns supporting trimmed cedar beams. It was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the columns—forty-five beams, fifteen to a row. Its windows were placed high in sets of three, facing each other. All the doorways had rectangular frames; they were in the front part in sets of three, facing each other.[b]

He made a colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty wide.[c] In front of it was a portico, and in front of that were pillars and an overhanging roof.

He built the throne hall, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge,(D) and he covered it with cedar from floor to ceiling.[d](E) And the palace in which he was to live, set farther back, was similar in design. Solomon also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.(F)

All these structures, from the outside to the great courtyard and from foundation to eaves, were made of blocks of high-grade stone cut to size and smoothed on their inner and outer faces. 10 The foundations were laid with large stones of good quality, some measuring ten cubits[e] and some eight.[f] 11 Above were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams. 12 The great courtyard was surrounded by a wall of three courses(G) of dressed stone and one course of trimmed cedar beams, as was the inner courtyard of the temple of the Lord with its portico.

The Temple’s Furnishings(H)(I)

13 King Solomon sent to Tyre and brought Huram,[g](J) 14 whose mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali and whose father was from Tyre and a skilled craftsman in bronze. Huram was filled with wisdom,(K) with understanding and with knowledge to do all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and did all(L) the work assigned to him.

15 He cast two bronze pillars,(M) each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.[h] 16 He also made two capitals(N) of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; each capital was five cubits[i] high. 17 A network of interwoven chains adorned the capitals on top of the pillars, seven for each capital. 18 He made pomegranates in two rows[j] encircling each network to decorate the capitals on top of the pillars.[k] He did the same for each capital. 19 The capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were in the shape of lilies, four cubits[l] high. 20 On the capitals of both pillars, above the bowl-shaped part next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates(O) in rows all around. 21 He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin[m] and the one to the north Boaz.[n](P) 22 The capitals on top were in the shape of lilies. And so the work on the pillars(Q) was completed.

23 He made the Sea(R) of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line(S) of thirty cubits[o] to measure around it. 24 Below the rim, gourds encircled it—ten to a cubit. The gourds were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.

25 The Sea stood on twelve bulls,(T) three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. 26 It was a handbreadth[p] in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths.[q]

27 He also made ten movable stands(U) of bronze; each was four cubits long, four wide and three high.[r] 28 This is how the stands were made: They had side panels attached to uprights. 29 On the panels between the uprights were lions, bulls and cherubim—and on the uprights as well. Above and below the lions and bulls were wreaths of hammered work. 30 Each stand(V) had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and each had a basin resting on four supports, cast with wreaths on each side. 31 On the inside of the stand there was an opening that had a circular frame one cubit[s] deep. This opening was round, and with its basework it measured a cubit and a half.[t] Around its opening there was engraving. The panels of the stands were square, not round. 32 The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand. The diameter of each wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels; the axles, rims, spokes and hubs were all of cast metal.

34 Each stand had four handles, one on each corner, projecting from the stand. 35 At the top of the stand there was a circular band half a cubit[u] deep. The supports and panels were attached to the top of the stand. 36 He engraved cherubim, lions and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and on the panels, in every available space, with wreaths all around. 37 This is the way he made the ten stands. They were all cast in the same molds and were identical in size and shape.

38 He then made ten bronze basins,(W) each holding forty baths[v] and measuring four cubits across, one basin to go on each of the ten stands. 39 He placed five of the stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north. He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple. 40 He also made the pots[w] and shovels and sprinkling bowls.(X)

So Huram finished all the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of the Lord:

41 the two pillars;

the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;

the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;

42 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network decorating the bowl-shaped capitals(Y) on top of the pillars);

43 the ten stands with their ten basins;

44 the Sea and the twelve bulls under it;

45 the pots, shovels and sprinkling bowls.(Z)

All these objects that Huram(AA) made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of burnished bronze. 46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain(AB) of the Jordan between Sukkoth(AC) and Zarethan.(AD) 47 Solomon left all these things unweighed,(AE) because there were so many;(AF) the weight of the bronze(AG) was not determined.

48 Solomon also made all(AH) the furnishings that were in the Lord’s temple:

the golden altar;

the golden table(AI) on which was the bread of the Presence;(AJ)

49 the lampstands(AK) of pure gold (five on the right and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary);

the gold floral work and lamps and tongs;

50 the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes(AL) and censers;(AM)

and the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place, and also for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

51 When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated(AN)—the silver and gold and the furnishings(AO)—and he placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:2 That is, about 150 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high or about 45 meters long, 23 meters wide and 14 meters high
  2. 1 Kings 7:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  3. 1 Kings 7:6 That is, about 75 feet long and 45 feet wide or about 23 meters long and 14 meters wide
  4. 1 Kings 7:7 Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew floor
  5. 1 Kings 7:10 That is, about 15 feet or about 4.5 meters; also in verse 23
  6. 1 Kings 7:10 That is, about 12 feet or about 3.6 meters
  7. 1 Kings 7:13 Hebrew Hiram, a variant of Huram; also in verses 40 and 45
  8. 1 Kings 7:15 That is, about 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference or about 8.1 meters high and 5.4 meters in circumference
  9. 1 Kings 7:16 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters; also in verse 23
  10. 1 Kings 7:18 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts made the pillars, and there were two rows
  11. 1 Kings 7:18 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts pomegranates
  12. 1 Kings 7:19 That is, about 6 feet or about 1.8 meters; also in verse 38
  13. 1 Kings 7:21 Jakin probably means he establishes.
  14. 1 Kings 7:21 Boaz probably means in him is strength.
  15. 1 Kings 7:23 That is, about 45 feet or about 14 meters
  16. 1 Kings 7:26 That is, about 3 inches or about 7.5 centimeters
  17. 1 Kings 7:26 That is, about 12,000 gallons or about 44,000 liters; the Septuagint does not have this sentence.
  18. 1 Kings 7:27 That is, about 6 feet long and wide and about 4 1/2 feet high or about 1.8 meters long and wide and 1.4 meters high
  19. 1 Kings 7:31 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
  20. 1 Kings 7:31 That is, about 2 1/4 feet or about 68 centimeters; also in verse 32
  21. 1 Kings 7:35 That is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters
  22. 1 Kings 7:38 That is, about 240 gallons or about 880 liters
  23. 1 Kings 7:40 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate (see also verse 45 and 2 Chron. 4:11); many other Hebrew manuscripts basins

Solomon’s Other Buildings

But Solomon took (A)thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.

He also built the (B)House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length was [a]one hundred cubits, its width [b]fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, with four rows of cedar pillars, and cedar beams on the pillars. And it was paneled with cedar above the beams that were on forty-five pillars, fifteen to a row. There were windows with beveled frames in three rows, and window was opposite window in three tiers. And all the doorways and doorposts had rectangular frames; and window was opposite window in three tiers.

He also made the Hall of Pillars: its length was fifty cubits, and its width thirty cubits; and in front of them was a portico with pillars, and a canopy was in front of them.

Then he made a hall for the throne, the Hall of Judgment, where he might judge; and it was paneled with cedar from floor to [c]ceiling.

And the house where he dwelt had another court inside the hall, of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, (C)whom he had taken as wife.

All these were of costly stones cut to size, trimmed with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the eaves, and also on the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, large stones, some ten cubits and some eight cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, hewn to size, and cedar wood. 12 The great court was enclosed with three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams. So were the (D)inner court of the house of the Lord (E)and the vestibule of the temple.

Hiram the Craftsman

13 Now King Solomon sent and brought [d]Huram from Tyre. 14 (F)He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and (G)his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; (H)he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work.

The Bronze Pillars for the Temple(I)

15 And he [e]cast (J)two pillars of bronze, each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of each. 16 Then he made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 He made a lattice network, with wreaths of chainwork, for the capitals which were on top of the pillars: seven chains for one capital and seven for the other capital. 18 So he made the pillars, and two rows of pomegranates above the network all around to cover the capitals that were on top; and thus he did for the other capital.

19 The capitals which were on top of the pillars in the hall were in the shape of lilies, four cubits. 20 The capitals on the two pillars also had pomegranates above, by the convex surface which was next to the network; and there were (K)two hundred such pomegranates in rows on each of the capitals all around.

21 (L)Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name [f]Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name [g]Boaz. 22 The tops of the pillars were in the shape of lilies. So the work of the pillars was finished.

The Sea and the Oxen

23 And he made (M)the Sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was completely round. Its height was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.

24 Below its brim were ornamental buds encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, (N)all the way around the Sea. The ornamental buds were cast in two rows when it was cast. 25 It stood on (O)twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward. 26 It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained [h]two thousand baths.

The Carts and the Lavers

27 He also made ten [i]carts of bronze; four cubits was the length of each cart, four cubits its width, and three cubits its height. 28 And this was the design of the carts: They had panels, and the panels were between frames; 29 on the panels that were between the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. And on the frames was a pedestal on top. Below the lions and oxen were wreaths of plaited work. 30 Every cart had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and its four feet had supports. Under the laver were supports of cast bronze beside each wreath. 31 Its opening inside the crown at the top was one cubit in diameter; and the opening was round, shaped like a pedestal, one and a half cubits in outside diameter; and also on the opening were engravings, but the panels were square, not round. 32 Under the panels were the four wheels, and the axles of the wheels were joined to the cart. The height of a wheel was one and a half cubits. 33 The workmanship of the wheels was like the workmanship of a chariot wheel; their axle pins, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all of cast bronze. 34 And there were four supports at the four corners of each cart; its supports were part of the cart itself. 35 On the top of the cart, at the height of half a cubit, it was perfectly round. And on the top of the cart, its flanges and its panels were of the same casting. 36 On the plates of its flanges and on its panels he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was a clear space on each, with wreaths all around. 37 Thus he made the ten carts. All of them were of [j]the same mold, one measure, and one shape.

38 Then (P)he made ten lavers of bronze; each laver contained [k]forty baths, and each laver was four cubits. On each of the ten carts was a laver. 39 And he put five carts on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house. He set the Sea on the right side of the house, toward the southeast.

Furnishings of the Temple(Q)

40 (R)Huram[l] made the lavers and the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing all the work that he was to do for King Solomon for the house of the Lord: 41 the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped capitals that were on top of the two pillars; the two (S)networks covering the two bowl-shaped capitals which were on top of the pillars; 42 (T)four hundred pomegranates for the two networks (two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals that were on top of the pillars); 43 the ten carts, and ten lavers on the carts; 44 one Sea, and twelve oxen under the Sea; 45 (U)the pots, the shovels, and the bowls.

All these articles which [m]Huram made for King Solomon for the house of the Lord were of burnished bronze. 46 (V)In the plain of Jordan the king had them cast in clay molds, between (W)Succoth and (X)Zaretan. 47 And Solomon did not weigh all the articles, because there were so many; the weight of the bronze was not (Y)determined.

48 Thus Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of the Lord: (Z)the altar of gold, and (AA)the table of gold on which was (AB)the showbread; 49 the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left in front of the inner sanctuary, with the flowers and the lamps and the wick-trimmers of gold; 50 the basins, the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles, and the [n]censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner room (the Most Holy Place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

51 So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things (AC)which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:2 About 150 feet
  2. 1 Kings 7:2 About 75 feet
  3. 1 Kings 7:7 Lit. floor of the upper level
  4. 1 Kings 7:13 Heb. Hiram; cf. 2 Chr. 2:13, 14
  5. 1 Kings 7:15 fashioned
  6. 1 Kings 7:21 Lit. He Shall Establish
  7. 1 Kings 7:21 Lit. In It Is Strength
  8. 1 Kings 7:26 About 12,000 gallons; three thousand, 2 Chr. 4:5
  9. 1 Kings 7:27 Or stands
  10. 1 Kings 7:37 one
  11. 1 Kings 7:38 About 240 gallons
  12. 1 Kings 7:40 Heb. Hiram; cf. 2 Chr. 2:13, 14
  13. 1 Kings 7:45 Heb. Hiram; cf. 2 Chr. 2:13, 14
  14. 1 Kings 7:50 firepans

Solomon’s Palace

King Solomon also built a palace for himself. It took 13 years to build Solomon’s palace. He also built the building called the “Forest of Lebanon.” It was 100 cubits[a] long, 50 cubits[b] wide, and 30 cubits[c] high. It had four rows of cedar columns. On top of each column was a cedar capital. There were cedar beams going across the rows of columns. There were 15 beams for each section of columns, making a total of 45 beams. On top of these beams there were cedar boards for the ceiling. There were three rows of windows across from each other on the side walls. There were three doors at each end. All the door openings and frames were square.

Solomon also built the Porch of Columns. It was 50 cubits long and 30 cubits wide. Along the front of the porch, there was a covering supported by columns.

He also built a throne room where he judged people. He called this the Judgment Hall. The room was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.

Behind the Judgment Hall was a courtyard. The palace where Solomon lived was built around that courtyard and looked like the Judgment Hall. He also built the same kind of palace for his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt.

All these buildings were made with expensive blocks of stone. The stones were cut to the right size with a saw and then smoothed on front and back. These expensive stones went from the foundation all the way up to the top layer of the wall. Even the wall around the yard was made with expensive blocks of stone. 10 The foundations were made with large, expensive stones. Some of the stones were 10 cubits[d] long and the others were 8 cubits[e] long. 11 On top of these stones there were other expensive stones and cedar beams. 12 There were walls around the palace yard and around the yard and porch of the Lord’s Temple. The walls were built with three rows of stone and one row of cedar timbers.

13 King Solomon sent for a man named Huram[f] who lived in Tyre and brought him to Jerusalem. 14 Huram’s mother was an Israelite from the tribe of Naphtali. His dead father was from Tyre. Huram made things from bronze. He was a very skilled and experienced builder. So King Solomon asked him to come, and Huram accepted. King Solomon put him in charge of all the bronze work, and Huram did all the work he was given to do.

15 Huram made two bronze columns for the porch. Each column was 18 cubits[g] tall and 12 cubits[h] around. The columns were hollow and their metal walls were 3 inches[i] thick.[j] 16 He also made two bronze capitals that were 5 cubits[k] tall. He put these capitals on top of the columns. 17 He made two nets of chain to cover the capitals on top of the two columns. 18 Then he made two rows of bronze pomegranates. He put the bronze pomegranates on the nets of each column to cover the capitals at the top of the columns. 19 The capitals on top of the columns were shaped like flowers. 20 The capitals were on top of the columns, above the bowl-shaped net. There were 200 pomegranates in rows all around the capitals. 21 Huram put these two bronze columns at the porch of the Temple. One column was put on the south side of the entrance and one was put on the north side of it. The column on the south was named Jakin. The column on the north was named Boaz. 22 They put the flower-shaped capitals on top of the columns, and the work on the two columns was finished.

23 Then Huram melted bronze and poured it into a huge mold to make a tank,[l] which was called “The Sea.” The tank was about 30 cubits around. It was 10 cubits across and 5 cubits deep. 24 There was a rim around the outer edge of the tank. Under this rim there were two rows of bronze gourds all around the tank. The bronze gourds were made in one piece as part of the tank. 25 The tank rested on the backs of 12 bronze bulls. All 12 of the bulls were looking out, away from the tank. Three were looking north, three east, three south, and three west. 26 The sides of the tank were 3 inches thick. The rim around the tank was like the rim of a cup or like the petals on a flower. The tank held about 11,000 gallons[m] of water.

27 Then Huram made ten bronze carts. Each cart was 4 cubits[n] long, 4 cubits wide, and 3 cubits[o] high. 28 The carts were made with square panels set in frames. 29 On the panels and frames were bronze bulls, lions, and Cherub angels. There were designs of flowers hammered into the bronze above and below the bulls and lions. 30 Each cart had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. At the corners there were bronze supports for a large bowl. The supports had designs of flowers hammered into the bronze. 31 There was a frame around the top with an opening for the bowl. The frame was 1 cubit[p] tall, and the opening was 1 1/2 cubits[q] in diameter. There were designs carved into the bronze on the frame. The frame was square, not round. 32 There were four wheels under the frame. The wheels were 1 1/2 cubits in diameter. The axles between the wheels were made as one piece with the cart. 33 The wheels were like the wheels on a chariot. Everything on the wheels—the axles, the rims, the spokes, and the hubs were made from bronze.

34 There were supports at each of the four corners of the carts. They were made as one piece with the cart. 35 There was a strip of bronze around the top of each cart. It was made as one piece with the cart. 36 The sides of the cart and the frames had pictures of Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees carved into the bronze. These pictures were carved all over the carts—wherever there was room. And there were flowers carved on the frame around the cart. 37 Huram made ten carts, and they were all the same. Each cart was made from bronze. The bronze was melted and poured into a mold. So all the carts were the same size and shape.

38 Huram also made ten bowls. There was one bowl for each of the ten carts. Each bowl was 4 cubits across and could hold about 230 gallons.[r] 39 He put five carts on the south side of the Temple and five carts on the north side. He put the large tank in the southeast corner of the Temple. 40-45 Huram also made pots, small shovels, and small bowls. He finished making all the things King Solomon wanted him to make. This is a list of the things that Huram made for the Temple of the Lord:

2 columns;

2 capitals shaped like bowls for the top of the columns;

2 nets to go around the capitals;

400 pomegranates for the two nets (two rows of pomegranates for each net to cover the two bowls for the capitals on top of the columns);

10 carts with a bowl on each cart;

the large tank with 12 bulls under it;

the pots, small shovels, small bowls, and all the dishes for the Lord’s Temple.

Huram made everything King Solomon wanted. They were all made from polished bronze. 46-47 Solomon never weighed the bronze that was used to make these things. There was too much to weigh. So the total weight of all the bronze was never known. The king ordered these things to be made near the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan. They made them by melting the bronze and pouring it into molds in the ground.

48-50 Solomon also commanded that all these things be made from gold for the Temple:

the golden altar;

the golden table that held the special bread offered to God;

the lampstands of pure gold (five on the south side and five on the north side in front of the Most Holy Place);

the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;

the pure gold bowls, lamp snuffers, small bowls, pans, and dishes for carrying coals;

the gold hinges for the doors to the inner room (the Most Holy Place) and for the doors to the main room of the Temple.

51 So King Solomon finished all the work he wanted to do for the Lord’s Temple. Then he took everything his father David had saved for this special purpose and put them in the Temple. He put the silver and gold in the special storage rooms in the Lord’s Temple.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:2 100 cubits 170' 5/8" (51.83 m).
  2. 1 Kings 7:2 50 cubits 85' 5/16" (25.92 m). Also in verse 6.
  3. 1 Kings 7:2 30 cubits 51' 3/16" (15.55 m). Also in verses 6, 23.
  4. 1 Kings 7:10 10 cubits 17' 1/16" (5.18 m). Also in verse 23.
  5. 1 Kings 7:10 8 cubits 13' 7 1/4" (4.2 m).
  6. 1 Kings 7:13 Huram Or “Hiram.” Also in verses 15, 23, 27, 37, 38, 40-45.
  7. 1 Kings 7:15 18 cubits 30' 7 5/16" (9.33 m).
  8. 1 Kings 7:15 12 cubits 20' 4 7/8" (6.22 m).
  9. 1 Kings 7:15 3 inches Literally, “1 handbreadth” (7.4 cm). Also in verse 26.
  10. 1 Kings 7:15 The columns … 3 inches thick This is from the ancient Greek version.
  11. 1 Kings 7:16 5 cubits 8' 6" (2.6 m). Also in verses 19, 23.
  12. 1 Kings 7:23 tank A very large container for water.
  13. 1 Kings 7:26 11,000 gallons Literally, “2000 baths” (44,000 l).
  14. 1 Kings 7:27 4 cubits 6' 9 5/8" (2.1 m). Also in verse 38.
  15. 1 Kings 7:27 3 cubits 5' 1 3/16" (1.55 m).
  16. 1 Kings 7:31 1 cubit 20 3/8" (51.83 cm).
  17. 1 Kings 7:31 1 1/2 cubits 30 5/8" (77.75 cm).
  18. 1 Kings 7:38 230 gallons Literally, “40 baths” (880 l).