This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo)) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 6 we find possibly the most important scripture for dating the exodus. Because the building of the temple is fixed in history and its date well accorded. We are able to conclude the earlier dates based on this. It said that construction on the the temple was commenced 480 years after the exodus. This is 12 forties, so is a highly meaningful number.
Temple construction occurred at 974BC. According to Coffman this places the Exodus at 1446BC. According to the Associates for Biblical Research this is also right.
The temple was a building about 26 metres long, 13 metres high, and about 8 metres wide. So not huge, but very elaborate. It was described as a being like a Faberge egg, but the size of a building. Here we are talking of the most elaborate goldwork in the ancient world. And it was in a chamber that none other than God could see, except one high priest one time per year. There was no expense spared. When you think of the elaborate beauty of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's death mask, and then imagine the same beauty covering in and out a building 26 metres long by
Here we have a project that involved 150000 slaves for 7 years, plus another 10,000 forced conscripted laborers (30,000 who worked one month on and two months off) plus another 3300 supervistors. This is a total of 163300 people at work for an entire 7 years. Paid an average daily wage of $200 working 6 days a week, we put the total labor cost in today’s terms in AUD at $71,329,440,000.
If we add onto this the capital costs paid to HIram of Tyre feeding his royal house for 7 straight years, plus the cost of all the gold, we have a building worth in excess of 100 Billion dollars. This makes the temple a highly elaborate structure, representing the glory of God.
God makes a promise for all who are concerned for God’s house, which is his people. He will put and establish his word in them and keep his promises to them. You see this promise in this chapter in verses 11-13.
Nov 6, 2021 | Message by David Alley