BUILDING THE HOUSE OF GOD (1 Kings 5-7 Note )

1 Kings 5-7

Key Verse 6:12-13

1. Who was Hiram, what help did Solomon ask of him, and why? (5:1-6) Why did Solomon ask Hiram to provide materials for the temple and for his palace? Describe the payment to Hiram and Solomon’s labor force. (11-18; 2Ch 2:10,17)

• King of Tyre, 2 Sam 5, he built a palace for David when he became the king of Judah.
  Always been a friendly term with David.
  Hiram had but Israel did not have: excellent materials, masons and carpenters.
  He has timber, cedar of Lebanon and juniper in order to build the temple of God. --Moses K, PH, 
• Inside of the temple—all covered with Cedar, no stone was visible – for the quality of the temple, these were necessary: though cedar, juniper is one of the best qualities of wood, they last for a finite time; not like stones. (LL) 
• David’s work was recognized and honored by Hiram;
  2: Sam 5: 10 And he became more and more powerful because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. (2Sa 5:1 NIV)—Hiram saw how the LORD was with David in defeating all his enemies. Hiram respected and honored David and knew David’s relationship with the LORD. This was expressed by initiating his support for David’s kingship. When he received these logs, David took this as a sign from the Lord that God was establishing his kingdom as the part of His promise to him.  Here, he recognized that the LORD gave David a wise son and fully concurred with Solomon’s plan. After all it is vital for the supporters to know and honor the LORD; what they do shall not be something of men’s favor, respect to men or business-like; Instead, in the depth of one’s heart there must be respect, honor, and fear of the LORD (this was earned by David; Solomon recognized this and used it) ; that is will revealed in what Hiram said and did.   (LL)  
• Payment: 11 and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.
  This offer was far above and beyond the need. This tells us of Solomon’s will to pay as much as it is needed for the temple of the LORD-expression of his thankfulness and fully committed spirit for this task. (DL; LL)
  While Solomon’s provision to Hiram is extremely lavish, no summative statement indicates all the need of Hiram’s household is met: 20,000 cors (ca. 125,000 bushels) of wheat and 20,000 baths (ca. 115,000 gallons) of … olive oil. (AOTC*), 20,000 baths of wine & 20,000 cor of barley (2Ch 2:10)
• Conscription: 13 King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel--thirty thousand men... Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. ..16 as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. (Ref: 1 Chr 2:2; 2 Chr 2:17-18)
  Was there a particular abuse of foreign labor? Was it good to use only foreigners and Lebanese? Should the people of Israel have included in building the temple of God, where they will worship God? The Gentiles had chances to participate in the work of God.
  –it is not improbable but at least, there was no hint of abuse on foreigners in this passage (laborers from ALL ISRAEL)
  

2. When did the construction begin? (6:1) Describe the size, structure, & the construction method of the temple. (2-10) What did God say to Solomon regarding the temple? (11-13) What does this mean to us?

• Date: 480 years after the Exodus & 4th year of Solomon’s reign. Most historians would place the dedication of Solomon’s temple in 966 B.C. By adding 480 years to this, you get 1446 B.C. as the date for the departure from Egypt Based on the dates for Hiram I and the founding date for the Phoenician colony at Carthage, the temple’s construction most likely took place between 967–957 B.C. (BBC*)
• Size: 60*20*30
  Three-story; Construction: no ironwork, Up to 11, it is outside completion. (I think it includes the inside vessels as well). Making the bronze vessels by Huram is described in detail later on how he made them.
• Though the size of the temple was not big, the temple in Solomon’s time was magnificent and could not be compared with any other temple around. The whole inside of the temple was overlaid with pure gold. The amount of pure gold used to overlay the Most Holy Place was 600 talents(20 ton, 2Ch 3:9). But God was not impressed at the extraordinary building. Rather, God said to him to obey his command, otherwise, he would abandon the temple. God’s temple is God’s dwelling place. God does not dwell in a luxurious building, but in obedience to his command. Later God abandons the magnificent building. In Jesus’ time, the magnificent temple became a den of robbers. No God’s presence nor genuine worshippers, but businessmen only. We should focus on obedience rather than a physical building. God’s temple is our body, our home, and our church. Do we focus on obedience to God’s words, or buildings, structures, organizations, politics, etc.? (MK) 
• Where? Mount Moriah –the threshing floor of Araunah –1 Chr 21; 2 Sam 24 (LL) 
• Structure: First, ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet high.
  Second, it had a portico, or porch (6:3), which ran “the width of the temple” and projected out “from the front of the temple” (6:3).
  Third, it was a three-story complex around the Holy and the Most Holy Place, 5 cubits high each. Width(1st floor-5, 2nd floor-6, 3rd floor-7 cubits)(6:6).
  Fourth, its various portions were carefully shaped at their quarries, then fitted, without hammering, on-site (6:7).
  Fifth, its frame and beams were cedar (6:9).
  Sixth, the facility included a number of “side rooms” (6:10) that probably were set aside for the priests’ use. In other words, the building was attractive, yet functional. (NAC*)

3. How was each part of the interior of the temple adorned? (14-36) How long did it take to complete the temple? (37, 38)

• In fact, the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, when Solomon and his people did not obey the commands of God. Where God can dwell is not the building but the obedient heart of each person. How was each part of the interior of the temple adorned? (14-36) How long did it take to complete the temple? (37, 38)
  Now the interior work started. It was beautiful, covered with gold. How glorious it could have been! He used the best material, woods and carves, even before it is covered with gold.
  We learn that we should concentrate on inside beautiful more than outside. It took 7 years to complete the temple inside and outside.  7 is the perfect number. (MK) 

4. How long did Solomon build his own palace? (7:1) Describe the size of the buildings, structures, and materials? (7:2-12) Why did the author mention Solomon’s palace in the middle of mentioning the temple? What is the author’s intention? 

• Building 1: The House of the Forest of Lebanon. Size: 100*50*30; used for arms and storage place. (1Kings 10:7)
  Building 2: Hall of Pillars. Size: 50*30: for parties and celebration.
  Building 3: The Hall of the Throne or The Hall of Justice. (1Kings 10:18-20)
  Building 4: His own house: a place to stay and for all wives (8a)

Building 5: a separate house for his wife from Egypt (8b)

• All with precious woods and stones.
  It took 13 years. (MK) 
• It reveals the facts, but the size, glory of the house was bigger and took a longer time than that of the temple building. Is this the beginning of his downfall in the future, not following God’s commands?   (MK)
• In general, the plot of the writing is to reveal the inner motive of the one who is involved in the story. See the discussion 
• Size comparison may not be appropriate; for the purpose of the temple and the palace are totally different. In this regard, it is reasonable to take a longer time for the palace. But by telling that it took 13 years, the author alludes that the project went above and beyond what was needed or appropriate even considering the need for such large structures. This understanding is especially reinforced by mentioning the house for an Egyptian wife. (LL) 
• Few things are to be noted: 1) At the end of seven years, the temple was finished but all the important articles of the temple were not provided. 2) all the important articles for the temple were manufactured by two; the bronze articles for the court of the temple by Huram-a half-Jew and all the articles of the sanctuary itself were made of gold and by the hand of Solomon.  3) the last step was to bring in the things that his father dedicated to the Lord.
  

5. Who was Hiram (Huram)? (13,14) What vessels did he make? (15-50) What vessels did Solomon make? (48-51)

• A skilled person who could work on the temple and his palace.
  He made all kinds of things in bronze.  (MK) 
• What is inside is more important than what makes outside. (RC) 
• Though all the building, its structures, were built by laborers, all the articles that go in the temple were by the hands of two, one talented man Humran(what are outside of the Holy Place-bronze) and King David (what are inside of the sanctuary –made of gold).  This was done by Solomon’s will and purpose and in this, we are to see what Solomon had in his heart toward the temple. I consider it is a very positive one. (LL)

Question on the plot of this section (LL) 

Temple building (6:2–38)	Temple outside structure (2-10)	7 years
	The word of the Lord (11-13)
	Interior walls (14-37) 38-finished in all -7 years
Temple furnishings(7:13–50)	7:13-40 Huram’s work on furnishings of the temple with bronze  7:48-50 Solomon made all the furnishing of the inside of the tabernacle-gold  7:51- bring in the things David dedicated to the temple
Palace buildings (7:1–12)	7:1-12:	13 years

1. The time in between the time of building an outer structure and the inner structure, God gave Solomon a word of warning; that is that the size and shape of the temples were about to be formed as a solid structure on solid ground with a very sturdy structural material…
   6:11 The word of the LORD came to Solomon: 12 "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father: God’s word concerning this temple that Solomon was building—the very survival of this temple(building) will be dependent on how Solomon and his descendants keep up with the commands. This is reiterated by the LORD in response to Solomon’s prayer to the Lord at the dedication (9:4-8). Here, God spoke of the destruction of the temple: 9:8 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple? In this way, the survival of this temple hangs on how Solomon and his descendants keep up with the Law of Moses. If we put this in a different way, the condition of this temple indicates how the king or the kingdom does well or not with the Law and its Covenant. The rest of the history of Israel testifies well for this truth.
   Such a principle might be applicable to the churches today (RC)
2. Solomon took 13 years to build his palace (7:1)
1. The completion of the temple was noted at completing the temple (6:38)
2. Immediately following this statement, at the heading of the note on the building of the palace, the author pointed out that Solomon took 13 years to complete all the palace complex. (13 years is in empathic position—however: NIV)  
3. This is a strong indictment on Solomon; simply it took so long, 13 years. 
4. This tells how much his heart was on the palace: his fame, or authority or power or whatever the grandeur scale of the building might represent on behalf of him. – it reflects the size of his need; 
3. Ch 6 building of the temple and ch 7: 1-12 building of the palace are contiguous and form one unit of the story; 
1. Why does the building of the temple is treated along with the building of the palace? Can we say that Solomon did not see that such a distinction was necessary?  Did he think that the greatness of the kingdom/kingship will support the greatness of the LORD, rather than vice versa? Though we do not know but we cannot shake off its possibility.  Such thinking is not uncommon among Christians as they come together to build a building for His people.  
4. The last stage of building the temple (7:13-51) 
1. This part is about the furnishing of the temple. It is all about what Solomon did. 
2. First, he brought is Huram, a half-Jew who was well talented: he made all utensils of the court of the temple with bronze (13-47).
   He, himself, made the articles used in the sanctuary. They are all made of gold. 
3. This section seems to say that Solomon poured out all his effort for the glory of the LORD.
   Is it a part of his desire or will to please the LORD by what he could achieve by his own works? 

*Ref: AOTC (Apolos OT Comm.);  BBC (Bible Background Comm.); NAC (New American Comm.)