Melachim I - Chapter 6

1. And it was in the four hundred and eightieth year after the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt, in the fourth year, in the month Ziv, which (is) the second month of Solomon's reign over Israel, that he did (begin to) build the house of the Lord.

2. And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof (was) sixty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

3. And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits (was) the length thereof, before the breadth of the house, (and) ten cubits (was) the breadth thereof before the house.

4. And he made for the house windows broad within, and narrow without.

5. And against the wall of the house he built a chamber round about, (against) the walls of the house round about, (both) of the temple and of the sanctuary, and he made chambers round about.

6. The nethermost chamber (was) five cubits broad, and the middle (was) six cubits broad, and the third (was) seven cubits broad, for he made rebatements in (the wall of) the house round about on the outside, that (the beams) should not have hold in the walls of the house.

7. And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone finished at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe (nor) any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

8. The door of the lowest chamber (was) in the right side of the house, and with winding stairs they went up into the middle (chamber), and from the middle into the third.

9. And he built the house, and finished it, and he covered the house with panelling and joined planks of cedar.

10. And he built the chambers against all the house, (each) five cubits high; and he covered the house with timber of cedar.

11. And the word of the Lord came to Solomon saying,

12. (Concerning) this house which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, and execute My ordinances, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I establish My word with you, which I spoke to David your father.

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

14. And Solomon built the house and finished it.

15. And he built the walls of the house within boards of cedar; from the floor of the house till the joists of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress.

16. And he built the twenty cubits at the end of the house with boards of cedar; from the floor unto the joists (of the ceiling), and he built it within, for a Sanctuary, for the Holy of Holies.

17. And forty cubits was the house, that is the Temple before (the Sanctuary).

18. And the cedar of the house within (was) carved with knobs and open flowers; all (was) cedar; there was no stone seen.

19. And the Sanctuary he prepared in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

20. And within the Sanctuary (was) twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits its height, and he overlaid it with pure gold; and he covered the altar with cedar.

21. And Solomon overlaid the house from within with pure gold; and he barred with chains of gold before the Sanctuary, and he overlaid it with gold.

22. And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished; and the whole altar that (was) by the Sanctuary he overlaid with gold.

23. And he made within the Sanctuary two cherubim (of) olive-wood, (each) ten cubits its height.

24. And five cubits (was) the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub; ten cubits (were) from the uttermost part of its (one) wing to the uttermost part of its (other) wing.

25. And ten cubits (was) the other cherub; both the cherubim (were) of one measure and one form.

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

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

28. And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

29. And all the walls of the house he surrounded with figures, carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; from within and for the one without.

30. And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold; for the one within and for the one without.

31. And for the entrance of the Sanctuary, he made doors (of) olive-wood; the lintel and sideposts (were) of five parts.

32. And two doors of olive-wood, and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid (them) with gold; and spread the gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm trees.

33. And he made likewise for the entrance of the temple sideposts of olive- wood, of four parts.

34. And two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door (were) folding, and the two leaves of the other door (were) folding.

35. And he carved (thereon) cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid (them) with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36. And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cut cedar beams.

37. In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, in the month of Ziv.

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