Keraia
1 Kings 7

1 Kings 7:9

Solomon’s Palace Complex · 1 Kings 7:1–12
Read 1 Kings 7

Translations

Modern
All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard.
Traditional
All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
Literal
All these were of costly stones, cut to size, trimmed with the saw from within and from without, and from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside up to the great court.
Latin
Omnia lapidibus pretiosis, qui ad normam quamdam atque mensuram tam intrinsecus quam extrinsecus serrati erant: a fundamento usque ad summitatem parietum, et extrinsecus usque ad atrium majus.

Original

Hebrew
English
All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard.

Notes

1 Kings 7:9–11

Like the temple, Solomon's palace used high-quality stones that were precisely cut and trimmed. Similar stonework has been discovered at Megiddo. Cedar beams between the wall layers helped protect against earthquakes.

1 Kings 7:1–12

Before describing the temple's furnishings, the writer talks about the construction of Solomon's palace complex. Building this complex took almost twice as long (thirteen years) as building the temple (seven years, 1 Kings 6:38). The entire project lasted twenty years (1 Kings 9:10). Although construction details are brief, archaeological finds of two of Solomon's buildings give us an idea of the palace's appearance. Despite its grandeur, Solomon's palace is not the main focus; the author is more interested in the temple, where God resides.

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

Glossary

Beam Kings, Books of First and Second Palace Porch Temple

Topics

House: Architecture of Foundations of Stone Palace of Solomon Saw used for Cutting Stone Solomon: Builds Another House for Pharaoh's Daughter Stones: Great, in Solomon's Temple Stones: Hewn (Cut) Stones: Sawed Stones: Temple Built of