Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 6:36
And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
36. And he built the inner court ] This inner court is that which in Jer 36:10 is called ‘the higher court’ and must be that intended (2Ch 4:9) by the ‘court of the priests’ in contradistinction to ‘the great court,’ which must have enclosed the inner one. There is some doubt as to how the description in this verse is to be understood. It seems clear from the passage in Jeremiah that the inner was on a higher level than the outer court. Some have thought that this elevation was made by three layers of stone and then a wooden planking put over all. But to do this for the whole enclosure would have been very laborious work and seemingly for no purpose. It seems better to take it that the elevation was artificially made, and then to understand the three rows of hewn stone, covered by one row of cedar wood at the top, to have made a sort of sunk fence all round the inner court. The people standing in the outer court would need to see what the priests were doing. This they would all be able to do if the wall of stone and cedar work were very little, if at all, higher than the level of the inner court.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The inner court – An outer court is mentioned in 2Ch 4:9. The inner court is probably identical with the higher court of Jeremiah Jer 36:10, being raised above the outer, as were sometimes the inner courts of Assyrian palaces. The court seems to have surrounded the temple. Its dimensions may be reasonably presumed to have been double those of the court of the tabernacle, i. e., 100 cubits on each side of the temple, and 200 cubits at the ends; or, about 720 feet long by 360 broad.
With three rows of hewed stone – Either a fence enclosing the court, or the area of the court, which was possibly formed by three layers of hewn stone placed one above the other, and was then boarded on the top with cedar planks. Such a construction would no doubt be elaborate; but if it was desired to elevate the inner court above the outer, this is the way in which it would be likely to have been done. The temple would be placed, like the Assyrian palaces, on an artificial platform; and the platform, being regarded as a part of the sacred building, would be constructed of the best material.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 36. Three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.] Does not this intimate that there were three courses of stone, and then one course of timber all through this wall? Three strata of stone and one stratum of timber, and so on. If so, could such a building be very durable? This is also referred to in the succeeding chapter, 1Kg 7:11; and as both the temple and Solomon’s house were built in the same manner, we may suppose that this was the ordinary way in which the better sort of buildings were constructed. Calmet thinks that to this mode of building the prophet alludes, Hab 2:11: The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. But it should be observed that this was in the inner court, and therefore the timber was not exposed to the weather. The outer court does not appear to have been built stratum super stratum of stone and wood.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The inner court, i.e. the priests court, 2Ch 4:9; so called, because it was next to the temple, which it did encompass.
With three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams; which is understood either,
1. Of the thickness of the wall, the three rows of stones being one within another, and the cedar innermost, as a lining to the wall. Or,
2. Of the height of the wall, which was only three cubits high, that the people might see the priests sacrificing upon the altar, which was in their court; each row of stones being about a cubit, and possibly of a differing colour from the rest, and all covered with cedar. Or rather,
3. Of so many galleries, one on each side of the temple, whereof the three first were of stone, and the fourth of cedar, all supported with rows of pillars; upon which there were many chambers for the uses of the temple, and of the priests; for it is hard to think that only the making of a low wall about the court would be called a building of the court. And that a great number of buildings and rooms were necessary for the various offices and works which were to be done, and the treasures of all sorts which were to be laid up in the temple, largely so called, is sufficiently evident from the nature of the things, and divers passages in Scripture: see, among others, 1Ch 28:11,12.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. the inner courtwas forthe priests. Its wall, which had a coping of cedar, is said to havebeen so low that the people could see over it.
1Ki 6:37;1Ki 6:38. THETIME TAKEN TO BUILDIT.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he built the inner court,…. The court of the priests, 2Ch 4:9; so called to distinguish it from the outer court, where the people assembled: this was built
with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams; the rows of stones were one upon another, topped with a row of cedar beams; or rather the cedar was a lining to the stones; and the whole is supposed to be about three cubits high, and was so low, that the people in the outward court might see priests ministering for them, and could converse with them; under the second temple, as Maimonides h says, the court of the priests was higher than that of the court of Israel two cubits and an half, called the great court, for which doors were made, and those overlaid with brass, 2Ch 4:9.
h Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 6. sect. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The courts. – ”He built the inner court three rows of hewn stones and one row of hewn cedar beams.” The epithet inner court applied to the “court of the priests” (2Ch 4:9) presupposes an outer one, which is also mentioned in 2Ch 4:9, and called “the great court.” The inner one is called the upper (higher) court in Jer 36:10, from which it follows that it was situated on a higher level than the outer one, which surrounded it on all sides. It was enclosed by a low wall, consisting of three rows of hewn stones, or square stones, laid one upon another, and a row of hewn cedar beams, which were either laid horizontally upon the stones, after the analogy of the panelling of the temple walls on the inside, or placed upright so as to form a palisading, in order that the people might be able to see through into the court of the priests. According to 2Ch 4:9, the outer court had gates lined with brass, so that it was also surrounded with a high wall. Around it there were chambers and cells (2Ki 23:11; Jer 35:4; Jer 36:10) for the priests and Levites, the plans for which had already been made by David (1Ch 28:12). The principal gate was the east gate (Eze 11:1). Other gates are mentioned in 2Ki 11:6; 2Ch 23:5, Jer 20:2 2Ki 12:10; 2Ch 24:8. The size of these courts is not given. At the same time, following the analogy of the tabernacle, and with the reduplication of the rooms of the tabernacle which is adopted in other cases in the temple, we may set down the length of the court of the priests from east to west at 200 cubits, and the breadth from south to north at 100 cubits; so that in front of the temple-building on the east there was a space of 100 cubits in length and breadth, or 10,000 square cubits, left free for the altar of burnt-offering and the other vessels, in other words, for the sacrificial worship. The outer or great court will therefore, no doubt, have been at least twice as large, namely, 400 cubits long and 200 cubits broad, i.e., in all, 80,000 square cubits; so that the front space before the court of the priests (on the eastern side) was 150 cubits long from east to west, and 200 cubits broad from south to north, and 50 cubits in breadth or depth still remained for the other three sides.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
E. OTHER DETAILS OF THE TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION 6:3638
TRANSLATION
(36) And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams. (37) In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the month of Ziv. (38) And in the eleventh year in the month Bui (which is the eighth month) he finished the house in all of its details and according to all specifications. So he was seven years in building it.
COMMENTS
The description of the building concludes with a brief reference to the construction of the inner court. This court was enclosed by a wall formed by three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams. The cedar beams were used instead of coping stones. It would seem from 2Ch. 7:3 that this wall was low enough to permit men to look over it. Jeremiah (Jer. 36:10) refers to this court as the higher court because it occupied a higher level than the great court mentioned by the Chronicler. Several passages suggest that there may have been chambers in or around this inner court.[188] There is no indication, however, that these chambers were built in the time of Solomon. The size of this court remains a matter of conjecture. If, as in other matters, the dimensions of the Tabernacle were doubled, this court would measure three hundred feet east to west and a hundred fifty feet north to south.
[188] 2Ki. 23:11; Jer. 35:2; Jer. 36:10.
The account of the Temple construction concludes with a note as to the time involved in the building operation. As already related in 1Ki. 6:1, the foundation of the Temple was laid in the fourth year of Solomon and the second month, the month of Ziv (1Ki. 6:37). The work was completed in the eleventh year of Solomon, in the eighth month, the month of But (October-November). This means the house was 7 years in the building, and the sacred historian rounds this off to seven years. The construction period was short if one considers the magnitude of the undertaking, but long enough, if one considers the enormous numbers of people engaged in the project.
How the roof of the Temple was supported is not indicated. Some have argued that such a massive roof would have to be supported by pillarsfour in the Debir and ten in the holy place.
CAPSULE HISTORY OF SOLOMONS TEMPLE
EVENT
REFERENCES
DATE B.C.
Construction of the Temple by Solomon
1 Kings 6-7; 2 Chronicles 3-4
966960
Dedication of the Temple
1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5-6
960
House filled with the glory of the Lord
1Ki. 8:10-11;
2Ch. 5:13-14
960
Temple plundered by Shishak
1Ki. 14:25-28;
2Ch. 12:2-9
927
Abomination introduced to Temple worship by Maacah, mother of Abijam
1Ki. 15:2; 1Ki. 15:12-13
913911
Asa cleanses the Temple
1Ki. 15:11-15; 2Ch. 15:8-16
911900
Asa uses Temple treasures to bribe Benhadad
1Ki. 15:18-19; 2Ch. 16:1-2
895
Jchoshaphat enlarged the Temple court
2Ch. 20:5
870853
Temple repairs made by Joash
2Ki. 12:4-16 : 2Ch. 24:4-14
835
Uzziah tried to enter Holy Placesmitten with leprosy
2Ch. 26:16
750
Jotham refuses to enter Temple
2Ch. 27:2
750731
Jorham built a new gate for the Temple
2Ki. 15:35; 2Ch. 27:3
739735
Ahaz bribes Tiglarh-pileser with Temple treasure
2Ki. 16:8
733
Ahaz introduces a pagan altarremoves bronze altar, bases and ornaments of lavers and oxen under the Sea
2Ki. 16:10-17
732
Hezckiah eleanses the Temple
2 Chronicles 29
720715
Hezekiah removes the gold leaf from the doors of Temple (which he himself had put there) as payment to Senna-cherib
2Ki. 18:14-16; 2Ch. 32:31
701
Idolatrous altars erected in Temple by Manassehan Asherahworship of host of heavenhorses and chariot dedicated to the sun in Temple court
2Ki. 21:3-7; 2Ki. 23:7; 2Ki. 23:11
Josiah cleansed the Templelaw book discovered within
2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35
632621
Pagan practices reintroduced under jehoiakim and Zedekiah
Eze. 8:7-18
609587
Nebuchadnezzar carries off some Temple vessels
Dan. 1:1-3
605
Additional Temple vessels carried to Babylon
2Ki. 24:13; 2Ch. 36:7
597
Temple destroyed by Babylonianspillars, Sea broken up, carried off along with lesser vessels.
2Ki. 25:13-16
587
MOBILE LAVER FOR THE TAMPLE
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(36) The inner court (probably the higher court of Jer. 35:10) is described as built round the Temple proper, evidently corresponding to the outer court of the Tabernacle. As this was (see Exo. 27:9-13) 50 cubits by 100, it may be inferred, that by a duplication similar to that of all dimensions of the Temple itself, Solomons Court was 100 cubits (or 150 feet) by 200 cubits (or 300 feet), covering a little more than an acre. The verse has been interpreted in two ways: either that the floor of the court was raised by three courses of stone, covered with a planking of cedar, or (as Josephus understands it) enclosed by a wall of three courses of stone, with a coping of cedar wood. The latter seems more probable. For in this court stood the altar of burnt offering and the laver, and all sacrifices went on, and this could hardly have been done on a wooden pavement; and besides this we observe that the whole arrangement is (1Ki. 7:12) compared with that of the great outer court of the palace where the wooden pavement would be still more unsuitable. It was what was called afterwards the Court of the Priests, and in it (see Eze. 40:45) appear to have been chambers for the priests.
The mention of the inner court suggests that there was an outer court also. We have in 2Ki. 21:5; 2Ki. 23:12, a reference to the two courts of the Temple, and in Eze. 40:17; Eze. 42:1; Eze. 42:8, a mention of the outward or utter court. Josephus (Antt. viii. 3, 3) declares that Solomon built beyond the inner court a great quadrangle, erected for it great and broad cloisters, and closed it with golden doors, into which all could enter, being pure and observant of the laws. Even beyond this he indicates, though in rather vague and rhetorical language, an extension of the Temple area, as made by Solomons great substructures, forming a court less perfectly enclosed, like the Court of the Gentiles in the later Temple. Of these outer courts and cloisters the tradition remained in the assignment of the title of Solomons Porch to the eastern cloister of the later Temple. It has been thought that in this outer court were planted trees (in spite of the prohibition of Deu. 16:21); and this may have been the case, till the association of idol worship with them made these seem to be unfit for the House of the Lord. But the passages usually quoted to support this view are from the Psalms (Psa. 52:8; Psa. 92:13), of which the former certainly refers to the Tabernacle, and the latter may do so.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. The inner court The temple was surrounded by a double court or enclosure, an inner and an outer. The outer was much larger than the inner court, but the exact size of each it is now impossible to decide. These courts seem also to have been called respectively the upper and the lower, (Jer 36:10,) probably because the one occupied a higher terrace than the other, in 2Ch 4:9, the outer is called the great court, and the inner the court of the priests.
Three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams The precise meaning is obscure, but is usually understood of the enclosing wall of the inner court being so constructed that three layers of hewn stone were placed one upon another, and a row of cedar beams fastened on the top, either horizontally or in the form of a railing or balustrade. Perhaps, however, it is better to understand these layers of stone and cedar as forming the pavement of the inner court, and covering its entire area. This would have boon the natural way to elevate the platform of the inner court above that of the outer, (compare Jer 36:10,) and thus, says Rawlinson, “the temple would be placed, like the Assyrian palaces, on an artificial platform; and the platform, being regarded as a part of the sacred building, would be constructed of the best material.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Inner Court ( 1Ki 6:36 ).
1Ki 6:36
‘ And he built the inner court with three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams.’
The Temple clearly had an Inner court, and therefore presumably an Outer court. The Inner court would be where people brought their offerings, and it would contain the bronze altar and the bowls of water where the priests washed their hands and feet prior to entering the Holy Place. Jeremiah calls it ‘the upper court’ which suggests that it was higher than the Outer court (Jer 36:10). The Outer court would be a place for worshippers to gather, and may well at this time have also incorporated within it the king’s palace. See 1Ki 7:9; 1Ki 7:12. The wall of the inner court was built with three courses of hewn stone to one course of cedar beams as it rose upwards. We are not told anything about the height that it reached. This construction, which was commonly found in buildings elsewhere, may have provided protection from damage through earthquake. Or it may in this case have symbolised the materials from which the Temple was made. Or the cedar course may have provided spaces through which people could look in. The same pattern is found in a number of excavated Syrian buildings, and generally in the ancient world.
According to 2Ch 4:9 the outer wall had gates lined with bronze, thus it also clearly had high walls. Around it were rooms and cells for the priests and Levites (2Ki 23:11; Jer 35:4; Jer 36:10). The principal gate of the outer court was the east gate (Eze 11:1) but other gates are mentioned (2Ki 11:6; 2Ch 23:5; Jer 20:2; 2Ki 12:10; 2Ch 24:8). The reason why it is not mentioned here is probably because it also included within it the palace of Solomon shortly to be described.
The Date Of The Finalising Of The Temple (1Ki 6:37). 1Ki 6:37
‘ In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of YHWH laid, in the moon period (yerach) Ziv. And in the eleventh year, in the moon period (yerach) Bul, which is the eighth month (chodesh), was the house finished throughout all its parts, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.’
The building of the Temple took seven years and six months. The fact that it took ‘seven years’ would have been seen as a good sign. It was the divinely perfect period. Note again the ancient pre-exilic names for the months. Ziv means ‘flowers’ (spring time) and Bul means ‘moisture’ (the rainy season). We need not doubt that the building of it was a genuine act of worship, but as we have already seen it revealed the shallowness of Solomon’s religious awareness. It lacked in obedience. It revealed man’s view of God, not what God had revealed Himself to be.
“Yerach” is an ancient word for a moon period, found also at Ugarit and on the Gezer tablet, but comparatively rare in Scripture, being found prior to Kings only in Exo 2:2; Deu 21:13; Deu 33:14. ‘Chodesh’ is a parallel word and is of common use, being found regularly from Genesis onwards. Both words were used by Job and Zechariah which demonstrates that they were parallel words in use throughout the Biblical period.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Ki 6:36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
Ver. 36. And he built the inner court. ] Called the court of the priests, 2Ch 4:9 and had without it an outer court, Eze 10:3 ; Eze 10:5 called also the great court, 2Ch 4:9 where the people prayed, Luk 1:10 and heard the word preached. Act 3:11-12 Ezr 10:9 In this outer court it was that our Saviour preached, when he is said to have taught in the temple: here he disputed, cast out the buyers and sellers, &c. Joh 2:14 ; Joh 2:16 This court of the people surrounded not only the priests’ court, but also the whole temple: by the name whereof also it is sometimes called.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the inner: Exo 27:9-19, Exo 38:9-20, 2Ch 4:9, 2Ch 7:7, Rev 11:2
Reciprocal: 1Ki 7:12 – three rows 2Ki 21:5 – in the two courts 2Ch 6:13 – the court Ezr 6:4 – three rows
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 6:36. The inner court That wherein the priests officiated, (2Ch 4:9,) so called because it was next to the temple, which it encompassed. With three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams It is difficult to ascertain the precise meaning of the sacred historian here. He may be understood as speaking, either, 1st, Of the thickness of the wall, the three rows of stones being one within another, and the cedar innermost, as a lining to the wall. Or, 2d, Of the height of the wall, which was only three cubits high, that the people might see the priests sacrificing upon the altar, which was in their court; each row of stones being about a cubit, and, possibly, of a colour different from the rest, and all covered with cedar. Or, 3d, He is to be understood of so many galleries, one on each side of the temple, whereof the three first were stone, and the fourth of cedar, all supported with rows of pillars, upon which there were many chambers for the uses of the temple, and of the priests.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
6:36 And he built the inner {o} court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
(o) Where the priests were, and was thus called in respect to the great court, which is called the porch of Solomon in Act 3:11 where the people used to pray.