1 Kings 6:20-30

20 This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar.
21 Then Solomon overlaid the rest of the Temple’s interior with solid gold, and he made gold chains to protect the entrance to the Most Holy Place.
22 So he finished overlaying the entire Temple with gold, including the altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place.
23 He made two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary.
24 The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet, each wing being 7 feet long.
25 The two cherubim were identical in shape and size;
26 each was 15 feet tall.
27 He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room.
28 He overlaid the two cherubim with gold.
29 He decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
30 He overlaid the floor in both rooms with gold.

1 Kings 6:20-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 6

This chapter gives an account of the building of the temple, for which preparations were before made and begins with the time of its building, 1Ki 6:1; gives the dimensions of it and the porch before it, 1Ki 6:2,3; observes the windows in it and chambers about it, 1Ki 6:4-10; and while it was building, Solomon had a word from the Lord relative to it, 1Ki 6:11-14; and then the account goes on concerning the walls of the house, and the flooring of it, 1Ki 6:15-18; and the oracle in it, and the cherubim in that, 1Ki 6:19-30; and the doors into it, and the carved work of them, 1Ki 6:31-36; and the chapter is concluded with observing the time when it was begun and finished 1Ki 6:37,38.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Or overlaid the altar with cedar. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  • [b]. Or to draw curtains across. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  • [c]. Or pine; Hebrew reads oil tree; also in 6:31, 33 .
  • [d]. Hebrew 10 cubits [4.6 meters]; also in 6:24, 26 .
  • [e]. Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters].
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