Why did Solomon spend more time building his own house than God’s house? (1 Kings 6:38–7:1)
38 And in the eleventh year, in the month of [ac]Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it. 7 But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.
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Asked June 09 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
To me, the relevant consideration would be that Solomon prioritized the building of the Temple over the building of his own house. The fact that he spent more time building his own house would have been a reflection (in my opinion) of not having as many workers dedicated to the task as in the building of the Temple. Also, if his house was physically larger than the temple, it would not have reflected self-glorification on Solomon's part, but would have resulted from the sheer size of Solomon's household, including the accommodation of his hundreds of wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3), some of whom (such as Pharaoh's daughter (1 Kings 3:1)) would have been worthy of, and also expected, lodging befitting their rank or title.
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