1 Kings 7 2

1 Kings 7:2 kjv

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.

1 Kings 7:2 nkjv

He also built the House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, with four rows of cedar pillars, and cedar beams on the pillars.

1 Kings 7:2 niv

He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty wide and thirty high, with four rows of cedar columns supporting trimmed cedar beams.

1 Kings 7:2 esv

He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.

1 Kings 7:2 nlt

One of Solomon's buildings was called the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There were four rows of cedar pillars, and great cedar beams rested on the pillars.

1 Kings 7 verses

1 Kings 7 2 Meaning

1 Kings 7:2 describes a significant structure within King Solomon's royal building complex, known as "The House of the Forest of Lebanon." This edifice was distinct from the Temple and was renowned for its immense size and the profuse use of cedar from Lebanon, both in its numerous pillars and its beams. Its dimensions, 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, signify its grandeur, potentially surpassing the Temple's length and width. The name itself points to its forest-like appearance due to the density of its cedar pillars. It likely served a variety of royal functions, such as an armory, treasury, or grand hall for state affairs.

1 Kings 7 2 Context

This verse is part of a larger description of King Solomon's extensive building projects, which occupied him for a total of twenty years (1 Kgs 9:10). Following the dedication of the magnificent Temple to Yahweh, a process that took seven years (1 Kgs 6:38), the text shifts focus to Solomon's personal royal complex. This palace complex, which included his dwelling house, Pharaoh's daughter's house, and the "House of the Forest of Lebanon," took an even longer time—thirteen years—to complete (1 Kgs 7:1). The detailing of these structures highlights the opulence, wealth, and sophisticated craftsmanship of Solomon's reign, marking the pinnacle of Israel's power and prosperity. Historically and culturally, grand royal residences were not just living spaces but also statements of a ruler's power, wealth, and connection to divine favor in the ancient Near East. The use of vast quantities of imported cedar from Lebanon was a distinct marker of prestige, as these trees were renowned for their quality and majestic stature.

1 Kings 7 2 Word analysis

• He also built: The phrase implies continuity from the preceding narrative about the Temple, but subtly shifts the focus from God's house to Solomon's own. It suggests Solomon's ambitious plans extended beyond the sacred.
• the House of the Forest of Lebanon: (Hebrew: Bēth Ya'ar hal-Ləḇānôn, בֵּית יַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן)
  • House (Bēth): Refers to a grand structure, a palace or significant hall, not just a dwelling. This distinguishes it as a key part of the royal complex.
  • Forest (Ya'ar): This is a critical descriptor. It suggests the building's internal appearance, possibly due to its dense, column-filled layout reminiscent of a forest of cedar trees. It could also allude to the immense quantity of timber used.
  • Lebanon (Ləḇānôn): Emphasizes the origin of the primary building material, the famous cedar (erez) trees. Cedars of Lebanon were highly prized for their durability, fragrance, and majestic appearance, symbolizing strength, nobility, and divine favor in ancient Near Eastern cultures. Their use underscored Solomon's access to valuable resources and his international prestige.
• its length was one hundred cubits: (Hebrew: Am-mâ, אַמָּה) A cubit was an ancient unit of measure, typically the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18-21 inches (45-53 cm). 100 cubits would be approximately 150-175 feet (45-53 meters), indicating a truly enormous hall.
• its width fifty cubits: Approximately 75-87.5 feet (22.5-26.5 meters). This wide span would have made it very spacious internally.
• and its height thirty cubits: Approximately 45-52.5 feet (13.5-16 meters). Notably, this is the same height as the Holy Place within the Temple (1 Kgs 6:2), indicating a significant stature for this royal building.
• and there were four rows of cedar pillars: (Hebrew: ammūdîm, עַמּוּדִים) The presence of "four rows" strongly supports the "forest" imagery, describing numerous, closely spaced columns within the hall. This design would create a visually impressive, forest-like expanse.
• with cedar beams on the pillars: These were major structural timbers (kôrâh or ṣēlāʿōth for ribs/beams) that rested upon the pillars, further emphasizing the substantial use of cedar and the grand, strong construction. The all-encompassing use of cedar was a luxury and a display of opulence.

1 Kings 7 2 Bonus section

• Potential Purpose: While not explicitly stated, scholars commonly propose that the "House of the Forest of Lebanon" served multiple royal functions:
  • Armory: It is mentioned as storing King Solomon's golden shields (1 Kgs 10:17). Its robust construction would be ideal for securing valuable weaponry.
  • Treasury: Given the precious items stored, it likely served as a royal treasury.
  • Throne Hall/Courtroom: Its large, impressive dimensions and structured internal space could have made it a grand hall for state receptions, legal judgments, or assemblies, suitable for Solomon's majestic throne.
• Polemic against Worldly Pride: While the structures demonstrated God's blessing on Solomon, the text subtly juxtaposes the 7 years for God's house (1 Kgs 6:38) with the 13 years for Solomon's own palace complex (1 Kgs 7:1). This disparity, and the House of the Forest of Lebanon's larger length and width compared to the Temple, can be seen as an indirect cautionary tale. It implies that despite all the God-given resources, the human tendency might be to prioritize one's own grandeur over purely divine concerns, or at least to expend more personal effort on it. This can serve as a timeless reminder about where human priorities should ultimately lie, echoed by New Testament teachings on eternal treasures versus temporal ones.
• Architectural Symbolism: The name "House of the Forest of Lebanon" for a built structure with numerous pillars evokes a symbolic link between man-made grandeur and natural majesty. This might reflect an aspiration for permanence and beauty associated with the towering cedar trees, transferring that natural awe to the king's dominion.

1 Kings 7 2 Commentary

1 Kings 7:2 details the magnificent "House of the Forest of Lebanon," a cornerstone of King Solomon's royal complex. This edifice was remarkable for its colossal dimensions and its striking interior, which likely appeared like a dense cedar forest due to its "four rows of cedar pillars" and cedar beams. Its grand scale and expensive materials reflect the peak of Israel's wealth and Solomon's political ambition during his reign. The structure’s impressive size, specifically its length and width being greater than the Temple's (though sharing the same height), serves as a subtle yet significant detail. It highlights that even as Solomon completed God's house, his own secular complex required greater physical space and a longer duration for completion (1 Kgs 7:1), illustrating the scale of royal self-aggrandizement alongside devotion. This building was more than just a house; it functioned as a multi-purpose royal facility, perhaps an armory, a treasury for royal valuables, or a vast assembly hall where the king received guests and dispensed justice. It was a tangible expression of Solomon's God-given wisdom, wealth, and power, yet it also subtly introduces a theme of earthly splendor that, in later accounts, sometimes overshadowed devotion.