PALACE
David occupied a royal residence in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:9; 7:1, 2), but the first great palace in this city was the one built by Solomon (1 Kings 7:1-12). Its construction lasted thirteen years, while that of the Temple took seven years (1 Kings 6:38; 7:1).
“The house of the forest of Lebanon” (1 Kings 7:2-5) was one of the parts of the complex, and received this name because of its numerous cedar columns. It measured one hundred cubits in length (about 46 m.), fifty cubits in width, and thirty cubits in height; its walls were of solid stone.
Inside this house there were four rows of cedar columns; It is possible that each row formed a wall. There was an inner courtyard delimited by columns that was just over eighty cubits long and around thirty cubits wide.
It is also possible that the columns had been arranged in two double rows longitudinally with respect to the body of the building, leaving a central patio. Beams protruded from the columns to the walls, supporting three floors of rooms, and looking over the interior patio.
The house in the forest of Lebanon served as both an arsenal and a treasury (1 Kings 10:17, 21; Is. 22:8), and perhaps for other purposes as well. The great palace complex had a “porch of columns” (1 Kings 7:6), which served as an anteroom, and measured fifty by thirty cubits.
There was a staircase and a portico that preceded it. It is possible that this was the main entrance to the palace. Next came the “porch of the throne” (1 Kings 7:7),
The room in which the king applied justice, open in its front part; This room was probably closed on the other three sides by solid walls with doors, but no windows. There was the great ivory throne, overlaid with pure gold (1 Kings 10:18-20).
The house in the forest of Lebanon, the throne room, the colonnaded porch, were possibly arranged above a rectangular courtyard. Behind the courtroom and the throne were the king’s private rooms; It is possible that his main entrance was through this same room.
The king thus pronounced his judgments and granted his audiences at the door of his palace. This royal courtyard, adorned with flowers and fountains, was surrounded by a cloister-like structure.
According to Josephus, the house of Pharaoh’s daughter (1 Kings 7:8) was very close to the throne room (Ant. 8:5, 2).
These various buildings constituted Solomon’s palace, whose style was reminiscent of the princely mansions of Western Asia.
Archaeological excavations have revealed the ruins of Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian royal residences, dating from this time. The book of Esther contains allusions to the palace of the king of Persia in Susa (Esther 1:5, 6, 9; 2:3, 14; 5:1, 2; 7:7). These passages allow us to conceive something of the elegance and beauty of Solomon’s palace.