6:1-13

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Overall plan of the temple (1Ki 6:1-13)

The simplest way to describe Solomon’s temple is as a rectangular stone building with a porch added to the front, and three storeys of storerooms added to the sides and rear.

The side and rear walls of the main building were reduced in thickness by one cubit (about forty-four centimetres, or eighteen inches) for the middle storey, and by a further cubit for the top storey.

This created ‘steps’ on which the timber beams rested to form the floors for the middle and upper storeys (1Ki 6:1-6).

All stones used in the building were cut and dressed at the quarry, so that they would be as easy to handle as possible.

No stoneworking tools were used at the temple site (1Ki 6:7-10).

God gave Solomon the timely reminder that the temple would be a means of blessing to him and his people only if he was obedient to God (1Ki 6:11-13).