A Divided Kingdom:The Books of I & II Kings

Solomon Builds The Temple

I Kings Chapter 6-8

Announcements

I KingsWeek Date Topic

1 05 Sep 12 Introduction

2 12 Sep 12 Fight For the Kingdom: I Ki 1-2

3 19 Sep 12 Solomon Begins His Reign: I Ki 3-5

4 26 Sep 12 Solomon Builds The Temple: I Ki 6-8

5 03 Oct 12 Splendor of Solomon’s Kingdom: I Ki 9-10

6 10 Oct 12 Solomon’s Demise: I Ki 11

7 17 Oct 12 Division of the Kingdom: I Ki:12

8 24 Oct 12 Early History of the Kingdoms, Pt 1: I Ki 12:25-16:34

9 31 Oct 12 Early History of the Kingdoms, Pt 2: I Ki 12:25-16:34

10 07 Nov 12 Stories of Elijah: I Ki 17:1-19:21

11 14 Nov 12 War with Syria: I Ki 20:1-43

12 21 Nov 12 More Stories of Elijah: I Ki 21:1-21:29

13 27 Nov 12 Ahab’s Final Battle: I Ki 22:1-53

Today’s Objectives• Review last weeks lesson

• Review historical maps of Israel and the region

• Learn about how Solomon built the temple (Chp 6)

• Learn about how Solomon built his palace (Chp 7)

• Learn about the temple furnishings (Chp 7)

• Review how the ark was brought into the temple (Chp 8)

• Review Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the temple (Chp 8)

Last Week’s Lesson• Learned about Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s

daughter (Chp 3) • Learned about Solomon’s dream (Chp 3)• Discovered the early examples of Solomon’s

wisdom (Chp 3)• Learn about the vast wealth and power that Solomon

possessed (Chp 4)• Explore Solomon’s early planning in building the

temple and the involvement of Hiram of Tyre (Chp 5)

Overview of I and II Kings• Originally one book

– Early Greek manuscripts of the OT combined the books of Samuel and Kings under the title of "kingdoms," or "reigns"

– Kings was broken into two books for convenience sake because of its length (Greek translation)

• Authorship– Some portions of the book identical to the book of Jeremiah

– Jeremiah would have personal knowledge of some contents

– Evidence that Ezra was the author after the Babylonian captivity

• Timeline– Approximately 400 years, written between 560 B.C. and 538 B.C.

– Start: Death of David in 971 B.C.

– End: Jehoiachin's release from a Babylonian prison in 562 B.C.

Overview of I and II Kings• Books of Samuel and Kings cover Israel's period as

a nation under a king:– I Samuel: Life of Saul– II Samuel: Life of David– I Kings: Solomon and the divided kingdom– II Kings: The fall of the divided kingdoms of Israel and

Judah

• Content of I and II Kings– 47 chapters (I Ki – 22 chapters, II Ki – 25 chapters)– History of the Jewish commonwealth– Death of David to subjugation to Babylonians

• Purpose– Imparting of great moral lessons backed up by well-

known illustrations– Religious history – Focused upon kings rather than prophets

• Key Lesson– God does not fail His people; His people, led by their

kings, have failed God– God’s covenant has the contingency of Israel’s

faithfulness– Covenant also promises a return from exile those that

return to God

Overview of I and II Kings

Main Characters of Chapters 6-8

• Solomon – David’s youngest son and the third king of Israel

• Huram – highly skilled bronze worker who made many of the temple furnishings

Solomon Builds The Temple (1 Kings 6:1-10)

• Basic dimensions of the temple (6:1-6)– 480 years after the Exodus or 967 B.C.

– Exodus would have occurred around 1447 B.C.

– 4th year of Solomon’s reign– Built on Mt. Moriah (2 Chron 3:1)

• Details of the construction (6:7-10)– No hammer, chisel, or iron tool was heard– Paneled the temple with beams and boards of

cedar– Built side chambers against the entire temple

Solomon Builds The Temple (1 Kings 6:11-38)

• God’s promise to Solomon (6:11-13)– Walk in God’s statutes

– An obedient Solomon would be blessed

– Fulfilled the promise made to David (2 Sam 7:5-16)

– His presence would remain with Israel as a nation

– God would dwell “among” the children of Israel

• Finished temple took seven years to build (7:14-38)– Inner sanctuary, Most Holy place was 30-foot cube

– Most Holy place was overlaid with gold, carved walls of cherubim, palm trees, open flowers

– Inner court, court of the priests, sat the altar and laver

– Outside the inner court was the great court, then court of the women, then court of the Gentiles

Boaz and Jachin

Solomon’s Temple

Construction of Solomon’s Palace(1 Kings 7:1-12)

• Solomon builds his house (7:1)– Took 13 years to build– It is by such tests that the human heart is exposed

• Splendor of Solomon’s palace (7:2-12)– House of the Forest of Lebanon– 45 pillars– 500 gold shields (1 Ki 10:16-17)– Isaiah referred to the armor of the house (Isa 22:8)– Reader is left with the impression that the palace was

more magnificent than the temple– See Haggai 1:3-10

Temple Furnishings(1 Kings 7:13-51)

• Story of Huram of Tyre (7:13-14)– Half Israeli (Naphtali) and half Gentile

– Best bronze worker around, filled with wisdom

• Huram makes the furnishing for the temple (7:15-51)– Two bronze pillars, named Jachin and Boaz or “He shall

establish” and “in strength”

– Laver of 15 feet across for ceremonial washings, 10,500 gallons of water

– Ten lavers of bronze for hands and feet

– Tables of gold for the showbread

– Items which David had dedicated were brought in

Ark Brought To The Temple(1 Kings 8:1-21)

• Israel Assembles at Jerusalem (8:1-2)– Elders of Israel, tribal chiefs, and chief fathers

– Purpose was to bring the ark to the most holy place

– In the seventh month, waiting 11 months after completion for dedication

• Ark of the covenant is set in the Holy of Holies (8:3-9)– Priest took up the ark

– Brought the tabernacle furnishings

– What was in the ark?• At one time it contained the golden pot of manna (Ex 16:33), Aaron’s

rod (Num 17:6-11), tablets (Ex 25:16)

– Sense that this is the culmination of their deliverance

Ark Brought To The Temple(1 Kings 8:1-21)

• Glory of God fills the temple (8:10-13)– Priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house

– Many references to God and clouds

– Priests could not minister because of humility

• Solomon’s speaks (8:14-21)– Recognizes that the temple was fulfillment of God’s plan

– Remembers the Exodus

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(1 Kings 8:22-66)

• Recognizes the nature and character of God (8:22-23)– Stands before the altar of the Lord

– Spreads out his hands toward heaven

– Recognizes God completeness and uniqueness

• Recognizes God as the maker and keeper of promises (8:24-26)– Thanked God for fulfilled promises

– Calls upon God to keep the promises He made

• Asks God to dwell in the temple and honor those who seek him (8:27-30)– Yet recognized God was not restricted to the temple

• Petitions God to hear when His people take an oath at the temple (8:31-32)– Hear, act, and judge God’s servants

• Petitions God to hear when His people are defeated (8:33-34)

• Hear in times of plague and famine (8:35-40)

• Hear when a foreigner prays (8:41-43)– Temple was a house of prayer for all nations (Isa 56:6-7)

• Hear when Israel goes out to battle and prays from captivity (8:44-53)

• Solomon blesses the people (8:54-61)

• Feast of the dedication for the temple (8:62-66)– Sacrificed 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(1 Kings 8:22-66)

Review• Review last weeks lesson• Review historical maps of Israel and the region• Learn about how Solomon built the temple (Chp 6)• Learn about how Solomon built his palace (Chp 7)• Learn about the temple furnishings (Chp 7)• Review how the ark was brought into the temple

(Chp 8)• Review Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the

temple (Chp 8)• Next week: 1 Kings 9-10, Splendor of Solomon’s

Kingdom