Translation, 1 Kings 6

This translation is more experimental and iffy than the others. 1 Kings 6 is packed with architectural terms that are used only here, the translation of which is very doubtful. In these cases, I have considered possible etymologies that seemed appropriate to the architectural context. I have also translated all the anatomical terms as anatomical terms. I have translated heykal as “palace” in order to bring out analogies between Yahweh’s house and royal residences, and I have left Debir (the term Kings uses for the Most Holy Place) untranslated.

And it was in the eightieth year and four hundredth year To the coming out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt In the year fourth In the month Ziw which [is] the second month To the ruling as king of Shlomoh over Israel And he built the house to Yahweh.

Now the house which built the king Shlomoh to Yahweh Sixty cubits its length And twenty its width And thirty cubits its height. Now the vestibule on the face of the palace of the house Twenty cubits its length On the face of the width of the house Ten cubits its width On the face of the house. And he made to the house windows looking down, closed.

And he built on the wall of the house couches All around the walls of the house All around to the palace And to the Debir And he made ribs/side rooms all around. The couch underneath five cubits her width And the middle six cubits her width And the third seven cubits her width For a reduction he gave to the house all around outside So as not to hold fast on the walls of the house Now the house in its building [With] Stone finished, quarried [at the quarry?] it was built. Now hammers And the axe All instruments of iron Were not heard in the house in its building. Opening of the middle rib [was] to the shoulder of the house, the right side But by trapdoors/winding staircases They ascended to the middle And from the middle To the third. And he built the house And he finished it And he covered the house [with] arches and aligned beams in cedar. And he built the couches on all the house Five cubits its height And they (?) took hold of the house with trees of cedar.

And it was the word of Yahweh to Shlomoh, saying, ?This house which you yourself are building: If you walk In my statutes And my judgments you do And you guard all my commandments To walk in them, I will cause to rise my word with you Which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel. And I will not forsake my people Israel.?E

And built Shlomoh the house. And he finished it.

And he built the walls of the house, the inner-house In ribs of cedar. From the floor of the house unto the walls of the covering he overlay [with] trees/wood the inner-house And he overlay the floor of the house In ribs of cypress. And he built twenty cubits from the flank/rear of the house In ribs of cedar From the floor unto the walls And he built to it from the house For the Debir For the holy place of the holy places. Now forty cubits was the house, It [was] the palace in front [ie, of the Debir]. Now cedar to the house inside Woodcarving of gourds and firstborn of flowers The all [was] cedar. There was not stone being seen.

Now the Debir in the midst of the house inside he caused to stand firm To give there the coffer of the covenant of Yahweh. Now before the Debir Twenty cubits long And twenty cubits wide And twenty cubits its height And he overlaid it [with] gold, thinned-pure And he overlaid the altar [with] cedar. And overlaid Shlomoh the house inside [with] gold, thinned-pure And he passed across with chains of gold Before the Debir And he overlaid it with gold. Now all the house he overlaid [with] gold Until perfection was all the house. Now all the altar which [was] toward the Debir he overlaid with gold.

And he made in the Debir two cherubim [from] trees/wood of oil Ten cubits its height. Now five cubits a wing of the one cherub And five cubits the wing of the second cherub Ten cubits from the end of his wing Unto the end of his wing. Now ten cubits [was] the second cherub. Measure of one and form of one To the two cherubim. Height of the one cherub ten cubits and thus the second cherub. And he gave the cherubim in the midst of the inside house And they spread out the wings of the cherubim And touched the wing of the one on the wall But the wing of the second cherub touched on the second wall Now their wings to the midst of the house touched Wing to wing. And he overlaid the cherubim [with] gold.

Now all the walls of the house from around he carved [with] engravings of carved cherubim and palms and firstborn of flowers From inside [before the face] and to outside. Now the floor of the house he overlaid with gold To inside [before the face] and to the outside.

Now the opening of the Debir he made doors of trees/wood of oil The door-trunk Door-posts of five. Now two doors of trees/wood of oil And he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palms and firstborn of flowers And he overlaid [with] gold. And he spread (controlled) On the cherubim And on the palms Gold. And thus he did to the opening of the palace Doorposts of trees/wood of oil From four. And two doors of trees/wood of cypress Two ribs of the one door turnable And two curtains of the second door turnable. And he carved Cherubim And Palms And firstborn of flowers And he overlaid [with] gold Straightened/leveled on the incised work. And he built the courtyard, the inner one [of the face] Thee rows of hewn stones And a row of cut cedars.

In the fourth year he founded the house of Yahweh, In the month of Ziw. And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which [is] the eighth month He finished the house To all his words And to all his judgments And he built it seven years.