Scofield Reference Bible Notes
1 Kings 6

1Ki 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.

Zif [See also 1Ki 6:37.]

i.e. May.

the house of the LORD

The typology of the temple, if indeed it has any typical significance, is most obscure and difficult. The N.T. invariably expounds the typology of the tabernacle, not of the temple. The symbolism of the latter may be revealed in the kingdom-age (see "Kingdom" [O.T.], Genesis 1:26; Zechariah 12:8; [N.T.], Luke 1:32; 1 Corinthians 15:28).

In the N.T. the usual Greek word for sanctuary (naos) is used

1. of the temple in Jerusalem (Mat 23:16);
2. of the believer's body (1Co 3:16, 17; 6:19);
3. of the local church (2Co 6:16); and
4. of the true church (Eph 2:21).

But in all these instances the thought is simply of a habitation of God. No reference to the structure of the temple, as in the case of the tabernacle (Heb 9 - Heb 10), is traceable.

1Ki 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.

cubit

One cubit = about 18 in.; also 1Ki 6:3, 6, 10, 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26.

1Ki 6:4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

windows of narrow lights

Cf. 2Ch 4:20. In the holy of holies in the tabernacle no light but the shekinah glory was provided. In many ways Solomon's temple manifests the spiritual deterioration of the people, and Jehovah's condescension to it in grace.

1Ki 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.

was built of stone

Deu 27:5, 6; 1Ki 5:18.

1Ki 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.

side

Heb. shoulder.

1Ki 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.

he built the house, and finished it

1Ki 6:14, 38.

1Ki 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:

if thou wilt walk in my statutes

1Ki 2:4; 9:4.

then will I perform my word with thee

2Sa 7:13; 1Ch 22:10.

1Ki 6:13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

I will dwell among the children of Israel

Exo 25:8; Lev 26:11; 2Co 6:16; Rev 21:3.

will not forsake my people Israel

Deu 31:6.

1Ki 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.

the whole altar that was…overlaid with gold

Exo 30:1, 3, 6.

1Ki 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.

they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims

Or, the cherubim stretched forth their wings.

1Ki 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.

fifth part

Or, five-square.

1Ki 6:33 So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.

fourth part

Or, four-square.

1Ki 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.

Bul

i.e. November.

seven years in building it

Cf. 1Ki 6:1.