1 KINGS 6


1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.

2 And the house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.

The tabernacle had been built according to Yahweh's pattern (Exo. 25:8-9) so too, this temple (see 1Chr. 28:10-19). Further to this we have the Temple of the future age (Eze. 40:3-4). By comparing the tabernacle with the temple it reveals that the temple was a copy and extension of the tabernacle. The measurements of the temple are double that of the tabernacle; the pattern therefore endorses the writings of Bro. Sulley in relation to the temple of the future age, that it has to be larger still, that it might truly be

'The House of Prayer for all Nations."

Verses 1-4 gives the pattern for the outside of the building, and the time it was built is recorded in 2Chr. 3:1 for it was built 'in mount Moriah' which has the meaning of 'seen of Yahweh.'*


7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

We should be preparing ourselves today...that we may be the 'living stones' at our Master's return, properly shaped according to the divine Will, and able to be merged into the Building of Faith "fitly framed together" (cp. Eph. 2:21; 4:16).*



11 And the word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,

*...the blessing of Yahweh which had been pronounced to Israel was now extended to Solomon directly.



13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

When Solomon's temple was built it superseded the Mosaic tabernacle, and as such v. 13 declares that it became the dwelling place of Yahweh, and the Glory which had been in the tabernacle was to be seen in this Temple*



14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

It may be remarked here, that in Solomon's building there were three courts; first, the outmost court of all, into which the Gentiles might enter; next, the Court of Israel, for native Israelites, if clean according to the law, otherwise admission was denied even to them.

Between these two courts, there was a "middle wall of partition," upon which were notices forbidding Gentiles to pass beyond it on pain of death; and, third, the Court of the Priests, where the brazen altar of burnt-offerings, and the brazen laver for washings, stood, and where the priests and Levites exercised their ministry.

Israelites, who offered sacrifices, might bring their victims to the inner part of this court, but could not pass a certain separation which divided it; they withdrew as soon as they had delivered their sacrifices and offerings to the priest, or had made their confession, with laying their hand upon the head of the victim, if it were a sin-offering.

Beyond the Court of the Priests was the temple proper, subdivided within into the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place, or Nave. These two Holies were divided from each other by the Veil or curtain. In the Holy Place were the golden altar of incense, the show-bread table, and the seven-branched lightstand, in whose seven burners was consumed the light-giving golden oil of olives.

Into this place, the priests, if purified by blood and water, and invested with the holy garments, might enter at all times; but were forbidden to enter into the Most Holy beyond the Veil. Into this, the Aaronic High Priest alone could enter, but not at all times, nor without blood, on pain of death.

When within the nave, he stood, as "the angel stood" (xi. 1), before the throne of Yahweh, whose power dwelt in a cloud between the Cherubim, made of the Olive Tree, and overlaid with pure gold; and above the propitiatory, or mercy-seat, or coverlid of the ark, styled the Ark of the Covenant, because it was a chest containing the stone tables of the law, cut and engraved in heaven, and delivered thence by angels to Moses on the mount.

Within were also contained the pot of manna, the bread that came down from heaven, and Aaron's dead rod that budded into life and bore fruit. Such was "the House made with hands" -- an interesting fabric of the Mosaic parable foreshadowing certain "things of the kingdom of the Deity, and of the name of Jesus Christ."

Eureka 11.1.ii.4

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Solomon's Temple

32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.

The gold was levelled or smoothed over that which had been engraved; i.e., it was beaten out thin and laid upon the carving in such a manner that the gold plate fitted closely to the figures. *


38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.

The final verses of the chapter (vv. 36-38) speak of the meticulous care and workmanship that went into building this magnificent structure, which will not be overshadowed until that time when the Anointed Yahshua, the 'chief corner stone' returns and that magnificent Temple of Ezekiel's Prophecy is built. The House of Yahweh under Solomon's supervision took seven years to build, representing Divine Completion and Perfection developed through the seven millennia of human existence. - GEM, *

*www.logos.org.au