Tuesday, May 3, 2011

1 Kings 4-7 God's House is a Very, Very Fine House

1 Kings 4-7

Bummer my first day back and all we get to read about is about a couple of houses getting built.

My question is;  Did the Israelites/God purposefully abandon the tabernacle tent set up once they reached the promised land?  Is the "House of God", as a permanent structure supposed to represent an established nation of Israel?

Bonus question;  What is a molten sea?

Below is a 3D reconstruction of Solomon's Temple.


Enhanced by Zemanta

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the reconstruction link. I figured somebody had taken the time to do a diagram because I wasn't able to get my head wrapped around it except that it had lots and lots of gold.

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Bruce,

    Did the Israelites/God purposefully abandon the tabernacle tent set up once they reached the promised land?

    This was David's desire to build a house for God. David did not think it was right that he had a house yet the ark sat under curtains (II Samuel 7:1,2)

    Now God did not allow David to build the house, but his son (7:12,13). You know that. God did give David specific instructions for its construction (1 Chronicles 28:10-12, 19).

    Is the "House of God", as a permanent structure supposed to represent an established nation of Israel?

    From what i understand the "House of God" would represent Him being with the people and they being His children or His people. If they would follow His way. Guess what they decided to do? :-D

    What is a molten sea?
    It is a structure made out of metal, or in this case brass. I know you would know that many vessels that held water were made out of clay, or possible wood. So the author is letting us know this one was not, it was made out of brass.

    This is also the part were some people say there is a Pi problem in the Bible. I have read a few explanations for this, which do explain the claimed discrepancy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did the Israelites/God purposefully abandon the tabernacle tent set up once they reached the promised land?

    One theory is that the tabernacle was placed in the Holy of Holies, under the Cherubim's wings.

    The other is that the Tabernacle never actually existed, and the Temple was a fairly standard 10th century Syrian-style temple. Pretty much every aspect of it, from floor plan to decor, has close analogues attested archaeologically.

    Meaning what? First, that temples were a dime a dozen. Nothing special or unique about the one described in the Bible.

    And this doesn't mean that the Bible's descriptions are actually from the 10th century. The Temple lasted until the 6th, and existed whilst the first block of the Bible was being written. Still, keep in mind that much of the accoutrements (including the oxen under the Molten Sea!) were sold off for tribute starting in the 8th century.

    ReplyDelete