1 Kings 7

1 Solomon [the king of Israel, successor of David], however, took thirteen [a period of thirteen years, thirteen cycles of time] years to complete [to finish, bring to an end] the construction [the building process, establishment] of his entire [all, whole] palace [house, dwelling place, temple]. word study 2 He built the House [palace, temple] of the Forest [woods, grove] of Lebanon [a mountain range in Israel, known for its cedar trees] a hundred [one hundred, numerous] cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] long, fifty [a large number, abundant] cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows [lines, sequences] of cedar [strong, durable] pillars [columns, supports] supporting [upholding, sustaining] the cedar [fragrant, beautiful] beams [timbers, wooden planks]. word study 3 The house was roofed [covered, overlaid] with cedar [a strong and durable wood] above [over, higher than] the beams [supporting structures] that rested [lay, were placed] on the pillars [columns, supports]—forty-five [a total of forty and five] beams, fifteen [a row of fifteen, in a line] per row [in a single line, in a sequence]. word study 4 There were three [a quantity of three] rows [a sequence of items] of high windows [a source of light] facing [el, towards] one another [window over against window] in three [a triad] tiers [a repetition or layer]. word study 5 All [every single one, everything] the doorways [entrances, gates] had rectangular [square, four-sided] frames [window frames, openings], with the openings [windows, sources of light] facing [opposite, across from] one another [each other, side by side] in three [thrice, a set of three] tiers [rows, ranks]. word study 6 Solomon made his [covered area, a portico] colonnade [the Hall of Columns, a vestibule] fifty [the number of completion and perfection] cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] long and thirty cubits wide, with a [projecting, covered] portico [a porch, an entrance hall] in front of it and a canopy [a roofed structure, a covering] with pillars [columns] in front of the [main entrance, the front] portico. word study 7 In addition, he built a hall [porch, covered area] for the throne [seat of power], the Hall of Justice [where judgment is rendered, porch of judgment], where he was to judge [render decisions, govern]. It was paneled [covered, lined] with cedar [a strong and durable wood] from floor [the base, foundation] to ceiling [the top, highest point]. word study 8 And the palace [royal dwelling, the king’s residence] where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction [like this hall, with the same design]. He also made a palace [a royal house, a dwelling place] like this hall [the portico, the covered porch] for Pharaoh’s daughter [the king of Egypt’s child, his wife], whom he had married [taken as his wife, to be his companion]. word study 9 All [everything, the entirety] these buildings were constructed with [expensive, highly valued] costly stones [precious, highly prized], cut [hewn, shaped] to size and trimmed [sawn, smoothed] with saws [a type of cutting tool] inside and out from the foundation [base, starting point] to the eaves [the upper edge of a roof], and from the outside [exterior, outer area] to the great [large, expansive] courtyard [open space, gathering area]. word study 10 The foundations [base, underlying structure] were laid with large [great, immense], costly [precious, highly valued] stones [rocks, building blocks], some ten [a decade, a complete unit] cubits [measuring units, about the length of a forearm] long and some eight [a new beginning, a fresh start] cubits long. word study 11 Above [higher, over] these were high-grade [costly, precious] stones [hewn], cut [dressed, shaped] to size [measure, proportion], and cedar [strong, durable] beams [timber, wood]. word study 12 The great [extremely large, of immense size] courtyard [outer court, open square] was surrounded by three [a trio, a set of three] rows [courses, layers] of dressed [cut, hewn] stone [carved rocks] and a row [line, course] of trimmed [hewn, prepared] cedar [durable wood] beams [wooden planks], as were the inner [interior, internal] courtyard [court, square] and portico [Ulam, porch, vestibule] of the house [dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 13 Now [at that time, then] King [ruler, monarch] Solomon [a king of Israel] sent [to summon, to fetch] to bring [to take, to get] Huram [Hiram, a skilled craftsman] from [out of, away from] Tyre [a major Phoenician city, a city on the Mediterranean coast]. word study 14 He was the son [offspring, descendant] of a widow [a woman whose husband has died, left alone] from the tribe [family group, clan] of Naphtali, and his father [male parent, ancestor] was a man [male person, individual] of Tyre, a craftsman [skilled worker, artificer] in bronze [copper, metal alloy]. Huram had great skill [expertise, proficiency], understanding [insight, discernment], and knowledge [familiarity, awareness] for every kind of bronze work [metal craft, artisanry]. So he came [approached, arrived] to King [ruler, monarch] Solomon and carried out [performed, executed] all his work [tasks, assignments]. word study 15 He cast [fashioned, formed] two pillars [columns, upright supports] of bronze [brass, copper], each eighteen [eight and ten] cubits [units of measurement, about the length of a forearm] high [in height, tall] and twelve [two times six] cubits [units of measurement] in circumference [surrounding, encircling, going around]. word study 16 He also made [crafted, formed] two [a pair, dual] capitals [crowns, tops] of cast [poured, molten] bronze [copper, brass] to set [place, put] on top of the pillars [columns, supports], each capital [crown, top part] five [a quintet, a set of five] cubits [units of measurement, forearm lengths] high [tall, lofty]. word study 17 For the capitals [top parts, crowns] on top of the pillars he made a network [lattice, checker work] of lattice [latticework, netting], with wreaths [tassels, threads] of chainwork [chain, interlinked chains], seven for each capital [column top, decorated crown]. word study 18 Likewise, he made [crafted, fashioned] the pillars [columns, upright supports] with two [a pair, a dual set] rows [arrangements, sequences] of pomegranates [ornamental fruit] around [encircling, surrounding] each grating [latticework, network] to cover [conceal, envelop] each capital [top part, crowning feature] atop [on, above] the pillars [supports, columns]. word study 19 And the capitals [chapiters, crowns] atop the pillars [columns, supports] in the portico [porch, vestibule] were shaped like lilies [of lily work, flower designs], four [six feet tall] cubits high. word study 20 On the [decorated] capitals [crowns, tops] of both pillars, just above the rounded projection [belly, curved part] next to the network [latticework, lattice], were the two hundred [exactly 200] pomegranates in rows [arranged in lines] encircling [surrounding, encompassing] each capital [top part of a column]. word study 21 Thus he set up [erected, raised] the pillars [columns, supports] at the portico [porch, entrance] of the temple [the house of God, the sacred building]. The pillar [column, pillar of strength] to the south [right, southern direction] he named [called, designated] Jachin [He will establish], and the pillar [column, support] to the north [left, northern direction] he named [called, designated] Boaz [strength]. word study 22 And the tops [uppermost parts, capitals] of the pillars [columns, supports] were shaped [crafted, fashioned] like lilies. So the work [labor, craftsmanship] of the pillars [columns, monuments] was completed [finished, brought to an end, with the verb’to finish’ meaning to terminate or conclude]. word study 23 He also made the Sea [a large body of water, a molten basin] of cast metal [through the process of melting and shaping]. It was circular [round, entirely round] in shape, measuring ten cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] from rim to rim, five cubits in height [stature, how tall something is], and thirty cubits in circumference [the distance around, encompassing it]. word study 24 Below the rim [under the edge, underneath], ornamental buds [knops, gourds, decorative knobs] encircled it, ten [a decade, ten cubits] per cubit [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] all the way around the Sea [the large body of water], cast [poured, molded] in two [a pair, dual] rows [a line of objects, a sequence] as a part of the Sea [an integral component, a unified whole]. word study 25 The Sea [a large basin] stood [was firmly established] on twelve oxen [domesticated cattle, used for work or sacrifice], three facing [looking towards] north [the direction of darkness, Zaphon], three facing west [the direction of the setting sun, towards the sea], three facing south [the Negeb, the southern district], and three facing east [the direction of the sunrise, towards the rising sun]. The Sea rested [was set, placed] on them, with all their hindquarters [back, rear side] toward the center [inward, towards the middle of the structure]. word study 26 It was a handbreadth [width of a palm, about 4 inches] thick, and its rim [edge, border] was fashioned [crafted, shaped] like the brim [lip, edge] of a cup [vessel, container], like a lily blossom [flower, bloom]. It could hold [contain, sustain] two thousand [a large number, multitude] baths [liquid measurements, about 18,000 gallons]. word study 27 In addition, he made ten [ten bases, a decade of foundations] movable stands [wheeled bases, carts to carry basins] of bronze [copper, a base metal], each four [a length of] cubits [about the length of a forearm] long, four cubits [a measure of width] wide, and three cubits high [in stature]. word study 28 This [the specific design] was the design [pattern, plan] of the stands [bases, pedestals]: They had side panels [perimeters, borders] attached to uprights [frames, ledges], word study 29 and on the panels between [between the frames, ledges] the uprights [frames, spacers] were lions, oxen [cattle, domesticated animals], and cherubim [angelic beings, guardians]. On the uprights [frames, ledges] was a pedestal [base, foundation] above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths [garlands, circular decorations] of beveled [hanging, sloping] work. word study 30 Each stand [base, pedestal, foundation] had four bronze [made of copper] wheels with bronze [copper, resilient] axles and a basin [round container, laver] resting on four supports [undersetters, feet], with wreaths [garlands, decorative rings] at each side [region, area]. word study 31 The opening [mouth, lip] to each stand inside the crown [capital, top part] at the top was one cubit [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] deep, with a round [circular, like a pedestal] opening like the design of a pedestal [base, foundation], a cubit and a half [one and a half times the standard unit] wide. And around its opening [edge, border] were engravings [carvings, decorative sculptures], but the panels [sides, borders] of the stands were square [four-sided, rectangular], not round [circular, curved]. word study 32 There were four [a quartet, a set of four] wheels under the panels [borders, frames], and the axles [rods, handholds] of the wheels were attached to the stand [base, pedestal]; each wheel was a cubit [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] and a half [middle, part of a whole] in diameter [height, circumference]. word study 33 The wheels [like those of a chariot] were made like chariot wheels [with a similar workmanship]; their axles [or axletrees], rims [or felloes], spokes [or rods], and hubs [or naves] were all [completely] of cast metal [poured and molded]. word study 34 Each stand [cart, base] had four [exactly four, a complete set] handles [shoulders, projections], one [a single, unique] for each corner [angle, pinnacle], projecting [extending outward, jutting out] from the stand [base, foundation, made as part of the structure]. word study 35 At the top [head, chief part] of each stand [base, pedestal] was a circular [round] band [ring, compass] half [a division] a cubit [about 18 inches, a unit of measurement] high [in height]. The supports [hands] and panels [perimeter, borders] were cast [formed, molded] as a unit [together, from the same mold] with the top [head, chief part] of the stand [base, foundation]. word study 36 He engraved [carved, cut into] cherubim [angelic beings, heavenly guardians], lions, and palm trees on the surfaces [plates, tablets] of the supports [handholds, stays] and panels [frames, borders], wherever each had space [room, area], with wreaths [garlands, circular decorations] all around [surrounding, encompassing]. word study 37 In this way [after this manner, thus] he made [constructed, formed] the ten [a decade, tenfold] stands [bases, pedestals], each with the same [one, united] casting [mold, shape], dimensions [measure, size], and shape [form, design]. word study 38 He also made [crafted with precision] ten bronze [copper or brass, a base metal] basins [lavers, washing vessels], each holding [containing, having capacity for] forty baths [a unit of measurement, about 9 gallons] and measuring [having a size of] four cubits [a unit of length, about the length of a forearm] across, one basin [a round container, like a pan] for each of the ten stands [bases, pedestals, a foundation]. word study 39 He set [placed, positioned] five stands [bases, pedestals] on the south [right hand, southern direction] side of the temple [house, dwelling place] and five on the north [left, opposite], and he put [set, placed] the Sea [large body of water] on the south side, at the southeast [front, eastern] corner [opposite, in front of] of the temple [house, place of worship]. word study 40 Additionally, Huram [Hiram, the king of Tyre] made the pots [caldrons, large vessels], shovels [for carrying ashes], and sprinkling bowls [basins, for holding liquids]. So Huram finished [completed, brought to an end] all the work [employment, occupation] that he had undertaken [made, done] for King Solomon [the king of Israel, successor of David] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]: word study 41 the two pillars [supporting columns]; the two bowl-shaped capitals [shaped like a round container, a fountain] atop the pillars; the two sets of network [latticework, a decorative pattern] covering both bowls of the capitals [the top part of a column, often decorated] atop the pillars; word study 42 the four hundred [four times one hundred] pomegranates [ornamental fruits, symbolic of abundance] for the two [a pair, a dual set] sets of network [latticework, intricate pattern] (two rows [arranged in a linear fashion] of pomegranates for each network covering [covering the surface] both the bowl-shaped [round, curved] capitals [top parts, crowns] atop the pillars [columns, supports]); word study 43 the ten [bases or pedestals] stands; the ten [washing-vessels or lavers] basins [round containers or pans] on the [foundational] stands; word study 44 the Sea [a large body of water]; the twelve oxen [cattle, domesticated animals] underneath [beneath, under the base of] the Sea [the bronze basin]; word study 45 and the pots [vessels for holding liquids], shovels [tools for digging or lifting], and sprinkling bowls [basins for tossing or throwing liquids]. All [everything, the entirety] the articles [utensils, objects] that Huram [Hiram, a skilled craftsman] made for King Solomon [the king of Israel, a wise leader] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] were made of burnished [polished, smoothed] bronze [copper, a base metal]. word study 46 The king [the monarch, ruler] had them cast [to pour, mold] in clay [thick, compact] molds [shapes, forms] in the plain [lowland, valley] of the Jordan [a key location] between [in the midst of, among] Succoth [a place of booths, shelters] and Zarethan [a place of crossing, passage]. word study 47 Solomon [the king of peace] left all [every single one, the entirety] these articles [utensils, vessels, tools] unweighed [not measured, without determining weight], because there were [exceedingly, very] so many [an abundance, a multitude]. The weight [heaviness, mass] of the bronze [copper, brass] could [was able, was possible] not [never, by no means] be determined [found out, searched out, discovered]. word study 48 Solomon also made all [every single one, the entire collection] the furnishings [articles, utensils, vessels] for the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah]: the golden [made of gold, valuable] altar [place of sacrifice, table of offering]; the golden [precious, shining] table [a place of communion] on which [upon, above] was placed [set, arranged] the Bread of the Presence [showbread, sacred loaves, food before God]; word study 49 the lampstands [candlesticks, chandeliers] of pure gold [refined, valuable] in front of [before, in the presence of] the inner sanctuary [the most holy place, the oracle], five [a quintet, a set of five] on the right side [the south side, the direction of honor] and five [a matching set] on the left [the north side, the direction of lesser honor]; the gold [valuable, shining] flowers [blossoms, ornaments], lamps [light-bearers, torches], and tongs [snuffers, fire-holding instruments]; word study 50 the pure gold [refined, highly valued] basins [containers, vessels], wick trimmers [snuffers, for maintaining lamps], sprinkling bowls [for ritual cleansing], ladles [scoops, spoons], and censers [incense burners, for worship]; and the gold [precious, highly esteemed] hinges [joints, connections] for the doors [entrances, gates] of the inner temple [the Most Holy Place, sacred area] (that is, the Most Holy Place ) as well as for the doors [entry points] of the main hall [large room, central area] of the temple [place of worship, divine dwelling]. word study 51 So all [every aspect, the entirety] the work [labor, task] that King [royal ruler, monarch] Solomon [peaceful one] had performed [accomplished, completed] for the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] was completed [finished, brought to an end]. Then Solomon [peaceful one] brought in [introduced, placed] the items [articles, treasures] his father [parent, ancestor] David [beloved one] had dedicated [set apart, consecrated]—the silver [precious metal, wealth], the gold [valuable resource, treasure], and the furnishings [utensils, vessels]—and he placed [put, deposited] them in the treasuries [storehouses, repositories] of the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study