1 Kings 7 Study Notes: Solomon’s Palace and the Temple Bronze
Solomon spends thirteen years on his own palace, including a hall where he judges cases and a residence for his Egyptian wife. Huram, a skilled bronze worker from Tyre, casts the pillars Jachin and Boaz, the great basin called the Sea, and other temple items, and David’s gifts are stored in the temple.
General
Why were the bronze articles Huram made left unweighed (7:47)?
Answer: There was so much bronze that it could not be weighed
Solomon did not weigh the bronze articles, since there were far too many of them; no one could tell how much bronze had gone into them (7:47). This abundance had been prepared ahead of time. David had gathered bronze for God’s house in amounts too large for any scale (1 Chronicles 22:3, 14), including bronze taken in his victories, which Solomon later used for the Sea, for the pillars, and for other bronze articles (1 Chronicles 18:8). What God gave David in battle supplied the house his son built.
- 1 Kings 7:47 (BSB)“Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.”The amount of bronze in Huram’s work was too great to determine.
- 1 Chronicles 22:3 (BSB)“David provided a large quantity of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with more bronze than could be weighed”David had gathered more bronze than could be weighed for the temple.
- 1 Chronicles 22:14 (BSB)“Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.”David told Solomon he had provided bronze and iron too great to be weighed.
- 1 Chronicles 18:8 (BSB)“And from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and various bronze articles.”Bronze taken in David’s victories was used for the Sea, the pillars, and other bronze articles.
Theological
What reason does 1 Kings 7:47 give for leaving the bronze articles unweighed?
Answer: There was so much bronze that it could not be weighed
The bronze went unweighed because of its sheer quantity; its total weight was beyond determining (7:47). The Chronicler traces this abundance to David’s preparation: bronze beyond weighing (1 Chronicles 22:3, 14), some of it plunder from his wars, which Solomon turned into the Sea, the two pillars, and the bronze vessels (1 Chronicles 18:8). The victories God granted the father furnished the house built by the son.
- 1 Kings 7:47 (BSB)“Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.”The amount of bronze in Huram’s work was too great to determine.
- 1 Chronicles 22:3 (BSB)“David provided a large quantity of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with more bronze than could be weighed”David had gathered more bronze than could be weighed for the temple.
- 1 Chronicles 22:14 (BSB)“Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.”David told Solomon he had provided bronze and iron too great to be weighed.
- 1 Chronicles 18:8 (BSB)“And from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and various bronze articles.”Bronze taken in David’s victories was used for the Sea, the pillars, and other bronze articles.
General
What did Solomon do once all the work on the LORD’s house was finished (7:51)?
Answer: Brought in the treasures his father had set apart
Solomon also had all the gold furnishings made for the inside of the house, from the golden altar and table to the lampstands and the door fittings (7:48-50). With the work complete, he carried in the silver, gold, and articles David had consecrated, and stored them in the temple’s storerooms (7:51). David had set apart for the LORD the precious metals taken from the nations he subdued (2 Samuel 8:11), and in his delight in God’s house he had also given his own treasures for it (1 Chronicles 29:2-3). David was not permitted to build the temple, but his gifts became part of it, and the son finished what the father had prepared.
- 1 Kings 7:51 (BSB)“So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed. Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.”When the work is complete, Solomon places his father’s dedicated gifts in the temple treasuries.
- 2 Samuel 8:11 (BSB)“and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued—”David dedicated to the LORD the silver and gold he had taken from the nations he subdued.
- 1 Chronicles 29:2-3 (BSB)“Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance. Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple:”David made provision for God’s house and gave his own treasures because of his delight in it.
Theological
What did Solomon do once the temple work was completed, according to 1 Kings 7:51?
Answer: Brought in the treasures his father had set apart
After the gold furnishings for the interior were finished (7:48-50), Solomon deposited in the temple treasuries the silver, gold, and vessels David had consecrated (7:51). These included spoil David had dedicated from the nations he subdued (2 Samuel 8:11) and his personal treasure given out of delight in God’s house (1 Chronicles 29:2-3). Though David was barred from building, his offerings were incorporated into the house his son completed.
- 1 Kings 7:51 (BSB)“So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed. Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.”When the work is complete, Solomon places his father’s dedicated gifts in the temple treasuries.
- 2 Samuel 8:11 (BSB)“and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued—”David dedicated to the LORD the silver and gold he had taken from the nations he subdued.
- 1 Chronicles 29:2-3 (BSB)“Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance. Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple:”David made provision for God’s house and gave his own treasures because of his delight in it.
General
What was the hall Solomon built for his throne meant to be used for (7:7)?
Answer: A place where the king would hear and judge cases
Among the palace buildings was the throne hall, a hall named for justice, where Solomon would sit to decide cases (7:7). This fits what Solomon had asked of God at Gibeon: a heart able to judge God’s people and tell good from evil (3:9). God gave that wisdom, and all Israel saw that it was in the king so that he could do justice (3:28). A psalm connected with Solomon likewise prays that the king would judge God’s people with righteousness (Psalm 72:1-2). The king’s throne was meant to serve justice for God’s people.
- 1 Kings 7:7 (BSB)“In addition, he built a hall for the throne, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.”Solomon builds a hall for his throne, where he would hear cases.
- 1 Kings 3:9 (BSB)“Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?””Solomon had asked God for a heart able to judge His people and discern good from evil.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (BSB)“When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”Israel saw that God’s wisdom was in the king to administer justice.
- Psalm 72:1-2 (BSB)“Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.”A psalm of Solomon prays that the king would judge God’s people with righteousness and justice.
Theological
What function does 1 Kings 7:7 assign to the hall of the throne?
Answer: A place where the king would hear and judge cases
The throne room, named for justice, was where Solomon would sit to render judgment (7:7). It gives architectural form to the wisdom Solomon asked for at Gibeon, a heart to judge God’s people and discern good and evil (3:9), which God granted and Israel recognized (3:28). The royal ideal of Psalm 72:1-2 is the same: the king’s rule exists to administer God’s righteousness and justice.
- 1 Kings 7:7 (BSB)“In addition, he built a hall for the throne, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.”Solomon builds a hall for his throne, where he would hear cases.
- 1 Kings 3:9 (BSB)“Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?””Solomon had asked God for a heart able to judge His people and discern good from evil.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (BSB)“When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”Israel saw that God’s wisdom was in the king to administer justice.
- Psalm 72:1-2 (BSB)“Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.”A psalm of Solomon prays that the king would judge God’s people with righteousness and justice.
General
What does the text stress about Huram, the bronze worker Solomon brought from Tyre (7:13-14)?
Answer: He was richly gifted for every task in bronze
Solomon brought Huram from Tyre. His mother was a Naphtalite widow, and his Tyrian father had been a bronze worker too (7:13-14). What the text stresses is his gifting: he was full of skill, insight, and know-how for bronze craftsmanship of all kinds, and he came and did all the work Solomon assigned him. The description recalls Bezalel, whom God filled with His Spirit and with skill and ability for every craft so that the tabernacle could be made (Exodus 31:3; 35:31). Like the tabernacle before it, the LORD’s house was furnished through richly gifted craftsmen.
- 1 Kings 7:13-14 (BSB)“Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.”Solomon brings a skilled bronze worker from Tyre and describes his family and abilities.
- Exodus 31:3 (BSB)“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”Bezalel, the tabernacle craftsman, was filled with skill, ability, and knowledge for his work.
- Exodus 35:31 (BSB)“And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”Moses told Israel that the LORD had equipped Bezalel with skill for the tabernacle.
Theological
How does 1 Kings 7:13-14 characterize Huram, the craftsman brought from Tyre?
Answer: He was richly gifted for every task in bronze
Huram’s mother was a Naphtalite widow, his father a Tyrian bronze worker (7:13-14), but the narrator’s emphasis falls on his gifting: great skill, insight, and know-how for bronze work of every kind, which he devoted to all the work Solomon assigned. The language recalls Bezalel, whom the LORD filled with His Spirit and endowed with skill and ability for every craft of the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3; 35:31). As with the tabernacle, the temple was furnished through richly gifted craftsmen.
- 1 Kings 7:13-14 (BSB)“Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.”Solomon brings a skilled bronze worker from Tyre and describes his family and abilities.
- Exodus 31:3 (BSB)“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”Bezalel, the tabernacle craftsman, was filled with skill, ability, and knowledge for his work.
- Exodus 35:31 (BSB)“And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”Moses told Israel that the LORD had equipped Bezalel with skill for the tabernacle.
General
True or False: Among his building projects, Solomon built a palace for Pharaoh’s daughter, his wife (7:8).
Answer: True
This is true. Alongside his own residence, Solomon built a palace for Pharaoh’s daughter, similar in style to the throne hall (7:8). The marriage had sealed an alliance with Egypt (3:1), and she later left David’s city for the house built for her (9:24). Later the narrator mentions her along with the many foreign women Solomon loved, including women from nations the LORD had forbidden Israel to marry (11:1-2).
- 1 Kings 7:8 (BSB)“And the palace where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction. He also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.”Solomon’s building work includes a residence for his Egyptian wife.
- 1 Kings 3:1 (BSB)“Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.”Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter sealed an alliance with Egypt.
- 1 Kings 9:24 (BSB)“As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.”She later moved from the City of David to the palace built for her.
- 1 Kings 11:1-2 (BSB)“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.”The narrator later mentions her along with the many foreign women Solomon loved.
Theological
True or False: Solomon’s building program included a palace for Pharaoh’s daughter, his wife (7:8).
Answer: True
This is true. Solomon built a residence for Pharaoh’s daughter on the same pattern as the throne hall (7:8). The marriage was a political alliance with Egypt (3:1), and she moved from David’s city into her palace once it was ready (9:24). The narrator later mentions her along with the many foreign women Solomon loved, among them women from nations with whom the LORD had forbidden Israel to intermarry (11:1-2).
- 1 Kings 7:8 (BSB)“And the palace where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction. He also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.”Solomon’s building work includes a residence for his Egyptian wife.
- 1 Kings 3:1 (BSB)“Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.”Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter sealed an alliance with Egypt.
- 1 Kings 9:24 (BSB)“As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.”She later moved from the City of David to the palace built for her.
- 1 Kings 11:1-2 (BSB)“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.”The narrator later mentions her along with the many foreign women Solomon loved.
General
Where did Huram set up the two great bronze pillars he had cast (7:15-21)?
Answer: At the portico, the porch at the temple’s entrance
Huram cast two massive bronze pillars, crowned with lily-shaped capitals ringed with pomegranates, and stood them at the portico, the porch at the temple’s entrance; he named the southern one Jachin and the northern one Boaz (7:15-21). The Chronicler likewise sets them before the house, one south and one north (2 Chronicles 3:17). Their splendor did not make the house secure. After the building was finished, God warned Solomon that if Israel turned to other gods, He would reject this house from His presence (9:6-7), and when Jerusalem later fell, the Chaldeans smashed these pillars and hauled the bronze away to Babylon (Jeremiah 52:17).
- 1 Kings 7:21 (BSB)“Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, and the pillar to the north he named Boaz.”Huram sets up the two bronze pillars at the portico and gives them names.
- 2 Chronicles 3:17 (BSB)“Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin, and the pillar on the north he named Boaz.”The Chronicler also places the two pillars in front of the temple, south and north.
- 1 Kings 9:6-7 (BSB)“But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples.”God warned that if Israel turned to other gods, He would banish this temple from His presence.
- Jeremiah 52:17 (BSB)“Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.”When Jerusalem fell, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and carried the bronze to Babylon.
Theological
At what location in the temple complex did Huram erect the two bronze pillars (7:15-21)?
Answer: At the portico, the porch at the temple’s entrance
The two bronze pillars, with lily-shaped capitals and rows of pomegranates, were set at the porch of the temple’s entrance, Jachin to the south and Boaz to the north (7:15-21; 2 Chronicles 3:17). Their grandeur was no guarantee of permanence: God warned that apostasy would bring the rejection of the house itself (9:6-7), and at Jerusalem’s fall the Chaldeans smashed the pillars and hauled their metal to Babylon (Jeremiah 52:17). The house stood secure only as Israel walked with the LORD who dwelt there.
- 1 Kings 7:21 (BSB)“Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, and the pillar to the north he named Boaz.”Huram sets up the two bronze pillars at the portico and gives them names.
- 2 Chronicles 3:17 (BSB)“Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin, and the pillar on the north he named Boaz.”The Chronicler also places the two pillars in front of the temple, south and north.
- 1 Kings 9:6-7 (BSB)“But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples.”God warned that if Israel turned to other gods, He would banish this temple from His presence.
- Jeremiah 52:17 (BSB)“Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.”When Jerusalem fell, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and carried the bronze to Babylon.
General
How does the time Solomon spent building his own palace (7:1) compare with the seven years he spent on the temple (6:38)?
Answer: It took thirteen years, longer than the temple
The temple took seven years to build (6:38). The next verse records that finishing Solomon’s whole palace complex took him thirteen years (7:1); it included a vast hall resting on cedar columns, a colonnade, and a throne hall (7:2-7). Later the text adds that the two projects together took twenty years (9:10).
- 1 Kings 7:1 (BSB)“Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace.”The narrator turns from the temple to Solomon’s own palace complex.
- 1 Kings 6:38 (BSB)“In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years.”The house of the LORD had taken seven years to complete.
- 1 Kings 9:10 (BSB)“Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of the LORD and the royal palace,”Together the two building projects took Solomon twenty years.
Theological
According to 1 Kings 7:1, how did the building of Solomon’s palace complex compare in time with the temple’s seven years (6:38)?
Answer: It took thirteen years, longer than the temple
The temple was completed in seven years (6:38); Solomon’s palace complex, with its great cedar-pillared hall, colonnade, and throne hall (7:2-7), took him thirteen (7:1). The two building programs together occupied twenty years (9:10).
- 1 Kings 7:1 (BSB)“Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace.”The narrator turns from the temple to Solomon’s own palace complex.
- 1 Kings 6:38 (BSB)“In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years.”The house of the LORD had taken seven years to complete.
- 1 Kings 9:10 (BSB)“Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of the LORD and the royal palace,”Together the two building projects took Solomon twenty years.