1 Kings 6:38

38 It was completed in the eleventh year in the month of Bul (the eighth month) down to the last detail, just as planned. It took Solomon seven years to build it.

1 Kings 6:38 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 6:38

In the eleventh year
That is, of the reign of Solomon:

in the month Bul, [which is] the eighth month;
from the month Abib or Nisan; this month answers to part of our October, and part of November; it is the same month sometimes called Marchesvan; it had the name of Bul, because of the rains which usually fell in this month, as Kimchi thinks, like a flood; and Noah's flood is called Mabbul, from the same root F9, and when all the fruits were withered, and the leaves were fallen from the trees; or, as Jarchi supposes, because the grass was consumed in the field, and they were obliged to mix provender for cattle, deriving the word from another root F11: in this month

was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof;
the porch, the holy place, and holy of holies, with all the chambers and courts belonging to it:

and according to all the fashion of it;
which David had given to Solomon, to frame it by:

so he was seven years in building it;
and six months, which are not mentioned, only the round number is given, as appears by comparing it with ( 1 Kings 6:1 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (lbn) "concidit", Buxtorf.
F11 (hlb) "consumpsit, vel" (llb) "miscuit", ib.

1 Kings 6:38 In-Context

36 He built the inner court with three courses of dressed stones topped with a course of planed cedar timbers.
37 The foundation for God's Temple was laid in the fourth year in the month of Ziv.
38 It was completed in the eleventh year in the month of Bul (the eighth month) down to the last detail, just as planned. It took Solomon seven years to build it.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.