Verse one, if taken literally, which I do, tells us the Exodus from Egypt began in 1447 B.C. Doing the math, this verse states in the four-hundred eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, which is the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, the Temple was started. Dating the split of the kingdom as 931 B.C., we go back forty years to the beginning of Solomon’s reign (2 Kings 11.42), we have 971 B.C. Since this was in the fourth year, it would be 967 B.C. Adding the 480 years to 967 B.C. we have 1447 B.C. as the date for the Exodus.
Matthew Henry adds:
The time when it began to be built is exactly set down. 1. It was just 480 years after the bringing of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Allowing forty years to Moses, seventeen to Joshua, 299 to the Judges, forty to Eli, forty to Samuel and Saul, forty to David, and four to Solomon before he began the work, we have just the sum of 480.
When evaluating the dimensions given for the Temple, we surmise it is twice the size of the Tabernacle. The Temple was ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet tall. It was divided into two rooms, the sanctuary (the Holy Place) and the inner sanctuary (the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies). The first was two-thirds of the Temple and the latter was the remaining one-third. Built into the Temple on the north, west, and south were threes stories specifically for the priests to use.
The entire purpose of the building of the Temple is explained in verse 13, and it is so God could dwell among His people. John 1 explains this concept in regard to Jesus. Jesus dwelt among us. The word is tabernacled. Later, Jesus would identify His body as being the Temple (John 2.13-21).
The details of this chapter are amazing and would explain why the building of it took such a long time. The Temple was completed, according to verse 38, in the fall of 959 B.C.
If God indwells His Temple so His presence can be with people, what does it mean that we are the Temple of God?
3 thoughts on “1 Kings 6”
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