1 Kings 7:2

King James Version (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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The house of the forest of Lebanon - It was not built in Lebanon, but is thought to have been on Mount Sion. And why it was called the house of the forest of Lebanon does not appear; probably it was because it was built almost entirely of materials brought from that place. See the following verses.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Many have supposed that the buildings mentioned in 1 Kings 7:1-2, 1 Kings 7:8, were three entirely distinct and separate buildings. But it is perhaps best to consider the “house” of 1 Kings 7:1 as the palace proper - Solomon‘s own dwelling-house (see 1 Kings 7:8); the house of 1 Kings 7:2, as the state apartments; and the house for Pharaoh‘s daughter as the hareem or zenana; and to regard these three groups of buildings as distinct, though interconnected, and as together constituting what is else-where termed “the king‘s house” 1 Kings 9:10.

The house of the forest of Lebanon - This name was probably given from the supposed resemblance of the mass of cedar pillars, which was its main feature, to the Lebanon cedar forest. Its length of “a hundred cubits,” or 150 feet, was nearly twice as long as the entire temple without the porch. Some of the great halls in Assyrian palaces were occasionally as much as 180 feet.

The breadth “of fifty cubits,” or 75 feet, is a breadth very much greater than is ever found in Assyria, and one indicative of the employment in the two countries of quite different methods of roofing. By their use of pillars the Jews, like the Persians, were able to cover in a very wide space.

Four rows - The Septuagint gives “three rows.” If the pillars were forty-five 1 Kings 7:3, fifteen in a row, there should have been but three rows, as seems to have been the case in the old palace of Cyrus at Pasargadae. If there were four rows of fifteen, the number of pillars should have been sixty.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

All Solomon's buildings, though beautiful, were intended for use. Solomon began with the temple; he built for God first, and then his other buildings. The surest foundations of lasting prosperity are laid in early piety. He was thirteen years building his house, yet he built the temple in little more than seven years; not that he was more exact, but less eager in building his own house, than in building God's. We ought to prefer God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

2. House of the forest of Lebanon. Since only meager information is available, much of what has been said by commentators concerning this house and the others mentioned in this chapter is largely conjecture. Some suppose that Solomon’s own house (v. 1), the house of the forest of Lebanon (v. 2), and the house of Pharaoh’s daughter (v. 8) were three entirely distinct and separate buildings, but others regard them as merely parts of a single structure. Not even the location is definitely known. It would seem more reasonable to conclude that there were three separate buildings situated near one another, and closely connected, and together constituting what is elsewhere termed “the king’s house” (1 Kings 9:10).

Some believe “the house of the forest of Lebanon” was in the Lebanon Mts. But the name given to this structure, seems to indicate its nature rather than its location. Built as it was with four rows of cedar pillars, it would have the appearance of a cedar forest, and from that resemblance probably achieved its name. Because of the statement in Kings 10:16, 17, some conclude that the building served chiefly, if not altogether, as an armory, for Solomon placed in it “two hundred targets of beaten gold,” each target made of 600 golden shekels, together with “three hundred shields of beaten gold,” 3 lb. of gold going into each shield. But such “targets” and “shields” certainly were hardly for the purpose of war. It would be unusual to have soldiers venture into battle bearing shields of gold. Furthermore, arms are not usually stored in halls such as this. The building seems to have been a grand festal hall of a type often found in Mesopotamian palaces. The hall was large, 146 by 73 ft. (44.5 by 22.3 m.), yet it was not as large as some of the great Assyrian palace halls unearthed by modern excavation. Portions of the house may, however, have been used for the storage of arms, for Isa. 22:8 speaks of the “armour of the house of the forest.”

Of the four rows of cedar pillars, the first and the fourth were probably set as pilasters against the walls, thus providing for three great aisles down the length of the building.

Was this helpful?

Cross References

Related Verses

The United Monarchy under Solomon (2)

Solomon's Economic Enterprises

Solomon's Building Activities

Solomon's Temple

Jerusalem in the Time of David and Solomon

BibleTools.info

Bible Verse Explanations and Resources

1 Kings 7:2