1 Kings 9:10

¶ And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house,

And it came to pass at the end {H7097} of twenty {H6242} years {H8141}, when Solomon {H8010} had built {H1129} the two {H8147} houses {H1004}, the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and the king's {H4428} house {H1004},

At the end of twenty years, during which time Shlomo had built the two buildings, the house of ADONAI and the royal palace,

Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of the LORD and the royal palace,

And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Jehovah and the king’s house

Commentary

1 Kings 9:10 marks a significant chronological milestone in the reign of King Solomon, indicating the completion of his two monumental construction projects: the Temple of the LORD and his own royal palace.

Context

This verse serves as a crucial time marker, stating that "at the end of twenty years" these major building endeavors were finished. The construction of the Temple of the LORD had taken seven years, as detailed in 1 Kings 6. Following this, Solomon spent an additional thirteen years building his extensive royal palace complex, as recorded in 1 Kings 7:1. The sum of these two periods precisely accounts for the twenty years mentioned here. This completion sets the stage for God's subsequent covenant renewal and warnings to Solomon, as seen in the verses immediately following (1 Kings 9:1-9), and for Solomon's continued administration and economic ventures.

Key Themes

  • Completion and Dedication: The verse highlights the successful conclusion of massive undertakings, signifying a period of intense labor and resource allocation. It underscores Solomon's ability to fulfill the divine mandate to build a permanent dwelling place for God, a task his father David had desired but was not permitted to complete (2 Samuel 7:13).
  • Solomon's Grandeur: The dual completion of the Temple and the King's House speaks to the immense wealth, power, and architectural ambition of Solomon's reign. The grandeur of these structures reflected the prosperity and influence of the united kingdom of Israel.
  • Divine-Human Partnership: While Solomon was the builder, the narrative consistently portrays these constructions as divinely ordained and enabled. The "house of the LORD" was built according to God's specific instructions, emphasizing God's presence among His people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the two houses" explicitly refers to the Beit Yahweh (House of the LORD), which is the Temple, and the Beit Ha-Melekh (House of the King), which is Solomon's personal palace complex. The Hebrew text simply states "twenty years," a precise chronological marker that underscores the long-term commitment required for such monumental national projects.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that significant achievements, whether spiritual or practical, often require considerable time, patience, and sustained effort. Just as Solomon dedicated twenty years to building, so too must we invest time and dedication in building up our spiritual lives, our families, and our communities. It also highlights the importance of establishing foundations—both a place for worship and a stable home—as central pillars of a well-ordered life, reflecting a balance between our devotion to God and our responsibilities in the world.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 6:37

    In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:

  • 1 Kings 7:1

    ¶ But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.

  • 2 Chronicles 8:1

    ¶ And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,

  • 2 Chronicles 8:18

    And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought [them] to king Solomon.

  • 1 Kings 9:1

    ¶ And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,
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