1 Kings 6:1 is what we may call a time marker. It marks the time in two ways. First, it sets the beginning of the construction of the temple in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign as king. Second, it marks it as being 480 years after the Israelites left Egypt. When the Spirit of God ordains that a time marker be placed in the text, it is wise to ask the reason behind it. The mention of the place in Solomon’s reign might appear to be relatively easy to understand, but why is this year measured a second time by reference to the number of years that had passed since the exodus from Egypt?

Some commentators lose their way by suggesting similarities of the language found here to the annals of pagan nations in giving the regal year in the building of the houses for their gods. Other commentators are distracted by the reference to the exodus and try to understand the manner of the interpretation of the number 480 according to the manner in which they prefer to date the exodus. Neither of the approaches truly does justice to the text. The views focus so much on details that the true significance of the calculation is lost.

Dale Ralph Davis has a much better manner of dealing with the data presented here: Why then is this date so important? Because it marks the inauguration of a new era. The same is true of Exodus 12:40–41: the end of the 430 years in Egypt marked the end of bondage…and celebrated the gift of freedom. 1 Kings 6:1 is both similar and different. The end of 480 years since the exodus marks the end of wandering and celebrates the gift of rest.¹

In a previous comment on 1 Kings 5:1–18, we stressed a similar idea concerning the reason that God did not allow David to build the temple. David was the means by whom Israel gained rest from its enemies, but he did not do it by restful means. Solomon’s reign was the very first time since Israel went down into Egypt that Israel could say that it was truly settled in the land, meaning that it was in this four hundred and eightieth year since the exodus that God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was realized in a manner that was not previously true.

Nevertheless, we must also acknowledge that even this rest, procured by David and experienced by the people under Solomon would prove to be temporary because of Solomon’s turning aside to foreign gods and leading God’s people astray. It was also an external rest from wandering and so pointed to the true internal rest that would in the person of Jesus Christ. This is a rest spoken of by the apostle Paul in Romans 5:1: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This acknowledgement is another reminder that Jesus' words about the Scriptures of the Old Testament are true; they testify of him.