1 Kings 7:1-51 Other Things Solomon had Built

 

Other Things Solomon had Built

1 Kings 7:1-51                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Solomon was building his own [palace for] 13 years & he finished all [of] his house. He also built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. The length was 100 cubits & the [width] 50 cubits & the height 30 cubits. [It was built] upon 4 rows of cedar pillars [a.k.a. columns,] with cedar beams upon the pillars.

It was covered with cedar [roofing] above upon the beams, that lay on the 45 pillars, 15 in a row. There were windows [grouped together] in 3 rows & [the] light was [directly opposite] the light of the [other windows that faced it] in the 3 [rows.]

And all [doorways had] square posts, with the windows & [the] light [was opposite] the light of the [other windows] in the 3 [rows.] He made a [covered] Porch of Pillars [a.k.a. The Hall of Pillars.] The length was 50 cubits & the [width] 30 cubits.

In [front of] them, [was] the porch [a.k.a. portico] & the other pillars & the thick beam [& canopy] were [in front of all of] them. Then [Solomon] made a porch for the throne, where he [would] judge, even the Porch of Judgment.

It was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other. His house where he [lived] had another court [inside] the porch which [had similar workmanship.] Solomon also made a house, [similar work] to the porch [a.k.a. hall,] for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he [had married.]

All of these were [made] of costly stones [cut] with saws, [inside & outside, even from the foundation to the [roof] coping & on the outside toward the [large] court. And the foundation was of costly [large] stones [of 8 to 10 cubits.]

And above were costly stones according to the [measurements of] stones [cut] with saws & [cedar beams.] The [large] court [around it had] 3 rows of [cut] stones & a row of cedar beams. [These were] both for: the inner court of the [Lord’s] house & for the porch of the house. [John 10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s Porch.]

And king Solomon sent & [had] Hiram [brought from] Tyre. [Hiram] was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali. His father was a man of Tyre, [who] was filled with wisdom & understanding & [did] skillful, creative] work in brass.

He came to king Solomon & [fashioned] all his work. For he cast 2 pillars [each] 18 cubits high of brass & was 12 cubits [around each] of them.] He made 2 [capitals] of [molded] brass to [put] on the tops of the pillars.

The height of [each capital] was 5 cubits. [He made decorative netting] & wreaths of chain work, 7 [for each of the 2 capitals on top of the 2] pillars. [Also, for each of the] pillars, he made 2 rows of pomegranates on the [netting,] to cover [around] the [tops of the capitals.]

[On] the porch, [each of the capitals had] 4 cubits of lily work upon the top of the pillars. [On the capitals of the] 2 pillars, above [the bowl-shaped portion near the netting, had] 200 pomegranates in rows [around each of the capitals.]

He [put] up the pillars in the porch of the temple & he [put] up the right pillar & called [its] name, Jachin [a.k.a. He Shall Establish.] He [put] up the left pillar & called [it] Boaz. [a.k.a. In It Is Strength.]  On the top of the pillars was lily work. The work of the pillars [was] finished.

He made a [molded brass] sea, 10 cubits from 1 [end] to the other. It was [circular] & [its] height was 5 cubits [with a] 30 cubit [circumference around] it. Under [the rim of the circular brass sea,] there were [decorative buds cast, surrounding around] the sea; 10 [to] a cubit. [Encircling] the sea, the [buds] were cast in 2 rows,] when it was cast.

[The circular brass sea] stood upon 12 [brass] oxen. 3 [of the brass oxen faced] north, 3 [of the brass oxen faced] west, 3 [of the brass oxen faced] south &  3 [of the brass oxen faced] east.

And the [circular brass] sea was [placed] above upon the oxen & all their [tails] were [inside facing the middle.] [The brass sea was] a hand breadth [wide] & the brim [a.k.a. edge] of it was [made] like the brim of a cup, with flowers & lilies.

It contained 2,000 baths [ChristianAnswers.net said that this is approximately 12,000 gallons.] He made 10 bases [like movable stands] of brass [each] 4 cubits [long] & 4 cubits [wide] & 3 cubits [high.]

The work of the bases was [like this:] they had borders & the borders were between the ledges. And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, & [cherubs.]

And upon the ledges, there was a base above & [below] the lions & oxen [some decorative] additions were made of thin [hammered] work. [Each of the movable stands had a basin &] had 4 [brass] wheels & brass [axles.]

The 4 corners [each] had [molded supports that were underneath to support each basin.] [There were molded decorative] additions [attached at each] side. And the [opening] within the [capital] & above [it] was [1] cubit. But the [opening of it] was 1 1/2 cubits [deep & circular like the workmanship of] the base.

And also upon the opening of it were [engravings] with their borders [a.k.a. panels.]  [They were 4 sided,] not round. Under the borders were 4 wheels] 1 1/2  cubits [high] & [axles that] were joined to the base [of the stand.]

[Its] wheels were like the [workmanship] of a chariot wheel & [its axles, rims, spokes & hubs] were [molded of metal.] There were 4 [supports, 1 each at] the 4 corners of the [stand's] base & were [part] of the very base itself.

[At] the top of the [stand] there [was] a round [rim that encircled it] 1/2 cubit high. And on top of the [stand, its] ledges & borders [of it ] were [1 piece with it.] On the plates [a.k.a. panels,] of [its] ledges, he [carved cherubs,] lions & palm trees [spaced evenly around it.]

[All] 10 [movable stands] he made were] all [cast with the same molds & had the same measurement & size.] Then, he made 10 brass lavers [a.k.a. basins.] [Each basin] was 4 cubits high & [held] 40 baths.

[2 Chronicles 4:6 He also made ten lavers & put 5 on the right hand [side] & 5 on the left, to wash in them: such things [like] they offered & washed for the burnt offering. But the sea was for the priests to wash in.]

And he put 5 [movable stands] on the [south] side of the [temple] & 5 on the [north] side. He [put] the [brass] sea [in the southeast corner of the temple.] Hiram made the [washbasins, shovels & bowls] & [finished] all the work that he made [for] king Solomon for the [Lord’s] house:

The 2 pillars; 2 bowl [shaped portion of capitals for] the top of the 2 pillars; 2 [sets of decorative netting to cover the 2 capitals] on top of the 2 pillars; 400 pomegranates for the 2 [sets of decorative netting to cover the 2 capitals] on top of the 2 pillars;

10 bases [a.k.a. movable stands] & 10 lavers [a.k.a. basins for the stands] & 1 [brass] sea & 12 [brass] oxen under the sea. And the pots, shovels, [wash basins  & bowls] & all these bright brass [things] Hiram made [for] king Solomon for the [Lord’s temple.]

The king [had them molded] & cast in clay [from the] ground in the Plain of Jordan, between Succoth & Zarthan. Solomon [didn’t weigh all the brass objects Hiram made,] because there were [too] many.

Neither was the weight of the brass [used for these] found out. Solomon [had] all the vessels made that pertained to the house of the Lord: the gold altar; the gold table [that the sacred loaves of bread were placed on;]

The pure gold candlesticks, 5 on the right side & 5 on the left, [in front of the inner sanctuary]; [along] with the flowers, lamps and tongs of gold, the bowls, [candle] snuffers, [basins,] spoons & [incense] censers of pure gold

& gold hinges, for both the doors of the inner [portion of the] house, the Most Holy Place & for the doors of the [Lord’s] house, [namely] the temple. All the work that king Solomon [had] made for the house of the Lord [had] ended.

And Solomon brought in the things [that] David, his father, had dedicated, even the silver, gold & the vessels, he put among the treasures of the [Lord’s] house.

1 Kings 6:1-38 Starting the Building of the Temple for the Lord God

 

Starting the Building of the Temple for the Lord God

1 Kings 6:1-38                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

It [happened] in the 480th year after the children [people] of Israel [came] out of the land of Egypt, in the 4th year Solomon [ruled] over Israel, in the month [of] Zif, which is the 2nd month, that [king Solomon] began to build the house [a.k.a. temple] of the Lord.

The length [of] the house [that] king Solomon built for the Lord, was 60 cubits  & the [width was] 20 cubits & [its] height [was] 30 cubits. The porch [in the front of] the temple of the [Lord’s] house, was 20 cubits [long] & [10 cubits wide] according to the [width] of the house.

He made narrow windows [for light] for the [Lord’s] house. He built [side rooms around the Lord’s] house & against the walls of both the temple & the [inner sanctuary.] The [lowest room] was 5 cubits [wide.] The middle [room] was 6 cubits [wide] & the 3rd was 7 cubits [wide.]

For [on the outside of] the wall, he made [narrow ledges around it, so its] beams [wouldn’t] be fastened [to] the walls of the house. The [Lord’s] house was built of stone [that was prepared] before it was brought [there,] so there wasn’t [a] hammer, ax, [or ] any iron tool heard in the [Lord’s] house, while it was [being built.]

The door for the middle [floor’s room] was [on] the right side of the [Lord’s] house & they went up with winding stairs into the middle [floor’s room] & out [from there] into the 3rd [floor.]

[Solomon] built the [Lord’s] house & finished it & [roofed] the house with cedar beams & boards. Then, he built [the side rooms] all against the [side of the Lord’s] house, 5 cubits high. And they [attached the rooms against] the house with cedar [lumber.]

And the Word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, [About] this [temple] you are building, if you will walk in My [mandates, deliver] My judgments & keep My commandments & [follow] in them, then I, will [accomplish] My Word with you, [that] I spoke to David, your father.

[*2 Samuel 7:12-13 And when your days are fulfilled & you sleep with your [forefathers,] I will set up your seed after you, [that you fathered] & I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name & I will [establish] the throne of his kingdom forever.]

And I will [live] among the children [people] of Israel & will not [abandon] My people, Israel. So, Solomon built the [Lord’s] house & finished it. He built the walls of the house [inside,] with cedar [boards from] the floors [to] the ceiling.

[He] covered the floor of the [Lord’s] house with planks of fir. [From one side to the other, Solomon] built 20 cubits on the [back of the temple] & both the floor & the walls [inside were of] cedar boards.

He even built them for it [inside,] even for the oracle [a.k.a. inner sanctuary,] even for the Most Holy Place. And the temple [in front of] the [Lord’s] house, was 40 cubits long. The cedar [inside] of the house was carved with [gourds] & open flowers all [of] cedar, [so] no stone was seen.

He prepared the oracle [inside] the [Lord’s] house, to [put] the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord there. The [front part of] the oracle was 20 cubits [long] & 20 cubits [wide] & 20 cubits [high.] He [had them] overlaid with pure gold & covered the cedar altar [with gold.]

So, Solomon overlaid the [inside of] the [temple] with pure gold. He made a partition [of] chains of gold & [hung them in front of the inner sanctuary] that was overlaid with gold.

[Solomon] overlaid the whole house with gold, until he had finished all the house [of the Lord.]  Also, the whole altar that was by the [inner sanctuary,] he overlaid [it] with gold.

Within the [inner sanctuary,] he made 2 cherubim [angelic statues] of olive [wood,] each 10 cubits high. [Each of the 2 wings of both cherubim] was 5 cubits.

It was 10 cubits from the [outer tip] of one wing to the [outer tip] of the other [wing.] Both [cherubs had the same measurement & were the same] size. [Solomon had] the [cherubs put] within the inner [sanctuary of the] house.

[The 2 cherubim were put side by side, so] the [outermost] tip of one cherub touched the 1 wall & the [outermost] tip of the other [cherub] touched the other wall] & their wings [met &] touched [in the middle of the room.]

He [had] the cherubims overlaid with gold. [Solomon had] all the walls [of the inner & outer rooms around the house] carved with [cherubs,] palm trees & open flowers & the [floors] overlaid with gold.

He [had] doors made of olive [wood] for the [entrance] of the [inner sanctuary.] The [doors & its supporting beam across the top of the door] & side posts were 1/5 [the size] of the wall. The 2 doors of olive [wood had] carvings [on] them of [cherubs,] palm trees & open flowers, overlaid [them] with gold.

Also, he had made for the [door’s] posts of the [sanctuary of the temple] of olive [wood, that was] 1/4 [the size of] the wall. [For the sanctuary entrance,] he made 2 [sets] of folding doors, [each with 2 hinged doors together that folded.]

[Solomon had] them carved [with cherubs,] palm trees & open flowers [with hammered] gold [fastened on top of] the carved work. [Solomon had] the inner court built with 3 rows of [cut] stone & a row of cedar beams.

The foundation of the [Lord’s house] was laid in the 4th year, in the month of Zif. In the 11th year, in the month of Bul, which is the 8th month, the [Lord’s] house & all [its] parts [were] finished, according to the [specifications for] it. So, [it took Solomon] 7 years [to build] it.

1 Kings 5:1-18 Solomon Makes the Arrangements for Wood to Build the Lord’s House

 

Solomon Makes the Arrangements for Wood to Build the Lord’s House

1 Kings 5:1-18                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon, [because] he had heard [Solomon was] anointed king in [place] of his father: for Hiram [always admired] David.

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, You know that David, my father, couldn’t build a house [for] the Name of the Lord his God, [because of all] the wars [around] him on every side, until the Lord put [his enemies] under the soles of [David’s] feet. Now, the Lord my God, has given me [peace] on every side, so there is neither [enemy nor calamity.]

[See,] I [plan] to build a house [to honor] the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord [had spoken] to my father, David, saying, Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your [place,] shall build a house unto My name.

Therefore, now command that they [cut for] me cedar trees [from] Lebanon & my servants shall be with your servants. I will [pay the wages] for your servants according to all you [say,] for you [know] there isn’t [any] among us that [is as skillful at cutting] timber like the Sidonians.

And it [happened], when Hiram heard [Solomon’s] words, he rejoiced greatly & said, Blessed be the Lord this day, [Who] has given to David a wise son over this great people. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things you [requested from me] & I will do all you desire concerning [the] timber of cedar & fir.

My servants shall bring [the lumber] down from Lebanon & into the sea. I will [move] them by sea [on rafts] to the place you shall [tell] me & I will [have] them [released] there. You shall [fulfill] my desire, in giving food for my household.

So, Hiram gave Solomon cedar & fir according to all [he desired.] Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat for food & 20 measures of pure olive oil for [Hiram’s] household [each] year.

And the Lord [God] gave Solomon wisdom, as He [had] promised [Solomon] & there was peace between Hiram & Solomon & the 2 made a [pact] together. And King Solomon raised a [draft for] 30,000 [workmen] out of all Israel.

And [Solomon] sent [Hiram] 10,000 men to Lebanon [in shifts each] month. They were in Lebanon one month & 2 months [they were] at home. Adoniram [was over [these drafted laborers.]

And Solomon had 70,000 [who carried] burdens & 80,000 [woodcutters] in the mountains. [In addition to] the [best] of Solomon’s officers over the work, 3,300 [who supervised] the people [who did] the work.

And King [Solomon] commanded [that] they [bring] & lay [large,] costly, [cut] stones [for] the foundation of the [Lord’s temple.] And Solomon’s builders, Hirmam’s builders & the stone-squarers [cut] them. So, they prepared timber & stones to build the [Lord’s temple.]

1 Kings 4:1-34 Those Solomon Puts in Charge

 

Those Solomon Puts in Charge

1 Kings 4:1-34                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

So, king Solomon was king over all [of] Israel. These were [his officials a.k.a. princes that] he had: Azariah, [Zadok’s] son, [was] the priest; Elihoreph & Ahiah, [Shisha’s] sons, [were] scribes; Jehoshaphat, [Ahilud’s] son, [was] recorder;

Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, was over the [army;] Zadok & Abiathar were priests. And Azariah, [Nathan’s] son, was over the officers; Zabud, [Nathan’s other son,] was [the chief] officer & the king's friend.

And Ahishar was over the [king’s] household & Adoniram, [Abda’s] son, was over [forced labor.] And Solomon had 12 officers over all Israel, [who] provided [food] for the king & his household.

Each man [had his month, [during] a year [to provide food.] These are their names [& their regions:]

The son of Hur, in Mount Ephraim; the son of Dekar, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh & Elon Beth Hanan. The son of Hesed, in Aruboth & [also] Sochoh & all the land of Hepher pertained to him.

The son of Abinadab, [who married] Taphath, [Solomon’s] daughter & [had] all the region of Dor. Baana, [Ahilud’s] son, [these regions] pertained to him: Taanach, Megiddo & all Beth Shean by Zartanah [below] Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, even to the place that is beyond Jokneam.

The son of Geber, in Ramoth-Gilead & [these] pertained to him: the towns of Jair, [Manasseh’s] son, [that] are in Gilead & also the region of Argob, in Bashan, [with] 60 [large] cities with walls & [gates with] brass bars.

Ahinadab, [Iddo’s] son, [in] Mahanaim; Ahimaaz was in Naptali & he also [married] Basmath, [Solomon’s other] daughter. Baanah, [Hushai’s] son, was in Asher & Aloth. Jehoshaphat, [Paruah’s] son, in Issachar; Shimei, [Elah’s] son, in Benjamin;

Geber, [Uri’s] son, in the country of Gilead, [that used to belong to] Sihon, the king of the Amorites & Og, the king of Bashan. [Geber] was the only officer [who] was in the land.

Judah & Israel [had] many [people, a] multitude, [like] the sand by the sea, [who were] eating, drinking & making merry. And Solomon [ruled] over all kingdoms from the river [all the way] to the land of the. Philistines & to the border of Egypt.

They brought presents & served Solomon all the days of his life. The [food] for [Solomon & his household] for 1 day was 30 measures of fine flour, 60 measures of meal, 10 [fattened] oxen, 20 oxen [from] the pastures, 100 sheep,

[in addition to deer, antelope, reddish deer & fattened poultry.] [Solomon ruled] over all the region on this side [of] the [Euphrates] River, from Tiphsah even to Azzah [a.k.a. Gaza.]

[Solomon was] over all the kings on [the west] side [of] the river & he had peace on all sides [around] him. And Judah & Israel [lived] safely, every man under his [own] vine & fig tree, from Dan even to Beer Sheba, [throughout Solomon’s life.]

And Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots & 12,000 horsemen. And those officers provided [food] for king Solomon & all [who] came to king Solomon’s table, [each one during] his month, [so] they lacked nothing.

Also, they brought to the place where the officers were, barley & straw for the horses & [swift steeds, each] according to his [responsibility.]

And God gave Solomon [great amount of:] wisdom, understanding & [a large] heart, even [like] the sand on the seashore. And Solomon’s wisdom [exceeded] the wisdom of all the children [people] of [the countries] in the East & all the wisdom of Egypt.

For [Solomon] was wiser than all men, [even wiser] than Ethan, the Ezrahite; Heman, Charcoal & Darda, [Mahol’s] sons. And [Solomon’s] fame [had been spread around] in all [the] nations.

And [Solomon] spoke 3,000 proverbs & [he wrote] 1,005 songs. He [spoke] of trees, from the cedar tree in Lebanon, even to the hyssop [tree] that springs out of the wall.

He also spoke of [animals, birds] & things [that creep like insects] & [about] fish. And all of the people & kings of the earth came there, [because they] had heard of [Solomon’s] wisdom.

1 Kings 3:1-34 God Asks Solomon What He Would Like From Him

 

God Asks Solomon What He Would Like From Him

1 Kings 3:1-34                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Solomon [became the ally of] Pharaoh, [Egypt’s] king & [married] Pharaoh’s daughter & brought her into the city of David, until he [finished] building his own house, the house of the Lord & the wall [around] Jerusalem.

[Still] the people sacrificed in high places, because the house to the Name of the Lord wasn’t built, until those days. And Solomon loved the Lord & [walked] in the [mandates of] David, his father: [except] he sacrificed in high places.

And king [Solomon] went to Gibeah to sacrifice there, for it was the [most prominent of the] high [places.] Solomon [offered] 1,000 burnt offerings upon that altar. In Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream [at] night.

God said, What shall I give you? Ask. Solomon said, You have shown Your servant, David, my father, great mercy, according to [his walking] before You in truth, righteousness & [with an upright] heart, with You.

You have [done] this great kindness for him & that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is [today.] And now, O Lord my God, You have made [me,] Your servant, king instead of David, my father.

I am [just] a little child & I [don’t] know how to go out or come in [as a ruler.] Your servant is in the midst of Your people [that] You have chosen. A [large amount of] people, a multitude that can’t be numbered [or] counted.

Therefore, give [me,] Your servant, an understanding heart to judge Your people, [so] I may [distinguish between] good & bad. For who is able to judge this [large amount] of Your people?

[It] pleased the Lord that Solomon asked this thing. And God said to [Solomon,] Because you asked [for] this & [didn’t] ask for yourself, long life, riches [or] the [lives] of your enemies, but has asked for understanding for yourself [to judge fairly.]

[Look,] I have done according to your words & I have given you a wise & understanding heart, so there was [no one] before you [or will be] after you [as wise as you are.]

I have also given you [what] you [didn’t] ask [for:] both riches & honor, so there [won’t] be any king like you all [your life,] among all the kings. If you will walk in My [mandates] & My commandments, [like] David, your father [walked,] then I will lengthen your [life.]

Solomon awoke & [realized] it was a dream. He came to Jerusalem & stood before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord [God] & offered up burnt offerings, Peace Offerings & made a feast [for] all his servants.

Then, 2 women [who] were [prostitutes] came to the king & stood [in front of] him. The one woman said, O my lord, this woman & I [live] in 1 house together & I delivered a child with her in the house.

[It happened] the 3rd day after I delivered, this woman also delivered [a child.] We were together & no [one else was] with us in the house, [except the] 2 [of] us.

This woman’s child died in the night, because she [laid on him.] She arose at midnight & took my son from beside me while [I,] your hand maid, slept. She laid it [on] her bosom & laid her dead child [on] my bosom.

When I rose [up] in the morning to [nurse] my child, it was dead. But when I [thought about] it in the morning, [I saw] it wasn’t my son, which I [had given birth to.]

The other woman said, [No,] the living [child] is my son & the dead [child] is your son. And this [lady] said, No, but the dead [child] is your son & the living is my son. They said [this] before the king.

Then, king [Solomon] said, The 1 says my son lives & your son is dead & the other says, [No,] your son is dead & my son is living. The king said, Bring me a sword & they brought a sword before the king.

And king [Solomon] said, Divide the living child in 2 & give 1/2 to one & 1/2 to the other. Then, the woman [who gave birth to the living child spoke] to the king, [because] she yearned [for] her son, O my lord, give her the living child & [don’t kill] it.

The other [woman] said, Let it be neither [my son or] yours, but divide it. Then, king [Solomon] answered & said, Give her the living child & don’t kill it. She is the mother [of it.]

And all Israel heard of the [wise] judgment [of] the king & they feared [respected] the king: for they saw [that] the wisdom of God was in [Solomon,] to do [justice.]