1 Kings 6:1–38 records the actual building of the temple with the materials that the huge workforce of Solomon and Hiram provided. Before we turn to a more detailed look at what the writer reports about the construction, we ought to discuss some introductory matters.

Noteworthy is the source of the plans for the temple. One commentator, Paul House, speaks as if the building project was in Solomon’s head and that afterwards, the Lord announced his approval of the plan. House writes, Throughout the Solomon stories the author presents an activity, then waits until later to state God’s approval or disapproval of it.¹ Yet the building of the temple was not Solomon’s idea. In fact, it preceded his birth in the desire of David. God did not allow David to build the temple, but he did ordain that David’s son would be the builder (see 2 Samuel 7:12–17). This decree of God was not an example of God’s stamping a plan of human initiative with his approval. It was quite the reverse, and God ordained that David’s son should give attention to God’s plan for the building that would serve as his own house.

A second matter concerning the source of the plan for the temple is the fact that the overall floor plan of the temple follows in a larger scale the pattern of the Tabernacle that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. This observation minimizes the importance of commentators like Donald Wiseman, who draw similarities between the temple of Yahweh and other pagan temples in the surrounding nations.² We need to make this observation lest we forget that in the plans for the tabernacle, God insisted that it was to be executed according to the plans he revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. Israel’s God did not trip along following the whims of his human worshippers; he decreed, they followed in obedience and were blessed, or they rebelled by disobedience and came under the shadow of his judgment.