Referring to this passage: **1 Kings 6:23-27,** > 23 Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each > ten cubits high. 24 One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other > wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to > the tip of the other. 25 And the other cherub was ten cubits; both > cherubim were of the same size and shape. 26 The height of one cherub was > ten cubits, and so was the other cherub. 27 Then he set the cherubim > inside the inner room; and they stretched out the wings of the > cherubim so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of > the other cherub touched the other wall. And their wings touched each > other in the middle of the room. A cubit is said to be 18-20.4 inches. 10 cubits at 18" would be 15 feet. 10 cubits at 20.4" would be 17 feet. In numerous pictures of the cherubim on the internet , they are usually shown to be small, fitting entirely within the bounds of the dimensions of the ark, which is 2 cubits by 1.5 cubits. The cherubim should be 15 feet tall, minimum! The Most Holy Place was a 20-cubit cube in shape (1 Kings 6:16-20 ). According to verse 27, the wings touched the wall on either side, yet the dimensions given in verses 24-25 indicate the wingspans are less than that size. (Still, at a 10-cubit wingspan, that would be HEAVY to carry!) The directions for the cherubs indicate only two wings apiece. If the wings were stretched out to touch the walls, how do they also touch each other "in the middle of the room"? I wonder if this touching is so because the cherubim are in the middle of the room, so if the wings project out their backs, that's also where they are touching each other per cherubim. How do the wings touch each end of the Most Holy Place walls that are 20 cubits apart?

> *1 Kings 8:9 (NIV)* There was ***nothing*** in the ark ***except*** the > ***two stone tablets*** that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of > Egypt. > > *Hebrews 9:3-4 (NIV)* Behind the second curtain was a room called the > Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the > gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark ***contained*** the gold > jar of ***manna***, Aaron’s ***staff*** that had budded, and the > ***stone tablets*** of the covenant. 1 Kings 8:9 says that inside the Ark of the Covenant there was only the two stone tablets of Moses. But Hebrews 9:3-4 mentions three things, the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Keeping in mind that the Ark of the Covenant was no more during the time of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews simply recalled from the Torah or from tradition about the contents of the Ark. In fact, even the writer never saw the Ark with his own eyes, let alone what was inside. Regarding the pot of manna, > *Exodus 16:33-34 (KJV)* And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put > an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up ***before the Lord***, to > be kept for your generations. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron > laid it up ***before the Testimony***, to be kept. This verse only says "before the Lord/Testimony" and not *inside* the Ark. Regarding the staff of Aaron, > *Numbers 17:10 (NIV)* The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff > ***in front of the ark of the covenant*** law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so > that they will not die.” This verse also says that the staff of Aaron was placed in front of the Ark. **Questions:** 1. Do these verses from the Old Testament contradict the Epistle to the Hebrews? 2. What exactly was kept inside the Ark of the Covenant?

I am familiar with the references in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that legislated that the sacrifices were to occur only where the LORD had chosen to "put His name." He evidently had put His name with the ark of the covenant. Therefore, sacrifice could only occur at the tabernacle and then later at the temple in Jerusalem after the ark was moved there. However, what do you make of 1 Kings 18 & 19? >Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed (‭[I Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭30–32](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+18%3A30-32&version=NKJV),‬ NKJV). Elijah repaired an altar to the LORD on Mount Carmel that was broken down. Then there is the 1 Kings 19 reference illustrating that altars (plural) *dedicated to the LORD* had been known of in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in Elijah's day and even prior to his time, albeit that they had been torn down at the time of Elijah's words. >So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (‭[I Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A10&version=NKJV),‬ NKJV). And again... >And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (‭[I Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭14](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A14&version=NKJV),‬ NKJV). What I would like comments on is if the sacrifices were supposed to take place wherever *the tabernacle* was located, prior to the temple in Jerusalem, then why had these altars to the LORD been built at various places? Elijah seems to comment on their being torn down as a bad thing. However, Hezekiah and others present the tearing down of these altars as a good thing, *even if the altar was not dedicated to an idol but to the LORD.* At first glance, it seems the theory that all sacrifices had to be at the tabernacle (before the temple being built) may not be entirely correct. One could say perhaps that 1 Kings 3:2 provides the answer: >Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” ([‭I Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭2–5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+3%3A2-5&version=NKJV),‬ NKJV). But then, one may still be left with the difficulty of explaining why Elijah is lamenting that these altars were torn down, for the temple in Jerusalem was certainly built in his day! And then there is also the matter of the altar built by Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh in Joshua 22. Those on the east side of the Jordan had to clarify that it was merely a replica of the altar before the tabernacle, and not a substitute altar for sacrifice and burnt offering. Had it been such it looks like a civil war was going to break out. Any thoughts or insights you could share on this perceived dilemma would be appreciated. Thanks!

James and Luke say the drought lasted for three and a half years. >Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years *(James 5:17 NLT)* >"Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. *(Luke 4:25 NLT)* But according to the actual account in the Old Testament the drought was not even a full three years. >Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” *(1 Kings 17:1 NLT)* >Later on, IN THE THIRD YEAR of the drought, the LORD said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” *(1 Kings 18:1 NLT)* >And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel *(1 Kings 18:45 NLT)* So it was in the third year of the drought that the rains came ending it. Why do Luke and James both say the drought lasted 3 years and 6 months?

1 Kings 2:28-29 (NIV) says: > 28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!” How did Joab know he could do this? Is there a place in the Old Testament where it says a person could flee to the Temple, grab hold of the horns on the alter, and find safety?

In 1 Kings 11:1-10 we read: > 1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the > daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, > Zidonians, and Hittites; > > 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of > Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto > you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: > Solomon clave unto these in love. > > 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred > concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. > > 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned > away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with > the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. > > 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and > after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. > > 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully > after the LORD, as did David his father. > > 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of > Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the > abomination of the children of Ammon. > > 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense > and sacrificed unto their gods. > > 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned > from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, > > 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go > after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Now Solomon was the son of David, God spoke to him twice, God gave him literally the world and in return he just asked for obedience. Why should someone who God spoke with directly turn away from God? It's difficult for me to understand how a God chosen person can do such thing, worship other "gods" and build temples for them! Why do you need 1000 wives and concubines? As I'm studying old testament, there's -NONE- that can be compared to Jesus, God even didn't let Moses enter the promised land because of his "lack of faith". So I'm coming to conclusion that what happened to the God chosen people was part of God's plan, so there will be only one **perfect** man who truly lived up to God's standards. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Am I on the right path?

1 Kings tells us that, when David was elderly and impotent, Adonijah considered himself as heir-apparent and crowned himself, but Nathan the Prophet and Bathsheba approached David: > She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. Why would David have chosen Solomon, the younger candidate, as a successor?

Here are the verses in question: > 4 As Solomon grew old, **his wives turned his heart** after other gods, and **his heart was not fully devoted** to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; and went not fully after the Lord, as David his father had done. > 7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, **Solomon built a high place** for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 **He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.** > 9 The Lord became angry with Solomon **because his heart had turned away** from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to go after other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. (1 Kings 11: 4 - 10) A commentary I was reading says this: > ...**it is not stated that Solomon himself offered sacrifice to these idols**...the words "went after Ashtoreth," etc., no more involve personal service than the word "built" in ver. 7 involves personal labour; but both expressions show that he regarded these idolatries not only without disfavour, but with positive approval and practical encouragement. Another commentary says: > Went after - This expression is common in the Pentateuch, and always signifies actual idolatry (see Deuteronomy 11:28; Deuteronomy 13:2; Deuteronomy 28:14) But the first commentary rebuttals by saying this: > He cites Deuteronomy 11:28; Deuteronomy 13:2; Deuteronomy 28:14; but **it should be considered that in the two passages last cited the words are added, "and served them."** So I've come to the conclusion that Solomon himself did not personally offer sacrifices to other gods. His wives did. But it was still considered idolatry on Solomon's part because he was the one who allowed the high places to be built, and if his heart was fully after God, he wouldn't have allowed that. Is this a reasonable conclusion for me to make?

I'm trying to get some perspectives on how these two scriptures can be resolved: > 1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV: > > The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of > the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful > wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, > but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an > earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the > earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after > the fire came a gentle whisper. > > > Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV: > > And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head > over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of > him who fills everything in every way. So, if God was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire how can he fill everything in every way? This may require a separate post but if God fills everything does he then fill Satan?

If you guys don't know, she's the queen that quizzed Solomon to discover his wisdom in 1 Kings 10. Was Sheba located somewhere in Africa? (I heard some theories that Sheba was Arabia but I'm skeptical of this).

In 2 Chronicles we read: > ... Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen ...**- 2 Chronicles 9:25** ... but in 1 Kings: > Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. **- 1 Kings 4:26**

Most translations read '(But he was lying to him)'. I always thought the Old Prophet lied to the man of God, but now I'm wondering if the 'angel' lied to the old prophet. This wondering started when reading Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem chapter 19 Angels pp. 406-407. 1 Kings 13.18 is used as an example of 'false doctrine or guidance being conveyed by angels ... the clear possibility of satanic deception tempting us to disobey ...' Having investigated, some translations put 'the old prophet lied' which makes it clear (if they are correct??). Any gentle help appreciated.

Before Solomon was born, who was to become king? David has other sons so if Solomon had not been born, who would have been the heir? Would it be one of the sons who were killed?

In 1 Kings 21-10 (KJB) you can read > And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. I've seen many translations that use "wicked men" or similar phrases, but there are many other translations that use "sons of Belial" too. Who were these men? Do we know of some kind of priest that was under the allegiance of Belial in the times of Ahab and Jezebel? There are two other occurrences of this phrase: Deuteronomy 13:13 > Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; and Judges 19:22 > Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. Thanks for your responses and God bless you.

In light of James 1:13, I would like to know the meaning of the remaining scriptures quoted below. James 1:13 >Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. 1 Kings 22:21-23 >Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'"The LORD said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then He said, 'You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.' "Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."… 2 Thessalonians 2:11 >For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie Judges 9:23 >God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 1 Samuel 16:14 >Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

As read here , it says, in 1st Kings, 11:3, "And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart." This is speaking of King Solomon. My confusion: are the concubine and princesses included in the 700, or separately, and if so, how many did they account for? I am simply having issues understanding the verse's wording.

Why does the bible say that David kept all the commands of the Lord when he so clearly didn't? > **1 Kings 15:5 NIV** - For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. Yes, there was the episode with Uriah the Hittite. But there was also the matter of David taking a census of the fighting men of Israel: > **2 Samuel 24:10 NIV** - David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” And that's just what's written down. Other biblical figures like Isaiah, Jesus, Paul, and even David himself says there is no one who is good, so certainly David would have been guilty of other sins.

From my general knowledge, I know that David lived 70 years. Can be this be demonstrated with the Bible? In **1 Kings 2:10, 11** we find how long he reigned over Israel: >So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. > >And the days that David reigned over Israel were **forty years**: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. So, how long did David live?

In the books of 1 and 2 Kings, there are quite a few places where the author refers to "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" or "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel". > "Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he made war and how he reigned, behold, they are written in **the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel**. 1 Kings 14:19 NASB > > Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam and all that he did, are they not written in **the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah**? 1 Kings 14:29 NASB Immediately following the books of 1 and 2 Kings are two books referred to as 1 and 2 Chronicles. Are these the books to which 1 and 2 Kings refer or are they referring to other books that are not in the Bible and/or maybe lost to us?

Pretty straightforward question - In 1 Kings 18, Elijah speaks with a servant of the Lord named Obadiah. Is that the same guy wrote the book of the same name?