1 Kings 7 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
1 Kings 7 Short Summary:
Solomon built his palace in Jerusalem, several adjoining government buildings, and a house for his wife, the daughter of Pharoah. The second half of 1 Kings 7 documents the magnificent bronze items built for Temple worship, including the huge metal water basin and the two giant pillars which sat in front of the Temple. The last few verses tell us about the gold furnishings which Solomon made for the interior of the Temple.
1 Kings 7 Extended Summary
WHEN:
1 Kings 7 discusses events that took place in the early to middle years of Solomon’s reign. Solomon was king for 40 years according to 1 Kings 11:42, from approximately 1015-975 B.C.
CHARACTERS:
Solomon – The son of David and the 3rd king of Israel and Judah.
Hiram the Metalworker – Different from Hiram King of Tyre. Hiram was from the tribe of Naphtali and was a skilled bronze worker.
WHERE:
Solomon built the Temple and his house in Jerusalem.
Hiram cast the bronze for the Temple in the plain of Jordan, “in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan” (7:46).
OUTLINE:
SOLOMON’S HOUSE (7:1-12):
*A cubit is generally estimated to be 18 inches or 45.7 cm.
Solomon spent 13 years building a house for himself.
The house was made from trees from the Forest of Lebanon.
Solomon built several other “houses,” which may have been adjoining structures.
The House of the Forest of Lebanon was 100 cubits long (150 feet) and 50 cubits wide (75 feet), with 45 cedar pillars.
The Hall of Pillars was 50 (75 feet) cubits long and 30 (45 feet) cubits wide.
The Hall of the Throne (Hall of Judgement) was where Solomon pronounced judgments.
The text also tells us he built a house for his wife, the daughter of Pharoah of Egypt.
These buildings were constructed with “costly” materials and huge stones.
THE BRONZE PILLARS AT THE TEMPLE (17:13-22):
Solomon brought Hiram, a man of Naphtali, to Jerusalem to do bronze work at the Temple.
He made two pillars of bronze, each 18 cubits tall and about 5.7 cubits wide. They were each topped with a capital of 5 cubits.
One pillar was set on the south side of the vestibule and another on the north.
The pillars were given names, Jachin (south) and Boaz (north).
THE GREAT METAL “SEA” (7:23-26):
Hiram cast a huge metal bowl, which held so much water it was called a “sea.”
This water was for the priests to wash themselves as they served in the Temple.
The huge bowl was 10 cubits from brim to brim and 5 cubits deep. It held 2,000 baths of water (approximately 12,000 gallons or 44,000 liters).
As a platform, it was placed on the backs of 12 metal oxen, three pointing in each cardinal direction.
The bowl was placed at the southeast corner of the Temple.
THE 10 BRONZE BASINS AND THEIR ROLLING STANDS (7:27-39):
Hiram made 10 rolling stands which held 10 water basins.
Each stand was 4 cubits long, 4 cubits wide, and 3 cubits tall.
A basin was set on each stand. The basins measured 4 cubits and held 40 baths of water (240 gallons or 880 liters).
Hiram put 5 stands and basins on the Temple’s north side and 5 on the south side.
THE GOLDEN FURNISHINGS OF THE TEMPLE (7:40-51):
The first part of this final section gives us a summary of Hiram’s work and records a few other things he made for the Temple, including bronze pots, shovels, and vessels.
The last few verses tell us about Solomon making the golden furniture which was designated for the interior of the Temple.
“So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the Temple (7:48-50).
