Solomon's Porch

In I Kings 6:2-3 we find the following statement:
"And the house which King Solomon built for the Lord, the length therof was threescore cubits, and the breadth therof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house, and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house."

In II Chronicles 3:3-4 we have a slightly different presentation. Scripture says the following:
"Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold."

The apparent discrepancies between the two Scriptures may be resolved in a fairly simple way, but this is speculation on the part of this writer. Each person studying these texts will have to decide for themselves through prayer and study. But it appears to this writer as though the Holy Place and Most Holy Place section of the temple was 90 feet long (60 cubits of 18 inches divided 12 = 90); and 30 feet wide (20 cubits x18inches per cubit divided by 12 inches per foot = 30 feet). Then from the I kings 6:2-3 account the Holy Places would be generally 45 feet high (30 cubits x18inches divided by 12 inches per foot = 45 tall.

In addition to the Holy Places there appears to have been a "porch" between the Holy Places and the entranceway where the two pillars were standing. This "porch" would appear to have been narrower than the Holy Places but significantly higher. So the dimensions would be 20 cubits in length (30 feet), 10 cubits wide (15 feet) and 120 cubits tall (180 feet).

We will discuss the Holy Places in another study but I would like to give some ideas as to the purpose of the "porch". First of all we must remember that the Temple is a parable, (Hebrews 9:9 the word figure in Greek is Parabole or parable) a device to teach the spiritual things of God, to human beings who have never been to heaven to see the things of God in reality. So when God reveals principles it is for our blessing to study Scripture to assist us with the things that angels desire to look into. I Peter 1:12

With the above thoughts in mind lest us look at a few Scripture that may help us to understand this unusual architectural presentation. We are trying to decide what message, or what lesson, is God trying to communicate to us by presenting a 180 foot (18 stories) tower in His Temple. There are two figures that come to my mind that I would like to share for all who read to meditate about and pray over.

The first example would be of the pillar of cloud and fire that accompanied Israel during the wilderness wanderings. This pillar hovered over the Sanctuary that Moses built for God. This pillar was a testimony to the abiding presence of God to guide and protect His people day and night. See Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19,24; 33:9-10; Numbers 12:5; 14:14; Deuteronomy 31:15; Nehemiah 9:12,19; Psalm 99:7. Ellen White wrote the following brief statement about the pillar. She stated "…When the Children of Israel encamped, directly over the tabernacle rested the pillar of cloud by day and the bright glory of the pillar of fire by night." Signs of the Times 6/24/1880. She adds "The pillar of cloud rested over the Tabernacle by day, and the pillar of fire by night, an assurance that God would be with them still, if they would be true to Him." Signs of the Times 4/7/1881

Another potential Bible example would be the ladder that extended from heaven to earth which was seen in a dream by Jacob when fleeing from Esau in Genesis 28:11-18. In this story Jacobs sets up a pillar to commemorate this vision and the pillar was a testimony of the presence of God’s house. Genesis 28:20-22. Jesus also refers to this symbol in John 1:51 and claims that He Himself is the Ladder that connects heaven and earth and that all of the blessings provided by angels come through His power to connect Heaven and Earth.

I pray that these suggestions will prove to be a blessing as you study the Temple that Solomon built for God. We must remember that all of the structures and all of the implements are to communicate spiritual ideas to our minds. Solomon did not design the Temple – it was God who revealed these designs to David, to have them be implemented by Solomon. (I Chronicles 28:11-12, 19; Exodus 25:9,40; Hebrews 8:2,5) Study to show yourself approved of God.