Berean Study Bible Preparations for the TempleHiram ruled Tyre, the leading Phoenician city-state on the Mediterranean coast, renowned for maritime trade, skilled craftsmen, timber resources, and commercial wealth. Solomon’s anointing publicly established his God-appointed succession to David’s throne. News of the transition quickly reached neighboring rulers because Israel had become a significant regional kingdom under David. David’s death and Solomon’s accession did not weaken the covenant purposes of God; they prepared the way for the peaceful construction of the temple. 1Ki 1:39-40 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle.… he sent envoys to Solomon; The envoys formally recognized Solomon’s authority and opened diplomatic communication with the new king. Hiram understood that continued friendship with Israel would serve both kingdoms. Tyre possessed cedar, cypress, craftsmen, and seafaring access, while Israel provided agricultural goods and a stable inland ally. God would use this political relationship to supply what was needed for the house built in His name. 2Ch 2:11 Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon:… for Hiram had always been a friend of David. Hiram’s friendship with David had included the provision of cedar wood and skilled laborers for David’s palace (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 14:1). The alliance continued into Solomon’s reign, demonstrating the stability God granted to David’s house. Hiram was not an Israelite, yet his resources and cooperation would contribute to the temple’s construction, showing that the Lord’s purposes extend beyond Israel and that even foreign rulers may serve His sovereign plan. 2Ch 2:3 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre:… And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: Solomon formally approached Hiram, king of Tyre, whose friendship with David had continued into Solomon’s reign. Hiram ruled a powerful Phoenician coastal kingdom renowned for cedar forests, skilled builders, sailors, and trade networks. Solomon’s message concerned the temple God had appointed him to build in Jerusalem, fulfilling the Lord’s promise to David that his son would establish a house for God’s name. The alliance brought Lebanon’s timber and craftsmen into service for Israel’s worship, while also displaying Solomon’s wisdom in diplomacy and administration. Gentile participation in providing for the temple anticipates the gathering of people from every nation into the worship of the true God. 2Ch 2:3 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre:… “As you are well aware, Solomon appealed to knowledge Hiram already possessed through Tyre’s longstanding alliance with David. Hiram had supplied David with cedar and craftsmen for his palace, and the friendship between the two kingdoms continued under Solomon. 2Sa 5:11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David… due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, David spent much of his reign defending Israel and bringing surrounding nations under God’s judgment. Conflicts with the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Arameans secured the land promised to Israel and established the peace Solomon inherited. 1Ch 22:8 You are not to build a house for My Name… he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God David deeply desired to build the temple, but the Lord assigned that work to his son. David had been appointed to establish the kingdom through warfare, while Solomon would build the permanent sanctuary during a reign marked by rest. The house for the Name of the LORD would be the appointed center of Israel’s worship, where God caused His name to dwell among His covenant people. 1Ki 8:17-19 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house… until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. Israel’s victories were credited ultimately to the Lord, who fulfilled His promise to give David rest from his enemies. The imagery of enemies beneath the feet portrays complete dominion and anticipates the reign of Christ, whose enemies will finally be placed under His feet. Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord:… But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, Solomon recognized that Israel’s security did not arise merely from military strength, diplomacy, or inherited power. The LORD had subdued the surrounding enemies and fulfilled His promise to David that He would give Israel rest from its foes (2 Samuel 7:11). David’s reign had been marked by necessary wars that secured the kingdom and prepared the way for the temple; Solomon inherited the peace God had established. With the land at rest, Solomon could devote the nation’s resources to building the house of the LORD, a work David had desired but was not permitted to complete (1 Chronicles 28:3–6). Israel’s rest anticipated the deeper rest God provides for His people, ultimately fulfilled through Christ, who brings believers into peace with God and promises a final rest in His kingdom (Hebrews 4:9–10). 1Ch 22:18 For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand.… and there is no adversary Solomon’s early reign enjoyed unusual stability among Israel’s neighboring nations. Hiram of Tyre remained a faithful ally, trade flourished, and surrounding kings acknowledged Solomon’s authority and wisdom. The absence of hostile powers enabled Israel to gather materials, organize labor, and begin the temple without the interruption of war. Such peace pointed beyond Solomon to the reign of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, whose victory over sin, death, and Satan will establish enduring righteousness and security. Pro 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes… or crisis. Internal disorder also did not threaten the kingdom during this season. God had granted Solomon wisdom to judge justly, govern wisely, and preserve unity among the tribes. Prosperity and order gave Israel an opportunity to worship the LORD from a settled land rather than amid conflict and uncertainty. The peace of Solomon’s kingdom foreshadowed the righteous rule of Christ, under whom justice, holiness, and peace will finally prevail without interruption. Psa 91:10 no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent. So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, Solomon announced his purpose to Hiram of Tyre as preparation for the temple began. The temple would become Israel’s appointed center of worship, replacing the tabernacle that had served the nation since the days of Moses. God’s Name represented His revealed character, authority, and covenant presence; the temple did not confine the infinite God, but marked the place He chose for His people to draw near in worship, sacrifice, and prayer (Deuteronomy 12:5–11; 1 Kings 8:27–30). 1Ki 8:17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house… according to what the LORD said to my father David: Solomon grounded his undertaking in God’s covenant promise rather than royal ambition. The LORD had told David that his son would build a house for His Name after David’s death (2 Samuel 7:12–13; 1 Chronicles 17:11–12). David had desired to build the temple, but God appointed him instead to prepare materials and establish the kingdom in peace for his son’s work (1 Chronicles 22:7–10). 2Sa 7:12-13 And when your days are fulfilled and you rest… ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, Solomon’s reign fulfilled God’s promise to preserve David’s dynasty. The succession of David’s son demonstrated that Israel’s throne ultimately rested on the LORD’s sovereign faithfulness. God’s covenant with David also carried forward the hope of a greater Son of David whose kingdom would endure forever (Isaiah 9:6–7; Luke 1:32–33). 1Ki 1:30 I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you… and he will build the house for My Name.’ Solomon’s temple stood as the visible sign of God’s covenant dwelling among His redeemed people. Its sacrifices, priesthood, and holy place anticipated the fuller access to God accomplished through Jesus Christ, the true temple in whom God dwelt among humanity (John 2:19–21). Through Christ, believers are being formed into a spiritual house in which God dwells by His Spirit (1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:21–22). 1Ch 22:9-10 But a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest.… Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. Lebanon’s cedars were prized throughout the ancient Near East for their height, durability, and beauty. Solomon sought them for the temple David had desired to build for the Lord, a work God had appointed Solomon to complete. The finest materials were fitting for the house dedicated to the holy name of the God of Israel, though no building could contain His presence. 2Ch 2:3 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre:… My servants will be with your servants, Solomon arranged cooperation with Hiram of Tyre, whose people possessed generations of experience in Lebanon’s forests and coastal trade. Israel and Tyre worked together in peace to prepare materials for the temple. God’s purposes included skilled laborers beyond Israel’s borders, anticipating the day when people from every nation would be drawn to worship the Lord. 2Ch 2:8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon,… and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, Solomon promised just compensation rather than demanding labor from Tyre. The arrangement honored the work and skill of Hiram’s servants and established a mutually beneficial covenant between the two kingdoms. Scripture consistently requires those who employ others to deal honestly and pay fairly. Gen 30:28 And he added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.” for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” The Sidonians, Phoenician people associated with Tyre and Sidon, were renowned for harvesting, preparing, and transporting Lebanon’s great cedars. Solomon openly recognized a gift Israel did not possess in equal measure. The temple’s construction required the combined service of rulers, craftsmen, laborers, and foreign specialists, all contributing to a work ordered for the worship of God. 2Ch 2:16 We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, …
Hiram’s Reply to SolomonHiram king of Tyre had been a loyal ally of David and continued that alliance with Solomon. Tyre, a leading Phoenician port city, possessed skilled artisans, maritime trade networks, and access to the celebrated cedars of Lebanon. Solomon’s request strengthened a partnership that served both kingdoms through trade, security, and shared prosperity. 2Ch 2:11 Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon:… he rejoiced greatly Hiram recognized that Solomon’s accession brought stability to Israel and preserved the friendship established with David. Solomon’s peaceful reign fulfilled God’s word that David’s son would be a man of rest who would build the house for the LORD (1 Chronicles 22:9–10). Wisdom from God enabled Solomon to govern a large nation without the warfare that had marked much of David’s reign. Pro 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news… and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! Hiram openly honored the LORD, the God of Israel, for giving Solomon wisdom. Though Hiram was a Gentile king, his words acknowledge that Israel’s God was active in the affairs of nations. The kingdom’s order, wealth, and wise leadership displayed the faithfulness of the LORD beyond Israel’s borders. 1Sa 25:32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD,… He has given David a wise son Solomon’s wisdom came from God’s gracious answer to his request for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:9–12). Hiram also recognized the continuity of God’s favor upon David’s house. Solomon’s reign advanced the covenant promise that David’s dynasty would endure and that his son would build a house for God’s name (2 Samuel 7:12–13). 2Ch 2:12 And Hiram added: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel!… over this great people!” Israel had become a strong and influential nation, fulfilling God’s promise to make Abraham’s descendants into a great people (Genesis 12:2). Solomon’s responsibility was correspondingly weighty: he was to rule God’s covenant people with justice, wisdom, and reverence for the LORD. His peaceful kingdom anticipates the greater reign of Jesus Christ, the final Son of David, whose righteous rule will extend over all nations. 1Ki 3:8 Your servant is here among the people You have chosen… Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: Hiram, king of Tyre, continued the friendship he had established with David (2 Samuel 5:11). Tyre’s skilled craftsmen, maritime trade, and access to Lebanon’s forests made the Phoenician kingdom an important partner in Solomon’s preparations for the temple. Their alliance joined Israel’s God-given purpose with resources supplied through peaceful international cooperation. 2Ch 2:11-12 Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon:… “I have received your message; Hiram’s response acknowledges Solomon’s formal request and confirms that communication between the two courts was orderly and trustworthy. Solomon had asked for assistance in obtaining timber and workers for the house built for the name of the Lord (1 Kings 5:5–6). The exchange shows that the temple project was undertaken openly, carefully, and with the support of established alliances. 2Ch 2:3-4 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre:… I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber. Cedar from Lebanon was prized for its strength, beauty, fragrance, and resistance to decay, while cypress was used for fine interior work and doors. Hiram later sent the logs by sea to Joppa, and Solomon supplied food for Hiram’s household in return (1 Kings 5:9–11). The finest materials were devoted to the worship of God, though Solomon would later confess that heaven itself could not contain Him (1 Kings 8:27). The temple’s construction also points forward to God’s dwelling among His people through Christ, whose Church is being built as a spiritual house (Ephesians 2:19–22). 2Ch 2:8-10 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon,… My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, Hiram’s skilled laborers would cut and transport Lebanon’s renowned cedars to the Mediterranean coast. The forests under Phoenician control supplied timber of exceptional strength and beauty, fitting for the house built for the name of the LORD. Hiram’s willing service demonstrated the peaceful alliance God granted Solomon during a season when Israel’s kingdom was established and secure. 2Ch 2:8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon,… and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. Moving the timber by sea spared the difficulty of carrying massive logs through rugged terrain. The rafts would likely have reached the port of Joppa, from which the wood could be taken inland to Jerusalem, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 2:16. Solomon directed the project, yet the work depended upon the ordered cooperation of neighboring kingdoms. 2Ch 2:16 We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, … There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. Hiram’s men would dismantle the rafts at the appointed harbor so that Solomon’s workers could carry the timber to the Temple site. The arrangement required trust, planning, and faithful fulfillment on both sides. Materials gathered from distant lands were brought into Israel for the construction of the sanctuary where God would place His name. 1Ch 22:4 and more cedar logs than could be counted;… And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.” Solomon supplied grain and oil for Hiram’s royal household, strengthening the economic bond between Israel and Tyre. Israel’s productive land provided what Phoenicia needed, while Phoenicia supplied resources Israel lacked. God’s blessing upon Solomon’s reign extended beyond Israel, bringing stability and mutual benefit to the surrounding nations. 2Ch 2:10 I will pay your servants, the woodcutters,… So Hiram provided Solomon Hiram king of Tyre continued the friendship he had maintained with David (2 Samuel 5:11). His support supplied resources Israel did not possess in abundance and strengthened peaceful relations between Israel and Phoenicia. God used this international alliance to provide for the house Solomon was appointed to build, fulfilling His promise that David’s son would construct a temple for His name (2 Samuel 7:12–13). 1Ch 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David… with all the cedar and cypress timber Lebanon’s cedar and cypress were prized throughout the ancient Near East for strength, beauty, and resistance to decay. Tyrian workers cut the logs in Lebanon and transported them by sea to Israel’s coast, where Solomon’s servants carried them to Jerusalem (1 Kings 5:8–9). The finest materials were devoted to the worship of the Lord, displaying the glory of God’s dwelling among His people. 2Ch 2:8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon,… he wanted, Hiram’s generous provision enabled Solomon to carry out the temple project without shortage. Israel in return supplied food for Hiram’s household, showing that the agreement brought mutual benefit (1 Kings 5:11). The abundance given for the temple anticipates God’s greater provision in Christ, through whom believers are built together as a dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:21–22). 1Ki 9:11 King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram… and year after year The supply arrangement continued throughout the building program, confirming a durable covenant between Israel and Tyre. Hiram had been David’s friend and ally, and Solomon preserved that relationship in peace, wisdom, and mutual benefit. 1Sa 1:3 Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city… Solomon would provide Hiram Solomon’s wealth and administrative strength enabled him to meet the obligations of an international alliance. Hiram supplied cedar, cypress, craftsmen, and maritime expertise, while Solomon supplied the agricultural abundance of Israel. 2Ch 2:15 Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley… with 20,000 cors of wheat This enormous annual provision demonstrated the fruitfulness of the land during Solomon’s reign. Israel’s abundance served not merely private prosperity but the work of building the house dedicated to the name of the LORD. 2Ch 2:10 I will pay your servants, the woodcutters,… as food for his household, Hiram’s household included his royal court and the laborers involved in preparing and transporting timber from Lebanon. The provision honored the king of Tyre and sustained those whose work contributed to the Temple’s construction. 1Ki 4:27-28 Each month the governors provided food for King Solomon… as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil. Olive oil was essential for food, lamps, anointing, and trade. The generous supply revealed Solomon’s resources and Israel’s peace, while the cooperation of Gentile Tyre in the Temple project anticipated the day when the nations will honor the Lord and serve His purposes. Exo 27:20 And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil… And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. God fulfilled the promise made at Gibeon, granting Solomon a discerning heart to govern His people and wisdom surpassing that of surrounding kings (1 Kings 3:12; 4:29–34). His wisdom included judicial discernment, administrative ability, practical knowledge, and reverence for God. It enabled Israel to prosper during a season of stability and prepared Solomon to carry out the work of building the temple. Solomon’s God-given wisdom points beyond him to Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and who is Himself the wisdom of God (Colossians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 1:24). 1Ki 3:12 I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that… There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, Hiram king of Tyre had been a friend and ally of David, supplying cedar and craftsmen for David’s house (2 Samuel 5:11). Peace with Tyre gave Solomon access to Lebanon’s timber, Phoenician seafaring skill, and experienced artisans needed for the temple project. The absence of war during Solomon’s early reign fulfilled God’s purpose that David’s son, rather than David, would build the house of the Lord in a time of rest (1 Chronicles 22:8–10). 1Ch 22:9 But a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest.… and the two of them made a treaty. Solomon and Hiram established a binding alliance of mutual benefit: Tyre supplied timber and skilled labor, while Solomon provided food for Hiram’s royal household (1 Kings 5:8–11). Their agreement secured the resources necessary for the temple and demonstrated how God’s blessing upon Israel extended outward to neighboring nations. 2Ch 16:3 Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was…
Solomon’s Labor ForceSolomon, David and Bathsheba’s son, ruled over a united Israel during a season of peace, wealth, and extensive administration. God had granted him wisdom for governing the people and had appointed him to build the temple that David was not permitted to build. Solomon’s great achievements, however, required authority over the nation’s resources and people. 1Ki 2:12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David,… conscripted a labor force Solomon organized compulsory service for the work in Lebanon, where cedar and cypress timber were prepared for the temple and royal buildings. Israel’s request for a king had included the warning that a monarch could take the people’s sons for his service. The burden of such royal demands later contributed to the northern tribes’ resentment against Solomon’s house. 1Ki 9:15 This is the account of the forced labor… of 30,000 men The thirty thousand men were divided into rotating groups, with ten thousand serving in Lebanon each month and returning home for two months. Adoniram oversaw this labor force. The arrangement supplied the immense needs of the building program while allowing the workers intervals with their families and fields. 2Sa 6:1 David again assembled the chosen men of Israel,… from all Israel. The levy drew men from throughout the tribes, making the temple project a national undertaking. Israel’s united service anticipated the temple’s purpose as the central place where the whole covenant people would gather before the Lord. Yet national participation did not remove the hardship of forced labor, and Solomon’s centralized rule exposed tensions that would become open division after his death. 1Ki 12:4 Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must… He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, Solomon drew thirty thousand Israelites for the cedar-cutting operation, sending one third at a time to work in Lebanon’s forests. Lebanon’s cedars were renowned throughout the ancient Near East for their strength, size, and beauty, making them especially suitable for the temple and royal buildings. The carefully ordered rotation displays the administrative wisdom God had given Solomon and the immense scale of preparing for the house of the LORD. 1Ki 4:7 Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel.… so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. The workers were not kept continuously away from their households, fields, and communities. Two months at home allowed families to remain supported and gave the laborers needed recovery before returning to demanding work in the mountains. The arrangement recognized that faithful service and human rest belong together, reflecting the pattern of labor and rest established by God. Jos 22:4 And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest… And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. Adoniram supervised Solomon’s conscripted labor force and held a significant office in the kingdom. Though the temple project served a holy purpose, the burden of compulsory labor remained a source of resentment among the people. Under Rehoboam, Israel would specifically complain of the heavy yoke imposed by Solomon, contributing to the division of the kingdom. Earthly rulers may build great works through burdensome demands, but Christ gives rest to those who come to Him and frees His people to serve God willingly. 1Ki 4:6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; Adoniram son of Abda… Solomon had 70,000 porters The temple required an enormous supply chain of stone, timber, and other materials. These burden-bearers likely included resident foreigners descended from the Canaanite peoples who remained in the land (2 Chronicles 2:17–18; 1 Kings 9:20–21). Their labor reflects both Solomon’s extensive authority and the wealth God had granted Israel during a season of peace. 2Ch 2:18 Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters…… and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, Skilled workers quarried and prepared the great stones needed for the temple and its surrounding structures. The work was carefully organized under overseers, ensuring that the house built for the Lord would display reverence, permanence, and excellence. The temple’s costly construction anticipated the greater dwelling of God among His people through Christ, the chief cornerstone, and through His church, built as a spiritual house (Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 2:4–5). 1Ch 22:15 You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons… not including his 3,300 foremen Solomon appointed 3,300 chief officers to direct the enormous labor force of burden-bearers, stonecutters, and craftsmen. Their number reflects the careful order required for a work of such magnitude and holiness. God’s house was not built carelessly; its construction proceeded under accountable leadership and according to the plans God had given through David. 2Ch 2:18 Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters…… who supervised the workers. These overseers maintained order, assigned labor, and ensured that the work met the demands of the temple project. Their responsibility illustrates the biblical pattern that great undertakings require faithful stewardship. As the temple was prepared as the place where God would manifest His name among Israel, those entrusted with its work bore a serious duty. The ordered service surrounding the temple also anticipates the care required among God’s people, where leaders are called to watch over those committed to their charge. 2Ch 34:10 They put it into the hands of those supervising the work… And the king commanded them Solomon exercised the royal authority entrusted to him as David’s son and Israel’s king. David had prepared for the temple, but God appointed Solomon to carry the work through to completion (1 Chronicles 22:6–10). The command gathered Israel’s resources and labor around the worship of the Lord. 2Ch 2:17-18 Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel… to quarry large, costly stones The temple was built with materials worthy of the holy name of God. Great stones provided strength, while costly stones displayed the honor Israel owed to the Lord who had given them the land, kingdom, and peace necessary for the work. The expense and labor testified that worship was not treated as a casual matter. 1Ki 6:7 The temple was constructed using finished stones… to lay the foundation of the temple A secure foundation established the place God chose for His name to dwell among His people. The work fulfilled the covenant promise that David’s son would build a house for the Lord’s name (2 Samuel 7:12–13). The temple’s foundation also points forward to Christ, the sure cornerstone upon whom God builds His spiritual house (Ephesians 2:20). 2Ch 3:3 The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God… with dressed stones. Skilled workers cut and prepared the stones so that they would fit together with precision and permanence. The care given to the hidden foundation showed that the temple’s beauty rested upon strength, order, and obedience. Believers likewise are described as living stones, being built together into a spiritual house through Christ (1 Peter 2:5). 1Ch 22:2 So David gave orders to gather the foreigners… So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, Israel and Tyre joined their resources under the peaceful alliance between Solomon and Hiram. Hiram supplied skilled Phoenician craftsmen, long renowned for work in cedar, stone, and large-scale building projects, while Solomon organized Israel’s labor force for the work God had appointed. 2Ch 2:7 Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving… along with the Gebalites, The men of Gebal, or Byblos, came from a Phoenician city known for its craftsmen and maritime trade. Their participation brought specialized skill to the temple project and showed that the house built for the name of the Lord received the finest labor and materials available. Jos 13:5 the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east,… quarried the stone Large, carefully selected stones were cut from the hills of the land for the temple foundation and structure. The durability of the stone suited a house intended to stand as the central place of Israel’s worship, though God Himself could not be contained within any earthly building. 1Ki 6:7 The temple was constructed using finished stones… and prepared the timber and stone Cedar and cypress from Lebanon, together with dressed stone, were made ready before assembly in Jerusalem. The ordered preparation reflects reverence for the work and anticipates the later description that the temple was built without the sound of iron tools at the site (1 Kings 6:7). 1Ch 22:14 Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide… for the construction of the temple. Solomon fulfilled the Lord’s word to David that his son would build a house for God’s name (2 Samuel 7:12–13). The temple became the appointed place for sacrifice, prayer, and the manifest glory of God among His covenant people. Its holiness and splendor pointed beyond itself to Christ, the true temple, and to the church as God’s dwelling through the Spirit. 1Ki 6:1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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