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1 Kings 6:1

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¶ And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which [is] the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

And it came to pass in the four {H702} hundred {H3967}{H8141} and eightieth {H8084} year {H8141} after the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} were come out {H3318} of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, in the fourth {H7243} year {H8141} of Solomon's {H8010} reign {H4427} over Israel {H3478}, in the month {H2320} Zif {H2099}, which is the second {H8145} month {H2320}, that he began to build {H1129} the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}.

It was in the 480th year after the people of Isra'el had left the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Shlomo's reign over Isra'el, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of ADONAI.

In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the month of Ziv, the second month of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, he began to build the house of the LORD.

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Jehovah.

Commentary

1 Kings 6:1 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, precisely dating the commencement of construction on the First Temple in Jerusalem. This verse serves as a crucial chronological anchor, connecting the building of God's permanent dwelling place with the nation's foundational event: the Exodus from Egypt.

Historical and Cultural Context

The verse opens by stating the construction began "in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt." This precise dating highlights the immense significance of the Exodus as the starting point of Israel's national identity and relationship with God. The departure from Egypt liberated them from bondage and set them on a path towards nationhood under God's covenant.

The construction also occurred "in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel." King Solomon, son of David, inherited a unified and prosperous kingdom. His reign was characterized by peace and wisdom, making it an ideal time for such a monumental undertaking. The "month Zif" (also known as Iyyar) was the second month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding to late April or early May, a favorable season for commencing large-scale building projects.

The "house of the LORD" refers to the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, which would replace the portable Tabernacle as the central place of worship and the symbolic dwelling place of God's presence among His people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Timing: The specific chronological markers emphasize God's perfect timing for the building of His Temple. After centuries of the Tabernacle's itinerancy, the time was ripe for a permanent structure that reflected the stability of the Davidic monarchy and God's covenant faithfulness.
  • Fulfillment of Promise: This verse signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son, Solomon, would build a house for the Lord's name. It underscores the continuity of God's plan through generations.
  • Centrality of Worship: The commencement of the Temple signified the establishment of a fixed, central place for Israel's worship, sacrifices, and communion with God, reinforcing the importance of His presence in their national life.

Linguistic Insights

  • The name "Zif" (or Ziv) is an ancient Canaanite-Phoenician name for the second month, meaning "radiance" or "light," possibly referring to the blossoming of flowers in spring.
  • The phrase "house of the LORD" (Hebrew: Bet YHWH) is a direct and reverent term for the Temple, emphasizing its sacred purpose as dedicated to God.

Practical Application

While we no longer build physical temples for God to dwell in (as He now dwells in believers through the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19), this verse reminds us of the importance of intentionality and purpose in our spiritual lives. Just as Solomon meticulously planned and built the Temple, we are called to build our lives as a "spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5) dedicated to God. The precision of the timing also encourages us to trust in God's perfect timing for His plans to unfold in our lives.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • 2 Chronicles 3:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

  • 2 Chronicles 3:2 (5 votes)

    And he began to build in the second [day] of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

  • Acts 7:47 (4 votes)

    But Solomon built him an house.

  • 1 Peter 2:5 (3 votes)

    Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 (3 votes)

    And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have made provision.

  • 1 Kings 6:37 (3 votes)

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

  • Ephesians 2:20 (2 votes)

    And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];