Keraia
1 Kings 6

1 Kings 6:1

Temple Construction Begins · 1 Kings 6:1–4
Read 1 Kings 6

Translations

Modern
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And it came to pass in the four hundredth year and eightieth year after the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv—it is the second month of the reigning of Solomon over Israel—that he began to build the house of YHWH.
Latin
Factum est ergo quadringentesimo et octogesimo anno egressionis filiorum Israël de terra Ægypti, in anno quarto, mense Zio (ipse est mensis secundus), regni Salomonis super Israël, ædificari cœpit domus Domino.

Original

Hebrew
English
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.

Notes

1 Kings 6:1

Solomon’s fourth year as king was about 967 BC. If the number 480 in the Bible is taken as actual calendar years, then Israel’s exodus from Egypt would have happened about 1446 BC. Others understand the number as symbolic, meaning 12 generations of 40 years each. This view places the exodus later, around 1270 BC (see Exodus Book Introduction, “The Date of the Exodus”).

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

Parallels

2 Chronicles 3:1–2

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Solomon: Son of David, king of Israel, known for his wisdom Ziv: The second month in the ancient Hebrew calendar

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Book of Exodus Calendars (Ancient and Modern) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Conquest and Allotment of the Land Exodus, the Genesis, Book of History of Israel Jerusalem Kings, Books of First and Second Numbers and Numerology Temple Wilderness Wanderings Zif Ziv

Topics

Israel: Under the Kings Before the Separation Into Two Kingdoms: The Temple Built Liberality: Solomon Month: Zif (May) Month: Zif (May): Temple Begun In Months: Names of the Twelve: Second, Zif Solomon: Builds the Temple Temple: Solomon's: Pattern and Building of Temple: Solomon's: The Time when Begun The Age of the Earth the First Temple: Solomon: Commenced Second Day of Second Month of Fourth Year of Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Accession of Kings Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Exodus from Egypt Time: The Exodus Types of Christ: Temple Zif: Second Month (May)