Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 7:7
Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment: and [it was] covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.
7. Then he made a porch for the throne ] Better (with R.V.) ‘And he made the porch of the throne.’ As the pillars were the distinction of the former porch, so was the throne of this. On kings sitting in public to hear causes and give judgment, cf. 1Ki 22:10; Psa 122:5.
and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other ] Literally ‘from floor to floor.’ What is meant is that this was not an unenclosed porch like ‘the porch of pillars’ mentioned previously, but that it was enclosed with cedar wood walls all round from the floor to the ceiling. If this can be the sense of the word ‘floor’ in the second case, we must suppose the roof of the porch to be regarded as the floor of some upper room above it. But the word ‘floor’ is not very unlike ‘beams’ and so some have suspected the scribe of having written the former instead of the latter in the second place. This would make all easy, but the other explanation is quite possible, and is accepted by Gesenius, though De Wette translates as in A.V.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The porch or gate of justice still kept alive the likeness of the old patriarchal custom of sitting in judgment at the gate; exactly as the Gate of justice still recalls it at Granada, and the Sublime Porte – the Lofty Gate – at Constantinople.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. A porch for the throne] One porch appears to have been devoted to the purposes of administering judgment, which Solomon did in person.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He made a porch; another porch or distinct room without the house.
For the throne, described 1Ki 10:18.
Where he might judge the people that brought their causes before him.
From one side of the floor to the other, i.e. the whole floor; or, from floor to floor, i.e. from the lower floor on the ground, to the upper floor which covered it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then he made a porch for the throne,…. The ivory throne on which he sat to hear and try causes, 1Ki 10:18,
where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: which had its name from thence; this was either in his house in the forest of Lebanon, or in his palace at Jerusalem; the former seems best:
and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor unto the other; that is, the whole floor.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) The porch (or hall) of judgment was clearly a separate building, not described in the text, except as having been floored and ceiled with cedar. Mr. Fergusson, comparing it with the remains of Assyrian and Persian examples, supposes it to have been square, supported on four pillars in the centre, between which the throne stood, and having openings on the four sides for the public, the king, and his officers.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. A porch for the throne As the inner court of the house where the king dwelt was within this porch, (1Ki 7:8,) the porch itself must have led to it from the outer porch of pillars. So this throne-chamber was between the porch of pillars and the inner court. (R in plan.) It was the place where the king received his officers of state, and also foreign ambassadors and princes on important occasions, and especially where he sat to hear and decide the cases that were submitted to his judgment, and hence called, by way of eminence, the porch of judgment. Here was the great throne of ivory, and its magnificent and awe-inspiring surroundings, which are mentioned in 1Ki 10:18-20.
From one side of the floor to the other Rather, as the margin, from floor to floor; that is, from floor to ceiling.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 7:7. And it was covered with cedar It deserves remark, that the eastern floors and ceilings are just the reverse of ours. Their ceilings are of wood, ours of plaister or stucco work; their floors are of plaister or painted tyles, ours of wood. This fully detects a mistake of Kimchi and R. Solomon, who, according to Buxtorff, supposed, that the floor of the porch of judgment which Solomon built was all of cedar; whereas the sacred writer undoubtedly meant, that its covering at the top, its ceiling, was of cedar. Indeed here in the west, where these Jewish rabbis lived, such places are usually built after the eastern mode, which makes their mistake so much the more strange. Westminster hall, for instance, is paved with stone and ceiled with wood, and such, without doubt, was the ceiling and the pavement of the porch for judgment which Solomon built, and which was erected in a much hotter climate. See Observations, p. 101. Concerning Solomon’s throne, see chap. 1Ki 10:18-19 and and Servius on AEneid, vii. ver. 169.
Note; (1.) They who are great, may appear so; it is as fit that a king should dwell in a palace, as a peasant in a cottage. (2.) They who are occupied in building should take care not to lose, in the stone and mortar, their solicitude to secure a better house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 7:7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment: and [it was] covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.
Ver. 7. Then he made a porch for the throne. ] That stately throne of ivory. 1Ki 10:18-20
Even the porch of judgment.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a porch: 1Ki 6:3
for the throne: 1Ki 10:18-20, Psa 122:5, Isa 9:7
of judgment: 1Ki 3:9, 1Ki 3:28, Pro 20:8
from one side of the floor to the other: Heb. from floor to floor
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 7:7. He made a porch for the throne, even the porch of judgment So it was called, because here he sat to judge and determine the causes that were brought before him. But some think it unlikely that this porch was adjoining to the house of the forest of Lebanon. They judge it more probable that it was built in some place near the royal palace in Jerusalem, and is here mentioned because the writer was speaking of other porches. And it was covered, &c., from one side of the floor to the other
Hebrew, from floor to floor; from the lower floor on the ground, to the upper floor which covered it.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:7 Then he made a porch {e} for the throne where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment: and [it was] covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.
(e) For his house which was at Jerusalem.