1 Reis 6

1 Reis 6

Spurgeon - You know that in Solomon’s temple there was no sound of hammer heard; for the stones were made ready in the quarries, and brought all shaped and marked so that the masons might know the exact spot in which they were to be placed; so that no sound of iron was needed. All the planks and timbers were carried to their right places, and all the catches with which they were to be linked together were prepared, so that there might not be even the driving of a nail—everything was ready beforehand. It is the same with us. When we get to heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no hammering us with the rod, no making us meet there. We must be made meet here; and blessed be His name, all that Christ will do beforehand. Rod Mattoon - The building was made from white limestone supplied from the quarries north of Jerusalem. They had so much respect and reverence for God that the stones were pre-cut. This would eliminate hammering at the Temple site. 1 Kings 6:8 The doorway for the lowest side chamber was on the right side of the house; and they would go up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third. NET 1 Kings 6:8 The entrance to the bottom level of side rooms was on the south side of the temple; stairs went up to the middle floor and then on up to the third floor. CSB 1 Kings 6:8 The door for the lowest side chamber was on the right side of the temple. They went up a stairway to the middle chamber, and from the middle to the third. ESV 1 Kings 6:8 The entrance for the lowest story was on the south side of the house, and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third. NIV 1 Kings 6:8 The entrance to the lowest floor was on the south side of the temple; a stairway led up to the middle level and from there to the third. NLT 1 Kings 6:8 The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the Temple. There were winding stairs going up to the second floor, and another flight of stairs between the second and third floors. NRS 1 Kings 6:8 The entrance for the middle story was on the south side of the house: one went up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third. go up by winding stairs: Eze 41:6,7 STAIRS BETWEEN THE STORIES The doorway for the lowest side chamber was on the right (SOUTH) side of the house (SEE TEMPLE); and they would go up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third - NLT = "The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the Temple. There were winding stairs going up to the second floor, and another flight of stairs between the second and third floors." 1 Kings 6:9 So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar. NET 1 Kings 6:9 He finished building the temple and covered it with rafters and boards made of cedar. CSB 1 Kings 6:9 When he finished building the temple, he paneled it with boards and planks of cedar. ESV 1 Kings 6:9 So he built the house and finished it, and he made the ceiling of the house of beams and planks of cedar. NIV 1 Kings 6:9 So he built the temple and completed it, roofing it with beams and cedar planks. NLT 1 Kings 6:9 After completing the Temple structure, Solomon put in a ceiling made of cedar beams and planks. NRS 1 Kings 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; he roofed the house with beams and planks of cedar. he built: 1Ki 6:14,38 So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar. 1 Kings 6:10 He also built the stories against the whole house, each five cubits high; and they were fastened to the house with timbers of cedar. NET 1 Kings 6:10 He built an extension all around the temple; it was seven and a half feet high and it was attached to the temple by cedar beams. CSB 1 Kings 6:10 He built the chambers along the entire temple, joined to the temple with cedar beams; each story was 7 1/2 feet high. ESV 1 Kings 6:10 He built the structure against the whole house, five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar. NIV 1 Kings 6:10 And he built the side rooms all along the temple. The height of each was five cubits, and they were attached to the temple by beams of cedar. NLT 1 Kings 6:10 As already stated, he built a complex of rooms on three sides of the building, attached to the Temple walls by cedar timbers. Each story of the complex was 7-1/2 feet high. NRS 1 Kings 6:10 He built the structure against the whole house, each story five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar. Related Passages: Psalms 92:12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. He also built the stories against the whole house, each five cubits (7.5 feet) high; and they were fastened to the house with timbers of cedar. 1 Kings 6:11 Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon saying, Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon saying - How did the Word come? We simply do not know. There is no mention of a dream, a specific prophet, etc. It is clearly not critical to know how Jehovah communicated with Solomon, but just that He did communicate clearly. I am reminded of Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Keil suggests "the expression "And the word of Jehovah came" seems to point to a prophetic medium. And this is in harmony with 1 Kings 9:2, according to which Jehovah only revealed Himself to Solomon twice by an actual appearance." 1 Kings 6:12 "Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. NET 1 Kings 6:12 "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my rules, observe my regulations, and obey all my commandments, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. CSB 1 Kings 6:12 "As for this temple you are building-- if you walk in My statutes, observe My ordinances, and keep all My commands by walking in them, I will fulfill My promise to you, which I made to your father David. CSB 1 Kings 6:12 "As for this temple you are building-- if you walk in My statutes, observe My ordinances, and keep all My commands by walking in them, I will fulfill My promise to you, which I made to your father David. ESV 1 Kings 6:12 "Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. NIV 1 Kings 6:12 "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. NLT 1 Kings 6:12 "Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David. NRS 1 Kings 6:12 "Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you, which I made to your father David. NJB 1 Kings 6:12 'With regard to this temple which you are now building, if you follow my statutes and obey my ordinances and faithfully follow my commandments, I shall fulfil the promise which I made about you to your father David. if you will walk in My statutes: 1Ki 2:3-4 1Ki 3:14 1Ki 8:25 1Ki 9:3-6 1Sa 12:14,15 1Ch 28:9 2Ch 7:17,18 Ps 132:12 Zec 3:7 Col 1:23 then I will carry out My word: 2Sa 7:13 1Ch 22:10 Related Passages: 1 Kings 2:3-4+ “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 so that the LORD may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 1 Kings 3:14+ “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.” 1 Kings 8:25+ “Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 1 Kings 9:3-6+ The LORD said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 4 “As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 “But (THE CONDITION) IF you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 (GOD'S PROMISE) THEN I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 “And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 “And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the LORD has brought all this adversity on them.’” JEHOVAH'S CONDITIONAL PROMISE TO CARRY OUT HIS WORD Concerning this house which you (promise and warning are specifically given to Solomon) are building, if you (SOLOMON - second person, masculine, singular) will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking (metaphor for lifestyle of faithfulness and obedience) in them - Note 3 verbs Solomon was called to heed - "walk...execute...keep." This matches three divine promises (next 2 verses) conditioned on those 3 verbs! God is specifically addressing King Solomon. As we say "The buck stops with him!" Keep all My commandments by walking in them as always indicates that God is not interested so much in our "talk" but our "walk." (cf 1Sa 15:22+). The walk that would please YAHWEH was a clearly marked road calling for walking straight ahead and turning neither to the right or left (Dt 5:32+, Dt 17:11) Dt 17:19-20+ specified the walk of Israel's kings which is exactly who is being addressed in this conditional promise. For reasons unclear to me 1 Kings 6:11-13 are not found in the Septuagint. Dale Ralph Davis - How heavy those second-person, singular pronouns in verse 12a are as they come tumbling down on Solomon’s shoulders! Solomon’s personal fidelity to Yahweh’s covenant law is the condition for Yahweh’s gracious presence among his people through the temple. How critical one man’s obedience will be. And one must interrupt a construction report to underscore it.....Though we are not covenant kings, there is a proper principal application to all leaders in Christ’s church. My obedience or faithlessness can bring blessing or bane to a whole people. Robert Murray M’Cheyne grasped this perfectly in his one-liner compendium of pastoral theology (repeated without apology): "My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness." (God) is not impressed with our work if our walk isn’t obedient to Him (Eph 6:6+) --Warren Wiersbe Then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father (an allusion to the Davidic Covenant) - This conditional promise reminds us of 1Ki 3:14+ where God linked obedience was to long life. However, this promise seem to be directed to longevity of Solomon's throne. The word which Jehovah spoke to David was "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." (2Sa 7:13+ 1Ch 22:10+) And as we know Solomon failed to meet the condition, resulting in division of the 12 tribes and later destruction of the glorious Temple (586 BC). 1 Kings 6:13 "I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel." I will dwell: 1Ki 8:27 Ex 25:8 Lev 26:11 Ps 68:18 132:12,13 Isa 57:15 Eze 37:26-28 2Co 6:16 Rev 21:3 will not forsake: De 31:6-8 1Sa 12:22 1Ch 28:9,20 Heb 13:5 Related Passages: Exodus 25:8+ “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell (shakan) among them. Exodus 29:45-46+ “I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. 46 “They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God. Hebrews 13:5+ Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” Revelation 21:3+ And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, JEHOVAH'S SHEKINAH GLORY IS CONDITIONED ON OBEDIENCE "I will dwell (shakan) among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel - The NAS omits one significant word (particle conjunction) in the original Masoretic Text, the word which is translated "And" (as in the ESV = 1Ki 6:13ESV). Why is "and" significant? The answer is because it is in the context of the previous conditional promise, a promise which includes Jehovah dwelling among the sons of Israel. In fact, when Israel disobeyed Yahweh, and was taken into exile in Babylon in 586 BC, the Shekinah glory cloud (Shekinah not in Hebrew but related to shakan) abandoned Solomon's Temple! (see detailed discussion on Departure of the Glory of Jehovah from Solomon's Temple) Jehovah ceased to dwell among the sons of Israel and would not return until Jesus (His glory of course veiled) entered the Temple (e.g., Jn 2:14+). Because He was rejected by the sons of Israel, He will not return until Revelation 19:15-21+ as King of kings and Lord of lords! Maranatha Lord Jesus! Note that God is very specific, declaring that He would dwell AMONG the sons of Israel and not that He would dwell IN the Temple which is the way pagans thought of their gods as dwelling in temples (e.g., see Dagon) THOUGHT - Dearly beloved of God, are you experiencing a sense of God's presence in your life? If not, 1 Kings 6:12-13 may be just what the doctor ordered to assess your spiritual condition. The application of this conditional statement calls for us to live faithfully and obediently to God and His Word if we are to enjoy the precious and magnificent promises of God (2Pe 1:4+) and experience a sense of His presence. It is worth noting that with the entrance of sin Moses records "They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden." (Ge 3:8+) The message for us today is that in order to experience fellowship and communion with God, we need to walk in the light and confess our sins (1Jn 1:7+, 1Jn 1:9+). Proverbs 28:13+ makes it clear "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper (THAT IS A "NEGATIVE" CONDITIONAL STATEMENT), But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." And remember just as Solomon's obedience/disobedience would impact the entire nation for good or evil, our personal sins will have a ripple effect in our family, especially those of us who are fathers! Dwell (establish, live, remain, settle)(07931) shakan to settle down = from which is derived rabbinic word shekinah or shechinah lit, “that which dwells” ~"residence" the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Ex 25:8). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to “dwell” in a place, the Targum renders that He “causes His Shekinah to dwell” there. God is the subject of shakan 43 times - . He may dwell on Mount Zion (Psalm 74:2). He dwells among his people (Exodus 25:8). He will dwell in Jerusalem (Zech. 8:3). Baker - First, it simply means to settle down (Ex. 24:16; Num. 24:2; Ps. 102:28[29]). Second, it can mean to lie down or rest. When used this way, it can refer to objects (Num. 9:17; Job 3:5); animals (Isa. 13:21); and people (Jer. 23:6; 33:16). When people are the object of the verb, it means that they are resting in peace and security. Third, it may mean to dwell or abide. Again, this can have several referents such as people (Ps. 37:27; Pr 2:21); the dead (Job 26:5); God (1 Ki. 8:12; Isa. 8:18); or objects such as the Tabernacle (Josh. 22:19). In the intensive form, it means to establish. The word is used in this way in Deuteronomy 12:11 and Psalm 78:60 to describe how God set up a dwelling place for His name, establishing Himself in Israel. Finally, the causative form means to lay, to place, to set (Gen. 3:24; Josh. 18:1); or to cause to dwell (Job 11:14; Ps. 78:55). (Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament) ILLUSTRATION - Verses 11–13 present a case of the-one-affects-the-many. And that can be for good or ill. On July 2, 1863, General G. K. Warren went to the crest of a knoll called Little Round Top, outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where a classic battle of the War between the States was erupting. He was chief engineer of the Federal Army. The spot was only used as a signal post and stood undefended. Warren discovered Confederate troops were forming in the woods to take Little Round Top and thus outflank and roll up the left wing of the Union lines. Immediately he sent for troops to hold Little Round Top. One man’s vigilance saved a whole army from disaster. But then there is a Joe Stalin, who fancied he had mastered military affairs, and so imposed stupid and impossible orders on his field commanders in the Second World War. In 1941 he refused to allow the evacuation of Kiev and so the Germans took half a million prisoners. In May 1942 Stalin ordered a major offensive in the Ukraine, again refusing to listen to his commanders’ objections. His attacking armies were surrounded and, since Stalin forbade retreat, another massive horde of Soviet soldiers were carted off to German POW camps. One man is a blockhead and tens of thousands suffer for it. (For these instances, see Clarence Edward Macartney, Highways and byways of the civil war (Pittsburgh: Gibson, 1938), 137–38; and Robert Conquest, Stalin : breaker of nations (New York: Viking, 1991), 240, 254.) THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD At the heart of the idea of a Temple is the abiding presence of God. Although God is omnipresent, He has chosen to manifest His presence in certain locations and at certain times within history. This physical manifestation of God has come to be called the Shekinah. the Shechinah Glory is the visible manifestation of the presence of God. It is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in which He descends to dwell among men. Whenever the invisible God becomes visible, and whenever the omnipresence of God is localized, this is the Shechinah Glory. The usual title found in Scriptures for the Shechinah Glory is the glory of Jehovah, or the glory of the Lord. The Hebrew form is Kvod Adonai, which means ‘the glory of Jehovah’ and describes what the Shechinah Glory is. The Greek title, Doxa Kurion, is translated as ‘the glory of the Lord.’ Doxa means ‘brightness,’ ‘brilliance,’ or ‘splendor,’ and it depicts how the Shechinah Glory appears. Other titles give it the sense of ‘dwelling,’ which portrays what the Shechinah Glory does. The Hebrew word Shechinah (Shekinah), from the root shachan, means ‘to dwell.’ The Greek word skeinei, which is similar in sound as the Hebrew Shechinah (Greek has no ‘sh’ sound), means ‘to tabernacle.’. . . In the Old Testament, most of these visible manifestations took the form of light, fire, or cloud, or a combination of these. A new form appears in the New Testament: the Incarnate Word [John 1:14].7 The concept of the Shekinah is behind the wonder of the incarnation. The very glory of God “tabernacled” within human flesh and was handled and beheld. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (ἐσκήνωσεν [eskēnōsen]), and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” [emphasis added] (John 1:14). Σκηνή [Skēnē] was the word used by the translators of the Septuagint for the Hebrew מִשְׁכָּן [miškān], “tabernacle” (Ex. 25:9). During Israel’s pilgrimage from Egypt to Canaan the tabernacle was the place of worship for the people. The tabernacle or tent in the wilderness was the “tent of Jehovah,” Himself a pilgrim among His pilgrim people. In sound and meaning σκηνόω [skēnoō] recalls the Hebrew verb שָׁכַּן [šākkan] meaning “to dwell,” which is sometimes used of God’s dwelling with Israel (Ex. 25:8; 29:46). In postbiblical Hebrew the Jews used the term שְׁכִינָה [šeḵînâ] (“Shekinah,” literally, “presence”) of the bright cloud of the presence of God that settled on the tabernacle. The Shekinah glory was nothing less than the visible manifestation of God.8 The manifestation of the Shekinahis at the heart of understanding the meeting of God with man. In the earliest communion of man with God, God is said to have been “walking in the Garden in the cool of the day” (Gen. 3:8). This must speak of a localized presence with which Adam and Eve could interact—the Shekinah. The word itself embodies the notion of dwelling or abiding. This emphasizes the single most important aspect concerning God’s localized presence: where is He abiding? For wherever the Shekinah is, there is relationship with God in a more intimate way and all the benefits which come from His special presence. This is the essence of the promise made to the overcomer in Philadelphia, the fulfillment of that first love which was lacking in Ephesus: to walk once again in full fellowship with God (Gen. 3:8; 5:24; Rev. 21:3,22+). This was the ultimate desire of the psalmist (Ps. 23:6; 65:4). Thus, it is an incredible blessing to enjoy the presence of God.This was the primary purpose of the Temple throughout history: to house the Shekinah glory of God among men. It is in the Temple where God’s presence “dwells between the cherubim” over the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:22; Num. 7:89; 1S. 4:4; 2S. 6:2; 1K. 7:29; 2K. 19:15; 1Chr. 13:6; 2Chr. 5:7; 6:41; Ps. 80:1; Ps. 99:1; Isa. 37:16; Eze. 41:18). Unless the glory of God “inhabits” the Temple (1Ki 8:10-11; 2Chr. 7:1; Ezek. 43:2-4; 44:1-2; Hag. 2:7-9; Mat. 20:12) it is just a dead architectural edifice.9Conversely, in the history of the Temple, there are grave consequences when the Shekinah departs from the Temple, for it indicates God’s displeasure with those among whom He previously dwelt and the removal of His protection and blessing in His departure. The Temple, the house of Israel, is left desolate when the glory of God departs. In at least two occasions in history, the result has been the destruction of the Temple. When the Shekinah left Solomon’s Temple in the days of Ezekiel’s prophecy (Ezek 10:18; 11:22-23), the eventual result was the destruction of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. When the Shekinah left the Second Temple in the days of Jesus (Mt. 23:38), the eventual result was the destruction of the Temple by Titus Vespasian of Rome (Mat. 24:1-3). Whether God remains in His house is serious business!Although it is beyond the scope of our treatment here to consider an extensive discussion of God’s abiding presence, it will be helpful to note some of the most significant historical events related to the Shekinah.10 The Shekinah glory:11 Illuminated the earth prior to the creation of the sun and moon (Gen. 1:3, 14). Walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:8). Ratified the Abrahamic covenant while Abraham slept (Gen. 15:17). Descended upon Mount Sinai at the giving of the law (Ex. 19:18; 24:15-16; 33:18-23; 34:5-6). Filled the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 40:34). Filled Solomon’s Temple upon its dedication (1Ki 8:10-11; 2Chr. 7:1). Left Solomon’s Temple due to Israel’s sin (Eze. 8:4-6; 9:3; 10:4, 18-19; 11:22-23). The Temple is left unprotected. Returned to the Second Temple in the form of the incarnation of Messiah Jesus (Mat. 12:6; 21:12; John 1:14; 2:15). Left the Second Temple desolate upon the departure of Jesus (Mat. 23:38; 24:2; Luke 13:35; 21:6). The Temple is left unprotected. Appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat. 17:2; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:29). Appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3; 22:11; 26:13; 1Ti. 6:16). Will return to the Millennial Temple (Isa. 60:3; Eze. 43:2-4). Illuminates the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:23+; 22:5+). The significance of the Mount of Olives derives from it association with the departure and arrival of the glory of the Lord: The mountain which is so clearly defined and located in this prophecy [Zec. 14:4] is already associated with many events and crises in Israel’s history. . . it was from this mountain, which is before Jerusalem on the east, that the prophet Ezekiel saw the glory of Jehovah finally taking its departure. It was from this mountain also that He, who was not only the symbol, but the living personal revelation of the glory of Jehovah, finally took His departure from the land, after He had been rejected by the nation. He led His handful of disciples out as far as Bethany (on the Mount of Olives), and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. ‘And it came to pass while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up to heaven’ [Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1;9]; since then a still darker era in the long Ichabod period of Israel’s history commenced. . . . And what is this but a prophecy in symbolic language of the same event which the heavenly messengers announced to the men of Galilee [Acts 1:9-11]. We love to think that this same mountain on which He once shed tears of sorrow over Jerusalem, the slope of which witnessed His agony and bloody sweat, shall be the first also to witness His manifestation in glory; and that His blessed feet, which in the days of His flesh walked wearily over this mountain on the way to Bethany shall, ‘in that day,’ be planted here in triumph and majesty.12 In summary, the Shekinah is the visible representation of the localized presence of God. By God’s design, the Temple is the location where His abiding presence is intended to dwell and where He has put His name (Dt 12:5, 11, 21; 2Chr. 6:20; 7:16; 20:19; Ezra 6:12; Ne. 1:9; Mat. 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). 1 Kings 6:14 So Solomon built the house and finished it. 1Ki 6:9,38 Ac 7:47-48 Related Passages: 1 Kings 6:1 Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. 1 Kings 6:38 In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it. Acts 7:47-48+ “But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says SOLOMON COMPLETES GOD'S TEMPLE So Solomon built the house and finished it - Second of three times the completion is described (1Ki 6:9, 38). The time it took can be calculated at 7.5 years. 1 Kings 6:15 Then he built the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the ceiling he overlaid the walls on the inside with wood, and he overlaid the floor of the house with boards of cypress. NET 1 Kings 6:15 He constructed the walls inside the temple with cedar planks; he paneled the inside with wood from the floor of the temple to the rafters of the ceiling. He covered the temple floor with boards made from the wood of evergreens. CSB 1 Kings 6:15 he paneled the interior temple walls with cedar boards; from the temple floor to the surface of the ceiling he overlaid the interior with wood. He also overlaid the floor with cypress boards. ESV 1 Kings 6:15 He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar. From the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress. NIV 1 Kings 6:15 He lined its interior walls with cedar boards, paneling them from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and covered the floor of the temple with planks of pine. NLT 1 Kings 6:15 The entire inside, from floor to ceiling, was paneled with wood. He paneled the walls and ceilings with cedar, and he used planks of cypress for the floors. NRS 1 Kings 6:15 He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the rafters of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress. NJB 1 Kings 6:15 He lined the inside of the Temple walls with panels of cedar wood-panelling them on the inside from the floor of the Temple to the beams of the ceiling -- and laid the floor of the Temple with juniper planks. NAB 1 Kings 6:15 its walls were lined from floor to ceiling beams with cedar paneling, and its floor was laid with fir planking. YLT 1 Kings 6:15 and he buildeth the walls of the house within with beams of cedar, from the floor of the house unto the walls of the ceiling; he hath overlaid with wood the inside, and covereth the floor of the house with ribs of fir. from the floor 1Ki 6:16 Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 3:5 He overlaid the main room with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains. INNER PANELING WITH CEDAR AND CYPRESS Then he built the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the ceiling he overlaid the walls on the inside with wood, and he overlaid the floor of the house with boards of cypress - To the splendor of the cedar and cypress would soon be added a gold overlay. Cypress is the Hebrew word berosh which describes an evergreen common in ancient Palestine and Lebanon. KJV consistently translates it as "fir." Modern translators vary from fir, juniper, cypress to pine, but are not consistent. Hiram the Tyrian king sent berôsh and cedar to Solomon for temple construction. It was used for flooring the temple (1Ki 6:15) and for the double doors of the entrance (1Ki 6:34). The main temple was paneled with berôsh overlaid with gold (2Ch 3:5). 1 Kings 6:16 He built twenty cubits on the rear part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling; he built them for it on the inside as an inner sanctuary, even as the most holy place. NET 1 Kings 6:16 He built a wall 30 feet in from the rear of the temple as a partition for an inner sanctuary that would be the most holy place. He paneled the wall with cedar planks from the floor to the rafters. CSB 1 Kings 6:16 Then he lined 30 feet of the rear of the temple with cedar boards from the floor to the surface of the ceiling, and he built the interior as an inner sanctuary, the most holy place. ESV 1 Kings 6:16 He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls, and he built this within as an inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place. NIV 1 Kings 6:16 He partitioned off twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. NLT 1 Kings 6:16 He partitioned off an inner sanctuary-- the Most Holy Place-- at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling. NRS 1 Kings 6:16 He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the rafters, and he built this within as an inner sanctuary, as the most holy place. NJB 1 Kings 6:16 The twenty cubits measured from the end of the Temple he built of cedar planks from the floor to the beams, and this part was reserved as the Debir, the Holy of Holies. NAB 1 Kings 6:16 At the rear of the temple a space of twenty cubits was set off by cedar partitions from the floor to the rafters, enclosing the sanctuary, the holy of holies. YLT 1 Kings 6:16 And he buildeth the twenty cubits on the sides of the house with ribs of cedar, from the floor unto the walls; and he buildeth for it within, for the oracle, for the holy of holies. built : 1Ki 6:5,19,20 8:6 Ex 25:21,22 26:23 Lev 16:2 2Ch 3:8 Eze 45:3 Heb 9:3 Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 3:8+ Now he made the room of the holy of holies: its length across the width of the house was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to 600 talents (ROUGHLY $1.2 BILLION IN TODAY'S DOLLARS) 8 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold. PARTITIONING OFF THE THE HOLY PLACE He built twenty cubits (30 feet) on the rear part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling; he built them for it on the inside as an inner sanctuary, even as the most holy place - NLT = "He partitioned off an inner sanctuary-- the Most Holy Place-- at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling." The most holy place or Holy of Holies, in which there was nothing but the ark of the covenant, including the tables of the law, and into which the high priest alone was to enter but once a year. The temple, like the tabernacle, was divided into the Holy Place, occupying 2/3's of the interior space, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), occupying one-third of the total space, a 30 foot cube. Recall that the height of the temple was 45 ft, which meant there was extra space above the Holy of holies, an “attic space” if you will which would have been about 15 feet above the Holy of Holies. However, we are not told if or how this space was used. As an aside, the Holy of Holies in the Mosaic Tabernacle was also a cube measuring 15 ft per side.The most holy place was built of stone, paneled with cedar and overlain with gold. Even the nails used in the Holy of Holies were plated with gold (2Ch 3:9+). QUESTION - What were the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the temple / tabernacle? ANSWER - The tabernacle built by Moses and, later, Solomon’s temple were divided into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies). To understand these places, it will help if we first understand the concept of “holy.” At its most basic meaning, holy simply means “set apart” or even “different.” God is holy because He is absolutely different, completely set apart from everything else. He is completely different from all other things that are called “gods.” He is also completely set apart from sin, which is probably the concept that most people associate with God’s holiness. This example may help explain the concept further: the word bible is simply from the Latin for “book.” Although the word Bible has become a technical (or semi-technical) term for the Word of God, the term itself just means “book.” There are many books in the world. That is why on the cover or the title page we often see the official title as “Holy Bible.” In other words, there are many bibles (books), but this Book (Bible) is holy; that is, it is different, set apart from all other books, because it is the Word of God. The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were first and foremost places that were set apart. They were completely different from any other place on Earth, because the presence of God was uniquely present there. The Israelites were forbidden from making any images to represent God (Exodus 20:4–5). However, human beings are physical and visual, so God did give the Israelites an object that would help them sense His presence among them—the tabernacle (a tent that served as a portable temple), which was later replaced by a grand temple in Jerusalem. The Holy Place and Most Holy Place function the same in both settings. The whole tabernacle was holy in that it was set apart for worship and sacrifices to God. However, the tabernacle was separated into 3 areas, the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies). Priests and Levites ministered in the Outer Court as they offered sacrifices for sin and guilt as well as the other sacrifices. In the center of the Outer Court was a tent that only the priests could enter. This place was set apart—it was holy. The tabernacle had only one entrance. Upon entering, a priest would be in the Holy Place, where there were three articles of furniture. One was the golden lampstand, which was to be kept burning continually, giving light to the Holy Place. The second article of furniture in the Holy Place was the table for the bread of presence (or the table of showbread). This bread was baked fresh every week, and only the priests were allowed to eat of it as it was holy as well. Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of both of these symbols as the Light of the World (John 8:12) and the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The final article in the Holy Place was the altar of incense. Special incense was to be burned each morning and evening as an offering to the Lord. The Holy Place was set apart (holy) because it was a special representation and reminder of the presence of God. At the back of the Holy Place was a smaller chamber called the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place. In this smaller room was the ark of the covenant. On top of the ark was a special area called the mercy seat. This was seen as the throne of God. While God is omnipresent, this location was seen as a special place for God to dwell in the middle of His people. This second chamber could only be entered by the high priest on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement, and only with a blood sacrifice. The high priest would enter the Most Holy Place with smoke (from the altar of incense) to help shield his view and sprinkle blood on the ark of the covenant to atone for the sins of the people. Anyone who entered this chamber when he was not supposed to would be killed. The tabernacle and the temple emphasized the presence of God in the midst of His people. God was always there and accessible. At the same time, the Holy Place and Most Holy Place emphasized God’s holiness and His inaccessibility due to the sins of the people. When Jesus died on the cross, three Gospels report that the curtain of the temple, that barrier between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, was supernaturally torn in two (see Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; and Luke 23:45). The torn curtain symbolized that the way to God was now open to all through the death of Christ. The blood of an animal was no longer needed. Hebrews 10:19–22a explains, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”GotQuestions.org 1 Kings 6:17 The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long. LXE 1 Kings 6:17 And the temple was forty cubits in extent, NET 1 Kings 6:17 The main hall in front of the inner sanctuary was 60 feet long. CSB 1 Kings 6:17 The temple, that is, the sanctuary in front of the most holy place, was 60 feet long. ESV 1 Kings 6:17 The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long. NIV 1 Kings 6:17 The main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. NLT 1 Kings 6:17 The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet long. NRS 1 Kings 6:17 The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long. NJB 1 Kings 6:17 The Temple measured forty cubits -- the Hekal -- in front of the Debir. NAB 1 Kings 6:17 The nave, or part of the temple in front of the sanctuary, was forty cubits long. YLT 1 Kings 6:17 And forty by the cubit was the house, it is the temple before it. Source: Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament - Page 498 THE HOLY PLACE DESCRIBED The house, that is, the nave (main room - the Holy Place) in front of the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies), was forty cubits (60 feet) long - The Holy Place is just to the east of the Holy of Holies and housed the altar of incense, the golden tables of the bread of the Presence, and the golden lampstands (1Ki 7:48, 49). 1 Kings 6:18 There was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen. NET 1 Kings 6:18 The inside of the temple was all cedar and was adorned with carvings of round ornaments and of flowers in bloom. Everything was cedar; no stones were visible. CSB 1 Kings 6:18 The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with ornamental gourds and flower blossoms. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen. ESV 1 Kings 6:18 The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen. NIV 1 Kings 6:18 The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen. NLT 1 Kings 6:18 Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers. NRS 1 Kings 6:18 The cedar within the house had carvings of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen. NJB 1 Kings 6:18 There was cedar wood round the inside of the Temple, ornamentally carved with gourds and rosettes; all was cedar wood, with no stone showing. NAB 1 Kings 6:18 The cedar in the interior of the temple was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers; all was of cedar, and no stone was to be seen. YLT 1 Kings 6:18 And the cedar for the house within is carvings of knobs and openings of flowers; the whole is cedar, there is not a stone seen. GWN 1 Kings 6:18 Gourds and flowers were carved into the cedar paneling inside the temple. Everything was covered with cedar. No stone could be seen. carved in the shape of gourds 2 Ki 4:39 open flowers1Ki 6:18 INTERIOR PANELING DECORATED WITH CARVINGS OF GOURDS & FLOWERS There was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen. 1 Kings 6:19 Then he prepared an inner sanctuary within the house in order to place there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. NET 1 Kings 6:19 He prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD could be placed there. CSB 1 Kings 6:19 He prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple to put the ark of the LORD's covenant there. ESV 1 Kings 6:19 The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. NIV 1 Kings 6:19 He prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. NLT 1 Kings 6:19 He prepared the inner sanctuary at the far end of the Temple, where the Ark of the LORD's Covenant would be placed. NRS 1 Kings 6:19 The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. an inner sanctuary: 1Ki 6:5,16 2Ch 4:20 Ps 28:2 place there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.: 1Ki 8:6-10 Ex 40:20,21 2Ch 5:7 Heb 9:3,4 Source: Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament - Page 498 HOLY OF HOLIES PREPARED FOR ARK OF COVENANT Then he prepared an inner sanctuary (Holy of Holies) within the house in order to (purpose clause) place there the ark of the covenant of the LORD - 1Sa 4:4 and 2Sa 6:2 describe God as enthroned (Shekinah glory cloud) between the cherubim on top of the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the throne of God, Ps 80:1 stating that God is "enthroned above the cherubim." (Here is a schematic of THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS.) Warren