1 Kings 7:7 (ESV)

7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.

1 Kings 7:7 moves to another structure in the royal complex. This edifice is given two names: first, the Hall of the Throne, and second, the Hall of Judgment. The throne was the place of rule, but the mention of the pronouncement of judgment tells us something about the view of the nature of the king's rule in the early years of the Davidic Dynasty.

Kingship was not to be understood as the raw exercise of power. Instead, it was viewed to a great degree as the administration of justice. We ought to remember that the predecessors of the kings in Israel were called judges.

There was no necessity in Israel for a ruler, who would make law. The law had been in Israel’s possession since the time of the exodus. The king was to be the chief magistrate in the administration of the law in particular instances.

The importance to the writer of the judicial aspect of the king’s duty is underlined by the fact that of the three public buildings mentioned in this section of the book, we are informed of the purpose of only the Hall of the Throne.