Solomon Builds His Palace
First Kings 7: 1-12
Solomon builds His palace DIG: Was Solomon guilty of spending almost twice as long building his own place than the Temple? Why? Why not? Why did Solomon spend so much time, effort, and money on his palace? Was he greedy?
REFLECT: How much time, effort and money do you spend on your own house compared to God’s house? If you could build five buildings for the Lord, what would they be? What kind of materials would you use? Thrifty or expensive?
Solomon did everything imaginable to show that as YHVH is a great God, he was a great king.
There are two houses in this story: one for God and one of Solomon. The king built his own house – the royal palace – for himself and for his successors, but he did not begin until he had finished the house of God, so that nothing might hinder that holy work. We know this because First Kings 9:10 says: At the end of twenty years, during which time Solomon had built the two buildings, the house of ADONAI and the royal palace. Solomon built a palace for himself, taking thirteen years to finish it (7:1). Some commentators view this statement as a negative, because he took seven years to build the Temple, but it need not be so. The Temple had only two rooms with a single purpose, whereas Solomon’s residence had many rooms for a variety of different purposes. In addition, David had made extensive preparations in advance for the building of the Temple that would not have been true for the Palace.190
Solomon’s palace included five buildings that were part of the great royal complex. The Temple had quite a bit of cedar of Lebanon (First Kings 6:9-10 and 15-16, 18, 20 and 36); however, the palace was packed with so many cedars (First Kings 7:2-3, 7, 11 and 12) that it was called the House of the Lebanon Forest.191
The first building described was the throne hall. Solomon’s throne was overlaid with gold, reflecting the king’s glory. Twelve lions, one on each of the six steps leading to the throne, may have been intended to represent the twelve tribes of Isra’el. It was one hundred and seventy-five feet long, eighty-seven-and-a-half feet wide and fifty-two-and-a-half feet high, on four rows of cedar posts, which made it appear forest-like, with cedar beams on the posts, making that one room itself larger than the Temple. It had a roof made of cedar and supported by beams lying on forty-five posts, fifteen in a row. There were three rows of window openings, placed so that the windows on facing walls were opposite each other at all three levels. All the doors and doorways were rectangular and opposite each other at all three levels (First Kings 7:2-5). It also served as a state treasury, displaying selected objects received as tribute. This hall displayed 200 large shields of hammered gold, seven-and-a-half pounds each, and 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, three-and-three-quarters pounds each. Evidently the 500 shields were intended for spectacle only for gold is a soft metal.192
Within the complex he made a hall of pillars, eighty-seven-and-a-half feet long and fifty-two-and-a-half feet wide, with a columned, eaved porch in front of it (First Kings 7:6). It may have served as a waiting-room for those seeking an audience with the king. In addition, he made the hall of judgment; it was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling (First Kings 7:7). This was where the king governed and where the court sessions would be held, including the famous case of the disputed baby (to see link click At – A Wise Ruling). His own living quarters, in the other courtyard, set back from the hall of judgment, were similarly designed. He also made a house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom Solomon had taken as his wife (First Kings 7:8). Nothing is said of Solomon’s own living quarters and the house for Pharaoh’s daughter except they were of similar design and set back from the public building.
All these buildings were made of expensive stone blocks, cut to measure and finished by saws on the inner surfaces as well as the outer ones. These stones were used from the foundation to the eaves and outward from the buildings all the way to the Great Courtyard, which united both the Temple and all five of these buildings. The foundation was of expensive stone blocks, very large ones – stones fourteen to eighteen feet long. Above these were costly stones, cut to measure, and cedar-wood, and this description of the building materials seems to apply to all the buildings Solomon built, including the Temple. The surrounding Great Courtyard had three rows of cut stone. Limestone in the area can be cut with a saw when freshly quarried, but hardens when exposed to the elements. And a row of cedar beams like the inner courtyard of the house of ADONAI and the courtyard by the hall of the house (First Kings 7:9-12).
Fine stone and wood were used to build these structures. Indeed, Solomon had built himself an impressive home. But is the project self-indulgence or another example of God’s blessing? The author does not comment, though his readers must wonder if this extravagance is in keeping with Moshe’s declaration that kings must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17). At least it is quite possible that Solomon did everything imaginable to show that as ADONAI was a great God, he was a great king. Or, is what was displayed here far more about Solomon’s riches and honor than his wisdom?193
Dear Great Heavenly Father, Praise You for the awesome home Yeshua is preparing for me. Though King Solomon’s palace was magnificent by earthly standards, it totally pales in comparison to the home Messiah is now preparing in heaven for His bride (Second Corinthians 11:1). Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be (John 14:1-3).
There will be many great and wonderful aspects to my home in heaven; including no pain, no sorrow and death being a thing of the past, never more to occur for all eternity! But the most wonderful part of heaven will be Your presence continually with me! Behold, the dwelling of God is among mankind, and He shall tabernacle among them. They shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them and be their God. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).
What a comfort it is for me to focus on my eternal heavenly home and realize that the hard times on earth are only a blink compared to the forever joy of living in my heavenly home! For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). We worship and thank You for all the pain and suffering You went thru to redeem me. I delight in living for You with my heart full of love, expressed in my living to please You as best I can. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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