Keraia
1 Kings 7

1 Kings 7:6

Solomon’s Palace Complex · 1 Kings 7:1–12
Read 1 Kings 7

Translations

Modern
Solomon made his colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide, with a portico in front of it and a canopy with pillars in front of the portico.
Traditional
And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.
Literal
And also he made the Hall of Pillars, fifty cubits its length and thirty cubits its width. And a portico was before their faces with pillars, and a canopy was before their faces.
Latin
Et porticum columnarum fecit quinquaginta cubitorum longitudinis, et triginta cubitorum latitudinis: et alteram porticum in facie majoris porticus: et columnas, et epistylia super columnas.

Original

Hebrew
English
Solomon made his colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide, with a portico in front of it and a canopy with pillars in front of the portico.

Notes

1 Kings 7:6–8

  • There was a columned entrance to the Hall of Justice, where Solomon listened to legal cases (see also 1 Kings 10:18–20). Similar throne rooms have been discovered in Syria and Mesopotamia.

  • Solomon built separate living quarters for Pharaoh’s daughter (see 1 Kings 3:1; 9:24; 2 Chronicles 8:11).

1 Kings 7:1–12

Before describing the temple's furnishings, the writer talks about the construction of Solomon's palace complex. Building this complex took almost twice as long (thirteen years) as building the temple (seven years, 1 Kings 6:38). The entire project lasted twenty years (1 Kings 9:10). Although construction details are brief, archaeological finds of two of Solomon's buildings give us an idea of the palace's appearance. Despite its grandeur, Solomon's palace is not the main focus; the author is more interested in the temple, where God resides.

1 Kings 6:1–8:66

The construction of the Temple and palace complex, along with the temple's dedication celebration, are key events in the 1 Kings account of Solomon's time. The temple, built to honor God, was Israel's most important building. Therefore, the writer of 1 Kings documented its construction details thoroughly.

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon Ancient Law Codes Solomon’s Wisdom

Events

Measurements

  • thirty cubits wide: About 75 ft x 45 ft (22.9 m x 13.7 m)

Places

Hall of Pillars: A porch with pillars in Solomon's palace

Glossary

Beam Kings, Books of First and Second Palace Porch Solomon (Person) Temple

Topics

House: Architecture of Porches Palace of Solomon Pillar of Solomon's Palaces Solomon: Builds his House, the Forest of Lebanon