Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuaryThis phrase indicates the location of the construction, emphasizing the sacred nature of the temple and its inner sanctuary, also known as the Holy of Holies. The temple was the central place of worship for Israel, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The inner sanctuary housed the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's covenant with Israel. The temple's design reflects the tabernacle's layout, which was given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25-27). The temple's walls were significant as they separated the holy from the common, a theme seen throughout Scripture, highlighting the holiness of God (
Leviticus 19:2).
Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple
Solomon's construction of a chambered structure around the temple demonstrates his commitment to fulfilling his father David's vision (1 Chronicles 28:11-12). These chambers likely served practical purposes, such as storage for temple treasures and offerings, and living quarters for priests. The architectural style reflects the grandeur and complexity of Solomon's reign, which was marked by peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:20-25). This construction also signifies the transition from a nomadic worship system to a permanent, centralized place of worship, foreshadowing the eternal dwelling of God with His people (Revelation 21:3).
in which he constructed the side rooms
The side rooms were integral to the temple's function, providing space for various activities related to temple service. These rooms may have been used for storing sacred items, priestly garments, and other necessities for temple rituals. The detailed planning and execution of these rooms reflect Solomon's wisdom and organizational skills, gifts from God (1 Kings 3:12). The side rooms' presence around the temple can be seen as a type of the church, which surrounds and supports the worship of God, with each member serving a unique role (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Solomon's temple, with its side rooms, prefigures the spiritual temple, the body of Christ, where believers are built together as a dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
SolomonThe king of Israel who was responsible for building the temple in Jerusalem. His reign is marked by wisdom and prosperity, and the construction of the temple is one of his most significant achievements.
2.
The TempleThe central place of worship for the Israelites, built in Jerusalem. It was a symbol of God's presence among His people and a place where sacrifices and worship were conducted.
3.
The Main Hall and Inner SanctuaryThese are parts of the temple structure. The main hall, or the nave, was the larger area where people gathered, while the inner sanctuary, also known as the Holy of Holies, was the most sacred part of the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.
4.
Side RoomsThese were additional structures built around the temple, possibly used for storage or other practical purposes related to temple activities.
5.
JerusalemThe city where the temple was built, serving as the political and spiritual center of Israel.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience in WorshipSolomon's adherence to God's instructions for the temple construction underscores the importance of obedience in our worship practices. Just as Solomon followed God's design, we are called to align our worship with biblical principles.
God's Presence Among His PeopleThe temple served as a physical representation of God's presence. Today, believers are reminded that God dwells within us through the Holy Spirit, making our bodies temples of God.
Attention to Detail in Serving GodThe detailed construction of the temple teaches us the value of diligence and excellence in our service to God. We should strive to honor God in all aspects of our lives, paying attention to the details.
Provision for Practical Needs in MinistryThe side rooms around the temple highlight the need for practical considerations in ministry. Just as these rooms served specific functions, we should ensure that our ministries are well-organized and equipped to meet various needs.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Kings 6:5?
2.How does 1 Kings 6:5 illustrate God's attention to detail in His temple?
3.What purpose did the "structure against the walls" serve in Solomon's temple?
4.How can we apply the temple's design principles to our church buildings today?
5.What does 1 Kings 6:5 teach about preparing a dwelling place for God?
6.How does the temple's construction reflect God's order seen in other scriptures?
7.What was the purpose of the chambers built around the temple in 1 Kings 6:5?
8.How does 1 Kings 6:5 reflect Solomon's priorities in temple construction?
9.What do the side chambers in 1 Kings 6:5 symbolize in biblical theology?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 6?
11.What was the purpose of Solomon's Temple?
12.What is building a spiritual house?
13.2 Kings 11:3: Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that supports a child being hidden in the Temple for six years?
14.How do the specific measurements in Ezekiel 41 (particularly verses 1–5) align with any known historical or archaeological temple structure?What Does 1 Kings 6:5 Mean
Against the walls of the temple•1 Kings 6:5 opens by grounding the new construction “against the walls,” showing that the exterior of Solomon’s temple was not left plain but was purpose-built to receive additions.
• Similar language inEzekiel 41:5-6 describes chambers fitted to the outer walls of Ezekiel’s visionary temple, underscoring that auxiliary rooms were part of God’s consistent design for sacred space.
• The walls carried the weight of ministry: priests, Levites, and storekeepers would depend on these chambers for storage of utensils (1 Chron 9:26-29) and consecrated items.
and the inner sanctuary• The phrase links the outer walls to “the inner sanctuary” (the Most Holy Place), reminding us that every feature of the building served—or protected—the presence of God at its core (1 Kings 6:19).
•Exodus 26:33-34 shows that the inner sanctuary was always separated yet central; by attaching chambers here, Solomon ensured that daily service supported, but never intruded upon, the holiness within.
Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple• Solomon’s activity is deliberate: he “built,” not merely allowed. This affirms that the side chambers were part of the original divine blueprint given to David (1 Chron 28:11-12, 19).
• The “structure” (three stories tall per1 Kings 6:6) created a functional ring:
– ground floor for storerooms of grain, oil, and wine offered to the LORD (Nehemiah 10:37-39)
– middle level for priestly vestments and treasures (2 Chron 5:1)
– upper level likely for sleeping quarters when priests were on rotation (1 Chron 24:19)
• By wrapping the entire house, the chambers symbolized continual service encircling continual worship.
in which he constructed the side rooms• “Side rooms” indicates multiple small compartments, echoing1 Kings 6:6 where each higher floor narrowed to prevent intrusion into the temple wall—Solomon respected God’s dwelling even in practical architecture.
• These rooms provided:
– orderly stewardship of offerings so that nothing holy was treated as common (Malachi 1:13)
– protection of sacred articles from enemies or neglect (2 Kings 25:13-17 records the tragedy when such items were seized).
• Their existence testifies that worship involves both the spectacular (gold-overlaid sanctuary) and the ordinary (storage closets), all dedicated to the LORD (Colossians 3:23-24).
summary1 Kings 6:5 reveals that Solomon, following divine patterns, wrapped God’s house with three-tiered chambers firmly attached to its walls and extending to the inner sanctuary. These side rooms supplied practical needs—storage, lodging, and security—so that temple ministry could flow uninterrupted. The verse teaches that faithful worship plans for both the holy center and the supporting tasks, proving that every square foot devoted to God, whether grand or utilitarian, matters in His service.
(5-10) The general meaning of these verses is clear, though some of the words are doubtful. Round three sides of the Temple was built a kind of aisle, opening, however, outwards and not into the Temple, having three storeys of low chambers (each only five cubits high), so arranged that the beams of their roofs were supported on rests on the outside of the wall (each rest being a cubit wide), leaving the wall itself intact. Thus
thechambers of the lowest storey were narrowest--five cubits broad; the second storey six cubits, and the highest storey seven cubits broad. The higher storeys (see
1Kings 6:8), in which the chambers no doubt opened into one another, were approached by a staircase, having an external entrance on the right side of the building; the chambers of the lowest storey probably had external doors of their own. Above the highest storey were still five cubits of wall, which would give room for the windows (like clerestory windows) previously mentioned. Nothing is said of the use of these chambers; but they would be, no doubt, for residence of the priests, stores for the Temple, and furniture.
The word rendered "chambers" in the former part of1Kings 6:5 is a singular noun, signifying the whole of this aisle or side building; the "chambers" in the latter part of the verse--properly, "side pieces." or "ribs denote the separate apartments, or perhaps each of the storeys of the building.
Verse 5. -
And against [or upon,
עַל; they rested on the wall]
the wall of the house [here meaning both temple and oracle: see below]
he built chambers [Marg.
floors. The Orig. is
יָצוּעַ (Keri,
יָצִיעַ) singular =
stratum (
תךשׁארתס יָצַע, spread out). Symm. translates
κατάστρωμα. Gesenius remarks that the word is used here and in ver. 10 in the masculine of the
whole of the side structure, while in ver. 6 it is used in the feminine of the single stories. The floors bore this name,
יָצוּע, because they were
spread upon, not inserted into the walls. Rawlinson has evidently confounded this word with
צֵלָע (see below) when he says, "The Hebrew word here used would be best translated a
lean to." Both words are translated alike "chambers" in the Authorized Version, but the first means
stories or
floors; the second may, perhaps, signify
lean tos]
round about, against [It is doubtful whether
אֶת is here, as commonly, merely the sign of the accusative, or is the preposition "
with," meaning
"in connexion with," cum parietibus (Seb. Schmidt), in which case its meaning would approach very closely to that of
עַל above. Bahr remarks that
עַל and
אֶת are used elsewhere as almost synonymous, and refers to
Psalm 4:7 in connexion with
Psalm 67:2. Keil translates, "As for the walls" (
Anlangend die Wande), but this gives us an unfinished sentence. It is probably an accusative, explicative of the preceding clause = "I mean the walls," etc., the singular,
wall, having being used above. This additional clause]
the walls of the house round about [would then mean that the term "house" is to be understood as including both temple and oracle (and excluding porch), as the next words define it],
both of the temple and of the oracle [The floors,
i.e., ran round the south, west, and north sides of the building. Stanley aptly compares them to the little shops which nestle under the continental cathedrals; though the side aisles of some Gothic churches, viewed externally, would perhaps better represent their proportions]
and he made chambers [
צְלָעעות, literally, ribs, beams, (Gesenius);
Rippen (Bahr). The design of the word is clearly to convey that the floors were
"divided by partitions into distinct compartments" (Merz). According to
Ezekiel 41:6 (where, however, the reading is doubtful) there were thirty-three of these side chambers; according to Josephus (Ant. 8:08. 2) thirty. Thenius is probably not so far wrong when he sees in these chambers
bedrooms. A sort of monastery would seem to have been attached to the temple. So many chambers could hardly have been required for the "preservation of temple stores and utensils" (Keil), or of offerings (Ewald). Whatever their use, we can hardly suppose that they were wholly without light, though nothing is said about windows. They may have had "fixed lattices." It is to be re. membered that the priests and Levites ministered "by night in the house of the Lord" (
Psalm 134:1)] round about.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Againstעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe wallsקִ֨יר(qîr)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7023:A wallof the templeהַבַּ֤יִת(hab·ba·yiṯ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004:A houseand the inner sanctuary,וְלַדְּבִ֑יר(wə·lad·də·ḇîr)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1687:Perhaps (a place of) speaking (the innermost room of Solomon's temple)[Solomon] builtוַיִּבֶן֩(way·yi·ḇen)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1129:To builda chambered structureיָצִ֙יעַ֙(yā·ṣî·a‘)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3326:Spread, a bed, an extension, wing, lean-toall aroundסָבִ֔יב(sā·ḇîḇ)Adverb
Strong's 5439:A circle, neighbour, environs, aroundthe temple,הַבַּ֙יִת֙(hab·ba·yiṯ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004:A housein whichסָבִ֔יב(sā·ḇîḇ)Adverb
Strong's 5439:A circle, neighbour, environs, aroundhe constructedוַיַּ֥עַשׂ(way·ya·‘aś)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makethe side rooms.צְלָע֖וֹת(ṣə·lā·‘ō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6763:A rib, a side, a, timber, plank
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OT History: 1 Kings 6:5 Against the wall of the house he (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) 
