The first portion of our review covers several chapters: 1 Kings 4-7 is paralleled in 2 Chronicles 2-4. These passages are filled largely with the details of decribing the Temple size and design. There is little to gain from hashing over the minutiae, and it is far more profitable to look at some of the well done drawings based on these descriptions found in some of the better biblical reference books. The Dedication of the Temple in 1 Kings 8 is paralleled in 2 Chronicles 5-6.
Solomon began to rule in 970 BC. We are given a list of chief ministers in Solomon's court. What is important to note is that Solomon divided the Kingdom of Israel into 12 administrative districts, which did not coincide with tribal borders. Rather, the kingdom was divided more or less into equal size regions, but the issue was the production of support in kind for Solomon's sumptuous lifestyle. We know from other sources there was some resentment to this non-traditional system.
The far more contentious issue was taxation. Every day Solomon's court required a small herd of animals and what we now regard as a truckload of produce, mostly grain. This was on top of the tribute Solomon received from all the kingdoms his father David had conquered. From the River Euphrates far to the north, down Egypt in the south, and from the deserts on the east to the Philistines on the coast, Solomon either ruled directly or exerted tremendous control over every living thing. Assyria was in decline and dared not cross the Euphrates to provoke the mighty King of Israel, and Egypt could hardly afford to raise his ire, either. Everyone surrendered a great deal of wealth every year to Solomon.
For his allies and friends, Solomon was generous. David had been great friends with Hiram of Tyre, and Solomon kept that friendship alive. In order to obtain sufficient cut stone and lumber for the Temple, Solomon made a deal to trade grain and olive oil. The hundred thousand or so bushels Hiram requested was an annual payment, and this was drawn from the fields of the kingdom as taxation. On top of this, a huge army of workers were kept on the leash in a three month rotation. That is, citizens of Israel worked one month out of three on the Temple project, along with all the year-round slave labor from subdued enemies. Adoniram was Solomon's minister of this forced labor, and became the most hated man in the kingdom. The Temple construction began in about 967 BC.
Note that cutting massive stone blocks with hand tools is an incredibly labor-intensive task. Each block had to be finished at the quarry. Then, moving each stone was yet another massively labor-intensive task. Finally, the whole thing was covered in cedar paneling, so that no stone work was visible. The interior paneling was also overlaid with gold. Hiram the King of Tyre sent a half-Israeli craftsman also named Hiram to oversee the artwork of the Temple. It appears the building was finished by 959 BC. Despite the planning of David and saving up of material during most of his 40-year reign, the Temple was still a bit of a "money pit" sucking up a major portion of the whole economic output of that part of the world for several years.
It is known that Solomon personally owned a quarry near Jerusalem, but it could not have been enough for this huge job. Quite likely, the local quarry was used for Solomon's palace. This structure was even larger than the Temple. While the palace didn't get the cedar and gold treatment of the Temple, it was simply huge by even modern standards. There were the living quarters, which accommodated much of the eventual harem of some 1000 women, but also a large judgment hall, and an armory and barracks. Add to this extending the wall around Jerusalem to thrice its original run, and we may begin to see just how much the people were hurting. It took another thirteen years after the Temple was finished to build the palace.
Even when the palace was done, the building projects never ceased. To the day of his death, Solomon laid a crushing burden on his people. He seemed to recognize no limits. Aside from the grandeur and religious unification of the Temple, Solomon gave back to his people a gift many could not appreciate. The royal court was open to all visitors, and there were many. Each VIP that came was accorded the same lavish accommodations, but came because of the legendary mind of Solomon. Regardless of how vexing the legal case, Solomon always had an answer, and it was always recognized as the best that could be. This mind produced psalms, proverbs, and all manner of writings we now refer to as the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. We credit to Solomon the whole of the Proverbs with sage advice and pithy statements on human nature, Ecclesiastes with its ruminations on holiness, happiness and being a good man of God, and the epic Song of Solomon celebrating the holiness of romantic love in its godly ideal. It is known he kept an encyclopedic knowledge of nature itself, too.
1 Kings 8:1-11 -- The month of Ethanim, later called Tishri, is late September and early October in the West. This was 11 months after the actual building of the Temple was finished. It would have taken some time to get the priests cells setup and the rotation begun, with all the training that could not take place while workmen were all over the place. By holding Dedication during the Feast of Tabernacles, on the first day of the month, the Temple would be ready for the upcoming Day of Atonement, just ten days away.
Solomon called a solemn assembly of the leaders of Israel and Judah. They all attended in parade the moving of the Ark up the hill from the tent David erected over it in old palace courtyard, up to the new Temple on the peak of Mount Moriah. By now the contents had been reduced to Moses' tablets. From the old Mosaic Tabernacle in Gibeon, all the other furnishings were brough over, leaving the ancient tent empty. The presence of the Lord returned in force. Once the Ark was placed, the priests were driven out by the smoke of God's Presence. Meanwhile, Solomon had prepared a steady stream of sacficial animals, and fire of the Altar never dimmed. The ceremony included every priest from all the rotations at once, and all the musicians were praising God.
8:12-53 -- Solomon delivered a speech recounting how his father David had commissioned him to build the Temple. He noted that all the promises of the Lord concerning the Temple and the Davidic throne had been kept. Then Solomon kneeled publicly, facing the Temple, and offered a prayer so moving it has often been quoted since then. Many have gone so far as to refer to this as the Covenant of Solomon. However, there is nothing to indicate anything new was being established. Solomon went into detail recounting the different ways the people as a nation might come before Jehovah to pray at the Temple, or facing it when far away. Each of them is but an echo of previous instruction from the Law of Moses.
8:54-66 -- Finishing this lavish prayer, Solomon turned and blessed the nation. Not only burnt offerings, but several other kinds of offerings were brought, to include the sort shared before the Lord. This ceremony carried on for seven days, celebrating at the same time the Feast of Trumpets. While it is noted Solomon dismissed the nation from the Feast on the 8th day, the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 7 suggests that they stayed for the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles, leaving on the 23rd of that month.
This is rightly considered the spiritual high point for the entire history of Israel. There were plenty of wonders and miracles to follow, but nothing approached this event for grandness of scale and its impact on the minds of the nation and the watching world. That it went downhill from here is partly Solomon's own fault.
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Ed Hurst
30 October 2004
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