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1 Kings 6:8

KJV

The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.

Read it in context The Chambers
Start reading at 1 Kings 6:5 (1 Kings 6:5 to 1 Kings 6:10). An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.

Solomon's wisdom, building projects, prayer, and wealth develop the kingdom's strength and the temple's place in Israel's life.

  1. 6:5 And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:
  2. 6:6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
  3. 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
  4. 6:8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
  5. 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
  6. 6:10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

Who

What

When

Where

How

Cited: 1 Kings 6:5, 1 Kings 6:10, 1 Kings 11:4, Matthew 12:42

Who wrote it, and how we know

Jeremiah (traditional) From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. It cites older court records as sources. 1 Kings 11:411 Kings 14:19
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) names Jeremiah.
What is debatedAuthorship is not stated. The account ends during the exile, which sets the earliest possible date.

Other accounts of this event

Building and furnishing Solomon's temple

Parallel accounts

Kings also describes Solomon's palace buildings; the overlap here concerns the temple project, not every detail of both ranges.

Related passages

Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).

Macro-Structure

See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.

Macro-Structure of 1 Kings

First Kings traces Solomon's reign and the divided kingdoms. Its evaluation of kings centers on faithfulness to the LORD. The book does not name its author.

1 Kings 2:3 1 Kings 11:9 1 Kings 12:20

Succession to David
1 Kings 1:1–2:46

FocusSolomon's throne secured

Connection to the wholeThe struggle over the succession leads to Solomon's established rule.
interpretation
Solomon's kingdom and temple
1 Kings 3:1–10:29 You are here · 6:8

FocusWisdom, worship, and wealth

Connection to the wholeSolomon's wisdom, building projects, prayer, and wealth develop the kingdom's strength and the temple's place in Israel's life.
interpretation
The kingdom divided
1 Kings 11:1–16:34

FocusUnfaithfulness and rival kingdoms

Connection to the wholeSolomon's turning away and the division of the kingdom lead into successive reigns in Israel and Judah.
interpretation
Prophetic confrontation and royal choices
1 Kings 17:1–22:53

FocusElijah, Ahab, and the word of the LORD

Connection to the wholeThe later reigns are framed by prophetic encounters that expose idolatry and demonstrate the consequences of responding to God's word.
interpretation

Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.

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