1 Kings 7:1-51
Q.1. How long did it take to build Solomon’s palace? What other structures formed part of the palace precinct? What were they for? – (1 Kgs.7:1-12)
Solomon had been careful to finish the building of the Temple – according to all its plans (1 Kgs.6:38 c.f. 1 Kgs 6:1-38). The building of the Temple and his palace took twenty years (1 Kgs.6:38-7:1; 9:10). The Palace and the surrounding buildings and gardens were adorned with costly stones. This took thirteen years to complete, even with Solomon’s immense work force (1 Kgs.5:15-16). The house of the forest of Lebanon was huge and was panelled with cedars of Lebanon. It housed three hundred shields of beaten gold, and Solomon’s pure gold drinking vessels (1 Kgs.7:2 c.f. 1 Kgs.10:17 & 21; 2 Chron.9:16 & 20). Solomon testified later – 4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. (Ecc.2:4-6). He had seven hundred wives who were of royal birth, and three hundred concubines who led his heart from God (1 Kgs.11:3-4). The enjoyment of this wealth and wisdom only led him to conclude that everything in this life is pointless – Vanity of vanities! All is vanity (Ecc.1:2, 14; 2:11, 15, 17, 19, 21,23, 26 etc). His conclusions about life proved that fame and fortune do not satisfy.
Q.2. Who was the Hiram who beautified the Temple? Why did Solomon not direct the craftsmen? – (1 Kgs.7:13-14, 40, 51)
This Hiram (or Huram-abi in 2 Chron.2:13; 4:16) is not the king of Tyre, but an Israelite born of a Danite widow, who had remarried a Tyrian (2 Chron.2:14). His father had died. He was from the tribe of Naphtali (1 Kgs.7:14). Hiram – was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and performed all his work … on the Temple and its furnishing and beautification (1 Kgs.7:40 c.f. 1 Kgs.7:15-51). Hiram would have been able to turn his hand to any craft, just as Bezalel and Oholiab had done at the time of Moses.
Q.3. Why did they name the entrance pillars? How magnificent was the bronze sea? Why were the ten basins on wheels? What made the furniture of the Lord’s house stand out? – (1 Kgs.7:15-50)
The entrance pillars supported nothing but gave the worshipers a sense of grandeur as they approached the Lord. They were given the names Jachin meaning ‘He shall establish’, and Boaz meaning ‘In it is strength’. They reminded Israel that it was God Who would establish them, and that strength was to be found in the Lord (c.f. 1 Thes.3:13; 5:23-24 etc). The gigantic sea or laver was made of brass. It was for the priestly washing and cleansing (2 Chron.4:6). It had a diameter of fifteen feet and a height of seven and a half feet and was shaped like a lily flower. It held about one hundred thousand litres of water. The bronze is estimated to have weighed twenty-five to thirty tons, with twelve oxen holding the sea on top, in solid casting. The added water would have taken the weight to almost a hundred tons. (1 kgs.7:23-26 c.f. 2 Chron.4:1-6). Even the elaborately decorated stands for the twelve lavers of water for washing the sacrifices, would have weighed two tons. These required wheels to transport the water (1 Kgs.7:27-39). Some may have been used to remove the wood and animal remains, and the ashes from the court. The bronze furnishings and utensils were beyond calculation (1 Kgs.7:47). In fact – Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the Lord: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; and the lampstands … of pure gold (1 Kgs.7:48-49). Then – Solomon brought all the things dedicated by his father, the silver, and the gold and the utensils, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord (1 Kgs.7:51).