1 Kings 9 10

1 Kings 9:10 kjv

And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house,

1 Kings 9:10 nkjv

Now it happened at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house

1 Kings 9:10 niv

At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built these two buildings?the temple of the LORD and the royal palace?

1 Kings 9:10 esv

At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house,

1 Kings 9:10 nlt

It took Solomon twenty years to build the LORD's Temple and his own royal palace. At the end of that time,

1 Kings 9 verses

1 Kings 9 10 Meaning

This verse marks a significant milestone in Solomon's reign, indicating the completion of his monumental construction projects – the Temple dedicated to the Lord and his own royal palace. It sets the stage for a critical divine encounter and covenant renewal, defining the conditional nature of God's blessing upon Solomon and Israel following these foundational achievements.

1 Kings 9 10 Context

1 Kings 9:10 follows directly from the account of the Temple's dedication in chapter 8 and the details of Solomon's construction projects, particularly his royal palace, described in 1 Kings 7. Chapter 9 itself begins with the LORD's second appearance to Solomon (vv. 1-9), immediately after Solomon had finished building, indicating the critical timing of this divine encounter. The completion of these two major architectural feats, spanning twenty years, signifies the peak of Solomon's earthly kingdom in terms of material wealth and secure dwelling. This verse sets the physical background against which God reiterates His covenant with Solomon, reminding him of the blessings dependent upon obedience and the severe consequences of disobedience. The completion is not merely an architectural note but a narrative turning point from construction to the unfolding of God's conditional promises and warnings for the future of Israel and its kings.

1 Kings 9 10 Word Analysis

Word by Word

• And it came to pass: A common transitional Hebrew idiom (וַיְהִי, wā-yə-hî), signaling the start of a new, significant event or development.
• at the end: (מִקֵּץ, miq-qēts) - Indicates completion, termination of a specific period, or arrival at the boundary. It marks a point of culmination.
• of twenty years: (עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, ʿes-rîm shā-nāh) - A precise duration. This detail underscores the monumental scale and significant time commitment of Solomon's building endeavors.
• when Solomon: The named subject, highlighting his role as the builder and key figure in this period of Israelite history.
• had built: (בָּנָה, bānāh) - Implies full construction and establishment. The verb choice emphasizes the act of making a stable and functional structure.
• the two houses: (שְׁנֵי הַבָּתִּים, shə-nê hab-bāt-tîm) - Specifically denotes both primary structures, highlighting their completed status collectively. The plural form (houses) emphasizes the distinct but parallel nature of these constructions.
• the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ: The sacred Temple, central to Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God. Built over 7 years (1 Kgs 6:38).
• and the king's house: Solomon's royal palace, signifying his temporal authority and regal splendor. Built over 13 years (1 Kgs 7:1). Its mention alongside the Temple indicates Solomon's focus on both divine worship and earthly administration.

Words-Group Analysis

• "And it came to pass at the end of twenty years": This phrase precisely timestamps the event, drawing attention to the full duration of Solomon's building era. It signals a shift in the narrative from the labor of construction to its completion and the subsequent implications.
• "when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house": This clarifies what "the two houses" refers to, distinctly listing the sacred and the secular. The juxtaposition emphasizes Solomon's dual responsibility: establishing a place for divine worship and solidifying his royal administration. The 7 years for the Temple and 13 years for his palace demonstrate his significant investment in both God's house and his own. The completion of both is essential because it precedes God's conditional reaffirmation of the Davidic Covenant in the following verses (1 Kgs 9:1-9), establishing a direct link between human endeavor and divine response.

1 Kings 9 10 Bonus section

The completion of these major projects represents the pinnacle of Israel's wealth, peace, and international standing under Solomon. It's often seen as the high-water mark of the unified monarchy. The fact that the Temple was built in 7 years (1 Kgs 6:38) while Solomon's own palace took 13 years (1 Kgs 7:1) suggests the order of priority, though the duration of the palace project implies its massive scale and intricate nature as well. This timeline directly sets up the "twenty years," revealing Solomon's immense investment in consolidating both religious and political power and presence in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 9 10 Commentary

1 Kings 9:10 serves as a temporal and narrative pivot. It explicitly marks the conclusion of Solomon's grand architectural projects—the glorious Temple and his lavish palace—which together spanned two decades. This completion is not a mere chronological detail but the backdrop for the reaffirmation of God's covenant with Solomon. The dual focus on "the house of the LORD" and "the king's house" underscores the central role of both divine worship and earthly governance in the nation of Israel, both presided over by Solomon. This verse immediately precedes God's second appearance to Solomon (1 Kgs 9:1-9), wherein the blessings of the Davidic covenant are reiterated, but crucially, now tied to explicit conditions of obedience. The material splendor represented by these finished houses stands as a testimony to God's blessing and Solomon's initial faithfulness, but also sets the stage for the stark warnings concerning future apostasy, where the continued divine favor rests not on the buildings themselves, but on the integrity of the heart and adherence to God's commands. Thus, the physical completion here signifies a narrative transition point, from construction to a crucial re-engagement with divine expectations and the destiny of the kingdom.