6:14-38

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Details of the temple’s interior (1Ki 6:14-38)

Inside the temple the stonework was covered with lavishly carved wood panelling overlaid with beaten gold (1Ki 6:14-15; see 1Ki 6:22).

A partition divided the main temple into two rooms. The larger front room was called the nave or Holy Place; the smaller rear room was called the inner sanctuary or Most Holy Place (1Ki 6:16-18).

The Most Holy Place contained the ark of the covenant, symbol of God’s presence (1Ki 6:19).

This room had a lower ceiling than the rest of the building (1Ki 6:20; cf. 1Ki 6:2) and, also unlike the rest of the building, was without windows (cf. 1Ki 6:4; 8:12).

Its entrance was closed by a curtain, a pair of doors and gold chains hung across the doorway (1Ki 6:21-22; see 1Ki 6:31; 2 Chron 3:14).

Inside the room were two huge winged creatures, or cherubim, which side by side stretched across the width of the room. They were probably symbolic guardians of the ark (1Ki 6:23-28).

The doors to the Most Holy Place were of carved wood overlaid with gold, similar to the temple walls (1Ki 6:29-32).

In the front room were the altar of incense, the table of ‘presence bread’ and ten lampstands, five on each of the two side walls (see 1Ki 7:48-49).

Folding doors led from the entrance porch to this room (1Ki 6:33-35).

A walled courtyard surrounded the whole building (1Ki 6:36).

The total construction time for the temple was seven years (1Ki 6:37-38).