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.