Topical Bible: Solomon: Builds his Palace

◄ Solomon: Builds his Palace ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Biblical Context and Background

Solomon, the son of King David and Bathsheba, is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects, most notably the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. However, another significant architectural achievement during his reign was the construction of his royal palace. This project is detailed in the biblical narrative, primarily in 1 Kings 7 and 2 Chronicles 8, and it reflects Solomon's grandeur and the prosperity of Israel during his reign.

Construction of the Palace

The construction of Solomon's palace began after the completion of the Temple, taking thirteen years to complete, as recorded in 1 Kings 7:1: "Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace." This extended period highlights the complexity and scale of the project, which was a testament to Solomon's wealth and the resources available to him.

Architectural Features

Solomon's palace was a complex of buildings, each serving different purposes. The main components included:

1. The House of the Forest of Lebanon: This was a large hall named for its cedar pillars, reminiscent of the forests of Lebanon. It served as an armory and a place for public gatherings. 1 Kings 7:2-3 describes it: "He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting cedar beams."

2. The Hall of Pillars: This was a grand entrance hall, noted for its impressive columns, as mentioned in 1 Kings 7:6: "He made a colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. In front of it was a portico, and in front of that were pillars and an overhanging roof."

3. The Hall of the Throne (Hall of Judgment): This was where Solomon conducted official business and rendered judgments. It was also known as the Hall of Judgment, as described in 1 Kings 7:7: "In the Hall of the Throne, he made a place for dispensing justice, the Hall of Judgment. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling."

4. The Royal Residence: Solomon's own living quarters were part of the palace complex, built with similar grandeur and materials as the Temple, reflecting the king's status and the divine favor upon his reign.

5. The House for Pharaoh's Daughter: Solomon also built a separate house for his wife, Pharaoh's daughter, indicating the political alliances and marriages that characterized his reign (1 Kings 7:8).

Materials and Craftsmanship

The construction of Solomon's palace utilized the finest materials, including cedar from Lebanon, costly stones, and gold. The craftsmanship was of the highest quality, involving skilled laborers from Israel and neighboring regions. The use of cedar, in particular, is frequently mentioned, emphasizing its value and the connections Solomon had with Hiram, king of Tyre, who supplied the timber (1 Kings 5:8-10).

Spiritual and Cultural Significance

Solomon's palace was not merely a royal residence but a symbol of the united monarchy's strength and prosperity. It demonstrated the fulfillment of God's promises to David regarding his lineage and the establishment of a kingdom characterized by peace and abundance. The palace, alongside the Temple, became a central part of Jerusalem's identity as the political and spiritual heart of Israel.

Historical and Archaeological Insights

While the biblical account provides detailed descriptions of Solomon's palace, archaeological evidence remains limited. However, the grandeur and scale described in the Scriptures align with other ancient Near Eastern palatial complexes, suggesting a historical basis for the biblical narrative. The palace's construction reflects the broader cultural and political dynamics of the 10th century BCE, including trade, diplomacy, and the exchange of artistic and architectural ideas.

Conclusion

Solomon's palace stands as a testament to his reign's opulence and the divine wisdom granted to him. It reflects the zenith of Israel's united monarchy, a period marked by peace, prosperity, and the fulfillment of God's covenantal promises.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 3:1
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 7:1,8
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 9:10
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house,
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 7:11
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 8:1
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,
Nave's Topical Index

Ecclesiastes 2:4
I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

David's Charge to Solomon
... Jesus builds the true Temple ... emphatically that the throne belongs to David and his
descendants by real 'divine right,' and that God's choice is Solomon, who is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/davids charge to solomon.htm

The Priest of the World and King of Men
... Christ builds on through all the ages, and the prophecy ... Have patience if His work
is slow; mourn not if ... house which the King greater than Solomon is building ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the priest of the world.htm

The Peculiar Sleep of the Beloved
... The Christian builds his nest; and as the noble Luther ... bed, and thus slumbered securely;
but Solomon's father slept ... palace"with no moat round his castle wall ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the peculiar sleep of the.htm

An Exhortation to Theodore after his Fall. Letter I.
... attended by a large bodyguard, enter the palace, we count ... death he was the protector
of his offspring. For when Solomon had perpetrated great iniquity, and had ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/an exhortation to theodore after.htm

Letter Lii. To Nepotian.
... to spiritual manhood; and who, while he builds up stage ... You cannot be holier than
David or wiser than Solomon. ... a better dinner with you than in his own palace. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lii to nepotian.htm

Index.
... John VIII., Pope, builds the defences of S. Paolo, 154; defeats ... Seneca, his friendship
for Paul, 17 ... Solomon, Judgment of, represented in a Roman tomb, 270, 271 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lanciani/pagan and christian rome/index 2.htm

Knowledge. Worship. Gratitude.
... which does not puff up the mind, but builds up the ... himself knowledge till he becomes
wise as Solomon, and then ... house: shall we abuse the King in his own palace ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/knowledge worship gratitude.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... Gessen had a temple which they likened to Solomon's temple, but ... JOSEPH BUILDS A PLACE
FOR JEWISH PRAYER. ... They followed his advice and dismissed the Holy Family ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

Heavenly Rest
... to house, when he pulls down his barns and builds greater, when ... "God giveth his beloved
sleep ... have been the times, when, like the spouse in Solomon's song, we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly rest.htm

The Same Necessary and Eternal Different Relations
... place: unless that God, saith he, [146] whose temple and palace this whole ... absurdities
of the chief principles, upon which Mr Hobbes builds his whole doctrine ...
/.../i proposition i the same.htm