Solomon

36Then the king sent for Shimei. He said, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there. Do not go anywhere else.

And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

37The day you leave and cross the Kidron valley, you will surely die. It will be your own fault."

For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

NoteThe Kidron valley lay just outside Jerusalem. Crossing it meant leaving the city.

38Shimei said to the king, "That is fair. I will do what you say, my king." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem a long time.

And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39Three years later, two of Shimei's servants ran away. They went to Achish son of Maacah, the king of Gath. Someone told Shimei, "Your servants are in Gath."

And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.

NoteGath was a Philistine city. The Philistines were enemies of Israel. Shimei's servants were slaves who worked for him.

40So Shimei put a saddle on his donkey and rode to Achish in Gath. He looked for his servants and brought them back.

And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

41Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.

And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

42The king sent for Shimei. He said, "Did I not make you promise before the LORD? I warned you that the day you went out anywhere, you would die. And you told me my word was fair.

And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.

43So why did you break your promise to the LORD? Why did you not obey my command?"

Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

44The king also said, "You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. So the LORD will make you pay for that wrong.

The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

45But King Solomon will be blessed. David's throne will stand safe before the LORD forever."

And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

46Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Now Solomon's hold on the kingdom was firm.

So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

1Solomon made a deal with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He married Pharaoh's daughter. He brought her to Jerusalem, the city of David. He was still building his own palace, the LORD's house, and the wall around Jerusalem.

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.

NotePharaoh was the title for the king of Egypt, like "king" is a title. Kings often married a daughter of another king. It was a way for two countries to promise to be friends. Jerusalem was called "the city of David" because David had taken it and lived there.

2The people brought their gifts to God at high places. Those were worship spots up on the hills. No house had been built yet for the LORD's name.

Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.

NoteA high place was a spot on a hill where people gave gifts to God. There was no temple yet, so people worshiped on hills. A temple is a big house built just for worshiping God.

3Solomon loved the LORD. He lived by the rules his father David followed. But he still gave offerings and burned incense at the high places.

And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.

NoteIncense is a sweet-smelling powder. People burned it so the smoke and smell rose up as a gift to God.

4King Solomon went to the town of Gibeon to offer gifts to God. It was the biggest high place. He offered a thousand animals there, burned whole on the altar.

And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

NoteAn altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned. A burnt offering was an animal burned up completely on it. Giving away a good animal showed you meant it. A thousand animals was a huge, costly gift.

5At Gibeon the LORD came to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask for whatever you want. I will give it to you."

In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

NoteBack then people believed God could speak to someone in a dream. A dream like this was taken as a real message, not just a night thought.

6Solomon said, "You were very kind to my father David, who served you. He was honest with you. He did what was right, with a true heart. You kept on being kind to him. You gave him a son to sit on his throne. That son is me, today."

And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. "To sit on his throne" means to be the next king.

7"LORD my God, you have made me king in my father David's place. But I feel like a little child. I do not know how to lead people."

And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

NoteSolomon was grown up, not really a child. He means he feels new and unready for such a big job. The King James says he does not know how to "go out or come in." That was a way of saying, "I do not know how to lead people day by day."

8"I am here among your own chosen people. There are so many of them that no one can count them."

And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

NoteGod's chosen people were the Israelites. Long before, God had promised to be their God and care for them.

9"So give me a heart that understands, to judge your people well. Help me tell what is good from what is bad. Who could ever lead such a great people?"

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

NoteA king was also the top judge. People brought their arguments to him, and he decided who was right. In the Bible, the heart means the place where you think and choose. So an understanding heart means a wise mind.

10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11God said to him, "You did not ask to live a long time. You did not ask to be rich. You did not ask for your enemies to die. You asked to know how to judge fairly."

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12"So I will do just what you asked. I am giving you a wise, understanding heart. No one before you was like you. No one after you will be either."

Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13"I will also give you what you did not ask for. You will have riches and honor. No other king will be your equal as long as you live."

And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14"Now walk in my ways. Keep my rules and my commands, as your father David did. Then I will give you a long life."

And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Note"Walk in my ways" means live each day the way God says to live.

15Solomon woke up. It had been a dream. He went to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the covenant. That was the special chest that held God's promise to Israel. He offered burnt gifts and friendship gifts. Then he made a feast for all his helpers.

And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

NoteThe ark of the covenant was a gold-covered wooden chest. Inside were the stones with God's rules written on them. A covenant is a serious promise between two sides. A peace offering, called a friendship gift here, was shared as a meal. Part was burned for God, and the rest people ate together.

1So Solomon was king over all the land of Israel.

So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

NoteIsrael was the land where God's people lived. Solomon was their king, and his father was King David.

2These were his top leaders. Azariah, the son of Zadok, was the priest.

And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

NoteThe King James calls these men "princes." That does not mean the king's sons. It means his most important helpers.

3Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, were scribes, men who wrote things down. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, kept the records of what happened.

Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

NoteA scribe could read and write. Most people then could not do either.

4Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, led the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests, men who led the worship of God.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

NoteA priest led people when they worshiped God. He offered gifts to God for them.

5Azariah, the son of Nathan, was in charge of the officers. Zabud, the son of Nathan, was a chief officer and the king's friend.

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:

Note"The king's friend" was a real job. That man sat close to the king and gave him advice.

6Ahishar took care of the king's house. Adoniram, the son of Abda, was in charge of the men made to work for the king.

And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

NoteThe King James word "tribute" here means work, not money. Groups of men had to work for the king.

7Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel. They brought food for the king and everyone in his house. Each officer brought the food for one month of the year.

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

NoteVery many people ate at the king's house every day. Feeding them all took a lot of food.

8These are their names. The son of Hur worked in the hill country of Ephraim.

And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

Note"The son of Hur" was how people said his name. Naming your father told everyone which family you came from.

9The son of Dekar worked in Makaz, Shaalbim, Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan.

The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:

10The son of Hesed worked in Aruboth. Sochoh and all the land of Hepher were his too.

The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:

11The son of Abinadab worked in the whole area of Dor. He was married to Taphath, one of Solomon's daughters.

The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

NoteKings often married their daughters to their officers. It kept those men close and loyal to the king.

12Baana, the son of Ahilud, had Taanach and Megiddo. He also had all of Bethshean, near Zartanah, below Jezreel. His land ran from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, and on past Jokneam.

Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

13The son of Geber worked in Ramothgilead. The towns of Jair, the son of Manasseh, in Gilead were his. So was the area of Argob in Bashan. It had sixty big cities with walls and gates barred with bronze.

The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:

NoteCity walls had big gates. Heavy bars of bronze held the gates shut so enemies could not push in.

14Ahinadab, the son of Iddo, worked in Mahanaim.

Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:

15Ahimaaz worked in Naphtali. He was married to Basmath, one of Solomon's daughters.

Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

16Baanah, the son of Hushai, worked in Asher and in Aloth.

Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

17Jehoshaphat, the son of Paruah, worked in Issachar.

Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:

18Shimei, the son of Elah, worked in Benjamin.

Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:

19Geber, the son of Uri, worked in the land of Gilead. That land once belonged to Sihon, king of the Amorites, and to Og, king of Bashan. He was the only officer in that land.

Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.

NoteSihon and Og were kings long before Solomon. Israel had won that land from them many years earlier.

20There were so many people in Judah and Israel. They were like the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy.

Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

Note"Like the sand by the sea" was a way of saying too many to count.

21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the great river to the land of the Philistines. His rule reached to the edge of Egypt. Those kingdoms brought him gifts and served him as long as he lived.

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Note"The great river" is the Euphrates, far to the north. The Philistines were a people who lived by the sea, near Israel.

22Each day the king's house used thirty large measures of fine flour. It also used sixty large measures of regular flour.

And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

NoteEach measure was very big. Together it was enough flour to bake bread for thousands of people.

23Each day they used ten fat cattle and twenty cattle from the fields. They also used a hundred sheep, plus deer and other wild animals and fat birds.

Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

NoteThe King James names harts, roebucks and fallowdeer. Those are all kinds of deer that live in the wild.

24Solomon ruled all the land west of the great river, from Tiphsah to Azzah. He ruled all the kings in that whole area. He had peace on every side.

For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25The people of Judah and Israel lived in safety. Each man sat under his own grapevine and his own fig tree. This was true from Dan to Beersheba, all through Solomon's days.

And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

NoteSitting under your own grapevine and fig tree was an old saying. It meant a person was safe at home with plenty to eat.

26Solomon had forty thousand stalls for the horses that pulled his chariots. He also had twelve thousand men who rode horses.

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

NoteA chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots to fight.

27Those officers brought food for King Solomon. They also fed everyone who ate at his table. Each man took his own month, and nothing was ever missing.

And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.

28They also brought barley and straw for the horses. Each man brought his share to the right place.

Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

NoteBarley is a grain the horses ate. Straw is dry stalks used for their food and beds.

29God gave Solomon great wisdom. He could understand very much and think about very many things. His wisdom was like the sand on the seashore.

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

NoteThe King James says God gave him "largeness of heart." That meant his mind could hold and understand a great deal.

30Solomon was wiser than all the wise men of the east. He was wiser than all the wise men of Egypt.

And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31He was wiser than anyone. He was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. People in all the nations near him heard about him.

For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

NoteEthan, Heman, Chalcol and Darda were famous wise men. Everyone back then knew their names.

32He said three thousand wise sayings. He wrote one thousand and five songs.

And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

NoteA wise saying is a short sentence that teaches you something true. The King James calls these sayings "proverbs."

33He talked about trees, from the tall cedar in Lebanon to the small plant growing out of a wall. He also talked about animals, birds, small crawling creatures, and fish.

And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

NoteThe cedar of Lebanon is a huge tree. The hyssop is a tiny plant that grows in cracks in walls. Naming the biggest and the smallest meant he knew about everything in between.

34People came from everywhere to hear Solomon's wisdom. Kings all over the earth had heard of him and sent them.

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

1Hiram was the king of a city called Tyre. He heard that Solomon was now king in place of his father. So Hiram sent his servants to Solomon. Hiram had always been a good friend of King David.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

NoteTyre was a rich city by the sea, north of Israel. Its people had ships and sold things to other lands. Hiram had been friends with David, Solomon's father, for many years.

2Then Solomon sent a message back to Hiram. This is what he said:

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3"You know that my father David could not build a house for the LORD his God. Enemies fought him on every side. He had to fight wars until the LORD gave him the win over them all."

Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

NoteA "house" for the LORD means a temple. A temple is a special building where people come to worship God. It is not a house where anyone sleeps.

4"But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side. No enemy is fighting me. Nothing bad is happening."

But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

5"So I plan to build a house for the LORD my God. The LORD told my father David this: 'I will put your son on your throne after you. He will build the house for my name.'"

And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

Note"For my name" means the building belonged to God. It was the place where people would come to pray to him.

6"So please give the order to cut cedar trees for me in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your workers whatever you ask. Your men from Sidon know how to cut wood better than any of ours."

Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

NoteCedar trees are very tall trees with sweet-smelling wood. Lebanon is a land just north of Israel with mountains full of them. Sidon was a city near Tyre, and its men were the best at cutting big trees.

7When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he was very glad. He said, "Praise the LORD today! He has given David a wise son to lead these many people."

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

8Hiram sent an answer to Solomon. He said, "I have heard your message. I will do everything you asked. I will send you cedar wood and fir wood."

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

NoteFir wood comes from another tall tree, a bit like a pine tree.

9"My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea. I will tie them together and float them to any place you choose. There I will take them apart, and you can carry them away. In return, please send food for the people in my house."

My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

NoteThere were no trucks or big roads back then. Floating logs across the water was the easiest way to move them.

10So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar wood and fir wood he wanted.

So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

11Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for his household. He also gave him twenty measures of pure olive oil. Solomon sent this to Hiram every year.

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

NoteA measure was a huge basketful, more than one person could carry. Twenty thousand of them was a mountain of grain. Olive oil is squeezed from olives. People cooked with it and burned it in lamps for light.

12The LORD made Solomon wise, just as he had promised. Hiram and Solomon lived in peace with each other. The two kings made an agreement together.

And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

NoteThis kind of agreement is called a treaty. Two kings promise to stay friends and help each other.

13Then King Solomon called men from all over Israel to work for him. There were thirty thousand of these workers.

And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

NoteThe king did not ask these men. He ordered them to come and work for him.

14He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand men each month, taking turns. Each man worked one month, then stayed home two months. A man named Adoniram was in charge of all these workers.

And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

15Solomon had seventy thousand men who carried heavy loads. He had eighty thousand more men who cut stone in the hills.

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

NoteThe men cut the stones right out of the rocky hills. A place where people cut stone like this is called a quarry.

16He also had three thousand three hundred head workers. They watched over the men and told them what to do.

Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17The king gave an order, and the men dug out huge stones. These stones cost a lot. Workers cut them smooth and square for the bottom of the house.

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

NoteThe bottom part of a building is called the foundation. It holds up everything above it. Stones cut smooth and square sit together tightly and do not wobble.

18Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders shaped these stones. Men from the town of Gebal helped them too. Together they got the wood and stone ready to build the house.

And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

NoteGebal was a town on the seashore near Tyre. Its men were famous for shaping stone.

1It was 480 years after the people of Israel left Egypt. Solomon had been king of Israel for four years. In the month of Zif, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

NoteThe house of the LORD means the temple. It was a special building for worshiping God. Zif was the name of a spring month, near our April and May. Israel counted months by the moon, so their names are different from ours.

2The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long. It was twenty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.

And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

NoteA cubit is about eighteen inches. That is the length of a grown-up's arm, elbow to fingertips. So the house was about ninety feet long and forty-five feet high.

3A covered entrance stood in front of the main room. It was twenty cubits wide, the same width as the house. It stuck out ten cubits in front.

And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.

4He made narrow windows set high in the walls of the house.

And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

NoteThe windows were narrow slits, not big open squares. They let in light but kept out sun and rain.

5He built small rooms against the outside walls, all the way around. They went around the main room and the inner room too.

And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:

NoteThese small side rooms were built onto the outside walls. Workers kept things there that were needed for worship.

6The bottom floor of rooms was five cubits wide. The middle floor was six cubits wide. The top floor was seven cubits wide. He made ledges on the outside wall to hold the beams. That way no holes were cut into the walls of the house.

The nethermost chamber 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 house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

7The stones were cut and shaped where they were dug out. Then workers carried them to the building site. So no hammer, axe, or iron tool was heard while the house was built.

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

NoteThe stones were cut at the quarry, the place where stone is dug from a hill. Each block was shaped to fit before it was carried to the temple.

8The door to the lowest side rooms was on the south side of the house. Stairs curved up to the middle floor. From there they went up to the top floor.

The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.

9So Solomon built the house and finished it. He roofed it with beams and boards of cedar wood.

So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.

NoteCedar is a tall tree with sweet-smelling wood. It grew far to the north, in a land called Lebanon.

10He built side rooms along the whole house, each one five cubits high. Cedar beams joined them to the house.

And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

11Then the LORD spoke his word to Solomon. He said:

And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,

12"About this house you are building: obey my rules. Do what I have said is right. Keep all my commands and live by them. Then I will keep the promise I made to your father David."

Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

NoteDavid was Solomon's father. He was king before Solomon was. God had made David a promise about his family.

13"I will live among the people of Israel. I will never leave my people Israel."

And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

14So Solomon built the house and finished it.

So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

15He lined the inside walls with cedar boards, from the floor to the ceiling. He covered the floor with boards of fir wood.

And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

NoteFir is a tree something like a pine. Its wood is light and strong.

16At the back he shut off a space twenty cubits long. He used cedar boards from the floor to the ceiling. This made an inner room, the Most Holy Place.

And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

NoteThe Most Holy Place was the small room at the very back. It was the most special room in the whole building. Only one priest could go inside, and only once a year. A priest was a man who led people in worship.

17The main room in front of that inner room was forty cubits long.

And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.

18The cedar inside was carved with knops and open flowers. Everything was cedar. No stone could be seen at all.

And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

NoteKnops is an old word for round carvings. They looked like little buds or small gourds.

19He got the inner room ready inside the house. The ark of the covenant would be placed there.

And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

NoteThe ark was a wooden box covered with gold. Inside were the stone tablets with God's commands. A covenant is a promise between two sides. This one was the promise between God and Israel.

20The inner room was twenty cubits long, twenty wide, and twenty high. He covered the inside with pure gold. He also covered the cedar altar with gold.

And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

NoteAn altar is a special table used in worship. Gifts were burned on it for God.

21So Solomon covered the inside of the house with pure gold. He hung gold chains across the front of the inner room. That room was covered with gold too.

So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.

NoteCovered with gold means thin sheets of gold. Workers hammered the gold flat over the wood.

22He covered the whole inside of the house with gold, until all the work was done. He also covered with gold the whole altar by the inner room.

And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

23Inside that room he made two cherubim out of olive wood. Each one was ten cubits tall.

And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

NoteCherubim are winged creatures who serve God. One alone is called a cherub. Ten cubits is about fifteen feet, taller than two grown-ups standing on each other.

24One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long. Its other wing was five cubits long too. So its wings spread ten cubits from tip to tip.

And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

25The second cherub also measured ten cubits. Both cherubim were the same size and the same shape.

And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

26Each cherub stood ten cubits tall.

The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.

27He set the cherubim inside the inner room, with their wings spread wide. One wing of the first cherub touched one wall. One wing of the second cherub touched the other wall. Their other wings touched each other in the middle of the room.

And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

28He covered the cherubim with gold.

And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

29He carved the walls all around, in the inner room and the outer room. The carvings showed cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.

And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

NoteA palm tree is tall with big leaves at the top. Palm trees grew in that land, so people liked to carve them.

30He covered the floor of the house with gold, in both rooms.

And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

31For the doorway into the inner room he made doors of olive wood. The frame around the doors had five sides.

And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

32Both doors were made of olive wood. He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them. Then he covered them with gold, pressed over the carvings.

The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.

33He made doorposts of olive wood for the main room's door in the same way. That frame had four sides.

So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.

34The two doors were made of fir wood. Each door had two panels that folded.

And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them. He covered them with gold, pressed evenly over the carved work.

And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36He built the inner yard with three rows of cut stone. On top he laid one row of cedar beams.

And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

NoteThe inner yard was the open space right around the temple. Cut stone means big blocks shaped smooth and square.

37The base of the LORD's house was laid in Solomon's fourth year as king, in the month of Zif.

In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:

38In his eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the house was finished. Every part was done just the way it was planned. So Solomon spent seven years building it.

And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.

1Solomon also built a palace for himself. The work took thirteen years. He finished every part of it.

But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.

NoteA palace is a very big, grand house where a king lives. Solomon had already built God's house, called the temple. Now he built his own home.

2He built a hall called the House of the Forest of Lebanon. It was a hundred cubits long, fifty wide, and thirty high. Four rows of cedar pillars held up cedar beams.

He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.

NoteA cubit was about as long as a grown-up's forearm, near eighteen inches. Cedar is a tall tree with sweet-smelling wood. Lebanon was a land north of Israel full of cedar trees. Beams are long, strong pieces of wood that hold up a roof.

3A cedar roof lay on top of the beams. The beams rested on the pillars. There were forty-five beams, fifteen in each row.

And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.

4There were three rows of windows. The windows faced each other, row across from row.

And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.

5All the doors and door frames had square corners. The window openings faced each other in three rows.

And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.

6He made a porch held up by pillars. It was fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. In front of it stood another covered porch with pillars and a heavy beam.

And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.

NoteA porch here is a covered space in front of a door. Pillars are tall, strong posts that hold up a roof.

7He also built a hall for his throne. There he sat as judge and decided what was right. Cedar covered it from the floor across to the other side.

Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. To judge means to listen to people arguing and decide who is right.

8The house where Solomon lived stood behind this hall. It was built the same way. He built a house like it for his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

NotePharaoh was the title for every king of Egypt, like calling someone "the king." Long ago, kings often married a daughter of another king. It helped the two countries stay friends.

9All these buildings used costly stone. Workers cut the stones to size and smoothed them with saws. This was done inside and outside, from the bottom up to the top edge, and out toward the great yard.

All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

10The stones at the bottom were huge and costly. Some were ten cubits long. Others were eight cubits long.

And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.

11Above these were more costly stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.

12A wall went all around the great yard. It had three rows of cut stone and one row of cedar beams. The inner yard of the LORD's house and its porch were built the same way.

And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

Note"The LORD's house" means the temple. That was the special building where people came to worship God.