1 KINGS LESSON 8


     We will begin this lesson in I 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 the LORD."

     There are a number of things we need to see in all of this. The
temple is a permanent structure of what the tabernacle was. They both
faced east. Both the tabernacle and the temple had three parts. As we
study the temple, watch for the similarities.  We see, in the verse
above, 480 years after the children of Israel entered their promised
land, work began on the temple. Some believe this began just over
3,000 years after the birth of Adam.  Solomon was born about 965 B.C.,
so this would be just about right. Zif, on the Jewish calendar, is
about the same as our month of May. They have chosen Mount Moriah in
Jerusalem for the location the temple was to be built.  From this time
on, Jerusalem will be known as the holy city.

     I Kings 6:2 "And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD,
the length thereof [was] threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof
twenty [cubits], and the height thereof thirty cubits."

     The length was 60 cubits, or about 90 feet. The breadth was 20
cubits, or 30 feet. It was 30 cubits, or 45 feet tall. It was half as
tall as it was long, and three times as long as it was wide. This did
not include the porch, or the side chambers. This was the main
building.

     I Kings 6:3 "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 length of the porch was 20 cubits, or 30 feet, which made the
entire building 80 cubits long. The porch was just 10 cubits wide.
There seemed to be walls, on both sides and a roof with the front of
the porch open.

     I Kings 6:4 "And for the house he made windows of narrow lights."

     These were very narrow windows to let in a little light, but not
as big as the windows in a home.

     I Kings 6:5  "And against the wall of the house he built chambers
round about, [against] the walls of the house round about, [both] of
the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:"

     It appears, the side chambers were in three floors. The smaller
chamber at the botttom and the next a little larger. The third is
larger than the second. The temple inside was not divided up like
this.

     I Kings 6:6 "The nethermost chamber [was] five cubits broad, and
the middle [was] six cubits broad, and the third [was] seven cubits
broad: for without [in the wall] of the house he made narrowed rests
round about, that [the beams] should not be fastened in the walls of
the house."

     "Nethermost" means lower, or bottom. This means the bottom floor
was 5 cubits, or 7 1/2 feet wide. The floor just above this was
6 cubits, or 9 feet wide. The top floor was 7 cubits, or 10 1/2 feet
wide. Each floor was held up by rests.

     I Kings 6:7 "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 read earlier of the thousands, who prepared the stones for use
in the building of the temple. The stones were brought in, and not
carved at the temple. There was to be no noise in the temple.

     I Kings 6:8 "The door for the middle chamber [was] in the right
side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the
middle [chamber], and out of the middle into the third."

     This is speaking of the stairs that led from the first floor to
the second, and then to the third. The stairs were against the wall on
the right side of the building.

     I Kings 6:9 "So he built the house, and finished it; and covered
the house with beams and boards of cedar."

     The "house", spoken of here, is speaking of the main part of the
temple. The boards for the walls are cedar, which will not
deteriorate. Beams of cedar would be strong and durable.

     I Kings 6:10 "And [then] he built chambers against all the house,
five cubits high: and they rested on the house [with] timber of
cedar."

     The three floors of chambers were each 7 1/2 feet high. When it
says against all of the house, it is speaking of the north, west, and
south side. The east side of the temple had a porch, and no chambers.

     I Kings 6:11  "And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,"
I Kings 6:12 "[Concerning] this house which thou art in building, if
thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all
my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with
thee, which I spake unto David thy father:" I Kings 6:13 "And I will
dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people
Israel."

     We are not told exactly how the Word of the LORD came to Solomon.
We know that in the beginning, it was through Nathan. It is not
impossible for the LORD to speak to Solomon direct, however. Whether
this was spoken directly to Solomon, or through Nathan, it does not
matter. The message is from the LORD. The promises the LORD had made
to Solomon, and to Israel, were conditional on them keeping His
commandments. Notice, Solomon is to execute the LORD's judgements, and
not his own. To be blessed of God, Solomon and the people must obey
the LORD in all things.

     I Kings 6:14 "So Solomon built the house, and finished it."
I Kings 6:15 "And he built the walls of the house within with boards
of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling:
[and] he covered [them] on the inside with wood, and covered the floor
of the house with planks of fir."

     Now, we see that the fir was to make the floor. The walls, and
ceilings were made of cedar and the floor of fir.

     I Kings 6:16 "And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the
house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even
built [them] for it within, [even] for the oracle, [even] for the most
holy [place]."

     This is speaking of a wall being built, to separate the most holy
place from the holy place. This wall is to be made of cedar. The
temple, not including the porch was 60 cubits long. This is saying,
the furthest 20 cubits from the entrance is where the most holy place
will be.

     I Kings 6:17 "And the house, that [is], the temple before it, was
forty cubits [long]."

     The front of the temple would take up the other 40 cubits.

     I Kings 6:18 "And the cedar of the house within [was] carved with
knops and open flowers: all [was] cedar; there was no stone seen."

     This is just saying, that all of the inside walls of the temple
were made of cedar. The cedar would be similar to our brick homes
today, which have wooden paneling on the inside walls. The stone was
the outside wall. This inside wall of cedar will be overlaid with
gold. The beautiful carvings would be on the wood.

     I Kings 6:19 "And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to
set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD."

     The ark of the covenant will be in the most holy place. The ark
symbolizes the presence of the LORD with the people.

     I Kings 6:20 "And the oracle in the forepart [was] twenty cubits
in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the
height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and [so] covered
the altar [which was of] cedar."

     The most holy place is 20 cubits, by 20 cubits, by 20 cubits. It
is a cube. This entire thing was overlaid with pure gold. Pure gold is
24 kt. gold. This is the first mention of the altar, but it would be
covered with pure gold, also.

     I Kings 6:21 "So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure
gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle;
and he overlaid it with gold."

     This is saying, that the entire inside walls of the temple were
covered over with pure gold. Gold symbolizes the pureness of God. This
is why there was pure gold where God dwelled. It appears, their were
golden chains before the ark.

     I Kings 6:22 "And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he
had finished all the house: also the whole altar that [was] by the
oracle he overlaid with gold."

     We must remember, that the holy of holies is a replica of the
place where God is in heaven. That is why the streets are paved with
gold, and the entire city is gold. Revelation 21:18 "And the building
of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like
unto clear glass." Revelation 21:21 "And the twelve gates [were]
twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of
the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass."  God is a
holy God. Wherever God is, there is pure gold. There is no silver in
this city mentioned in Revelation, because the Christians have already
been redeemed. Silver symbolizes redemption.

     I Kings 6:23  "And within the oracle he made two cherubims [of]
olive tree, [each] ten cubits high."

     Olive oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. This is interesting that
the two cherubims for either end of the ark are made of olive wood.
This means the cherubims stood 10 cubits, or 15 feet high. As the
children say today, that is awesome.

     I Kings 6:24 "And five cubits [was] the one wing of the cherub,
and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part
of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other [were] ten
cubits." I Kings 6:25 "And the other cherub [was] ten cubits: both the
cherubims [were] of one measure and one size."

     The outstretched wings of the cherubims were 15 feet from the tip
of one wing to the tip of the other. Both cherubs measured the same.

     I Kings 6:26 "The height of the one cherub [was] ten cubits, and
so [was it] of the other cherub."

     These cherubim stood toward the back at each end of the ark of
the covenant.

     I Kings 6:27 "And he set the cherubims within the inner house:
and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing
of the one touched the [one] wall, and the wing of the other cherub
touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the
midst of the house."

     The entire holy of holies was 20 cubits, or 30 feet across. The
two cherubims touching wing to wing, take up the entire 30 feet. The
tip of their wings touch the outer wall on one side and touch the
inner wing of the cherubim on the inside.

     I Kings 6:28 "And he overlaid the cherubims with gold."

     This is saying, that pure gold covered the cherubims.

     I Kings 6:29 "And he carved all the walls of the house round
about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open
flowers, within and without."

     This was the most magnificent structure ever constructed on the
earth. Around the walls were carvings of cherubims, palm trees, and
flowers.

     I Kings 6:30 "And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold,
within and without."

     The floors were made of fir for durability, but they, too, were
covered with pure gold.

     I Kings 6:31  "And for the entering of the oracle he made doors
[of] olive tree: the lintel [and] side posts [were] a fifth part [of
the wall]."

     The wall between the holy place and the most holy place was made
of cedar covered with pure gold, but the door was made from olive
tree. The doors were covered with gold and hung on golden hinges. This
is saying the door posts were 4 cubits square. This would mean these
doors were together 6 feet wide. 1/5 th of the wall would be 6 feet.

     I Kings 6:32 "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."

     These two doors filled this 6 foot wide opening. They met in the
middle and hung from the sides. They were beautifully carved, and were
olive wood covered with pure gold. It is as if the Holy Spirit {olive
oil} is between the holy place and the holy of holies. The holy of
holies is symbolic of the throne of God in heaven.

     I Kings 6:33 "So also made he for the door of the temple posts
[of] olive tree, a fourth part [of the wall]."

     This is, perhaps, speaking of the doors coming into the holy
place. The entire wall would be thirty feet wide. The doors would take
up 1/4 of the wall, which would be 7 1/2 feet. Again, these doors are
swinging from the side and meet in the middle. The posts, are made of
olive wood.  Olive wood is not only beautiful, but easy to carve.
     I Kings 6:34 "And the two doors [were of] fir tree: the two
leaves of the one door [were] folding, and the two leaves of the other
door [were] folding."

     Fir is durable. These doors lead to the outer court. These doors
got much more use than the doors to the holy of holies. Only the high
priest went into the holy of holies.

     I Kings 6:35 "And he carved [thereon] cherubims and palm trees
and open flowers: and covered [them] with gold fitted upon the carved
work."

     These doors were carved beautifully, and covered with gold.

     I Kings 6:36  "And he built the inner court with three rows of
hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams."

     This just shows the strength needed for this court.

     I Kings 6:37  "In the fourth year was the foundation of the house
of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:"  I Kings 6:38 "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."

     This means that it took 7 years and 6 months to build the temple.
Their 8th month would be our November.



























                        1 Kings 8 Questions


1.  The temple was started, how many years after the children of
    Israel came out of Egypt?
2.  How long had Solomon been king, when they started the temple?
3.  Approximately how many years after Adam's birth was the temple
    started?
4.  Zif is the same as what month on our calendar?
5.  From this time on, _____________ will be known as the holy city.
6.  How long was the temple?
7.  How wide was it?
8.  How tall was it?
9.  The chambers had _________ floors.
10. What does "nethermost" mean?
11. What were the sizes of the three floors?
12. What was the house made of?
13. Where were the stones made ready?
14. How did they get from floor to floor in the chambers?
15. What is the "house" in verse 9?
16. How tall were each of the chambers?
17. Which was the only side that did not have chambers?
18. The Word of the LORD came to ___________.
19. What did the LORD promise to do, if Solomon and the people kept
    his commandments?
20. The inside walls of the temple were made with what?
21. The inside walls were covered with what?
22. What were the decorations on the walls?
23. What does the ark symbolize?
24. What was the size of the most holy place?
25. The holy of holies is a replica of what?
26. Quote Revelation chapter 21 verses 18 and 21.
27. Why is there no silver in heaven?
28. Olive oil symbolizes the __________ _________.
29. What was the size of the cherubims?
30. The cherubims were overlaid with ________.
31. The floor was made of what?
32. The doors of the holy of holies were made of what?
33. How long did it take to build the temple?