Melachim Alef 6:5

5 And against the wall of the Beis [Hamikdash] he built chambers round about, against the walls of the Beis [Hamikdash] round about, both of the Heikhal and of the Debir; and he made chambers round about;

Melachim Alef 6:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 6:5

And against the wall of the house he built chambers round
about
Or near it, as Jarchi interprets it, for the beams of them were not fastened in in it, ( 1 Kings 6:6 ) ; or rather "upon" it ^F16; and when they are said to be round about the house, it must be understood of the two sides, north and south, and of the west end only, for at the east end, where the porch was, there were none:

[against] the walls of the house round about, [both] of the temple and
of the oracle;
that is, both of the holy and the most holy place:

and he made chambers round about;
the said buildings; which is repeated that it might be observed; how many chambers there were, is not said; Josephus says ^F17 there were thirty of them, and over them others of the same measure and number, and over them others also; so that there were three stories of them, and in all ninety; and which is countenanced by what follows in ( 1 Kings 6:6 ) , and agrees with ( Ezekiel 41:6 ) ; the Jewish doctors say ^F18, there were thirty eight of them, fifteen on the north, fifteen on the south, and eight on the west; they that were to the north and south were five upon five, and five over them; and they that were to the west were three upon three, and two over them; upper rooms or chambers were rare in Heathen temples ^F19: these chambers were for the priests, where they lodged and laid up their garments, and ate their holy things; and were emblems of congregated churches, where the true members thereof, who are priests to God, have communion with him, and partake of divine things.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (ryq le) "super parietem", V. L. Montanus.
F17 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 3. sect. 2.
F18 Misn. Middot, c. 4. sect. 3.
F19 Pausan. Laconic. sive. l. 3. p. 190.

Melachim Alef 6:5 In-Context

3 And the Ulam (Portico) in front of the Heikhal of the Beis [Hamikdash], twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the Beis [Hamikdash]; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof projecting in front of the Beis [Hamikdash].

4 And for the Beis [Hamikdash] he made embrasures.

5 And against the wall of the Beis [Hamikdash] he built chambers round about, against the walls of the Beis [Hamikdash] round about, both of the Heikhal and of the Debir; and he made chambers round about;

6 The lowest story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for without in the wall of the Beis [Hamikdash] he made narrow ledges round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the Beis [Hamikdash].

7 And the Beis [Hamikdash], when it was under construction, was built of stone made ready before it was brought there; so was neither hammer nor chisel nor any tool of iron heard in the Beis [Hamikdash], while it was under construction.